Tiberias boy teams up with NASA for Eurovision contest

Weekly wrap up of local news throughout the country.

By TAMARA ZIEVE
NASA moon picture 311 R (photo credit: REUTERS/NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/ASU/Han)
NASA moon picture 311 R
(photo credit: REUTERS/NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/ASU/Han)
NORTH
Tiberias resident and ethnic-pop singer Bezalel has received special permission from NASA to use rare, hypnotic video footage of Earth for his performance at the pre-Eurovision Song Contest next Thursday. The footage, taken by a NASA shuttle in outer space, will accompany Bezalel’s performance of his song “No War.” The song deals with the universal vision of global peace. The event will be aired on Channel 1.
“For as long as I can remember, I’ve dreamed of making it to the Eurovision Song Contest and to reach beyond the view seen from the window of my parents’ house in Tiberias,” Bezalel said. “I am extremely excited.”
“Our vision is to reach for new heights and reveal the unknown so that what we do and learn will benefit all humankind,” NASA stated.
Paramedics attacked while administering CPR
A Magen David Adom paramedic team was attacked while attempting to resuscitate an injured 60-year-old woman in Kiryat Tivon over the weekend.
MDA lodged a complaint with police against the attacker, who was a member of the woman’s family.
“This is a serious infringement of the trust of those who are saving lives, and the Magen David Adom management will act together with authorities until justice is served against the attacker,” the organization stated.
The paramedic who was attacked was admitted to hospital with moderate injuries.
Two women moderately hurt in ATV accident in Upper Galilee
Two 20-year-old women were moderately injured in an ATV accident at the Dishon River in the Upper Galilee on Saturday. The women were evacuated to Ziv Medical Center in Safed.
Ma’alot-Tarshiha hosts fencing world cup championship
For the eighth consecutive year, Ma’alot-Tarshiha hosted over the weekend the world cup championship in fencing for women. Over 100 fencers competed for the title of fencing champion, from 33 countries, including Germany, Sweden, Italy, Spain, the Czech Republic and Turkey. Ma’alot-Tarshiha fencing star Alona Komorov previously held the top spot, but this year she was knocked down to third place by Estonian representative Lahis Katrina and Russia’s Yulia Bakariba, who came in second.
This year the Ma’alot-Tarshiha municipality honored the late Israeli fencing star Andre Spitzer, who was murdered in the terrorist attack at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. The municipality dedicated the event to him “as a tribute to his memory and as thanks for his dedication as a fencing teacher for boys and girls in Ma’alot-Tarshiha and the entire region.”
CENTER
Livnat opens Israeli sports exhibition at Ben-Gurion Airport
Culture and Sport Minister Limor Livnat opened an Israeli sports exhibition last week at Ben-Gurion Airport.
The exhibition – run in cooperation with the Israel Sports Association – presents the story of the nation’s sports history in pictures. The display features rare photographs of Israeli sports legends and historical highlights.
The exhibition will run until the end of the year in the travelers’ lounge. Many of the pictures are signed by sporting heroes including Mordechai Spiegler, Mickey Berkowitz and Yael Arad.
“This extraordinary exhibition showcases Israeli sports legends in their best moments,” said Livnat. “It is exciting to look at the pictures and to remember our sports history. I’m sure it will also excite the millions of passengers who pass through the terminal during the year.”
Mother suspected of neglect after kids found naked in yard
Police found a pair of eight-year-old twins and their four-year-old brother barely dressed in their yard in the center of Petah Tikva on Sunday. Police were called to the scene after neighbors reported the sound of loud crying emerging from the house. The mother, who was apparently under the influence of drugs, was detained for questioning. Police suspected her to be guilty of negligence and neglect of her children.
Police escorted the children to Schneider Children’s Medical Center, where they underwent tests and were found to be in good health. The police noted that there were no signs of violence or malnutrition.
The police also involved welfare services and were checking whether the family is known to any other authorities.
Tel Avivians ready for annual Zombie Walk
