Afternoon Tea in Jerusalem Archives - Page 67 of 75 - Michael Horesh Business Coach and Mentor

26 August 2009

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Categories: Israel, Jerusalem

This summer, Jerusalem has come alive.

The city is losing its tag of just being a place for pilgrims and is rapidly revealing its true diversity. The municipality has organised an amazing array of street festivals, making a significant and positive difference for locals and tourists.

I have commented on a vist to open-air Shakesperean theatre in Hebrew. This week’s postings in newspapers include wine-tasting sessions, sing-a-longs, a moving play through old neighbourhoods, local markets, arts-and-craft fairs. Need I go on?

No wonder that GAP, the international clothing chain has chosen Jerusalem for its new flagship shop. Two weeks ago, permission was announcd for five new 5-star hotels in the area.

This historic and beautiful city, the centre of three religions, has never been so open to all.

Until along came the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Mr Amr Moussa. According to an Israeli media outlet, The Arab League reacted with fury to reports that a small group of Jews had prayed on the Temple Mount on Sunday. The Secretary-General termed the spontaneous prayer gathering “a violation of international law.”

So, let’s get his right. Jerusalem, under Israeli law, which in turn is gbased heavily on British jurisprudence, encourages a pluralistic society in the Holy City. The one part of the capital not controlled by Israeli authorities, which happens to be the most important site in the world to Jews, is forbidden to Jews?

In early June, President Obama launched his peace process in Cairo, Egypt, Moussa’s home country. He called on Arab countries to finally understand that Israel has a right to exist.

You have to wonder if Obama really understands what he is dealing with. When will Israel’s enemies bury their hatred and thus rise to see the beauty of who they are rejecting? It is the wonders of Jerusalem that encaptures that joy.

25 August 2009

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Categories: Israel, Palestinians

Israel’s Prime Minister, Netanyahu, has started a 4 day tour of European cities. The first stop is London, where he will meet with George Mitchell, Obama’s adviser on the Middle East peace process.

So will the European leaders seriously pressure their guest over settlements? From the Israeli perspective, it often seems that they deal with the Palestinian counterparts with kid gloves, rarely demanding similar concessions. How about some Arab recognition of Israel’s right to exist, come the shouts form Jerusalem.

This outlook devolves into satire. As Israelis say, what would have happened if Moses had gone East at Jericho? Then, who would have had the oil?

The cleantech revolution gives Israel a chance to convert those jokes into modern political reality.

According to a new report, Israel’s oil imports in 2008 dropped significantly. In fact, “Israel could cut its oil imports by 20%, saving $1 billion a year at current prices, through energy conservation and the sophisticated use of electricity and fuel in more efficient and cheaper ways.”

Consumption of oil products by Israel and the Palestinian Authority has been falling steadily. Oil consumption was 11.4 million tons in 2008, 2% less than in 2007, and 8% less than in 2003. The report expects this downward trend to continue in the coming years, with the completion of the national natural gas infrastructure and the hook-up of power stations and major industrial plants to the natural gas pipeline.

Now, where Israel leads, what would happen if Western oil guzzlers were to follow? And how would that impact on the agenda for Netanyahu’s European chat show?

Worth a thought.

24 August 2009

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Categories: Business, Israel, Jerusalem

Down the road from me in Jerusalem, a 10-storey high research complex is nearing completion. Its structure may be out of place n the landscape, but the capital’s new biotech research facility will fit in well to its surroundings.

Jerusalem’s Hebrew University has a strong science tradition, dating back nearly 100 years. The city and its satellite towns have attracted a high ratio of academics in recent decades, particularly from Russia, USA and Britain. And the government grants Jerusalem start ups Grade A status in terms of public sector financial support.

What goes in Jerusalem can also be found in other parts of the country. D-Pharm in Rehovot has just raised around US$23 million in a rights and shares offering. Protalix is finishing Phase III trials, edging towards a billion dollar plus market.

If that is not exciting enough, the Office of the Chief Scientist has launched a tender for a National Biotech Fund, projecting to add hundreds of millions of extra investment to the industry.

No downturn here.

23 August 2009

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Categories: Business, Israel

Today’s papers in Israel were full of the stats from the last economic quarter. Private consumption up 4%. Growth up 1%. Exports up 5%. Investments up 5%.

Apart from rising unemployment and inflationary scares, all seems rosy, as Israel comes through the global downturn. And…and now let’s return to reality.

