Yesterday was International Women’s Day. The Israeli media was full of stories about how full equality between the sexes is still a long way off in the Holy Land. All this, when in the past 12 months about 10 senior police officers have resigned from the force due to ‘sexual indiscretions’.

That said, I did detect some positive trends. For example, I was particularly interested in a series of articles, featuring women in leading positions of commerce in Israel. And for once, we were able to move beyond Shari Arison, who owns Bank Hapolaim, Ofra Strauss who is considered one of the most influential women globally and Rakefet Russak-Aminoach who runs Bank Leumi.

1) Esti Ackerman runs a family business that has made its fortune importing and distributing alcoholic products in Israel. Now that is often considered (incorrectly) a man’s world, but this lady knows her stats. I was delighted to read how she reported that because of the drop in import duties, whiskey products entering Israel shot up by more than 180% in 2014.

2) Miri Robinu is head of the 10,000 strong workers committee at Bank Leumi. Historically, this is one of the major unions in the country, especially in the finance sector. She was rightly showing off how she has improved conditions for her colleagues, such as over pensions, without having to resort to threats of strikes etc.

3) Alona Barkat is the wife of a successful high-tech entrepreneur. She is also chairperson of Hapoel Beer Sheva Football Club, where the men ‘rule’ the changing rooms . Gradually, she is taking this small time club from the desert to become one of the Israel’s strongest and most consistent soccer teams.

My point is that it is not just that women are making it in Israel, albeit there is a more to be done. What I am saying is that Israel, despite conservative religious attitudes holding back parts of society, is incredibly open.

Empty words? Just look at how the Israeli army now deliberately looks to recruit autistic people for a crack intelligence unit. And what about the fact that the Arab Party List may be about to become the third largest party in the Israeli Parliament? Israeli is an amazingly vibrant country to live in.