Netanyahu meets Israeli robotics team that won silver in Dubai olympiad

The prime minister and science minister congratulated the silver medalists in the robotics competition.

By World Israel News Staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated the FIRST robotics team, which operates under the aegis of the Technion and won a silver medal at the First Global Challenge Robotics Olympiad in Dubai, on Wednesday.

In the Olympiad, 191 teams, representing 191 countries, participated. The Israeli team reached the finals and won silver after finishing the preliminary stages with the highest points ranking. It also won a special prize for its extraordinary assistance to other groups.

Joining the prime minister was Science and Technology Minister Ofir Akunis.

Netanyahu congratulated team members on their achievement. The team members showed off their medal-winning robot.

“This is truly a great honor for the State of Israel. You were in Dubai, which is not coincidental. This represents what is above the water. There are, of course, currents under the water that occur, and which occur – inter alia – because of this,” Netanyahu said.

“You went there with robotics and technology but the reason why the State of Israel has forged ties with many countries in the first place is because we have technologies and capabilities against a common enemy in both the security and civilian spheres. What you have done here is another step in this process, and it is not bad at all,” he said.

“I wish that you continue to rise higher and higher and fly the Israel flag with pride. May you succeed and continue,” he added.

Minister Akunis said: “The FIRST robotics team from the Megiddo Regional High School brought us huge honor in Dubai and is a genuine reason for national pride.”

“The next generation of the high-tech nation, the young researchers and the scientists, will rise on the successes of the present generation. This ensures our existence here – no less,” Akunis said.

“Dozens of robotics teams from around the country have already been financed by the Science Ministry, thanks to a government decision that I initiated close to the start of my tenure as minister. I am proud of the team, proud of the decision that I initiated and proud of our country, which is achieving great things in the fields of science, innovation and technology.”

Benjamin NetanyahuIsrael innovationOfir Akunis