Yes, I have always maintained that Israel’s economy was well placed this time last year, especially compared to the UK and to the USA. For example, there was no mortgage crisis in the Holy Land.

“We are not out of the economic recession yet,” declared Finance Minister Steinitz today.

Look at the reports, and maybe the problem is not if “you are out of it” or if you are “emerging from it” or if “round the corner is a bright light”. What has happened is that in order to ensure that the country would not go through a major depression, unusual economic measures have been taken. And these have created discrepancies that have not existed for decades.

1) How can the government provide more resources for growth, when the fiscal deficit has soared?

2) The shekel has strengthened to the dismay of exporters, but the Bank of Israel (BoI) is about to raise interest rates. And, the BoI has ceased to buy dollars in the financial markets. Thus, the 2 weapons used to depress the shekel have been taken out of play. thus exporters will receive less of a return.

3) The labour market has yet to pick up, as layoffs still occur or production is fuelled by overtime.

So, where is the country going? Yes, Israel is doing well, on its own and compared to many others. That is very encouraging for the future and good news for overseas investors.

However, when considering what may happen next, it is The Economist magazine that gives us some guidelines. As this week’s leader points out, the global economy has ceased to shrink, but that is the end of the good news. Many powerhouses are in for a long period of weak growth.

For Israel, with an economy dependent on exports, that is not good news.

3)

22 August 2009

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Categories: Business, Israel, Palestinians

Last week, Israel’s ambassador to USA, Michael Oren, authored a telling item in the Wall Street Journal. His opening lines says it all.

Imagine an annual economic growth rate of 7%, declining unemployment, a thriving tourism industry, and a 24% hike in the average daily wage. Where in today’s gloomy global market could one find such gleaming forecasts? Singapore? Brazil? Guess again. The West Bank.

These are stunning stats, which are rarely seen around the global economic scene. They are based on the most recent assessment of the IMF.

Oren continues by differentiating between the West Bank and Gaza, where the latter is ruled by Hamas. In that fertile strip, 40% unemployment is a common number.

Certainly, we must take Oren’s glowing priase of economic success with some perspective. The ambassador gets paid a salary to hide the downside of the stats.

And this latest growth comes in the aftermath of the Palestinian initiated Intifada, when Palestinians paid a heavy social and financial price for their violence. For example, up to the Autumn of the year 2000, around 120,000 workers daily crossed over into Israel, receiving relatively high salaries. Much of that income disappeared for years.

However, Oren is hinting at something else, something far more positive for Palestinians. If this is what can be achieved with even a tiny smattering of reduced terror against Israel, then think what could be attained with a full peace treaty.

If that is the case, we have to ask ourselves why the Palestinian leadership cannot bring itself to negotiate with Israel, openly and properly?

19 August 2009

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Categories: Business, Israel

Intel has 3 r&d plants in Israel. In the second quarter of 2009, he company recruited tens of new software engineers. that trend is expected to continue for 3Q09.

Info from Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics reveal that this is no isolated item. There is a clear rise in the number of hours worked, although not of all of this is carried through into increased employment. Revenues from commerce and services rose 4% annualized in 2Q09, a sharp reverse of the 5.5% drop in the previous quarter.

Add in a booming stock market and better tourism figures, what does all this mean?

To be clear, Israel’s economy is not back to the rosy levels of this time last year. Inflation soared in July, as the 1% rise in VAT took effect. Many companies are still watching their wage bill.

What is increasngly evident is that Israel is pulling itself away from the bottom of the pit. That is what overseas investors look for.

18 August 2009

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Categories: Israel, Palestinians

The Fatah Conference is over. United in its hatred of Israel and divided over any other subject, the result was a sham. Instead of talking about peace, more obstacles were placed in the way of progress.

In the immediate fall out, it is the average Palestinian who will suffer from this display of disunity.

With a great deal of irony, about the only togetherness took place when most delegates resigned quickly after the ballot results were announced. Former Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei (Abu Ala) told the London-based Al-Quds Al-Arabi newspaper:-

The forgery in Iran’s recent presidential election was nothing compared to what happened in Fatah……There were behind-the-scenes arrangements that removed some names and added others to the winning list.

It will be interesting to see how President Obama handles President Abbas, who clearly does not possess the flowing confidence of his own party, Fatah; a party which has again reiterated the option of armed struggle against Israel.

