Israeli film "Sacred Land" got the first prize of the prestigious movie festival "Sundance." The film is about a young man, studying to be a rabbi, who fights against his own sexual desires.
JTA
From October 2000 to December 2001 the Israeli budget lost at least 13 billion shekels (4% of GDP) because of the intifada. The Israeli economy had never suffered such losses because of terrorism and war before. Agriculture and construction suffered most, and tourism profits decreased a few times.
Police, Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Internal Affairs began deportation of foreign workers, who are in Israel on illegal terms. 1000-3000 people are planned to be deported from the country every month. Besides, new licenses in construction and agriculture will not be given in the nearest future. Many legal foreign workers will also have to leave the country. At the same time licenses for 18 thousand workers, employed in long-term projects, have been prolonged for two more months. During this period all needs of this area will be thoroughly checked.
"Novosti Nedeli"
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The Knesset adopted amendments to the Law on National Insurance in the preliminary reading. The bill, worked out by Deputy Tsvi Gendel ("Ha-Ikhud ha-Leumi"), provides for cancellation of benefits for citizens, who committed hostile incidents. The proposed amendment will put an end to the current situation when relatives of a terrorist, who is an Israeli citizen, receive benefits from the Institute of National Insurance. And what is more, the terrorist himself, in case of being wounded during the act of terrorism, is still eligible for disability benefits. The amendment will also have retroactive effect: the relatives of an Israeli Arab, who committed an act of terrorism in Nagaria, will not have the right for compensations or benefits from the Institute of National Insurance.
Despite the intifada and the USA government appeal to abstain from visiting Israel, 6500 Jewish students will visit the country through the educational program "Taglit" ("Opening") this winter. In total Israel will receive more than 18 thousand students. From the end of December till the beginning of February Jewish students from 20 countries (1600 out of them are from the former USSR) visited Israel by special flights. During two years of the project Israel was visited by about 25 thousands of Jewish students from 150 colleges of 25 diaspora countries. During 10 days the students get acquainted with the country, meet their Israeli contemporaries - students and soldiers.
"Novosti Nedeli"
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