CTech’s Daily Israeli Tech News Roundup

Israel’s government and tech Industry brace for U.S. tax reform. Last week, representatives of some of the largest tech and industrial companies operating in Israel met with Israeli government officials to deliberate the U.S. tax reform. The government is expected to lobby for the country’s exclusion from the BEAT tax, introduced as part of the reform. Read more

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo: AFP

Activist fund Elliott pushes to overhaul board of Israel's biggest telecom provider.The hedge fund called for a sweeping corporate governance reform at Israeli telecommunication provider Bezeq, and for the immediate resignation of all company directors implicated in an Israeli investigation. Read more

Scientist’s ex-wife joins legal melee over Kite Pharma windfall. The ex-wife of Israeli immunologist Zelig Eshhar, who holds the patent to the technology used to develop Kite Pharma’s anti-cancer treatment, has joined the fight for a piece of the windfall from the company's August $11.9 billion sale to Gilead Sciences Inc. Read more

Waze finds path back to Iran, report says. On Monday Iranian news site Tasnim News reported on Twitter that an Iranian ban on the Google-owned mobile navigation app has been lifted. Use of the Israeli-developed app was blocked in the country in March, reinstated in September and blocked again in October. Read more

People search company Pipl raises $19 Million. The company’s search engine is used for background checks and for customer relations management. The investment came from Israel-based growth stage venture capital firm IGP (Israel Growth Partners). Read more

Salesforce delivers fresh funding to delivery software company Bringg. The Tel Aviv-based startup develops and markets software that enables companies to manage third-party delivery suppliers in an “Uber”-like manner. Read more

Mumbai-headquartered Tech Mahindra rolls out startup collaboration program in Israel. The information technology and consulting firm is looking to invest in 20 startups in the program's first year. Read more

Allot Communications expands cybersecurity business with startup acquisition. The communications equipment company will add Tel Aviv-based Netonomy's connected home security software to its product offering. Read more

Comcast launches new telecommunications accelerator in Philadelphia. The company is eying Israeli startups for the program, one person familiar with the matter said. Read more

Will HR be next big tech sector in Israel? Avi Golan, a vice president at HR company ZipRecruiter, believes Israel’s prowess in AI and machine learning can make it a leader of this emerging industry. Read more