Fatah’s stronghold is in the West Bank, having been evicted by Hamas from Gaza. Yet this former Egyptian territory raises its own human rights issues.

Last weekend, Hamas took out and slaughtered a rival political group, linked with Al-Qaida. Highly respected commentator, Tom Gross, reports that:

Hamas forces also stormed a mosque in Rafah on the Egyptian border, where about 100 members of Jund Ansar Allah, or “The Soldiers of the Companions of God,” were holed up. At least 150 Palestinians were injured.

Hamas, which regularly cons Western human rights groups into believing it doesn’t have any money, used a considerable array of weapons, including rocket propelled grenades, to attack the mosque. …

According to the Palestinian Ma’an news agency, an Egyptian child was hit by a stray bullet fired during the exchange, and ten artillery shells also landed on the southern side of the Gaza-Egypt border, ….

This news is of considerable political significance because it shows that Hamas is determined to maintain absolute control over Gaza and allow no dissent whatever (thereby reducing the prospects of reconciliation with Fatah and the possibility that the Palestinians might be unified enough to form an independent state).

That Hamas has little respect for common law is no surprise. Two weeks ago, it commandeered 3 new ambulances, just as they were being delivered to UNRWA. That is several tens of thousands of international tax payers money, donated on behalf of Palestinians, which has been swallowed up into the heart of the Hamas organization.

As I end this piece, I have just recalled that back in April, Israel’s entry for the European Song Contest was entitled “There has to be another way”.

Oh, how the Palestinians deserve so much better

16 August 2009

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Categories: Business, Israel

Much has been made of the French and German economies leading Europe out of a recession.

Figures released on August 13th showed that the euro area’s GDP shrank by just 0.1% in the three months to the end of June, far less than the 2.5% slump in the previous quarter. The near stability was the result of an early exit from recession in the region’s two largest economies. The economies of both France and Germany grew by 0.3% in the quarter…..

The Economist magazine has also pointed to the strengths of several Asian economies.

The four emerging Asian economies which have reported GDP figures for the second quarter (China, Indonesia, South Korea and Singapore) grew by an average annualised rate of more than 10%……..

All very encouraging. And I want to draw attention to Israel’s economy. I have consistently stated that the country entered the downturn in a good position, structurally. It turns out that GDP grew by 1% in the second quarter of 2009, beating most predictions.

I am sure that the finance ministers of all these economies are gloating at these stats. Prime MinisterNetanyahu has already released a press statement promising more structural reforms, particular in the Land Administration.

Clearly, one quarter does not make a year and certainly not a long stretch of recovery. What it does point to is the potential of an improved economic future and thus a stronger platform for investment.

16 August 2009

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Categories: Business

You are standing on the dock and you can always stand on that dock. Always. Or you can get in a boat and push off.

Thus wrote Zack Arias. Zack’s blog was introduced to me by an IIB colleague, Tiffany Kemp.

Zack’s style does not appeal to me. He is too full of descriptive terminology, roaming around the main point. But what a point he has to deliver. Whatever your background, YOU, each of us, has something mega to offer to many other people. So stop hanging around and watching other people’s boats, when you have the ability to handle dome of you own sailing.

Even if you are down in the dumps – prison, drugs, poor health – somewhere inside of you is something desperately wanting to illuminate the world. And what will drive you on to that creativity?

M-o-t-i-v-a-t-i-o-n. That massive gutfull of determination from within!

Zach’ next blog is an interview with a door-to-door soap salesman. This guy has a police record and few substantial resources. So what? Weighing firmly against these restrictions is a new inner realisation that he can succeed, deserves to succeed and will succeed just like anybody else. As Zack wrote: –

This goes out to everyone who fears your past. For everyone who wonders if you can make it. For everyone who hates your poor, lush, desk job that seems to suck the life out of you. Do you fear rejection? Make sure you watch the video.

If we look around our environment, we will see just how importnt this drive and verve is in out lives. Last week, I was touring Israel with my family. We came across a spot, which is placed firmly in Israeli military folklore – a heavily fortified Syrian bunker, perched on a hill, and which was captured in hand-to-hand fighting. How? How did the Israeli soldiers succeed against all odds? My 18 year old son immediately threw out the word – “motivation”, and there the discussion ended.

Amazing. As a teenager, he had understood. My parents never spoke to me in such terms. A generation thingy?

My daughter has ADHD. She wears it on her sleeve, doing well in her studies because of the issue and not in spite of it. She has just passed a hell of a course to become a junior instructor for the country’s ambulance brigade.

