As 2009 opens with a full-scale Israeli ground operation in Gaza and bombing throughout Israel's south, images of bloodshed and war dominate the news. In these difficult times, it can sometimes be hard to remember that there's more to Israel than just conflict.
But there is. Even in the midst of the current crisis, Israeli scientists continue to carry out vital research, engineers work on innovative new technologies, doctors develop life-saving devices, aid workers care for the underprivileged around the world - even treating people from enemy states -- and Israelis and Palestinians alike continue to work together quietly on coexistence projects designed to create a better life in the Middle East.
A glance back over the year at ISRAEL21c's most popular articles shows the wide diversity of significant developments emerging from Israel, from an exoskeleton device designed to help paraplegics stand and walk, to a breakthrough in diabetes research, research on cranberries and a new artificial intelligence technology that improves Internet search engines.
Health, environment and technology stories topped the list. The Argo Medical exoskeleton captured people's imaginations, appearing in outlets from Reuters to The Washington Post. It even appeared as a feature in the Teheran Times, with a mention, surprisingly enough, that the product was developed in Israel.
Other popular stories include an article on EWA, an Israeli startup that has developed a technology that can help provide clean drinking water to people suffering severe water shortages - by squeezing it out of the air.
This summer, a story on an Israeli company that has developed a potential cure for the mysterious ailment killing bees worldwide made a big splash. Trials are now underway, and if successful could mean an end to the devastating colony collapse syndrome, which has already destroyed over a third of America's beehives.
Coexistence stories are always popular on ISRAEL21c and we have done much to draw the world's attention to the many commendable projects taking place in the country between Palestinians and Jews, showing people a completely different side to the conflict.
One project that drew a great deal of attention was a company set up by Israeli serial entrepreneur, Zvi Schreiber, which employs 10 Israeli engineers, and 30 Palestinians in Ramallah. The company, G.Ho.st, offers users a virtual operating system, which is fitting from a company that does most of its work virtually too.
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