American-Israel Chamber of Commerce

 Prices of owned apartments, by region, 2006 increase
(average percent change from 2005) 

Source: Central Bureau of Statistics

Tracking the Israeli real estate market is likely to be extremely interesting for the foreseeable future.

Provided as an information service for AICC by I-Biz – Israel Business Information Services Ltd.  For more information on I-Biz information services, visit www.i-biz.co.il or contact info@i-biz.co.il.

• Yokneam-based Syneron has signed an exclusive joint development and supply agreement with Procter & Gamble for the commercialization of electro-optical-based, home-use devices and compositions for the enhancement of skin appearance through the treatment of fine lines, wrinkles, age and sun spots, and cellulite. 
• Netanya-based Metrolight has signed an $800,000 contract with Publix for the installation of its high intensity discharge electronic ballast at 110 supermarkets, with the expectation that the contract would grow to $5 million if the project is expanded to all 800 Publix stores.  Metrolight’s US headquarters is in Brentwood, Tennessee.
• Hewlett-Packard subsidiary HP-Mercury Interactive is expanding its Israeli R&D center by hiring an additional 150 software engineers.  The division currently has 660 employees in Israel and is HP’s largest R&D center outside the US.
• Tel Aviv-based Gamla Millenium Investments and their US partner have obtained the re-zoning of a golf course in South Carolina for residential use.  According to Globes, the land has been re-zoned for 500 housing units, and the companies are seeking approval for 550 more units.
• Rehovot-based Rosetta Genomics raised $26.3 million in its Nasdaq IPO.  The company is developing a unique computerized algorithm for researching micro RNA gene sequences.
• Oracle inaugurated its new R&D center in Petach Tikvah, based on the technology and personnel of start-up Demantra which they acquired last year for $41 million.  The R&D center will supply Oracle with demand forecasting applications.
• Caesaria-based Mazor Surgical has completed a new study of surgeons at leading US hospitals using their SpineAssist miniature robotic surgical guiding system, demonstrating 98% decrease in x-ray exposure and enhanced implant placement precision of 2.5 times over freehand placement.  Mazor’s US headquarters is in Atlanta. 
• Israeli software start-ups raised $352 million in 2006, a 59% increase over 2005, according to IVC.  278 new software companies were founded in 2004-06.
• The Israeli Cabinet has approved the “Peace Valley” project along the Arava and Jordan Valleys as a national priority, with a billion dollars of projected infrastructure to be financed primarily by donations from international philanthropists and overseas investors.  Proposed by Vice Premier Shimon Peres, the project includes several joint tourism scenarios, water desalination and electricity production, a new airport at Aqaba, an industrial and agricultural center in the Jordan Valley, and the joining of Israel’s and Jordan’s railway networks.
• Israeli hotel occupancy rose 7% in 2006 compared with the previous year, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics.  However, incoming tourism for the year was down 4.5% during the same period.

Today, it is essential to proactively protect your company from viruses, worms, information and identify theft, and more.  Join us for an interactive discussion with a panel of industry experts from Israel and the U.S. to discuss leading edge and emerging technologies and business practices to proactively manage and minimize internet security risk while ensuring both compliance and cost efficiencies across your entire network.

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Panelists will address techniques to actively detect and stop threats, improve response time to internet security threats, and protect proactively against internet security attacks and intrusions.  Come and hear about leading and emerging tools and techniques to proactively manage your internet security.  Be sure to bring your questions, too — there will be time for Q&A with our internet security industry experts.