In a few hours time, I will turn on my internet radio, and pick up the latest scores from my favourite cricket team, Middlesex. It is a side that possesses real talent, both amongst the newer and senior members of the squad. These players know how to perform and can perform. And yet, they have done naff all for most of the season.

Blame bad luck. Blame injuries. Whatever. Something inhibits the team to dispose of the opposition frequently and effectively.

I have made my point. So has Zack. Time for the Middlesex management to convert that in to tangible action.

14 August 2009

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Categories: Business, Israel

Let’s get down to the point. My familyhas just spent 7 days travelling round the north of Israel, including the Galilee and the Golan Heights. And I want people to know what we did and why it was such a great success.

We left Jerusalem via the road to Jericho. The Jordanian Valley is rich with Bedouin, Palestinian, Christian villages and sites. The main road, which travels the West Bank was open to all, and the camel owners appeared to have no problems encouraging tourists to part with their dollars.

We eventually stopped just south of the Sea of Galilee at Neharayim Park, right on the River Jordan. This was the site of an electricity power station, set up by Zionists in 1931, which even supported towns stretching into modern Syria and Jordan.

Here’s what is fascinating. A small section of the area is called “the island of peace”. Under the 1994 peace agreement, it officially belongs to Jordan, but is under the complete management of Israel. Both flags fly near to each other. The murder of 7 Israeli schoolgirls in 1997 have not stopped this wonderful project.

We spent 3 nights at the hotel on Kibbutz Hagoshrim. The Kibbutz lies along the northern ridge of the Hula swamp, drained by pioneers 100 years ago. In 1940, Emir Fa’ur, a powerful tribal leader, sold his lands to the Jewish National Fund (Keren Kayemet) and left his palace . 13 years later, the hotel was established, and in the lobby you can still discern the original structure.

The hotel hosted a multitude of languages; English, French, Arabic, Hebrew and more could be heard. As for nationalities, the dining room was a ready match for the UN, both amongst staff and guests.

10 miles to the west of Hagoshrim is Kibbutz Manara. It is perched about 1,000 meters above the hotel and stares straight at the Golan Heights, into villages divided by the Lebanese border, and into surrounding Israeli towns. It proides a commanding view.

It backs on to an area, which possesses a rare mix of religions; Druze, Muslim, Circassian, Christian, Jewish and several more, living together. It is only the threat of the Hizbollah and its consistent rearmament that clouds the tranquility.

From Hagoshrim, we moved to Had Nes, located on the lower Golan Heights and just above the Sea of Galilee. It is almost a decade since the late President Assad refused to make peace with Prime Minister Barak, because the Syrian leader would have had to concede a 10 meter wide strip along the lake.

Meanwhile, Israeli development continues in the Golan, where over 50 ancient Synagogues have now been excavated. The Golan winery challenges the best vintages from Europe. Red grapefruits are big seller in Japan.

One of the highlights of the week was our walk through the gorge of the River Yehudiya. At the top, we passed an abandoned Syrian village, which in turn had been built on the ruins of a former Jewish town. Below, we struggled along the heavy basalt rocks, wading in and out of the river. We dropped from ledges into small lakes. fantastic challenge.

I could describe other parts of the holiday. Watching and talking to Druze picking sabra fruit – a rare but simple technique. Meeting up with European volunteers on kibbutz enjoying themselves. etc etc.

There were many reasons why our family had a great holiday. Maybe the most important factor was the beauty of the region, open to all. Long may it stay that way.

14 August 2009

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Categories: Business, Israel

In the past week, Israel has thrown out a series of encouraging news items for overseas investors.

Let me start with a story that was first reported on the Hong Kong stock exchange. Hutchinson Telecommunications International will sell its 51.3% equity interest in Partner Communications, Israel. This is expected to pull in a pre tax profit of around US$1,000 million.

Shlomi Cohen is an established commentator on the local finance scene. In his latest writing, he has identified several Israeli high tech companies that have ridden the global tsunami with great skill.

And these companies are not individual islands of success. If you look at today’s Globes financial newspaper, you can find a string of satisfying investment news. To take just 2 examples, check the links to D-Pharm and to Tower Semiconductors.

The Israeli economy is on the move back.

6 August 2009

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Categories: Business, Israel

This item was posted on Globes site just now, echoing much of what I have been arguing for the past 9 months.

