High-tech firms meet in Israel

JERUSALEM, June 18 (JTA) — Representatives from approximately 125 high-tech firms convened in Jerusalem this week for an Internet conference aimed at promoting Israel’s image as the Silicon Valley of the Middle East. “The purpose of the meeting is to gather all the Internet companies and Israel on one side, and bring in people from abroad, who already recognize that Israel is the center of Internet in the world. After Silicon Valley, we call it `Silicon Wadi,’ ” one of the exhibition organizers, Yisrael Peled, told Israel Radio. International companies interested in business opportunities in Israel attended the conference, as did Israeli software and Internet companies. In a related development, the American-based Sun Microsystems firm signed an agreement with Israel’s Trade Ministry this week to purchase software in Israel.