WASHINGTON – The 2014 AIPAC Convention commenced with the singing of the Spangled Banner and the Hatikvah by Hagit Yassu, a young Israeli singer.
Over 13,000 attendants from around the world, from all religions and walks of life, came together to show support for Israel.
The convention hosted the Village Pavilion which offered a display of Israel’s latest and cutting-edge inventions and developments, among them the booth run by Ariel University, a rapidly expanding university of some 15,000 students in Samaria.
Ariel U’s Research and Development Department presented three water purification and retention projects designed to contend with the threat of water contamination by sewage.
Prof. Edith Avrahami showed Tazpit News Agency a new technology which saves cold water while the water is running and being heated. Water is scarce in Israel, and much thought is invested in the development of water preservation technologies. Another project she shared was the purification of sewage through the use of charcoal filters.
Prof. Avrahmi remarked that this was the first time Ariel U was represented at the AIPAC Convention. She thanked AIPAC for their hospitality, enabling Ariel U to share their latest innovations developed by their students.
Dr. Yaacov Anker, another researcher, pointed out the Ariel U’s research is geared towards minimizing water contamination in the Samaria and Jordan Valley areas. The Bio Reactor, a biological sieve, filters water through biological membranes. The process is unique because it enables the reuse of the filters, cutting expenses by 50%. Dr. Anker expressed satisfaction at the exposure Ariel U’s projects were receiving at the convention, “It’s really heat-warming to see the support shown here for Israel, we are loved here.”
During PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s closing remarks he attacked the BDS movement, receiving a standing ovation when he stated that ‘we should boycott the boycotters’. Ariel U’s presence at the convention and the exposure of Israeli technology consist another significant step towards Israel’s prominent presence on the global stage of pioneering research and technology.
By Carmit Madar
Tazpit News Agency