Israel

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create a Regional Support Office (RSO) of UNOOSA's programme 'United Nations Platform for Space-Based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER)'.

UN-SPIDER RSOs are regional or national centres of expertise that collaborate with UN-SPIDER on its technical advisory support, capacity building and outreach to leverage space for disaster risk reduction in their region or country. The network allows UN-SPIDER to take advantage of the significant experience and capabilities offered by Member States to promote the use of space tools for disaster risk reduction all over the world.

The new RSO will be located in the Earth and Planetary Image Facility (EPIF) of the Ben-Gurion University. EPIF is responsible for scientific research on advancing satellite and airborne remote sensing applications...

The International Charter Space and Major Disasters have been activated on 24 November 2016 due to wildfires affecting Israel since 21 November.  Although there are no fatalities, the fires have left injured people and led to the damage and destruction of homes. 

Haifa, the third largest city in Israel has been the most affected one, and approximately 80000 people have been told to evacuate. According to BBC, strong winds in the north of the city augment the fires that came after a drought of two months. Authorities informed that arson is the suspected cause in half of the fires. Strong winds and dry conditions will maintain till early next week warned forecasters. The international community has sent equipment to support the work done by the local firefighters. For more BBC information on the fires please click...

The remote sensing laboratory at the Ariel University, Israel, is working in a new technology that could forecast earthquakes through satellite data.

“We’re trying to establish a huge platform that takes into account different remote sensing measurements. We’re trying to combine all the data in order to try to predict, assess and mitigate natural effects related to natural hazards,” said Dr. Yuval Reuveni, head of the university’s remote sensing laboratory.

While predicting earthquakes, it is also very important to evaluate the precursors and potential consequences, such as floods, severe storms or tsunamis. If the new technique that is being developed can really forecast these natural phenomena, the risk created by natural disasters could be notably reduced.

On the sidelines of the 58th session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) in Vienna, the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and Israel signed an agreement on cooperation in space-related issues on Friday, 12 June 2015. The Israel Space Agency will implement the agreement on behalf of the Israeli Government.

The agreement includes the contribution to the advancement of space-related research within the international community recognizing that space has become a dominant factor in technological, economic and cultural development, holding great potential to improve the lives of mankind globally, in such fields as medicine, disaster management, satellite technology, environment, geographical navigation and much more.

The two parties confirmed that they aim at further consolidating and developing their cooperation in order to effectively achieve their common objectives, including for the purpose of establishing mechanisms to...

Israel has years of experience in satellite communication and navigation. The country is now preparing to launch its first Earth Observation satellite to monitor crops. The project Vegetation and Environment Monitoring on a New Micro-Satellite (Venus) is carried out in cooperation with France and will include an on-boardsuper spectral sensor.

The French space agency CNES will provide the camera, while the Israeli Space Agency will be responsible for the launch, spacecraft, technology and control. The satellite will be used for scientific purposes dealing with monitoring, analysis and modeling of agricultural land surface.

Israel plans to launch this vegetation monitoring ultra-light satellite alongside with another communications satellite in 2015. The website Nocamels points out: "The satellite will be the first fully commercial spacecraft...

On 10 January 2013 the International Charter "Space and Major Disasters" was activated for floods in Israel to provide satellite imagery and derived maps. UN-SPIDER/UNOOSA requested the activation on behalf of UNOCHA, Pt Jerusalem Office. The National Space Organization (NSPO) already provided a Formosat2 image taken on 12 January 2013 over Palestine. The Imagery was processed by the FCU (Feng Chia University) GIS team.

After heavy rains, a deadly snow storm had hit parts of Israel, Palestine and Jordan causing power outages, structural and agricultural damage and loss of human lives. Since Thursday, 10 January, at least 4inches (10cm) of snow have fallen in Jordan. Thousands of people are living in refugee camps due to freezing weather conditions.

Reportedly, two fatalities occurred in Lebanon during a flash flood. At least 46 people have been injured in road accidents across...

From the fourth to the eigth of November this year, the Comittee on Space Research (COSPAR) will hold its fourth Symposium in Herzliya, Israel,  covering the topic of small satellites for sustainable science and development.

The program will include invited lectures, oral and poster presentations, which will deal with a wide spectrum of topics in all disciplines related to the meeting topics. The symposium gathers a few hundred participants, and are focused on specific topics.

COSPAR was established by ICSU, now the International Science Council (ISC), in 1958. Among COSPAR's objectives are the promotion of scientific research in space on an international level, with emphasis on the free exchange of results, information, and opinions, and providing a forum, open to all scientists, for the discussion of problems that may affect space research. These objectives are achieved through the organization of symposia, publication, and other means.

The...