Brazilian business leaders look to Israeli know-how

The decision by Brazil's House of Representatives last week to approve a free trade agreement for Israel with Mercosul, the South American free trade area, could have enormous economic consequences for the Jewish state, a member of the delegation traveling with Peres has told reporters in the president's entourage.

Rio de Janeiro's Mayor Eduardo Paes, left, President Shimon Peres, center, and Rio de Janeiro's Governor Sergio Cabral, right, attend a news conference in Rio de Janeiro, Friday.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source said that there is a potential for Israel's defense and homeland security industries to earn billions of dollars from Mercosul once the agreement is ratified, particularly from Brazil.

Why An Irish Catholic Family Moved To Israel

The night I meet with Gerry and Theresa Casey, Jerusalem is enjoying its first wintry weather of the year. However, for the natives of Sligo in the northwest of Ireland, the storm brewing outside is reminiscent of the type of climate they have tried to escape this past year to give their little girl Rachel, born with Down's syndrome and serious heart defects, a better quality of life.

"We were told by doctors in Ireland that a warm climate could increase Rachel's life expectancy for up to five years," says Gerry, 40, who officially arrived here with Theresa, Rachel and the couple's three older children - Sean, nine, Emma, seven, and Louisa, five - in December.

Looking lovingly at his two-and-a-half-year-old daughter as she mischievously makes her way around the family's living room, the doting father adds proudly: "I really think it has worked, because today she stood up for the first time without holding on."

South American olim accompany Peres

Some 25 new immigrants from five South American countries accompanied President Shimon Peres on his return to Israel.

The olim from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Uruguay left Sao Paulo, Brazil, with Peres on Tuesday following his weeklong visit to Argentina and Brazil. They were scheduled to arrive Wednesday at Ben Gurion Airport.

In 2009, about 1,200 new immigrants from Latin America will make aliyah to Israel under the auspices of the Jewish Agency for Israel, the agency said.

(Source: JTA)

Sarah Palin: Israel Settlements Should Be Allowed to Expand!

Alaska - In an interview with ABC News' Barbara Walters, Sarah Palin, the former GOP vice presidential candidate, gave her policy recommendations, weighing in on issues in the Middle East, U.S. strategy in Afghanistan and more.

Palin, whose book, "Going Rogue: An American Life," hit bookshelves today, took aim at the Obama administration's stance on Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territories.

"I disagree with the Obama administration on that," Palin told Walters. "I believe that the Jewish settlements should be allowed to be expanded upon, because that population of Israel is, is going to grow. More and more Jewish people will be flocking to Israel in the days and weeks and months ahead. And I don't think that the Obama administration has any right to tell Israel that the Jewish settlements cannot expand."

Acclimating Your Kids To Israel Before and After Making Aliyah

(The following is an interesting discussion from Maalei Adumim's Yahoo Listserve about advice for a woman considering aliyah on how to make aliyah and keep your children intact.)

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We are considering making aliyah next summer with the help of Nefesh
B'Nefesh. We are looking into different locations to live using the Internet. We are myself (48 year old widow) and my 8 year old daughter. We live in Florida.We are modern orthodox (kosher,do not wear slacks,have a tv)and my child is an excellent student( poo-poo-poo) at a local,orthodox school known for it's high academic standards and Hebrew-language immersion
program. I've heard that English-speaking kids who grow up in an "Anglo bubble"in Israel develop drug addictions and other emotional difficulties. Any feedback? Thanks!

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Hi Rhonda,