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On June 25, 2006, Corporal Gilad Shalit (later promoted to Staff Sergeant) was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists within Israeli territory, near the Kerem Shalom crossing. The kidnapping was part of an unprovoked and well-planned attack which involved seven terrorists, armed with explosive charges, anti-tank missiles, light arms and more, and which made use of a tunnel under the Israel-Gaza border. During the course of the attack, an IDF soldier, Staff Sergeant Pavel Slutzker, and an officer, Lieutenant Hanan Barak, were killed, while five other were wounded.

June 25, 2009 marks three years of Staff Sergeant Shalit's captivity. Hamas continues to refuse Red Cross access to the kidnapped soldier.

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Mr. Danny Ayalon, Israeli Deputy FM

BEIJING, July 25 -- Israeli people admired China's achievements during the past 60 years and hoped the relationship between the two countries would "grow and grow" in future, Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said Thursday in an interview with Xinhua.

Danny Ayalon: "Well, the Israelis admire China for the Chinese people (and Jewish people) because both of us. Israel although we are a small people and you are such a great people in numbers. Both peoples are very ancient people with very very important culture and history and traditions, so we feel like very close to China even though we are very far away in distance."

Danny Ayalon: "First of all, I think the fact that you have managed such a great country with 1.3 billion people to live peacefully together and to create democratic institutions and to create a good economy and social welfare is great achievements, also the fact that technology, you have astronauts in space, and that you have made progress in agriculture, in science and technology is also very great achievements, culture achievement, and the fact that China is a very responsible power not just in Asia but globally as well. I think that the fact that China is part of the five permanent members of the Security Council is also a great diplomatic achievement for China and it is very much deserved."

Ayalon visited China in 1998. He recalled his pleasure memory to the ancient country and Chinese people during the interview.

Danny Ayalon: "I was very grateful to be in China in 1998 with Prime Minister Netanyahu when he was Prime Minister before and I look forward to come again."

Danny Ayalon:  First of all, I really enjoy meeting the Chinese in the street, you know we went to do some shopping and in the restaurants and they are all so kind and so very nice. I was impressed to see the Chinese Wall, to see the really great structure and great enterprise. I also like very much to see the agriculture farm near Beijing which is a joint venture of Israel and China, building on experience agricultural innovations that were made both in Israel and China, as the cooperation was very good I was very pleased to see that."

Ayalon is satisfied with the achievements of cooperation between Israel and China since the two countries established diplomatic relationship in 1992, saying the relationship would go further.

Danny Ayalon: "We believe the relationship will flourish　and in terms of economic partnership, joint ventures on science and technology. There are many compatibilities between the Israeli economy and the Chinese economy and I am sure the relationship will grow and grow."

Source: Xinhua

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ISRAEL will highlight innovation in its pavilion at World Expo 2010 along with putting a spotlight on ancient Jewish culture. The country signed a participation contract with Expo organizers today and revealed Israel Pavilion will look like two clasped hands.

The two dynamic forms symbolize Israeli innovation and technology, said Irit Ben-Abba, the State of Israel’s commissioner general for Expo 2010. The message of Israel to World Expo is “Innovation for Better Life.” It will echo the theme of the 2010 event, which is “Better City, Better Life,” said Ben-Abba. “Israel constantly seeks to contribute a substantial share to the world’s leading innovations in art, science, literature and design and we believe innovation will contribute to better life,” Ben-Abba said after signing a contract in Shanghai. She added the 2,000-square-meter pavilion could also represent the dialogue between humanity and nature, the earth and sky, as well as the past and the future.

The pavilion consists of three areas -- Whispering Garden, Hall of Light and Hall of Innovations.

The Whispering Garden is a green orchard that greets visitors as they enter the building. Some facilities will be installed to make the trees begin to “whisper” in both English and Chinese when visitors walk close to them, Haim Z. Dotan, chief designer of the pavilion, told Shanghai Daily.

The hall of Light includes a 15-meter high screen. It will display films highlighting the country’s innovations and technological achievements.

The Hall of Innovation is the centerpiece of the Israel Pavilion. A special audio-visual show will allow visitors to talk with Israeli children, scientists, doctors and inventors via hundreds of screens. These Israelis will introduce themselves and share their hopes for a better future.

It will not be a face-to-face talk because the talks will be pre-recorded, Dotan said. He told Shanghai Daily that visitors could hold a genuine conversation with Israeli people in the virtual Israel Pavilion at Expo Shanghai Online.

Expo Shanghai Online is an innovation of Expo 2010. It offers a three-dimensional virtual visit to the Expo site via the Internet. Israel also signed a contract today to participate in Expo Shanghai Online. Israel allocated about US$6 million for its participation at Expo 2010, which includes the cost of its pavilion and other activities.

It is the first time Israel has committed to building a national pavilion at a World Expo.

So far, 227 countries, regions and international organizations have confirmed they will participate at Expo 2010.

Click here to enter the Expo2010 online website