Aaron Katsman
www.IsraelNewsletter.com

If “Initiative 97″ makes it on the ballot in the fall, citizens of Seattle will be asked to approve a measure that would prohibit the city from investing its pension funds in corporations that benefit from the Iraq war, or companies that provide material support to the Israeli government within the so-called “occupied territories.” The opposition to the initiative is being led by StandWithUs.org. It strikes me as a bit odd that a measure that seems to be intended to protest the U.S. Iraq policy also includes divestment from Israel.

Why the connection?

(Continue »)

Share with others:

Aaron Katsman
www.IsraelNewsletter.com

In today’s issue of the Israeli financial paper Globes, Merav Ankori, has an interesting article on how the US Army is looking to invest in Israeli water technology. Apparently the US Army invests sizable amounts of money in private equity, and one of the funds, Onpoint Technologies, is managed by Arsenal Venture Partners.  Christopher Fountas, Arsenal managing partner and Onpoint director, is in Israel looking for local water technology companies.

In an interview with Globes, Fountas said, “We manage investments in technologies for the US Army to meet needs that arise in wartime, such as during operations in Iraq, and for the government and industrial markets. We’ve come to Israel with the understanding that it’s a global leader in water technologies.”

While it’s true that Israel is a global leader in exporting all kinds of water technologies to the world, it’s ironic that Israel is facing a water shortage. With below average rain over the last few winters, the country’s main water sources are at dangerously low levels. For Israelis the summer is sure to bring calls for water conservation. Why? Because of bureaucracy. Israel has done next to nothing to shore up its’ own water supply. With all the technological advances including desalination and drip irrigation, Israeli bureaucrats and legislators, as usual, were asleep at the wheel. While Israeli companies were out making millions of dollars selling their technology abroad, a crisis developed locally.

At least US soldiers will be drinking clean water. L’chaim!

Please see our Disclaimer HERE.

NEW! Introducing Israel Opportunity Investor, our monthly subscription-only newsletter. Stay ahead of the game and make smart decisions in Israel stocks. Go here to learn more.

Aaron Katsman is Managing Editor of the Israel Opportunity Investor newsletter. He is lead portfolio manager for the Israel Growth Portfolio and Managing Director of America Israel Investment Associates, LLC. For more information, go to www.israelnewsletter.com or call 1-888-327-6179, or email aaron@profile-financial.com.

Share with others:

As we move into 2008, there should be plenty of action in our universe of Israeli stocks trading in the U.S.

Optibase (Nasdaq: OBAS) purchases 10% of Scopus Video Networks (Nasdaq: SCOP). According to StreetInsider, Optibase currently owns 3,725,223 ordinary shares of Scopus, representing approximately 27% of Scopus’ outstanding shares, and, following the consummation of the transactions, would own approximately 37% of Scopus’ outstanding shares. Read what we’ve said previously about OBAS’s investment record.

Expand Networks expands and signs deal with Israeli wireless backhaul firm, Ceragon (Nasdaq: CRNT) to upgrade Ceragon’s WAN.

Attunity (Nasdaq: ATTU) loses sizeable, >$1M for firm with $5 in revenues over last 9 months, OEM agreement. Stock gets hammered.

Magic Software (Nasdaq: MGIC) announces a sale of its subsidiary to Fortissimo Capital.

Israeli manufacturer of seamless athletic apparel, Tefron (NYSE: TFR), announces that Yacov Gelbard, former CEO of the Bezeq Group, has been elected Chairman of its Board of Directors.

Peter Thiel, one of the founders of PayPal, invests in search start-up, Hooja. Hooja already has some big names aboard and the technology “enables content providers to access personal and social information about users“.

Share with others:

Aaron Katsman
www.IsraelNewsletter.com

As my buddy Zack“Facebook” Miller posted exactly 2 weeks ago, Alvarion(ALVR) today announceda huge win, inking a deal with a “Tier-1″ player. That player is expected to be France Telecom and the deal is estimated to be in the $20 million range. Here at IOI we continue to be positive about the technology and the 2 major Israeli players, Alvarion and Ceragon Networks(CRNT).

You just have to love these little Israeli companies and their innovation. Just when you think the end is near, Bang, they sign a major deal. 

With the recent weakness in both stocks, these 2 could be big winners in ‘08.

Disclosure: Author’s fund holds a position in ALVR and is long the stock as of 12/19/07.

Please see our Disclaimer HERE.

NEW! Introducing Israel Opportunity Investor, our monthly subscription-only newsletter.  Stay ahead of the game and make smart decisions in Israel stocks.  Go here to learn more.

Aaron Katsman is Managing Editor of the Israel Opportunity Investor newsletter. He is lead portfolio manager for the Israel Growth Portfolio and Managing Director of America Israel Investment Associates, LLC. For more information, go to www.israelnewsletter.com or call 1-888-327-6179, or email aaron@profile-financial.com.

Share with others: