Israel 2021 by Diplomacy&Commerce magazine

Israel - 2021 -

ISRAEL & SERBIA

30 YEARS OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS

DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY!

Despite the tough neighborhood they live in, numerous studies rank Israelis among the happiest people among Western nations.

Focus

ISRAEL 2021

A LETTER TO GOD

THE SKY IS THE LIMIT

Israel is one of nine countries that are members of the International Space Club and capable of launching space satellites.

If you are mailing a letter addressed to God, it will be mailed to Israel and placed in the western wall and over 1 million notes are placed in the western wall every year.

PLANTING THE FUTURE

Israel is the only country in the world that has more trees today than it had 50 years ago.

THE UNIQUE DESERT The smallest desert in the world is located in Israel – Judean desert.

SHALOM!

Israel is the only country in the world that has succeeded in reviving a dead language and using it as a national language.

FIGHTING DISEASES

HEALTHY EATERS!

Focus

Israelis consume more fruits and vegetables relative to the population than any other nation in the world.

ISRAEL 2021

An Israeli company developed the first ingestible video camera that helps doctors diagnose cancer and digestive disorders.

INTERVIEW

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ISRAEL IS A TRUE STARTUP NATION IN EVERY ASPECT H.E. YAHEL VILAN

Ambassador of Israel to Serbia

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ISRAEL 2021

We started the Back to Life campaign late December with a vision to go back to life by Passover which was in early April and we succeeded

srael is a successful country in many areas, and it is also a leader in the fight against the corona virus. Serbia and Israel next year celebrate 30 years since reestablishment of diplomatic relations. What can we learn from the successful Israeli example we talked to the Ambassador of Israel to Serbia H.E. Yahel Vilan.

IN ISRAEL, ALL CITIZENS ARE GUARANTEED HEALTHCARE UNDER THE COUNTRY’S NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE LAW

Mass vaccination in Israel, i.e. the fastest in the world, began on December 19. How did Israel manage to obtain large quantities of vaccines and vaccinate the population incomparably faster than other countries? Well, I think there were few major factors for Israel’s success story and most of all it was a good combination be-

ISRAEL 2021

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tween quick government decisions on putting all its efforts on the vaccination campaign and some of Israel’s structural long lasting strengths, such as its strong Public Health System, Emergency Preparedness, Innovation and Data Sharing, its Advanced Medical System and maybe above all, the Logistics Operation which was very much based on all those other strengths. PM Netanyahu took a strong personal role in persuading Pfizer to turn Israel into its main research lab in order to prove that the vaccine can work. Pfizer did that due to all those other factors which Israel is famous for: Universal healthcare system which is globally recognized for its efficiency and effectiveness. In Israel, all citizens are guaranteed healthcare under the country’s National Health Insurance Law. We can choose from 4 comprehensive not-for-profit health plans that provide a standardized basket of medical services, and each provider must accept all residents regardless of age or state of health. Combined, there are thousands of clinics spread across the country, ensuring that each and every local community is served. It was these clinics who made that operation so success-

THE ECONOMIC COOPERATION BETWEEN SERBIA AND ISRAEL HAS UPWARD DEVELOPMENT TREND ful and efficient, reaching a pick of over 100,000 vaccinations daily. Moreover, its national healthcare services enjoy a uniquely advanced level of digitization, which allowed very easy and quick access to every Israeli, by age criteria, occupation and so on, which again, made the whole operation very efficient and effective. Another key factor was the fact that from obvious reasons, Israel is very ready for emergencies and therefore could shift very quickly from routine to emergency. It helped at the beginning of pandemic, allowing us to turn hospitals into fully Corona hospitals, to turn hospitals parking lots into Corona Units and to practically create in few weeks thousands of new emergency care beds and ventilation machines almost from scratch.

All of this played a very significant role also in the vaccination operation. One good example is the role of the IDF (Israel Defense Forces), which mobilized its technologic as well as logistics capabilities into the national efforts: assisting in administrating quarantine hotels and supplying food to families in lockdown at the peak of pandemic, and now dedicating its own paramedics and military reserves to the vaccination push. Sharing Electronic Patient Records, while keeping full medical confidence also played a crucial role in the effectiveness of the vaccination campaign making it both very quick and very efficient not losing even one drop of vaccines. The Washington Post found this as the key, saying: “ Israel moves to head of vaccines queue, offering Pfizer access to the country’s healthcare database”. And then was the amazing logistic operation, handling the vaccines from arrival by air, keeping them in -70 degrees and spreading them all over the country, in the most efficient way. All of these together made Israel’s vaccination campaign to such a huge worldwide success. We started the Back to Life campaign late December with a vision to go back to life by Passover which was in early April and we succeeded. After vaccination, Israel's economy was the first to open up. What can we learn from the Israeli experience? The main lesson is first and foremost that the vaccine is working. According to the results in Israel it has way over 90% success rate, reaching over 80% even after the first dose only. On the other hand, there is almost no risk in taking the vaccine. All pandemic factors in Israel had dropped dramatically in parallel to the vaccination campaign and in the last few weeks the number of new cases is less than a few hundred a day, and same with the numbers of severe cases and number of deaths, all dramatically dropped. As of now, all working places, schools, shopping malls, restaurants and so on are back to normal, for the first time in 14 months and no doubt

the impact on the economy is huge. The overall cost of the vaccines was around 800,000 million $, which is equivalent to less than 2 working days of the Israeli market. Not to mention all other costs to the health system of every day of the pandemic. So, even from a pure economic aspect, it's definitely the best expenditure every government can think of. And of course, the significance of going really back to life, is by far wider than just the economic factors. So, what’s the lesson, Serbia and all other countries should learn from us? That the vaccine is working and its working great and at this point when so many parts of the world are still deeply in the pandemic, having the vaccines available this is a huge privilege, that one should not take for granted and definitely should not avoid taking them. This is why I’m urging the Serbian public to use that opportunity and go get vaccinated as this is for now the only way out and back to our normal life which we are all missing badly. Israeli company is one of the leaders in Serbia when it comes to renewable energy sources (RES). On April 22nd, you will open our conference dedicated to the topic of Green Economy. How can Serbia become "greener" and how can we increase investments in the green economy?

special Law on Renewable Energy will allow smoother and faster diversification within renewable sources and introduction and popularization of less used such as solar and geothermal in which Israel has an extensive know how and technology. It will also allow citizens to become producers and consumers of energy which is paving a way for efficient and smarter use of energy wherein an individual can realize how much it contributes to the grid and what it consumes.

Focus

Israel is known as a start-up nation in all segments. One of the segments that we can copy from Israel is irrigation technology. Are there any com-

Israel is a true startup nation in every aspect. From the foundation of our country we had to develop/invent technologies in order to overcome and mitigate unfavourable natural conditions. As you know Israel has limited arable land, almost 60% of the country is desert, limited water sources and almost no natural resources except natural gas that has been discovered in the last decade. In this regards we have been pioneers and invented drip irrigation, later became a leader in irrigation technologies. According to the latest data, Israel irrigates round 33% of total agriculture land. Israel has round 435 000 ha of agriculture land. Israel produces almost 70% of all its food requirements. It imports much of its grain, oilseeds, meat and fish, and its the sugar, coffee and cocoa. We already have present Netafim through their representative Avital Agro with numerous successful irrigation projects in Serbia. It’s a global leader and inventor of drip irrigation. Beside, NaanDanJain is also active and intends to expand its presence.

ISRAEL 2021

I’m very proud that an Israeli company is contributing to Serbia’s green agenda and reaching targets in energy coming from renewable sources, especially wind which seems as the most developed. Based on their positive experience with investment climate, Enlight Energy is expanding its presence through new wind farm Pupin for which they recently got a permit to start construction. I was thrilled to pay a visit to their initial investment, windfarm Kovacica, together with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, PhD Zorana Mihajlovic, Minister of Energy and Mining. Serbia has now set of new energy laws, which for sure will contribute to reaching the target the Minister stated and that is 40% of electricity coming from renewable sources by 2040. New legal framework with a

WE STARTED THE BACK TO LIFE CAMPAIGN LATE DECEMBER WITH A VISION TO GO BACK TO LIFE BY PASSOVER WHICH WAS IN EARLY APRIL AND WE SUCCEEDED

panies that are interested in entering that sector in Serbia?

What is the overall economic cooperation between our two countries liked and where do you see room for progress? In general, the economic cooperation between our two countries is good and has a positive and upward development trend. However, there are challenges and room for improvement in creating more favorable environment for businesses. At the moment we don’t have a Free Trade Agreement between Israel and Serbia while both countries have it with the EU. This makes goods from both countries less competitive and presents a burden to increase our trade volume which now stands at 82 million USD annually. We hope to see some developments in this regards in the future. Secondly, we would like to hold a first sitting of a Joint Committee for Economic and Trade Cooperation which has been set up following President Rivlin’s visit in 2018. Due to an ongoing elections in Israel it took some time to have a Co Chairman’s from both countries nominated. As this is not an issue anymore, it is our intention to have this first sitting in the near future. Regarding the sectors of economy where we see potential to be utilized more are: renewable energy – especially solar which is opening up now, water treatment technologies, R&D offices of tech companies and inflow of Israeli VCs in the market along with cyber security and defense industry.

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ISRAEL 2021

What is the political and economic significance of the opening of the Serbian government office in Jerusalem?

The opening of the Office of the Government in Jerusalem has political and economic importance. It is perceived as the initial step towards moving the embassy to Jerusalem. On the other hand it sends a message that economic cooperation is the main focus of our bilateral relations and an area in which Serbia would like to see improvement and will put efforts in the coming period. It was mentioned that the Office will concentrate on cooperation in sector

ISRAEL AS A STARTUP NATION IS ONE OF THE COUNTRIES SERBIA CHOSE AS A MODEL TO DEVELOP ITS INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM of innovation and innovative economy. This includes wide spectrum of hi tech and cyber and presents a great opportunity for both countries. Israel as a startup nation is one of the countries Serbia chose as a model to develop its innovation ecosystem. We have had numerous Israeli speakers at various events, conferences, bilateral visits and similar. Initial contacts between the two tech communities have been created. What we would like to see in the future are concrete joint ventures, joint projects, business deals between the two communities. The Office will definitely assist in putting Serbia on the map of Israeli techies and other businesses and we welcome our future cooperation

in this mission of advancement of our economic ties. What do you think will be the biggest challenges in 2021? Unfortunately even though everything we’ve seen with the vaccines in Israel, we still see what is going on all over the world with the Covid pandemic, so no doubt that this will still be our biggest challenge for this year and most probably also next year in big parts of our universe and for sure on all those fields which based on trafficking of people and goods around the world: Tourism first and foremost but also foreign trade in general. On the other hand, I do hope for the longer term, we will all understand we should increase the cooperation between countries and continents as the only way, not only out of this challenge but also in facing and hopefully preventing the next ones. I do hope, both Israel with its proven achievements in public health and innovation and Serbia with its growing part in the production of vaccines, will play an active role in facing those challenges in the coming years and I also hope we will be able to strengthen our bilateral cooperation in this endeavour. 

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From traditional crop products to innovative development of agricultural solutions

CORPORATE

LISTEN, LEARN, DELIVER many traditional crop-protection solutions. We aim to bring viable, sustainable and friendly alternatives, that will meet the new and re-shaping needs of the farming community. In 2021 alone, we are launching a record 9 new products in Serbia and the region.

ILAN LEVANON CEO of ADAMA SRB DOO

lan Levanon, the CEO of ADAMA SRB DOO has shared the future plans of the company and outlook of the business, with the recent launch of a new product development program, explaining how the organization’s moto is to listen, learn, and deliver, especially in the Covid-19 times.

You have recently launched a new product development program for the next 5 years, what have you been guided by? — I believe that our slogan “Listen.Learn. Deliver” summarizes perfectly our products development philosophy. We listen to the farmer; we learn the pain points and finally try to deliver the most suitable solutions. Based on those first-hand inputs, our R&D teams headed in Israel

PATH

We listen to the farmer; we learn the pain points and finally try to deliver the most suitable solutions

Focus

are working on developing the next generation of crop-protection solutions. Another guiding element to our new products program is the profound regulatory change in Europe and the phasing-out of

How much did the pandemic affect business and future projects? — “Farmer Proximity” is a key pillar in ADAMA’s approach to the market, so obviously, the global COVID19 pandemic and the social restrictions are posing us a challenge. We have significantly accelerated our digital platform and have shifted budgets to support digital communication channels. This allows us to initiate high quality communication, keep our customers informed and updated at any time. Not only that we find those channels very effective, allowing us to address even larger number of farmers and to provide them with a higher quality content in an interactive fashion, we have also noticed a shift of users profile towards young and more technologically advanced farmers. 

