(Ynet) Israel prepares for pro-Palestinian fly-in "provocation" at international airport. Some 250 activists plan to arrive in Israel as part of "flightilla" initiative

Welfare and Social Issues

Israel ranked 14th happiest country

(Times of Israel) UN-commissioned report finds social factors as significant as economic ones

Israelis work longer hours than OECD average

(Globes) According to OECD figures, Israelis work 2,000 hours a year, compared with 1,650 hours by the British, 1,419 hours by Germans, and 1,414 hours by Norwegians.

Politics: The opposition leader’s peace plan
(Jpost) Ahead of PM Netanyahu’s meeting with his Palestinian counterpart, Kadima’s new leader Mofaz presents himself as an alternative.

Civil Society

4 arrested over calls for bus gender segregation

(Jpost) Haredi men allegedly hire two secular teenagers to stand near Dung Gate with megaphone, call for women to board back of bus.

Aliyah and Immigration

Ethiopian teens uncover their heritage

(Jpost) In oral history project, they learn forgotten story of the struggle to immigrate to Israel.

This year in Jerusalem - as Israeli citizens

As the country's new immigrants prepare to mark their first Passover in Israel as Israeli citizens, many English-speaking olim are sorting through a range of thoughts and emotions.

Religious Pluralism in Israel

Hotels discriminating against Reform Jews?

(Ynet) Representatives of reform, conservative movement claim hotels refuse to allocate room, Torah scroll for prayer services over fears they will lose kosher stamp. Rabbinate: No such directive

Jewish World

Celebrating freedom

(Times of Israel) Because of politics and coalition considerations, a minority among world Jewry is defining what Jewish means in Israel.

J'lem: Thousands attend priestly blessing at Kotel

(Jpost) Chief rabbis address worshipers at ceremony held at Western Wall in the intermediate days of Passover and Sukkot.

Aliya criteria of Orthodox converts comes under fire

(Jpost) Interior Ministry refuses to explain means used; religious rights advocacy group: Orthodox converts suffering because of ministry’s "unconscionable decisions."

Israel Philanthropy

Helping small businesses make it big, via the magic of microfinancing

(Times of Israel) The Koret fund is the fuel for the engine of thousands of small businesses in Israel, providing small but crucial amounts for businesses that can’t get the money they need from banks

Israel Advocacy/Relations

‘Israel-Loves-Iran’ campaign raises over $27,000

(Jpost) Ronny Edri and Michal Tamir look to take their online initiative that went viral "to next level."

Education

Report shows widening gap between Ethiopian pupils and other Israelis

(Haaretz) Education Ministry report finds the largest gaps among the oldest pupils tested, those in eighth grade, while the gaps among younger students tested, in fifth and second grade, were significantly smaller.