News in Brief II - Haaretz

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Wed., November 14, 2007 Kislev 4, 5768

Israel Time: 01:43 (EST+7)

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News in Brief II

Arkia Israel Airlines is fly participants in the Taglit-birthright Israel program to Israel for the first time, Arkia chairman and president Rafi Har-Lev announced yesterday. Arkia, which does not ordinarily fly to the U.S., will operate four Boeing 757 charter flights from December 17 from Boston to Ben-Gurion International Airport, with a refueling stop in Europe. Taglit-birthright Israel has brought over 150,000 students to Israel since its inception. "Arkia is proud and pleased to take part in this special project that strengthens the connection of Jews of the Diaspora to Israel," Har-Lev said. (Zohar Blumenkrantz)

The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel says that more than 400 raptors, including some from endangered species, have been electrocuted in the two years since the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) has stopped insulating electric poles. An electrocuted Bonelli's eagle, of which only 20 remain in Israel, was found Monday. The IEC, which implemented the project together with the Israel Nature and Parks Authority (INPA), said it was now "discussing its participation in the raptor projects with the INPA, which is responsible for the matter and an agreement on IEC participation will probably be obtained in a few days." (Zafrir Rinat)

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The chestnut tree that comforted Anne Frank while she hid from the Nazis during World War II will be cut down November 21 because it is too diseased to be saved, the city said yesterday. "The state of this monumental chestnut is a real danger for its surroundings, including the secret annex atop the canal-side warehouse where the Frank family hid," the city said in a statement. "Its rapid decay makes it necessary to take action now." The 150-year-old tree suffers from fungus and moths that have caused more than half its trunk to rot. (AP)

Water to the Negev Bedouin community of Lakiya has been cut off intermittently for more than 10 days. Residents say the local clinic has had to limit its services due to the lack of water. The Mekorot water company says the Lakiya Local Council owes it NIS 580,000 for August and September, and that attempts to reach an understanding have failed. The law prevents Mekorot from cutting off the water entirely. Lakiya town officials say that some residents have large debts to Mekorot, but that many pay their bills regularly. "Collective punishment is inappropriate," the council spokesman said. (Mijal Grinberg)

Smokers, former smokers or people who have been exposed to serious pollution should have a lung function test for early detection of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a group of chronic diseases that limit airflow in the lungs and are not fully reversible. The pulmonologists association yesterday explained that early detection of the disease can prevent the condition from significantly worsening and asked the Health Ministry to add an additional warning to cigarette packages for the disease. The association and ministry opened a campaign yesterday to inform the Israeli public of the dangers of COPD. Today is the international day of awareness for the disease. (Yuval Azoulay)

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