ISRAEL 2021

Adama has been present in Serbia for three decades, and you have expanded your business to the region, tell us a bit more about that and the challenges you are facing? — ADAMA Serbia is by now a regional hub for all operations in former Yugoslavia, Albania and recently also Bulgaria. We serve as a one-stop regional centre, employing 3 decades of accumulated experience in Serbia, through a highly professional team of experts and experienced management. By leveraging the proximity of our expertise to those markets, the extensive knowhow, similar crops and business practices, culture and often language, we have successfully strengthened our cooper-

ation and grown our business with our partners across the territory. Those solid foundations are in the basis of our ambitious future growth plans.

Israel is, among other things, one of the most successful agricultural countries in the world and we can learn a lot from each other, how much are we in step with the world? — If you take Vojvodina’s field crops, fruits and vegetable production, for example, you can find very technologically advanced farming, in par and often above European “standard”. Serbian soy, sugar and fruits production for example reach yields and quality of highest level. The recent concept of “AgTech” innovation centered to large extent in Israel, will yield some exciting technologies that I am sure will be adopted in also in Serbia.

COOPERATION

ISRAEL HAS INVESTED CLOSE TO 35.8 MILLION EURO IN SERBIA

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ISRAEL 2021

Israel ranks 38th on the list of countries that have invested the most in Serbia in the last 10 years

ood relations between Serbia and Israel are not limited just to diplomacy, as shown by numerous investments by Israeli businesses. Since the beginning of the 2000s, Israel has made over a billion dollars worth of investments in the real estate sector in Serbia. In addition to real estate, Israel also invests in renewable energy

IN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF 2021, SERBIA EXPORTED 4.5 MILLION EURO WORTH OF GOODS TO ISRAEL

sources in our country. The largest wind farm in Serbia, Kovačica, was built by the Israeli company Enlight. This investment is worth 189 million euro, and the wind farm supplies energy to as many as 68,000 households.

EXPORT The previous year was marked by the coronavirus pandemic, as well as

the declaration of a state of emergency in Serbia in March. The health crisis has particularly affected the economy and trade between many countries. According to the data collated by the State Statistical Office, in the first two months of 2021, Serbia exported 4.5 million euro worth of goods to Israel, which is a 34.1% decrease compared to the same period in 2020, when Serbia's export of goods to Israel amounted 38.3 million euro, a 10.2% increase relative to 2019. Based on data from the Customs Administration, the largest exporters to Israel in 2019 and 2020 are Philip Morris Operations a.d. from Niš, Livnica preciznih odlivaka d.o.o., Tigar Tires from Pirot, Sinterfuse d.o.o. from Užice, Farmina Pet Foods d.o.o. from Indjija, BOV-OV EXPORT d.o.o., Bel Qistas d.o.o., PC CENTAR d.o.o. and Maestro Jewellery d.o.o. which are all from Belgrade, SOJAPROTEIN d.o.o. from Bečej, Laki d.o.o. from Stupčević, and GORENJE household appliances d.o.o. from Valjevo.

IMPORT In the first two months of 2021, Serbia imported from Israel 5.0 million euro worth of goods, which is 16.5 percent less than the same period last year when imports from Israel amounted to 33.9 million euro, which

was also a decrease of 15.4 percent compared to 2019.

ISRAELI INVESTMENTS IN SERBIA According to the data collated by the National Bank of Serbia from 2010 to 2020, Israeli residents in the Repub-

ACCORDING TO THE DATA COLLATED BY THE NATIONAL BANK OF SERBIA FROM 2010 TO 2020, ISRAELI RESIDENTS IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA INVESTED ALMOST 35.8 MILLION EURO IN OUR COUNTRY lic of Serbia invested almost 35.8 million euro in our country, which puts Israel in the 38th place on the list of countries that made the largest investments in Serbia. Israeli real estate companies have implemented or started a large number of investment projects (shopping malls, residential and

commercial buildings, so-called condominiums, etc.). The values of these projects often amount to tens of millions of euros. Some of the most important Israeli companies operating in Serbia are Africa Israel, Aviv Arlon, BIG CEE, Ashtrom, Shikun & Binui Group, Meshulam Levinstein, Yossi Avrahami, Almogim Holdings and others. Also, according to the data of the Development Agency of Serbia (RAS), some of the largest investments of Israeli companies in Serbia have been made by the Strauss Group in the food industry. Strauss Group also plans to invest an additional 70 million euro in Serbia. Bet Shemesh Engines / Livnica preciznih odlivaka d.o.o. plans to invest close to 11.4 million euro in Serbia, as do companies Kavim Public Transportation, King Bearings Industrial Holdings Ltd / Sinterfuse and Smardis. We should bear in mind that due to the lack of official data on the amount of investments by individual companies, these data were obtained based on research conducted by the RAS and include realized and ongoing investments, as well as planned investments over the next few years. Also, the RAS records do not include infrastructure investments, but only investments in production activities, as well as services. 

OVERVIEW OF EXPORTS AND IMPORTS IN THE PERIOD FROM 2012 TO FEBRUARY 2021 Israel - External trade

ISRAEL 2021

Import (in mill. EUR)

Trade balance (in mill. EUR) Source: RAS

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Export (in mill. EUR)

CORPORATE

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GOOD PROJECTS ATTRACT FOREIGN INVESTORS The Pupin wind farm arrives after Kovačica

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MILOŠ COLIĆ Director of New Energy Solutions

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ISRAEL 2021

fter the completion of the construction of the Kovačica WPP, the Israeli company Enlight has decided to invest in the Pupin wind farm. Miloš Colić is the director of New Energy Solutions (NES), which designed the Kovačica wind farm, obtained all required permits, participated in the construction process and now operates a 104.5 MW wind farm, on behalf of the company’s client - Enlight. "Apart from the Kovačica wind farm, which is a textbook example of a well-executed project, we are working on the development of the Pupin wind farm for the same investor. This is a new project for which we have obtained an energy permit and have applied for a building permit," says Mr. Colić.

Does the continued investment of the Israeli company Enlight mean that they are satisfied with the investment environment in Serbia and your company as their representative? — You are absolutely right. From the beginning, our relationship has been based on trust and respect, in line with the business culture of both policies. The

result was the fastest-built wind farm in Serbia which has solidified our cooperation and created opportunities for further collaboration. Of course, the investor must believe that Serbia is a good place to invest. This was the case in the past few years. Also, the adoption of the Law on Renewable Energy Sources will improve the investment environment in Serbia. I want to say that we, as a team and our projects, enjoy the support of the Embassy of Israel in Belgrade, and especially the Israeli ambassador, H.E. Yahel Vilan. I am confident that they are also satisfied with us because we do not use the Embassy as a service for solving problems or putting pressure on state bodies, but we run projects thoroughly and correctly, so we are regularly presented as a good example of a successful investment.

aims to improve the business climate and regulations relating to green energy, but also to educate citizens about the importance and benefits of green energy. Recently, the Association signed a Cooperation Agreement with the Ministry of Mining and Energy. We are glad that the Ambassador of Israel attended this solemn act.