Main point – Israel will come out of the recession relatively early. UBS expects growth at well over 2% in 2010.

The article in full appears below.

UBS believes that economic activity in Israel “will show clearer signs of a pickup over the course of the third quarter of 2009.” The assessment is based on the Swiss bank’s composite lead economic indicator, which showed a moderate rise in April-May, and a strong rise in June.

UBS economic Reihard Cluse believes that the Israeli economy will recover sooner than many other organizations that track the local economy, including the Bank of Israel, which is quite concerned about growth forecasts.

Cluse writes, “Overall, the new data point has strengthened our confidence that the Israeli economy will return to positive growth (in sequential quarterly terms) in the third quarter, following a weak first quarter and, most likely, an even weaker second quarter. We maintain our above-consensus growth forecasts of minus 0.8% for 2009 and 2.7% for 2010 (consensus estimates: minus 1.2% in 2009 and 1.6% in 2010; and the Bank of Israel forecast of minus 1.5% in 2009 and 1% in 2010).

Cluse adds, “Compared with many of its EMEA peers, the Israeli economy suffers from relatively few structural problems; we believe this should help it to pick up again relatively quickly once the global economy (and the US economy, in particular) recovers in a more sustained manner.”

UBS’s composite lead economic indicator comprises six variables: manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI ) for stock of purchases, new order and new export orders; intermediate goods imports; the Tel Aviv 100 Index, and the Bank of Israel quarterly lead indicator. UBS states, “All of these subcomponents registered positive changes in June.” The banks stressed the word “all”.

6 August 2009

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Categories: Business, Israel

The main index of the Tel Aviv stock market (TASE) just keeps on shooting upwards. A 13% climb in the past month. And the trading volume is also up 10%.

Boom or bust? Well, I have always maintained that Israel would be well placed to emerge relatively well from the global recession. Reforms starting back in 1986 have created a sound structure, with no false mortgage market.

Another reason, somewhat cynically, is that as the recession emerged, Israel’s politicians found themselves engaged in a drawnout general election. No time for unimportant matters like saving (or tinkering with) the economy. That was left to Stanley Fisher, Governor of the Bank of Israel, a man trusted by the international community.

The results can be seen in today’s newspaper.

IKEA has 300 stores around the world. Its store in Netanya is one of the top 20 in terms of revenue. In July, it reported record takings at the tills!
In July, the number of people seeking unemployment benefit dropped 5%
Leonard Cohen, Madonna, Pet Shop Boys and others are all performing in Israel this summer. Sell out is an understatement. Despite the high price of tickets, extra shows are being laid on in some cases.

Is the recession over? No. Is the shekel overvalued? Yes. And many will say that the TASE is due for a small correction. However, something very positive is happening in Israel’s economy.

Let’s make sure that the politicians take an extended summer holiday.

5 August 2009

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Categories: Business, Israel, Palestinians

Fatah, the largest block in the PLO and in the Palestinian Authority, is holding its Sixth General Congress this week in Bethlehem.

General opinion holds that Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, will ensure that the discussions take a hard line in tone. The option of armed resistance remains firmly on the table. Even Palestinian schools, responsible for a new generation of peace makers, continue to teach as routine that Israeli cities including Haifa are part of Palestine.

What is disappointing is the lack of state-building. President Obama with European support is actively taking measures to bring this near eternal conflict to an end. In response, Fatah offers a negligible amount of discussion, which deals with creating a functioning economy or implementing administrative reforms.

Bottom line: The corruption and nepotism, for which Fatah was famous for under Chairman Arafat and which led to the Hamas triumph in Gaza, will be protected at all costs.

The Palestinian Prime Minister, Salim Fayyad, is an economist with a strong and hard-earned international reputation. It is through him that much of the hopes of the West are transferred. But as we learn in psychology, such transference is not a guarantee for a new reality. As information from the Congress emerges, it is clear that real power lies outside Fayyad’s spacious office.

The result? For the near future, more political uncertainty, a poor recipe for economic growth. As for policy measures, there will be no new initiatives to build cheap housing, as has happened previously in the Ramallah region. There are no known initiatives to set up regional development councils. (That is often undertaken by NGOs, who then criticise Israel). There will be no restructuring of the public sector finances, as consistently demanded by the IMF.

The intenational media will continue to receive sensationalist copy. The Palestinian person in the street will continue to receive large amounts of valueless rhetoric. No if that where to be registered in the national accounts, the Palestinian economy would be booming today.

