During the past week, alternative investment marketplace, SecondMarket announced its launch of operations in Israel. The site offers Israeli companies an alternative to VC funding. BrightSource Energy broke ground on the Ivanpah solar plant in California and the US Chamber of Commerce launched the first American-Israeli business council. For these stories and more, see this week’s headlines below.

Cleantech
1. Israel’s Solar Power Wars

2. BrightSource Energy Breaks Ground on Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System

Investment
3. The first Israeli Super-Angel Seed Fund Launches with $25 Million

4. 1st Israel-US business council launched

Information Technology
5. SecondMarket First Expansion Into Israel

6. SecondMarket Offers Israeli Companies New Alternative to VC Funding

7. Telmap Introduces Location-Aware Twitter Widget

8. Provigent picked as most promising start-up

9. Google strengthens Israel connection

Miscellaneous
10. New Israeli technology weighs trucks without stopping

11. Israeli technology puts Dallas cowboys in their place