WPP Kovačica contributes to the reduction of CO2 by as much as 250,000 tonnes annually and generates green energy for 60,000 households

What are the benefits of green energy and specifically the Kovačica wind farm? — Each green kilowatt contributes to reducing the use of fossil fuels and dirty technologies, as well as the reduction in CO2 emissions. In particular, WPP Kovačica contributes to the reduction of CO2 by as much as 250,000 tonnes annually and generates green energy for 60,000 households. Also, each project contributes to the creation of green jobs. As for the concrete benefits of WPP Kovačica, I would like to point out that 2% percent of the profit goes to the local community, that we pay almost half a million euro in taxes annually, that we have built 40km of roads, that we have had a local office in Kovačica since 2013, that we pay taxes to the local budget as well and that, as a socially responsible community, we launch competitions for donations.

Kovačica WPP is one of the founders of the RES Association in Serbia, and you are the Association's board member. What is the Association's mission? — With the help of the EBRD, the Association was founded by the largest operational wind farms Čibuk 1, Kovačica and Alibunar, in which over 600 million euro were invested. The Association's mission is to be the voice of the green energy industry and a link between developers and the state. The Association

Apart from Kovačic and Pupin, is NES working on other projects in the wind industry and beyond? — We manage WPP Čibuk 1 on behalf of our client Vetroelektrane Balkana. We also work as consultants for different clients. We receive inquiries and offers for projects and cooperation daily, which indicates that we have an excellent reputation. The wind industry remains our main business, but we are ready to try our luck in other technologies as well. 

CONTRIBUTION

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ISRAEL 2021

by Mina Vučić

ECONOMY

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ISRAEL LEADING THE VACCINATION RACE Things are going back to normal as Israel vaccinates over half of its population with Pfizer vaccine

fter over a year that our planet has been hit with the crisis of the world pandemic, regional vaccine wars between countries and regions started hitting the ceiling. Israel has outrun the issues long ago, and managed to place itself in the top 3 nations in the world for completed vaccination. In early march of this year, 57.1% of the population has already received

LIFE IS SLOWLY RETURNING TO NORMAL, AND THE SCENES OF YOUNG PEOPLE DANCING IN CAFES AGAIN, PROVE IT

their first dose, and 52.9% their second one. This makes the overall figure of individuals who have received the full dosage of vaccines over 4,921,648 people. According to Prof Yeheskel Levy, the director of the Israeli health ministry, the impact of vaccination had been profound. “Incidence rates in the fully vaccinated population have massively dropped compared to the unvaccinated population, showing a

marked decline in hospitalised cases due to Covid-19.” The long-awaited benefits which the vaccinated group are receiving made everyone want to take the dose. Israel has allowed its vaccinated citizens to return to gyms, restaurants and concerts. Life is slowly returning to normal, and the scenes of young people dancing in cafes again, prove it. Numerous social media posts of cafes in Israel have created a buzz in where vaccinated young Israelis are sitting, drinking, chatting and having fun appeared, encouraging the non-vaccinated to take the shot as life is closer to get back to normal than we think. The Israeli Ministry of Health even considered lifting the rules on wearing masks outdoors, their aim being to immunize all adults, and even of-

fer free drinks and meals to their citizens who are still hesitant and have not been vaccinated! The country has used only the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, which demonstrated high protection against the Covid-19 virus. The top line of the real-world results issued by the Israeli ministry of health stated that the efficacy of the vaccine is 97% against the

ISRAEL HAS ALLOWED ITS VACCINATED CITIZENS TO RETURN TO GYMS, RESTAURANTS AND CONCERTS

disease and death and 94% against the infection symptoms, making it one of the strongest and most protective vaccines currently in the market. According to Uğur Şahin, the chief executive of BioNTech “The real-world data reported from Israel demonstrate that the vaccine is exceptionally effective in fighting Sars-CoV-2. Our vaccine has been effective in preventing Covid-19 cases, as well as profoundly reducing the rate of Covid-19-related severe diseases, hospitalisations and deaths.” The mass vaccination and Israel’s reopening has only benefited the Israeli economy as they are booming in consumer activity. According to the Bank of Israel, the expenditure is running 19% ahead of January 2020, suggesting that a big surge in economic activity is driven by the Covid-19 vaccination. 

Focus

The real-world data reported from Israel demonstrate that the vaccine is exceptionally effective in fighting Sars-CoV-2.

ISRAEL 2021

EFFECT

CORPORATE

TRADITION OF QUALITY

TIM Co. was always big enough to handle them successfully, and small enough to perform them better than anyone else

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world's top in the field of security and safety equipment: - NOVO DR (Israel), leading designer, developer and manufacturer of cutting edge portable digital X-ray systems. NOVO DR produce flat panel-based radiography inspection systems for the Security, NDT and Science and Art sectors. - ApolloShield (Israel) Anti-Drone Systems Developed by ex-military experts, ApolloShield is a world leader in detecting and blocking drone intrusions, as well as tracking down and arresting unauthorized drone operators. For government and civilian use, Apol-

TASKS

Various tasks were set for TIM Co., and TIM Co. was always big enough to handle them successfully,

loShield provides advanced BF drone blocking technology, unique legal and safe choice for proactive directors of security who want to do more than just detect drone intrusions. - Laser Detection Systems LDS (Israel), a world-leading developer of stand-off laser-based trace detection technology, Laser Detect Systems (LDS) commercializes ultra-sophisticated, reliable and advanced laser spectrometry-based trace detection technology for homeland security, law enforcement, military and environmental safety application. Various tasks were set for TIM Co., and TIM Co. was always big enough to handle them successfully, and small enough to perform them better than anyone else. TIM Co. will continue to serve as a reliable partner of the leading world-renowned producers of industrial and security applications, as well as security and safety equipment, as well as to successfully continue to perform all tasks and goals. 

