{
  "id": 9986305,
  "title": "Nine Israeli innovations that helped shape the world, from Waze to the Iron Dome",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/nine-israeli-innovations-that-helped-shape-the-world-from-waze-to-the",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-26T13:38:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/article-909549"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Jews have endured suffering and hardship throughout history, yet they have consistently demonstrated optimism, idealism, and a commitment to enhancing the world. Before the establishment of the State of Israel, Jews inhabited a barren land with scarce resources, lacking political influence, a country of their own, and a common language. Despite these challenges, the resilience and creativity of the Jewish people facilitated an abundance of global innovations. Here are nine noteworthy contributions:\n\n1. Solar water heater: Dr. Zvi Tabor, an Israeli physicist, devised a solar water heater in the 1950s utilizing thermal panels capable of storing solar heat even on cloudy days. This technology, integrated with a water boiler, earned him the Weizmann Prize for Exact Sciences in 1956. Today, 95% of Israeli households utilize solar-heated water tanks based on Tabor's design, with over 1.4 million units installed worldwide.\n\n2. Drip irrigation: Simcha Blass, the chief engineer and co-founder of Mekorot water company, invented drip irrigation in the early 1960s. This method delivers water slowly to plant roots, significantly reducing water usage and increasing crop yield. Netafim, founded by Blass, now operates in 110 countries, promoting food security and economic growth for farmers across 15 million hectares.\n\n3. Semiconductor memory: Dov Frohman, the Israel Prize-winning founder of Intel Israel, invented the first non-volatile, erasable, and reprogrammable semiconductor memory in 1971. This innovation, pivotal to the development of personal computing, has revolutionized data storage, enabling the creation of flash memory technology and digital devices like smartphones, tablets, and e-books.\n\n4. Cardioverter defibrillator: In 1980, Israeli-American physician Michel Mirowski implanted the first cardioverter-defibrillator, developed by himself, in a patient despite initial skepticism and lack of funding. This portable device, weighing less than a centimeter in thickness, monitors and regulates life-threatening heart conditions, preventing sudden cardiac arrest. Over 4 million people globally have benefited from this technology.\n\n5. PillCam: Gavriel Iddan, an Israeli electro-optical engineer, developed a pill-sized camera, PillCam, in 2001. This disposable device, approved by the FDA, transmits images of the gastrointestinal tract, facilitating diagnosis of conditions like Crohn's disease and tumors. Over 4 million PillCam capsules have been used in over 80 countries since its approval, providing a non-invasive alternative to traditional endoscopy.\n\n6. Waze: Founded by Israeli entrepreneur Ehud Shabtai in 2006, Waze is a GPS-based navigation app that utilizes crowdsourced data to provide real-time traffic updates and alternative routes. This innovative technology has transformed the way people navigate, contributing to reduced traffic congestion and improved travel efficiency worldwide.",
  "summary": "Zionism challenged Jews to take the initiative, and almost eight decades later, Israeli innovations are improving the world and enriching lives everywhere.",
  "key_points": [
    "Solar water heater invented by Dr. Zvi Tabor in 1950s, now used by 95% of Israeli households",
    "Drip irrigation system developed by Simcha Blass, used in 110 countries for food security",
    "Semiconductor memory technology created by Dov Frohman, essential for modern digital devices"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}