3 August 2009

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Categories: Israel, Palestinians

Lieutenant S’ was a crack sniper in the Israeli army. About 9 months ago, he was severely wounded in Gaza by a Palestinian sniper. He took two bullets, which penetrated vital organs.

S’, whose name has not been released for security reasons, was not expected to survive.

A former martial arts expert, S’ was fully conscious when he reached hospital. Within 5 months, he had left his recuperation unit, a near record time. Although confined to his wheelchair, he successfully pushed to be inducted in an officer’s course. And, having passed with honours, he has returned to his crack unit.

Hollywood loves stories like this. Remember the film about the first American black navy diver, who defeated racism and then overcame the loss of a leg? What in hell drives these people ? And why insist on returning to places, where they had already lost limbs?

I do not know if there is a definitive answer. S’ is currently fighting his next war against accepted medical principal, determined to abandon his wheelchair one day.

Somewhere, mixed up in all the pain and the sentiments of heroics is a basic feeling or deep need to “do good”. In other words, people like this just want to serve their country, to protect their fellow citizens, whenever and whatever it takes.

They have been brought up with a deep motivation to succeed. And when that success can be shared by the whole country, they know that they have accomplished something morally good, which an be passed on to others.

During the fighting in Gaza, around 1,250 Palestinians were killed. The IDF has named all of them, of whom about 2/3 were combatants. Palestinians sources put the figure at about 1.400, but the stat is open to questioning.

I gather that S’ lives not far from me. As a result of the war, another neighbour did not return from the battle. Others were injured. All of them shared one thing in common – a burning desire to contribute. They understood that Israel’s security is won through being prepared and by defending the country through honour and by all legal means.

Israeli troops have long since withdrawn from Gaza, although the shelling of southern towns by Hamas continues sporadically. Meanwhile, Israel’s critics are having a field day. The UN has appointed a commission to investigate possible excesses by the Israeli military, although no inquiry has considered the role of Hamas sending rockets against population centres.

The international media has consistently lambasted Israeli units for not taking into account the needs of innocent civilians in the field of battle. Yet concurrently, there were wars in Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Iraq, and in several African countries. For all the inconsistencies and abuses in these conflicts, no inquiries have been launched. You do not find any investigative reporters from the Sunday Times or the New York Times.

The Israeli army has announced that it is investigating 14 separate incidents of possible abuse by soldiers. No other army in the world has such a transparent system. No questions are asked in Westminster or in Congress about possible misdemeanours by NATO troops.

The UK’s leading journal for black people, The Voice, recently claimed abuses against blacks in Israeli prisons. The article was soon pulled from the website after it was found to be ridden with factual errors.

And so the ritual of this unethical mock trial continues. Maybe the true Hollywood story is not the heroics of S’. What the scriptwriters should look for are the facts hidden from view by those who should be writing about them every day. S’ merely symbolises what 99.9% of Israelis think and how they try to behave day after day, despite the mistrials and hypocrisies of others.

1 August 2009

1 Comment

Categories: Israel, Jerusalem

International media continues to focus on private building projects on the Eastern side of the city. In parallel, there are two areas that the journalists fail to report on.

First, commercial building in Jerusalem has accelerated in recent months, despite the recession. For example, figures for June 09 show a 54% increase on last year regarding new flats bought from public sector projects.

Similarly, Jerusalem’s tourism boom has clearly influenced Rixos, an international luxury hotel chain. It has agreed invest around US$50 million in building a 200 room complex. This ties in with the ambitious plans of the new mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat, to ramp up significantly the local tourism market during his tenure.

Second, it is now an established fact that hundreds of Moslems are buying properties in West Jerusalem. Nothing wrong in that. What I cannot fathom is why international governments sanction Israeli Jews from living in Moslem suburbs.

A comment from the journalists?

30 July 2009

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Categories: Israel, Jerusalem

For traditional Jews, this is a sad time of year. They recall the destruction by Babylon and then by Rome of the Jerusalem Temples, on the same calendar date. The book of Lamentations is read, where the opening verses set the tone of mourning: –

Alas – she sits in solitude. The city that was great with people has become like a widow. The greatest among nations, the princess among provinces, has become a tributary.

For all Jerusalem’s stature amongst nations, it has continued to find pain in history. The stories are many.