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ISRAEL 2021

erbian company TIM Co. was established in 1993, as a company engaged in the service of medical equipment. Since year 2000, company begins to represent foreign manufacturers of medical equipment and just to mention some of them with whom we have outstanding cooperation over the past years: HOLOGIC (USA), KAVO (Germany), CODONICS (USA), PLANILUX (Germany), and BARCO (Belgium). From the second half of 2013, Tim Co. established a new department which is responsible for the placement of digital X-ray systems for use in various industrial and security applications. TIM Co. made exclusive contracts for representing the following companies in the field of industrial and security applications: TELEDYNE ICM (Belgium), Nikon Metrology Europe N.V. (Japan) and VisiConsult (USA). Especially, we would like to emphasize very successful cooperation with the next three Israeli companies which represent the

TIM CO d.o.o. Jovana Rajića 5c, 11000 Belgrade +381 11 28 36 786 • 28 36 787 Cell: +381 63 356 037 • www.timco.co.rs office@timco.rs

by Mina Vučić

START-UP

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START-UP NATION The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle n Israel it is all about innovation and entrepreneurship, the formula for a successful start-up. With more start-ups per capita than any other country, Israel is the world leader in this sector, having only Silicon Valley above it in the levels of innovation. This tiny country, whose name doesn’t even fit within its borders on most world maps, is also home to the highest number of engineers per capita and boasts the world’s second-highest research and development expenditure rate.

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ISRAEL 2021

Apart from forming educated and talented individuals, Israel enjoys an unusual richness of risk capital, ranking

WITH MORE START-UPS PER CAPITA THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY, ISRAEL IS THE WORLD LEADER IN THIS SECTOR

second in the world for venture capital availability. This boost in investors was created due the resent establishments of hundreds of local research and development centres founded by multinational corporations such as Google, Facebook, Amazon and other monopolies, which seek to benefit from the innovative nature Israel is generating. In the past decade, Israel has established life changing technologies in its innovative ecosystem to form a sustainable scaled economy for the benefit of its people. The main philosophy

the Israelis use the well-known “exit culture”, where entrepreneurs begin to work with a target of being bought by a larger international company rather than be an industry-leading one. The financial value of Israeli high-tech operations over the past decade amounted to over US$70 billion, which is equivalent to nearly 20% of the country’s annual GDP. According to the Israeli, this tremendous amount of transactions is exactly what attracts multinational corporations to open and expand their Research and Development centres. One of Israel’s most famous entrepreneurship incubators is the “Authority Incubators Program”. Here, 18 government funded incubators award mil-

ISRAEL IS ON A GREAT PATH TO BECOMING A SCALE-UP NATION FROM A START-UP NATION, USING ITS INNOVATIONS AND TALENT TO UPGRADE ITS ECONOMIC STATUS lions of dollars to winning start-ups. The program is run by private investors who complete the opportunity to manage these new businesses and ac-

cess the rich flow of early-safe innovations, helping the entrepreneurs with their experience and financial support. Although this benefits the start-ups, one might argue that it’s downside is the limitation it withholds, from becoming a market player without the strategic investor. Israel is on a great path to becoming a scale-up nation from a start-up nation, using its innovations and talent to upgrade its economic status. As Warren Buffet, an American investor put it, “If you’re going to the Middle East to look for oil, you can skip Israel. If you’re looking for brains, look no further. Israel has shown that it has a disproportionate amount of brains and energy.” 

Focus

Israel is on a great path to becoming a scale-up nation from a start-up nation, using its innovations and talent to upgrade its economic status.

ISRAEL 2021

SCALE-UP

ENERGY

by Mina Vučić

WORLD POWER OF RENEWABLE ENERGY With a $22 billion plan, Israel ups 2030 renewable energy target from 17% to 30% s the world is in desperate need of renewable energy sources, Israel is encouraging a shift towards this sector, multiplying its solar panels, wind power, and biomass. Their field of renewable energy research strives to find new, efficient, and waste-

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ISRAEL 2021

less energy to replace finite fossils such as oil, gas and coal. As stated by Prof. Yossi Rosenwaks, the Head of the Center for Renewable Energy at Tel Aviv University, “The world is currently in desperate need of green, environmentally friendly energy sources to bring an end to pollution and the continued

destruction of our planet." Israel’s greatest asset when it comes to renewable energy is the sun. Their greatest innovation comes from the thermo-solar technology, which by covering just 8% of the Negev desert, would be enough to supply all of Israel’s energy needs. The concentrating

mirrors turn solar energy into heat, which operates an electric generator. According to a recently published annual report by the IEA, Israel is ranked first among the OECD countries in solar energy generating out of total electricity consumption. Furthermore, Israel has installed 1,500 solar panels on the roof of it’s Knesset building. It is said to be the largest solar field of any national assembly in the world! Additionally, Israel will be using electricity generation from biomass. The clean vegetative material is processed through different technological methods to produce electricity by utilizing non-recyclable waste to derive energy. The Israeli hold this invention with a lot of pride as waste is directed to produce energy rather than be

placed on a landfill. This is an alternative to preserve fossil resources, reduce land resources, and prevent land contamination, additionally, decreasing the general trend of CO2 productions and other greenhouse gas emissions. Israel endorsed a target of generating 10% of the country’s electricity from renewable sources in 2021. Solar, thermal, and photovoltaic power plants are expected to account for over 70% of total

ISRAEL’S GREATEST ASSET WHEN IT COMES TO RENEWABLE ENERGY IS THE SUN

generation, with the remainder deriving from household PV units, wind energy and biomass. One of nation’s biggest organizations- The Green Energy Association of Israel, was established in 2009 to promote the implementation of renewable energy electricity production in Israel and promote implementation of renewable energy by the various authorities and ministries of the country. Today, Israel is on the verge of meeting its target of producing 10% of its electricity from renewable energy by the end of 2021, and a hopeful evolution of 30% by the end of 2030. The shift to green energy presents one of the greatest challenges to humanity and hopefully, Israel will be able to contribute their share to promoting the global cause. 

ISRAEL 2021

Focus 21

Author: Vardina Hubner, Director of the Air Quality Division at DHVMED, Israel

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he law was initially promoted by the Adam Teva V’Din, a nonprofit public association, and was formulated by several members of the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, in cooperation with the association and other environmental bodies. The law was first proposed in the Knesset in 2005 and was approved three years later, in July 2008, without opposition. In accordance with Article 93 of the law, it entered into force on January 1, 2011. The Clean Air Act has brought a significant change in the way by which the Ministry of Environmental Protection and other governmental ministries handle sources of pollutant emissions. The process of issuing emission permits in Israel is based primarily on European Industrial Emissions Directive 2010/75 (the IED Directive) for regulating industrial plants, which was promulgated in November 2010. The IED Directive consolidates requirements specified in the IPPC Directive, the Large Combustion Plant Directives, the VOC Solvents Emissions Directive and others. DHVMED began its work by assisting in the regulation of chemical plants located in the Neot Hovav Industrial Zone located about 10 km south of the city of Beer Sheva. The main factors that led to the regulation of these plants were the excess chemical emissions and severe odor nuisances suffered by the residents of Beer Sheva due to the operation of the plants and their industrial wastewater evaporation ponds. At the same time, construction of a principal

DHVMED’S ROLE IN MEETING THE CHALLENGE OF REDUCING AIR POLLUTION IN ISRAEL Israel’s Clean Air Act was enacted in 2008, marking the first time that the regulation of various sources of air pollutant emissions was incorporated within the framework of a single law military base was being planned at a distance of about 9 km downwind of the industrial zone, which would have endangered the health of those serving at the military base. Construction of the military base was the most significant trigger in initiating the handling of these plants. The process of regulating industrial plants received a strong push following the success in handling the Neot Hovav chemical plants, after which a campaign began to regulate other significant sources of emissions such as those from cement plants and quarries.

