Economy grows quickly
Israeli economic growth unexpectedly accelerated to its fastest pace in more than two years. Exports and consumer spending increased, helping to boost growth in the second quarter by an annualized 4.7 per cent, Bloomberg reported. The expansion rate rose from a revised 3.6 per cent in the first quarter, the Jerusalem-based Central Bureau of Statistics said last week. The median forecast of six economists surveyed by Bloomberg had predicted growth of 2.9 per cent. The statistics bureau reported last month that the economy grew a preliminary 3.4 per cent in the first three months. Exports, comprising nearly half of GDP, have powered Israel’s rebound from the global financial crisis.
Prof wins math prize
A Hebrew University professor was one of four winners of a prize considered the Nobel of mathematics. Hebrew University professor Elon Lindenstrauss won the International Mathematical Union’s Fields Medal for his work in numbers theory. He was cited for his work in ergodic theory, the statistical study of dynamical systems, which formulate models relating time and space. The medal is named for Canadian mathematician J.C. Fields and carries a cash prize of about $15,000.
Alleged looting probed
Israel’s military is investigating an IDF officer and soldier suspected of selling goods they confiscated from the Gaza flotilla after the May 31 raid. Military police are investigating whether an officer sold items to another soldier that were confiscated from the ships while they were docked in Ashdod, Ynet reported. Three soldiers already have admitted they bought laptops from the second soldier who has been arrested. The probe comes as a number of Israeli and international committees are investigating the incident. Not long after the flotilla incident, passengers aboard the ships complained that credit cards, cellphones and other equipment had been confiscated and used. At the time, an IDF spokesperson said all personal items had been sent out of the country. An investigator said that if it turns out the items were taken from the ships, the activists would be compensated.
Iran ready to swap nuclear fuel
Israeli media reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said last Friday his country is ready for immediate talks with world powers over a nuclear fuel swap deal. According to AFP, Ahmadinejad said Iran was “ready to resume in late August or in early September” talks with the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council over an exchange of enriched uranium. The United States, the European Union and the UN Security Council have imposed sanctions on Iran over a nuclear program the West suspects is aimed at developing atomic weapons.
Russia announced two weeks ago it will begin loading nuclear fuel into the reactor of Iran’s first atomic power station on Aug. 21, an irreversible step marking the start-up of the Bushehr plant after nearly 40 years of delays.
IDF retaliates in Gaza
The air force hit what the military said was a weapons manufacturer and weapons smuggling tunnels in the Gaza Strip. No casualties were reported in the predawn raid last Wednesday. An IDF statement said the air raids were in response to mortar attacks Tuesday that lightly injured two Israeli soldiers.
– files from JTA and Ha’aretz