Roberto Abraham Scaruffi

Israel's Week in Business & Technology for week ended December 25 The week's top stories Contents Israel's low-paid public workers to get 14% pay hike Steinitz approves gas export deal to Egypt Turcas CEO: Israel gas will flow to Turkey by 2020 Israel enjoys record balance of payments surplus Israel's David's Sling missile interceptor passes final test Two more TA light rail lines to be approved in 2016 Israeli banks to profit from Visa Europe sale Bezeq to invest NIS 5b in fiber optic infrastructures Eilat’s Kings City sold for NIS 36 million The Israeli bringing Facebook the next billion users Tel Aviv's Norman Hotel: World's best boutique hotel Start-ups and VC Information technology Healthcare Telecom and media Energy Defense and aerospace Real estate Financial services Capital markets Transport and infrastructure Tourism Gadgets Education Legal Economy Features and analysis Start-ups and VC Israeli video ad startup Innovid raises $27.5m This new funding brings the total raised by Innovid to $65 million including a $10 million financing round earlier this year. Israeli cancer profiling co NovellusDx raises $10m Israeli cell therapy co Orgenesis raises $10m Israeli algo-commerce co Feedvisor raises $5m Mobile emergency response co NowForce raises $4.5m Smartphone repair startup CellSavers raises $3m 160 entrepreneurs pitch investors on “money train” Information technology EZchip fails to interest 31 potential suitors The Israeli company had 30 days to find a better acquisition offer than Mellanox’s $811 million bid. Healthcare Kamada reports successful rabies trial results The company plans to request FDA marketing approval next year. Telecom and media Bezeq to invest NIS 5b in fiber optic infrastructures In return the Ministry of Communications will cancel Bezeq's structural separation. Cellcom and Partners oppose the move. Israeli fiber-optic venture Unlimited calls for cash Cellcom, Golan file merger request Energy Steinitz approves gas export deal to Egypt The Energy Minister accepted the Tamar partners’ request to sell NIS 5 billion of gas to Egyptian industrial clients. Turcas CEO: Israel gas will flow to Turkey by 2020 “IEC will need the surplus gas from Tamar” Defense and aerospace Israel's David's Sling missile interceptor passes final test The system will form a middle layer in Israel's missile defense, between Arrow and Iron Dome.   IAI signs Chinese civil aviation collaboration agreement Elbit Systems wins $50m Asia-Pacific deal Elbit cyber security unit wins Swiss simulator deal Real estate Eilat’s Kings City sold for NIS 36 million The long-troubled biblical amusement park will likely be redeveloped into a hotel by new owners Dona Bercleys. Kiryat Gat to triple in size by 2025 Urban renewal approved in Jerusalem's Kiryat Yovel Atlit homes overlooking sea to cost NIS 880,000 Financial services China's Tianan drops bid to buy Clal Insurance Tianan was unable to reach agreement with the Israeli regulator on a permit to control Clal. Locker Group also drops Clal Insurance bid Israeli banks to profit from Visa Europe sale Court apoints provisional liquidator for Utrade Securities Authority uncovers alleged Utrade fraud Capital markets Israeli tech co Ability lists on Nasdaq in reverse merger Ability, which merged with blank check co Cambridge Capital, will be listed on both Nasdaq and the TASE. Emefcy begins trading on the Sydney Stock Exchange Psagot sees 70% upside in El Al share price Transport and infrastructure Two more TA light rail lines to be approved in 2016 The Purple Line will connect Tel Aviv and Yehud, and the Green Line will connect Rishon Lezion with Herzliya. Tourism Tel Aviv's Norman Hotel: World's best boutique hotel The Israeli hotel, opened only last year, was selected as the world's best boutique hotel by two organizations. Monarch Airlines to launch Tel Aviv-Manchester flights Gadgets iRobot launches new vacuum cleaner in Israel The Roomba 980 has an Internet connection for remote operation. Education 3,000 Israeli researchers abroad seek work back home The Contact Center for Israeli Researchers will hold a job fair for academics seeking employment in Israel. Legal Avichai Mandelblit to be next Attorney General The former chief IDF prosecutor was the only candidate to receive the required four votes from the appointments committee. Israel Police busts building site protection racket Anyclip suit casts shadow over MK Erel Margalit Economy Israel's low-paid public workers to get 14% pay hike Ministry of Finance director general Shai Babad says the public sector pay settlement will cost the country NIS 9.5 billion. Israel enjoys record balance of payments surplus Flug sees no change in Bank of Israel monetary policy C'tee recommends 2 Antitrust Authority chief candidates Ministers pass bill nixing Sabbath business activity Israel's new NIS 200 note enters circulation today Features and analysis Kahlon takes the initiative to prevent strike Israel's Minister of Finance is perceived as having more of a social conscience than the Histadrut. The Israeli bringing Facebook the next billion users Roi Tiger's Onavo became Facebook's second development center outside the US, and is taking on the challenge of the Internet's new frontier. Who rules Israel’s indices investments? Yaniv Kunis reveals the most dominant forces among the largest 25 Israeli institutional managers. Dancing with tyrants Israel has no choice but to deal with unsavory regimes but it might be a mistake to renew ties with Turkey.