SERVICES

DHVMED has been providing consulting services in the regulation of industrial plants for the Ministry of Environmental Protection since 2004 Upon enactment of the Clean Air Act in 2011, a process of regulating all industry in Israel began based on the IPPC directive and later on, based on the IED directive. The law set a transitional period of 4 years during which approximately 180 of the most significant plants from the standpoint of air emissions were granted an air emissions permit. In order to monitor the contribution of the plants to air pollution measured at the

various monitoring stations operated by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and by municipal environmental units, the Ministry, with the assistance of DHVMED, manages an inventory of pollutants emitted into the air. This geographic registry is managed at both the point level (such as by stack, tank, stockpile, etc.) as well as at the general level (Israel's fleet of vehicles). The method of calculation used for this registry, which was developed by DHVMED and based on methodologies commonly used in Europe and globally, is adapted to information from each source of emissions where a compatible bottom-up or up to bottom approach is used for each source and each sector. The evaluation of trends and their integration together with analysis of the findings from monitoring and environmental sampling assist in the decision-making process and in determining regulatory policies at the plant, sector, industrial area and national levels. The process of issuing emissions permits to the largest industrial plants as required by the Clean Air Act was completed by the Ministry in September 2016 . Since 2016, DHVMED has continued to assist the Ministry in renewing emissions permits, while reviewing policy documents, procedures and professional guides. DHVMED has assisted in the process of revising most of the principal documents, among them stack monitoring and sampling procedures, environmental monitoring and sampling policies and an environmen-

tal sampling procedure, a procedure for monitoring emissions from equipment components (LDAR), fenceline monitoring, guidelines for submitting annual reports that the plants must provide and management of a system for monitoring stack samples. In 2018, 10 years after enactment of the Clean Air Act and approximately18 months after completion of the process of issuance of emissions permits to the plants, the Ministry of Environmental Protection issued an economic analysis of the benefits that accrued to the economy and the environment from implementation of the law, which were expressed in savings of NIS 115 billion in contrast with an investment of NIS 38 billion. As such, for every NIS 1 invested in reducing emissions, the economy gained NIS 3. The report was prepared by DHVMED through a team that included air quality experts, industrialists and economists. The team collected cost data from industrial plants, the Israel Electric Corporation, engineering firms specializing in facilities that reduce the emission of pollutants into the environment and others while taking into consideration the externalized cost effects of the most common pollutants. A team of air quality and GIS specialists at DHVMED recently performed an air quality analysis for the Sharon Carmel Municipal Environmental Association. The largest power plant in Israel – the Rabin Lights Power Station – is located in the association's jurisdiction. This station operates six coal-fired production units. Devices to reduce sulfur oxides (FGD), nitrogen oxides (SCR) and particulates (ES) have been installed on two of the units in the last few years. Devices have not been installed on the other four units, which are planned to cease operation in 2022. In the framework of this project, we divided the association

area into zones with similar climatic and topographic characteristics and ran the AERMOD pollutant dispersal model for each separate tract. In order to obtain a picture of existing conditions for the entire association area, we consolidated the results of the model using ARCGIS software. This data was analyzed using the software’s spatial analysis tool and thereafter underwent spatial dispersal using an inverse distance weighted (IDW) method. So, what about the future? As part of the requirements of the Air Quality Act, the environmental values of various pollutants specified in the law are examined once every 5 years.

REDUCTION

Over the last several years, we have witnessed a significant reduction in the emission of pollutants into the environment DHVMED has become a leader in the field of air quality regulatory consulting for various bodies. It now sees the issue of air quality from a 360° perspective that includes recognition of the sources of emissions and manner of their operation that contributes to the formation of pollutants, quantitative assessment of emissions, adaptation of technologies and special methods for preventing and mitigating emissions, supervision over compliance of sources of pollution with mitigation objectives determined for them and in the implementation of mitigation plans, examining the impact of implementation plans on other mediums and economic assessments from the cost-benefit standpoint of the feasi-

bility of reducing pollutant emissions. We foresee that that the health consequences resulting from exposure to high levels of air pollution will take a significantly larger place in public discourse in the coming years. We also foresee that the focus in the long-term will not only be at the environmental level but will rather also be on the level of the individual through "personal exposure monitoring" to air pollution. Insofar as the level of commuting by the public has increased and people are exposed to various levels of pollution in the daily environment (such as at the office, in vehicles, trains, at home, etc.), the goal will be to study low-level exposure of individuals to air pollution according to lifestyle. In order to study this, DHVMED is currently working on the development of less expensive and simpler monitoring systems that will make it possible to obtain a qualitative picture of air quality in various places, to obtain alerts when there is an increase or change in pollutants levels in the environment with respect to local standards and also provide air quality index (AQI) values. The system includes devices for monitoring air pollutants, meteorological parameters and software that processes the data and provides an up-to-date picture of conditions. In addition, the software will enable each subscriber to receive warnings and information regarding high air pollution values and recommendations to reduce their personal exposure. Moreover, the system has a dashboard that makes it possible for decision-makers to receive a regular situation report on air quality conditions. The aim of the system is to provide a readily-available and accessible service to the public and decision-makers regarding air quality conditions and to take ad hoc decisions when warning of a problem is received. 

