Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., April 24, 2008 Nisan 19, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:22 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Business in Brief How do you say 'smite' in SMS? Advertisement We don't know, but maybe one of many Israelis responsible for sending 40 million text or multimedia messages via cellphone during the first three days of Passover does. Half these messages were sent on Friday, says Pelephone. For the sake of comparison, on normal days some eight million text messages are sent in Israel, and 50,000 images. On weekends, the number is even smaller. Because of the crush, it appears that many of the messages only arrived as much as a day late. (Barr Hayoun) Demand for olive oil up 50% for Passover Ma nishtana? The demand for potatoes, lettuce and olive oil, that's what, which soared by about 50% in the two weeks ahead of Passover. Among ultra-Orthodox shoppers, demand for these seemingly unrelated products soared by hundreds of percent, according to the Israel Olive Board. The board's deputy manager, Gadi Hurwitz, claims that one reason for the spike in demand for olive oil is growing recognition of healthy eating. Perhaps also relevant is the fact that oils made from the likes of canola, corn and sunflower seed aren't kosher for Passover for non-kitniyot eaters. In honor of the holiday, the price of tomatoes spiked some more, rising to around NIS 12 per kilo. (Amiram Cohen) Price of cruises jumping as fuel costs spike If you thought you could escape the spike in jet fuel by taking a boat, think again. The price of holiday cruises will be rising toward the end of May for exactly the same reason - higher fuel costs for ships as well as planes. Mano Shipping, for one, will be raising its prices on May 25. Short cruises of two to five nights will cost $30 more per person, and seven-night journeys will cost $50 more, per person. For longer trips, figure $100 per person extra. (Irit Rosenblum) Israel Chemicals remains No. 1 Israel Chemicals is Israel's leading chemicals company, again, says Business Data Israel (BDI), based on its ranking of chemicals companies for the year 2008. Second in rank is another favorite among foreign investors, the agrochemicals giant Makhteshim Agan Industries, followed by Frutarom in third place. Frutarom does worldwide business in flavorings, essences and other chemicals for the foodstuffs and beverages industries. The ranking is based on sales, profitability, risk exposure, financial strength, payment ethic, management proficiency, and innovation, as well as their quality as employers, BDI explains. Haifa Chemicals and Dor Chemicals both rose in the ratings, mainly because of higher sales, claim sources in the know. (Ora Coren) TVeez scores $15 million first round funding High-tech entrepreneur Yair Goldfinger's latest venture, TVeez, has scored $15 million in first-round financing, a handsome coup for a startup. Among its backers are the Israeli venture capital funds Benchmark and Giza. So far the company has existed on $12 million from its founders. TVeez is working on a system it calls TVeezMI, a smart advertising system that personalizes ad content to the user, based on information in the enterprise database. Say you use an ATM at the bank: the system could stream an ad to the PC screen based on your balance. If you're in overdraft you might receive an ad for a loan. Get it? (Guy Grimland) Bookmark to del.icio.us   Sex, lies and videotape 3 Kibbutz Ein Gedi residents suspected of filming themselves raping Danish tourists. Big brother is watching An IDF soldier has been jailed for posting sensitive photos on Facebook.

Read & React Ezra: New spy case won't harm U.S.-Israel ties Responses: 502 Syrian FM: Nothing barring resumption of peace talks with Israel Responses: 261 Yuval Steinitz: Absurd U.S. intel report saps effort to save world from Iranian nukes Responses: 67 ANALYSIS: New espionage affair may be old story, but will greatly damage Israel Responses: 99 More Headlines 22:09 Syrian FM: Nothing stopping resumption of peace talks with Israel 21:40 Hamas leader says cease-fire with Israel must include West Bank 02:22 Israel launches two airstrikes against Gaza Strip targets 00:48 Defense Min. yet to start court-ordered reroute of Bil'in fence 00:29 Clinton wins Pennsylvania Jewish vote with surprising ease 23:18 Christmas card written by Anne Frank turns up in antique shop 20:15 Carter: Rice statement untrue, I wasn't warned not to meet Hamas 23:33 Video footage leads to indictment of 3 kibbutzniks for rape 19:12 IDF soldier jailed for posting sensitive photos on Facebook 20:19 Ezra: New spy case won't harm U.S.-Israel ties 18:40 U.S. facing nation-wide matza shortage this Passover Previous Editions Select Day 23 apr 22 apr 21 apr 20 apr 18 apr 17 apr 16 apr 15 apr 14 apr 13 apr 11 apr 10 apr

Special Offers Advertisement Learn Hebrew online with Israel's best teachers Sign up for a trial lesson today Pardes Institute Summer Sessions Study Jewish texts and issues in Jerusalem, Co-ed, All Levels Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved