Israel has hit the news for the wrong reasons just recently. The Jewish community that originates from Ethiopia has had enough of discrimination from the police and other authorities. It has countered with violent demonstrations.

However, it was the vitriol and damage that finally caused others to wake up to this disgrace.  The Prime Minister was shown greeting Ethiopian children. The President issued a strong statement, condemning the lack of help for these communities. As in any other trouble spot – Baltimore, Parisian ghettos, or elsewhere – racism is wrong. And it always impacts negatively on the economy to the detriment of most of society.

The only good thing is that this horror is limited in scope. For example, my children and their friends have openly learnt and served in the army with Ethiopians. And there is a more proactive side to Israel’s opposition to racism. Because despite a small population of eight million people and surrounded by peoples that seek its destruction, Israeli governments have consistently sought to work with, to support and to integrate as many as possible.

Here are 4 examples of this excellent outreach work from just the past few months alone:

Nepal: Did you know that Israeli volunteers comprise around 30% of all the medical teams, who are on the ground to help after the earthquake struck Nepal. Of the hundreds treated so far in Israeli built field hospitals, there have been at least five deliveries of new born infants.

Tanzania: I have written in the past about the Save A Child’s Heart team from Wolfson Hospital in south Tel Aviv. Amongst its numerous activities, it has trained hundreds of Palestinians doctors and save the lives of thousands of young children from around the world, 50% are form Gaza and the West Bank. Its latest project has involved the screening of hundreds of youngsters in Tanzania and Zanzibar – ironically(?) relatively close to Ethiopia.

Nazareth: Closer to home, encouraging the Arab community in Israel raises a host of emotional and geopolitical issues. That said, the efforts continue. NaserahTech is a hightech incubator that was set up last year in the ancient city of Nazareth, primarily to encourage the role of more Arab women in commerce. It has received support from the Prime Minister’s Office as well as Cisco.

MASHAV: MASHAV describes itself as Israel’s Agency for International Development. It has been active for decades, working in countries where few would expect it to be present. Maurice Ostroff recently reminded me that “mayors of Johannesburg, Cape Town, Randburg, George, Grahamstown and Port Alfred, (as well as) more than twenty South African Members of Parliament, and hundreds of local government officials and ministers of provincial councils had passed through MASHAV seminars.”

For Israel, racism is a term to be starred in the face and countered, actively. I could mention the wonderful Christian-Arab Israeli diplomat, George Deek, who takes pride in discussing how he grew up in Jaffa. And this week, Dorin Cioba, the king of the Gypsies completed a successful visit to the Holy Land. In parallel, 200 farmers from Gaza took part in the annual Agritech exhibition in Tel Aviv.

Israel may not be a perfect society. Yet, in the same breath, it actively practices what it demands of others: an openness to share its capabilities with all and on behalf of all economies, free from prejudice and regardless of ethnic background.