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The author is the Manager of the Air Quality Division at DHVMED. The division provides consulting services in a variety of air quality fields, among them environmental regulation compliance by industrial plants and power plants, calculation and development of an emissions registry, performance of surveys of air quality from transportation sources, environmental impact statements, analysis of air pollutant dispersal through sophisticated physical models, cost-benefit analyses, epidemiological analysis and odor surveys. For further information: contact@dhvmed.com

ISRAEL 2021

ABOUT

SOCIETY

by Mina Vučić ISRAEL 2021

Focus 24

DON’T WASTE A DROP In this nation, it is all about water

srael is a powerful yet small nation, who’s geographical positioning lead it to experience various climates and weather changes. Unfortunately, 90% of the rainfall, which comes in very little amounts, is only present during the winter, the rest of the year being very dry. The plains along the Mediterranean Sea receive rainfall averaging 58 cm per year. The Sea of Galilee, roughly 100 km east of Tel Aviv, receives only 40 cm of annual rainfall, and in the south, the Negev desert has scarce rain, measured in millimetres, with less than 2 cm per year on aver-

age. The country therefore, cannot, rely on rainfall for all of their water needs. To solve the issue, after drawing on nearly all of its readily available water resources and promoting vigorous conservation programs, Israel has long made it a national mission to stretch existing sources by developing non-conventional water sources, while promoting conservation. In this process, the Israeli have invented desalination plants, as their primary source of water comes from the Mediterranean Sea. The plants work as a chemical-free reversed osmosis procedure, and filtrate the salty water. The

largest one yet was created in December 2019, bringing desalinated water up to 85-90% of the population. Israel is all about recapturing and reusing water, with over 80% of the water in the country being recycled. Believe it or not nearly half the water used for agriculture comes from treated water waste, which goes through a 6-month process of natural filtration. The agriculture systems developed high-end technology which tracks soil moisture, drip irrigation, and levels of water released depending on the crops. The Israeli always say they have fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy of Isaiah “Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill with

ISRAEL SHALL BLOSSOM AND BUD, AND FILL WITH FRUIT fruit.” Today, visitors and locals can see the marvellous and quite strange sight of deserts blooming with avocado fields, palm trees and citrus groves. Having suffered from chronic water shortage for years, Israel considers this natural resource of utmost importance. Archaeological discov-

eries in the Negev and other parts of the country reveal that local inhabitants thousands of years ago were already concerned with water conservation, as there is evidence of numerous systems, designed both to collect and store rainwater and transfer it from one place to another. In the 21st century, public water conservation campaigns coupled with technical and economic measures are being applied to reduce consumption and to increase awareness of water scarcity. Citizens are urged to save water, and the slogan “Don’t waste a Drop” is well known by every home and citizen in Israel. 

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Today, visitors and locals can see the desert blooming with avocado fields, palm trees and citrus groves.

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BLOOMING

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by Mina Vučić

AGRICULTURE

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AGRICULTURAL EXCELLENCENATIONAL MISSION Israel sits at the forefront of the field

srael has a long and proud history of innovation, from biblical times to the modern-day. The country’s agricultural modernization never ceases to amaze, as the sector has revolutionized harvesting, preparation, packaging, and distribution of food. Israel is famous for strengthen-

THE COUNTRY’S AGRICULTURAL MODERNIZATION NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE

ing the world food security through innovative solutions, as it is one of the most pressing problems facing the future of humanity. In its early formations, many said Israel is not a natural nor sensible place for agriculture, as the quality of the desert soil is poor, precipitation is a foreign word, and the supply of water is

measures of wheat were shipped to Hiram exchanging it for timber. Although Israel did face a crisis when the Jewish people started spreading over the globe, in the late 19th century, socialist

THE NATION HAS ESTABLISHED LUCRATIVE EXPORT MARKETS, REVOLUTIONIZED AGRICULTURE, AND FORTIFIED NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY

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influences from Russia re-established the Land of Israel as a Jewish nation, with agricultural excellence as a national mission. Although evolving ideologies and government action plans have shaped Israel’s agricultural transformations, one mustn’t discount the role of re-

search and development. Massive investments are placed each year into the Agricultural Research Organization, its target, to serve the farmer and the industry as a whole, developing cutting edge technologies to solve real-world as well as local issues. Israel’s agricultural organization has been battling major drawbacks, forming projects against arid conditions, wastewater irrigation, and freshwater aquaculture. Furthermore, in the last decade, some 350 AgTech startups entered the market, collectively raising $300 million in 2019. With booming innovative technology in the sector, Israel has the highest productivity level of cow’s milk in the world, additionally, it produces the most citrus fruit per hectare in the world, and has an average of 0.05% of grain storage loss, in comparison to the worldwide percentage of 20%. From early farming practices to the high-tech solutions of the modern age, Israel has undertaken a tremendous agricultural transformation to become a world leader in the field. 

ISRAEL 2021

a treasure hunt. Furthermore, Israel’s geographical positioning is such, that vast distances separate it from other vital agricultural markets. However, with every problem comes the necessity to invent solutions. In this process, the nation has established lucrative export markets, revolutionized agriculture and water management on a global scale, and fortified national food security. Taking a time machine back to the Biblical influences, ground tiling and rearing cattle was part of the daily routine. Once the Israelis excelled at the art of agriculture, there was no way back, forming it as a foundation of their religion and society. Their Lunisolar calendar is strongly linked to the land, celebrating major festivals and events with the first fruits of the season, focusing their cultivation and harvesting of food. The first innovations took place when the irrigation from mountainous streams enriched the soil, as well as the spread of manure fertilized crops. Back in the Solomon days, some 20,000

by Mina Vučić

CULTURE

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THE HOLY LAND A Port City on the Shore of Eternity erusalem is a holy site for all three Abrahamic faiths, and more than 3.5 million tourists visit the spiritual city every year. The Israeli capital is home to Temple Mount, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Dome of the Rock or Al-Aqsa Mosque, Western Wall, Via Dolorosa and Hurva Synagogue, playing a central role in the spiritual and emotional perspective of the three major monotheistic religions. For Jews, it is the focus of age-old yearnings, a living proof of ancient times and independence. For Muslims, it is the goal of the Prophet Muhammad’s mystic night journey and the site of one of Islam’s most sacred shrines. And for Christians,

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ISRAEL 2021

it is the connection to Jesus, his agony and triumph, where millions every year come together for the Orthodox Easter to witness the Holy Fire. Jerusalem was founded as the City of David in 1010 BCE, but there’s evi-

JERUSALEM’S MOUNT OF OLIVES IS THE OLDEST ACTIVE BURIAL SITE IN THE WORLD AND HOME TO MORE THAN 150,000 JEWISH GRAVES

dence of settlements there going back all the way to 4500 BCE. Jewish people have continuously lived in Jerusalem for more than 3,000 years and over 100 battles have been fought over the course of its history. The spiritual walls of the city are around 4 km long, 12 meters tall, and 2 meters thick. There are 34 watchtowers and 7 gates for traffic. Municipal law requires all structures to be covered in Jerusalem stone, preserving the historical look of the city, and having over 2,000 active archaeological sites. Going deeper into the heritage, Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives is the oldest active burial site in the world and home to more than 150,000 Jewish graves.