Fun-loving Tel Avivians geared up for the annual Zombie Walk set to take place this weekend as part of the many Purim celebrations that will take over the city.
The event – the fourth of its kind – was set for Saturday night, and Zombie Walkers were due to meet on Ben- Zion Boulevard. Event organizers and participants were preparing for the occasion by designing posters, video trailers and the most terrifying costumes they could conjure up.
Two Holon teens arrested for attacking 3 high-school students
Police arrested two 17-year-old Holon residents on Sunday on suspicion of attacking three high-school students in the city.
The three victims of the attack were treated at Wolfson Medical Center and were later released.
The cause of the incident was believed to be related to an investigation police were conducting concerning drug use among teenagers. The two assailants reportedly suspected that one of the three students had given their names to the police. They came to the school, attacked the teenagers and fled the scene.
Hot plate causes fire at Bnei Brak synagogue
A fire broke out at the Abir Ya’acov Synagogue in Bnei Brak on Shabbat, according to the Local website. Members of the community arrived at the synagogue on Saturday morning to find a heavily damaged kitchen and smoke and soot on the walls.
There were no casualties and furniture and books were unscathed.
The cause of the fire appeared to be a blanket that had caught fire after having been left on a hot plate.
“Thank God there were no casualties,” the Local website quoted manager of the synagogue Ariel Darshanas as saying. “It was sad to see on Shabbat morning the damage done to the synagogue, but despite everything, the prayers were held as usual.”
Man stabbed to death in Rishon Lezion
A 25-year-old man was stabbed to death in Rishon Lezion over the weekend. He succumbed to his wounds at Assaf Harofeh Medical Center in Tzrifin, where he had been admitted in serious condition.
Police identified the location where the stabbing took place and were investigating the circumstances of the incident.
SOUTH
Sticker vandals run wild in Eilat
Over the last month, illegal vendors stuck thousands of stickers denouncing the mayor on urban infrastructure throughout Eilat. The stickers are difficult to remove and cause grave aesthetic damage to the city.
Last Friday, a complaint was filed over the phenomenon at the Eilat police station. Utility poles, street lights, signs, fences, bus stops and trash cans were all targets of the peddlers’ anti-mayor campaign. Stickers were plastered in all areas of the city, in neighborhoods new and old, on the promenade and in tourist areas, triggering numerous complaints from local residents.
Despite complaints to city inspectors, the sticker campaign continued.
“Stickers harm the city’s appearance, disturb residents and visitors, and removing them requires much effort from the municipality,” said city manager Philip Ezzard. “Part of the urban infrastructure will need repainting now and it seems that we may need to replace some of the infrastructure that was damaged,” he said, adding that this would require financial investment. “It’s a shame that years of investment in infrastructure have now gone down the drain because of the behavior of unbridled vandals.”
IDF soldiers hurt in Negev parachuting accident
Nine IDF soldiers were lightly injured in a parachuting accident in the Negev over the weekend.
The soldiers were taken to hospital in Beersheba, where they were treated for their injuries.
Ashkelon awaits the annual Adloyada Purim parade
Ashkelon residents eagerly awaited the traditional Adloyada, the huge parade held annually on Purim. This year the theme for the parade – scheduled for Sunday – is cinema through the ages, the Local website reported. Residents and visitors can expect to enjoy spectacular exhibits including a giant alien, dinosaurs, Peter Pan and Tinkerbell, Popeye, pirates, zombies and characters from the Israeli cult movie Hagiga Basnooker.
As every year, the parade will begin at the School of Sciences plaza on Eli Cohen Street and will end at the city’s main thoroughfare.
After the parade, celebrations will continue with performances by children’s stars Rinat Gabai, Yaniv Hamagniv and local bands.
Ashkelon community centers and clubs will take part in the event alongside the municipality’s Events and Tourism Department of Culture and Youth and local dance groups. The parade will begin at 11 a.m. Admission is free.


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