Ostensibly, the news from Israel this week has been depressing.

  • About 20 more citizens died from corona.
  • The government’s economic policy for saving the economy looks amateurish, if I have to be complimentary.
  • The Prime Minister is seeking new elections, when the country needs leadership not political pranks.
  • Demonstrations and violent counter -demos in response to the actions of the Prime Minister.

The list goes on. It is no wonder that I cancelled the weekend newspapers months ago. It is poignant to note that yesterday was the day that Jews around the world recalled the destruction of the first two Temples. One of the background causes is considered senseless hatred, when communities turn in one each other. Ironic?

This morning, my face brightened up. Just after completing the 6.00am news on the Israeli Army Radio station – it is a 70 year old anomaly that this semi-commercial media outlet is still ostensibly run by the military – the announcer wished the Arab and Druze community “Eid al Hada Mubarak”.

Today is Eid-Al-Hada, the Feast of Sacrifice, for Moslems.

So there is hope! But is this a one-off incident? I invite to open this link https://www.facebook.com/19459912688/videos/750021899147879/

It is amazing how many wonderful things take place in this wonderful Holy Land between different religions, but is so rarely reported! When I look around at these and other similar stories, I note that none involve the government. People are doing it by themselves, for themselves.

It’s now about 4.00pm. One of the main TV stations has a special on how citizens can donate to charities, swamped with extra appeals in this time of need. During the chit-chat, there is a ticker at the bottom of the screen, publicising positions available.

Some cheer at last. Have a good weekend!

Israel’s economy is a study in contrasts“. Thus headlined “The Economist” magazine a few days ago.

The article is wide in its scope. For example, it highlights the desert city of Beersheva as a world leader in creating cyber technology. And that is just for starters. The economy grew at 4% last year. Unemployment resides at a lowish 4.3%. Public debt at 62% of the GDP is one of the best ratios in the OECD. The shekel currency has appreciated by 13% against a basket of leading global currencies. And so on.

The magazine does feature the weak side of the Israeli economy. Restrictive import and licensing practices keep the cost of food unnecessarily high. Productivity stats are poor. And with boring predictably, the authors cites Israel’s defense policy for the main cause of the a weak Palestinian economy. Thus, in real terms, “Gazans are about 25% poorer today than they were at the time of the Oslo Accords”.

This is an argument that sounds politically powerful. However, it bares up, neither in the numbers game nor against the facts on the ground. First, as I have mentioned in the past, when the World Bank examined the Palestinian economy prior to 1994, when it was governed by Israel, “the annual growth rate (for the period 1968 to 1999) establishes itself at 5.5%.” As the author Sebastian Dessus observed, this was one of the highest rates in global terms, even allowing for substantial population growth.

The point is that this begs the question as to why the Palestinian politicians refuse to allow cooperation with Israel.

And then there is 8200, renowned as Israel’s high-tech unit in the army, whose geeks produce software and hardware that James Bond filmmakers cannot even dream about. In parallel, for some years, many of the alumni of this elite group have struck out in the start up world. And it is no secret that against what might be considered assumeded norms from around the globe, they have been openly seeking cooperation with the Arab sector in Israel.

Well the 8200 “Hybrid Accelerator” has just initiated its latest round of intakes. They include SAF, Brainkos and Shareshipper to name just three of the seven involved. One cardinal condition for acceptance into the programme is that each team must include at least one Arab member on its staff.

It is this form of contrast which sets the Israeli economy apart, especially from those of its neighbours. This approach, embracing the views of all religions and backgrounds, that is one of the key reasons why Israel has become known as the start up nation. And that is why “The Economist” is able to report on such positive economic stats for the Holy Land.

Earlier this week, I wrote how Israel’s 69th birthday party, the celebrations for Independence Day, reflect its amazing economic progress over the decades. In this third and final review, I want to look at one of the lesser known aspects of Zionism – how to relate to Arab minorities.

While pre-state / pre 1948 Zionist leaders fought amongst themselves, many accepted that there must be room for non Jews to play a full roll in the new country. Given geopolitical dynamics, that statement has not been easy to fulfill all the time and there is still much to be done. What can be said is that today, about 25% of the population is not Jewish and this is roughly represented in  the Kenesset, the Israeli Parliament.

How does this outreach manifest itself outside the realms of politics? I want to delve into the complex situation in Syria. The international media, even those outlets known to be hostile to Israel, has often reported and filmed how Israel has been treating thousands of wounded civilians fleeing from the battles in Homs and elsewhere.

I have read an analysis on the activity of the hospital in Nahariya. This is located near the Israeli-Lebanese border and whose managing director is Dr Masad Barhoum, an “Israeli, an Arab and a Christian – in that order“. Since 2013, the hospital has looked after about 1,600 Syrians, roughly 70% of those treated in Israel. The average period of hospitalisation is about 23 days, which reflects the seriousness of the injuries. And the cost of this treatment, estimated in the hundreds of millions, comes out of the purses of the taxpayers.

Remember, from time immemorial, Syria in its various forms has displayed nothing but outright hostility to Israel. And it is difficult to latch on to similar outreach work from Arab countries in the region. In the worst case scenario, Iran is investing its precious oil revenues in strengthening the armies of Hizbollah and Hamas, the very opposite of what Israel is practicising.

My hope is that when there is a Palestinian leadership that comprehends what this form of Zionism can offer them – as per Egypt and Jordan previously – then the path to peace can open up for all.

For a country of a little over 8 million people, Israel has more than its fair section of minority interest groups.

It is not just that about 25% of the populace is not Jewish. There are Muslim Arabs, as well as Christian Arabs. Bedouins and Druze do not see themselves as Arabs. Moving along, you have the ultra orthodox people, who can then be subdivided, and so the listings go on. And all of this is wrapped around the geopolitical instability of the region.

And through all of this, Israeli society has some amazing positive things to teach others. Last week, I mentioned the amazing work at Beit Issie Shapiro – teaching autistic kids of all backgrounds to communicate via an Ipad. this work has received the blessing of the UN. Previously, I had referred to the ever increasing role of women in Israeli society, despite many internal religious pressures.

What is pleasing to see is that these patterns of change are continuing. In the past two weeks, different news agencies have informed us that:

A) There is a special business accelerator for start ups led by Israeli women. To date, participants in the programme have raised US$20 million.

B) Lucy Aharish is an amazingly talented TV presenter. She has been prominent in celebrations of Israel’s Independence Day. And she is very proud of her Arab heritage, which she uses to break down barriers presented by all sides. Her story and triumphs should be an inspiration for all.

C) And then there is the university scene. The latest set of stats refer to 2014, when 3,600 additional students enrolled. Most of these come from the ultra orthodox sector, which are not normally associated with tertiary education. In total, females make up nearly 59% of the numbers, again somewhat surprising as there are so many conservative forces at work.

What does this all add up to? No, Israeli is not a perfect society, although I have yet to find such a thing. On the other hand, the efforts to create a pluralistic society in the Holy Land, where opportunity is available for all, are truly producing results that need to be observed if not copied by others.

The Western Wall Plaza in the heart of the old city of Jerusalem is arguably the holiest site in the world. In a proximity important to three great religions, people have been allowed to practice the beliefs freely since it fell into Israeli control in June 1967.

This week, UNESCO will vote on a resolution that effectively abrogates Jewish and Christian history. In an effort to denigrate Israel, the organisation will call for sanctions against the Jewish state. And it is this clear divide between the reality of pluralism as opposed to the world of vicious political or diplomatic manipulations that brought me to question:

‘What else does the world not want to hear about Israel?’.

With incredible timing, this morning I came across three seemingly unrelated pieces of news. Individually, they may be interesting. Together, they reveal a society in Israel that is bubbling, at least partially integrated, and continually struggling to improve despite of all the surrounding external threats. For example: –

Let me deliberately start with some news from the military. The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) has just completed its latest and largest programme to induct people with special needs. In the past few days, 80 young recruits finished a basic training course and are starting to find their way to their designated units.

Then there is the contentious issue as to how Israel treats Palestinians. Now I am not going to boast that all is rosy. However, I can say that this week, I will be starting with a new client who may claim that he is a Palestinian. And this video clip presents a whole different take to what is reported in places like the New York Times and similar. War is created through distrust, while on the ground Israel is doing much to break down barriers with Palestinians.

Number three on my list is actually a set of three women: Miriam Banki, Adenko Sabhat Haimovich and Esther Tapeta Gradi. Not exactly household names. All three ladies were  appointed as judges a couple of weeks ago, not something you would see in most other Middle Eastern countries.

And now look again. Banki’s teenage daughter was murdered last year, when she marched in a gay a parade. There was mass condemnation at the outrage, and this “promotion” must also be seen in that context. In contrast, Haimovich and Gardi were born in Ethiopia. And for all the struggles of the community which has emigrated from there, they represent the progress towards integration that has been made over the decades, and the more that still needs to be done.

Yes, Israeli society is not perfect. However what these stories and anecdotes illustrate is that UNESCO’s resolution today is based on one big fabrication. Is it not ironical, sad and shaming that the leading global agency for cultural integration is promoting a modern form of that classic hatred, known as anti-Semitism?

There is much talk these days of the potential of a widening boycott against Israeli businesses, because……well, it sounds politically correct.

Israeli advocates point to the hypocrisy of the situation. The boycott campaign proponents (BDS) do not advocate an equivalent boycott of China or elsewhere. Two Israelis, resident in New York, have just concluded a US$100 million property contract on behalf of the government of Qatar, no problems there apparently. A Palestinian survey reveals that 70% of respondents declared a preference for Israeli products. And for all the controversy of Scarlett Johansson’s advert for SodaStream during the Superbowl and the subsequent venom of Oxfam, Palestinians clearly enjoy working for Israeli employers in the West Bank.

OK, but what about encouraging the Arab sector in Israel?

Well, in the past two years, the Prime Minister’s Office has initiated a couple of seminars promoting the issue. Further, a technology incubator has been created in Nazareth, a city combining Jews, Moslems and Christians. Similarly, so few people know about the Al Bawader investment fund, set up in 2010 through an initiative of the Israeli government and the Israeli venture capital group, Pitango. It has a fund of over US$50 million to invest specifically in Arab ventures within Israel.

Al Bawader has a current crop of seven start-ups on its books. A typical example is Ms. Mass Watad, born in 1980 and who studied at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. She currently owns a chain of diet clinics and in addition has developed a massage therapy. She  intends to set up a series of franchises in the Arab world.

Datumate Ltd, very clearly in the high-tech sector, was founded by Dr. Jad Jarroush. Employing ten people and benefitting from the marketing reach of Pitango, it offers software applications for customers in the area of land surveying, civil engineering and architectural planning.

As I write this, there is a very active television campaign in Israel, rejecting racism in all its forms. So few of Israel’s detractors will tell you about this prime-time effort. So few will report on the successes of Al Bawader. There again, so few of them reside in countries with similar adverts.

Governments around the world are berated for not helping small businesses, which statistically generate over 90% of a typical economy’s wealth.  And it is only a further small step for politicians to ignore the needs of minority groupings.

In the past few months, Israel has launched a major campaign to tackle this problem. It has been spearheaded by the Export Institute, an arm of the Ministry of Industry.

The Arab Business Conference in Nazereth proved to be a launching pad for a multi year strategy, supported by a budget of hundreds of million of shekels.  The fund will provide consultancy services, training and marketing facilities to export focussed firms in the Arab sector. Significantly, the conference was attended by both Palestinians and Israeli Arabs.

On its own, this strategy will not be enough to drive forward the Arab economy. However, to be fair, Israel has invested considerable resources in the past year in assisting the Palestinian economy. A 5 chapter report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs details some of the recent measures taken: –

For example, in 2009, trade between the two areas increased by nearly 3%, despite the recession. Over 5% more Palestinians were employed in Israel. Several crossing points, such as Gilboah-Jalamah, have been upgraded, facilitating the transfer of goods. Numerous water disposal and / or sewage improvement projects were implemented. The list of public and commercial initiatives is extensive.

Of equal significance is that despite the upsurge in terrorist activity in early 2010, these projects continue to operate and have even been extended. For example, more commercial crossing points are being developed, such as on the 443 road between Jerusalem and Modi’in.

Argue that this is not enough, and you may have a point. However, these are excellent starting points. They need to be supported by similar efforts on the Palestinian side. They serve as a lesson for many other economies around the world.

Just over 20% of Israel’s population is not Jewish. Legislation unambiguously protects the rights of religious and ethnic minorities. And yes, you can see more and more non-Jews represented at the top of professions, such as medicine, the law and even in the diplomatic corps.

Yet the painful truth is that equality before the law does not ensure equality when resources are handed out. It is an open secret that many communities have been starved of budgets by successive governments.

So, it is pleasing to report on two initiatives that will break this pattern. The first emerges from the private sector.

Pitango venture capital’s co-manager, Nechemia “Chemi” Peres (son of President Peres), credits…. the next economic breakthrough in the Arab population. Pitango has won a tender for a joint government-private sector fund to invest precisely there. He foresees the fund, Al-Bawadir (“buds” in Arabic) repeating the success of the government venture capital fund Yozma, which nurtured high-tech and created a breakthrough not only in deed but also in awareness.

The initial combined value of the new fund is around US$45 million. It has received the support of two prominent investors in the Arab Israeli sector, Jimmy Levy of the Jewish-Arab company Galil Software and Habib Hazan, a former manager at McKinsey & Co.

The fund also has the blessing of the Minister for Minority Affairs, Prof Avishai Braverman. The former chief of the Beer Sheva University, is also sponsoring a government initiative to invest 800 million shekels (about US$220 million) in 14 targeted cities and towns covering Druze, Muslim, Circasse and other minority groups.

The money will be devoted to specific economic and social projects, such as encouraging SMEs, subsidising new homes for young couples, youth enterprises, etc. In each municipality, the mayor will set up local coordination committees. Milestones will be set. Hope will be installed.

In an interview with the Hebrew newspaper Yediot Ahronot, Braverman explains that he is under no illusions. The money is but a drop in a vast ocean. It cannot make up for years of neglect.

However, the professor also makes an interesting observation. Most Israeli Arabs have consistently proved their loyalty to the country. For example, the Bedouin are historically known as the best trackers in the army. The two initiatives are a public and significant way to show that there is demonstrative change in the air. Israel’s neighbours can learn from this example.

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