Jerusalem is recognized as the holiest city in the world, therefore, it is an essential part of a whopping 60 museums and 70 cultural centers with exhibits that include both ancient and modern art, poetry and literature, playing a significant role in the cultural heritage as well. The Israel Museum is the country’s national museum which holds an extensive collections of Judaica, ethnography, fine art, artifacts from Africa, North and South America, Oceania and the Far East, archeology, rare manuscripts, ancient glass as well as sculp-

JERUSALEM IS RECOGNIZED AS THE HOLIEST CITY IN THE WORLD ture. Furthermore, there is a uniquely designed building on the grounds of the museum, the Shrine of the Book, which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls and artifacts discovered on Masada.

Although Jerusalem is known for being ancient, it was also named one of the world’s fastest-growing hightech hubs in 2015! Additionally, Jerusalem hosts more than 30 annual festivals from opera to film, books, and even wine tasting. This holy city leaves no one indifferent as its cultural baggage is a world-wide phenomenon. Neil Armstrong once said during his visit, “I am more excited stepping on these stones than I was stepping on the moon,” and he had all the reasons for it. 

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Although Jerusalem is known for being ancient, it was also named one of the world’s fastestgrowing high-tech hubs in 2015!

ISRAEL 2021

FASTEST-GROWING

FOCUS

by Mina Vučić ISRAEL ISRAEL2021 2021

Focus Focus 30

THE RAMON CRATER Earth’s Natural Phenomenon

tretched over 40 km, in the heart of the Negev desert, the Ramon Crater is a unique geological formation that looks like a hit of an asteroid. The natural phenomenon was created 220 million years ago when oceans covered the area. The Ramon Crater measures 40km in length and between 2 and 10km in width, shaped like a long heart, and forms Israel’s largest national park, the Ramon Nature Reserve. With its unique habitat for wildlife,

one can see the rare and shy creatures that inhabit the natural phenomenon. Ramon has some 40 species of small desert creatures, as well as snakes, rodents, porcupines, lizards, scorpions and turtles. Some 300,000 visitors a year are drawn to its remote location for hiking, offroad touring, cycling, horseback riding, camping and other outdoor activities. Additionally, Ramon’s guests can spend their night in the craters campground, enjoying their sleep underneath the Israeli stars. 

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AMS Osiguranje has made it possible to purchase a household insurance policy quickly, easily and easily online on webshop.ams.co.rs. By purchasing our household insurance policy, you not only save money, but also take care of the safety of your property in the right way. We would also like to remind you that you can insure your vehicle from various types of damages by purchasing a casco insurance policy from AMS Osiguranje. You can pay the premium in 12 monthly instalments, and we also grant an additional discount for payment in full. We are waiting for you in 16, Ruzveltova Street in Belgrade or in one of over 250 of our branches throughout Serbia. For more information about AMS Osiguranje's services please call 0800-009009 or visit www.ams.co.rs. 

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ave you considered insuring your house or apartment? Protect yourself from financial losses in the event of numerous risks today. AMS Osiguranje gives you with the opportunity to quickly and easily, with the help of professional staff, insure your home from fire, water spills from installations, broken windows, burglary and other risks in accordance with your insurance policy terms and conditions. In case any of the previously mentioned risks materialize, the costs and consequences can be great, and everything you have been investng a lot of effort and money in over the years can disappear in an instant. With AMS Osiguranje's household insurance policy you do not have to bear the costs of the damage yourself. Our household insurance covers the damage caused to your house or apartment, as well as all

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TOURISM

by Mina Vučić

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THE DEAD SEA Focus Focus

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Relax, Heal, Float…

he Dead Sea, known in Hebrew as Yam Ha-Melakh, is a lake situated on the long border between Israel and Jordan. It is a popular hotspot for tourism as not only is it a place of relaxation and beauty, but also extremely concentrated salty

water which withholds numerous medical advantages for its visitors. The shores of the Dead Sea are the lowest point on the surface of the earth, its surface measures around 423 meters below sea level, and are the most intriguing natural phenomena existing on our planet. Aside for

some microorganisms and algae, this salt water lake is completely devoid of life, as there is no seaweed, fish, or creatures found in the turquoise waters. The Dead Sea is one of the saltiest bodies of water on Earth, with almost 10 times more salt than ordi-

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THE DEAD SEA IS ONE OF THE SALTIEST BODIES OF WATER ON EARTH

sites include the Ein Gedi and the Ein Bokek resort, where many hotels offer private beaches. In the relaxing waters, Israeli’s and the country’s visitors, cover themselves in the mineral-rich mud and float on the surface, as the place is well known for its healing properties.

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nary seawater. This is due to the water which flows into the Dead Sea from one main tributary, the River Jordan, however, as there is no way for it to get out of the lake, it forced to evaporate. In this popular destination, there are a number of public beaches open along the shores of the sea. Famous

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The Dead Sea’s healing waters have been sought even since Biblical times. Herod the Great, who reigned between 37 to 4 BC, built one of the world’s first health spas along its shores. According to legend, Cleopatra also loved the Dead Sea and used its products as part of her beauty regime. First time visitors to the Dead Sea can enjoy numerous Spa clubs and hotels, finding a good choice of stores, bars, and restaurants, as well as specialized regional line of treatments. Guests are also welcome to enjoy personalized in-room treatments and outdoor pools, relaxing in the elegant views of the nearby waters. Numerous visitors also come to this popular destination for treating skin problems such as acne, psoriasis and cellulite, as well

as muscle ache and arthritis. Apart from the healing water itself, the Dead Sea was home to one of the most important discoveries in modern archaeology. In 1947, the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in 11 caves near the ruins of Qumran on its northwestern shore. These ancient manuscripts date from around 250 BC to 68 AD. These texts were key to the world’s under-

CLEOPATRA ALSO LOVED THE DEAD SEA AND USED ITS PRODUCTS AS PART OF HER BEAUTY REGIME

standing of Christianity as they included numerous Biblical prayers. Yet another connection to the ancient times, an unusual feature of the lake is that it spits up small pebbles and blocks of asphalt too its surface. Ancient Egyptians used to import this to use in their mummification processes. Whilst the Dead Sea is one of Israel’s most popular tourist destinations, it’s unfortunately disappearing at an alarming rate, as water is being taken from the Jordan River for developments in the country. Its surface level is dropping by more than one meter every year and it’s only half the length it was just a century ago. To stabilize the situation Jordan and Israel signed and agreement to save the waters of this natural wonder. 