After Rome left, the crusaders brought new wars. The Turks ran the city into poverty at the turn of the previous century. And in the past decade, the inhumanities of the Intifada and homicide bombing have created hundreds of bereaved families from all ethnic backgrounds.

As deemed by rabbis hundreds of years ago, the suffering is commemorated through a 25 hour fast.

In the same breath, Jerusalem – old and modern – is an amazing place. New visitors are consistently amazed and awakened at its contrasts and beauty. When I take guests around the Old City, I lead them out of Jewish Quarter, which then opens out towards the Temple Mount; a stunning, unravelling view pulling together 3 major religions and thousands of years in one gaze.

It was my wife, who helped me to place all this history in perspective. She is an avid fan of a Jerusalem bike club, which hits the streets every Tuesday evening. It is run by Nitzan from his bike shop on Jaffa Street.

And every Wednesday morning, she rightly describes every detail with a thrill that few of us achieve from other activities. But this week was something special. They were over 50 in total, whose backgrounds included tourists and a foreign film crew.

The ride took them along the northern ridge of Mount Scopus, around the old campus of the university. They progressed through the holy Mount of Olives, where they saw loads of Arab weddings, celebrating with fireworks. They rode down through Gethsemane – despite the late hour, pilgrims were pouring in. And towards the end, they drove in formation along a new bridge at the entrance to the city.

Lamentations, as probably written by the prophet Jeremiah, ends with a message of hope, a call to renew and to return to the days of old. Jerusalem asks people to recall the past in order to learn how to create a future of joy, a future where everyone can live together in peace and in honour.

I feel that it is that hope that my wife was blessed to witness on Tuesday.

30 July 2009

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Categories: Business, Israel, Jerusalem

Israel has been a strong partner of the third industrial revolution, communications. When it comes to cleantech, Israel has shown itself to be a world leader.

Just look at some of the news items over the past month alone.

Siemens has committed to playing a major role in promoting Israeli cleantech.

New water purification techs were shown off at the annual Greentech exhibition in Tel Aviv.

Last week, I accompanied a European investor to several Jerusalem based companies. And discussions have already moved on considerably in some cases.

“The Economist” magazine featured 2 Jerusalem based solar companies, an impressive honour for the city.

There are several overseas investor conferences promoting Israeli clean technology. I am associated with one in London, 20-22 October 2009. Organised through the commercial attache in London, it will place dozens of companies in front of potential strategic partners. The event has already attracted the attention of international media.

What Israel has done is to take cleantech beyond a dream. Almost daily, concepts are being converted into commercial realities, which is capturing the minds of international investors.

28 July 2009

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Categories: Business, Israel

The Israeli stock market kicked off the week with a near 4% jump. This brought it back up to the levels of November 2008.

In parallel, unemployment has hit 8.5% and inflationary fears are on the move. What’s going on?

Listening on the radio yesterday, one of the country’s leading constructors, Akirov, referred to the state of two economies. And Israel is well used to this situation. Despite the growth in GDP over decades, Israel has one of the widest discrepancies amongst Western economies between the top and bottom income earners .

Specifically, Israel’s economic policy makers are faced with several contradictions over the next few months.

For example,the rate of interest stands at 0.5%, down from 4% in August 2008. Alhough the Bank of Israel has announced “no change” for August, everybody knows it will start to rise in order to head off inflation.

However, such a movement will protect the shekel, already seen as overvalued against key currencies like the US dollar.

Now look at the stock market: It has been driven upwards by the performances of Wall Street, low interest and future expectations. However, for the small private investor to start risking money on the back of current improvements is… it’s still a risk. The world may be over the worst of a recession, but the downturn still remains in may key economies.

As for the government, there are signs that a budget will be passed soon. However, the pressures of coalition politics place an enormous strain on the spending side. And politically, Mr Netanyahu has not shown a clear capability to lead and to control.

The governemnt has promised huge structural reforms – opening the supply of electricity to competition, privatising the ports, etc. In opposition, the unions have already demonstrated their strengths.

So what’s the bottom line? It is great to read about the stock market leaping forward. However, economic history teaches us that sustained economic growth, the basis of any solid financial revival, rarely comes through one-off, huge improvements.

The government needs to lead through constructive initiatives and sound decision making. Now that would be a revelation in the Holy Land.

25 July 2009

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Categories: Israel, Jerusalem

A few weeks ago, I received a briefing from The Israel Project about Israel’s healthcare system since 1948. Full of turgid facts, what it proved beyond doubt was that the medical is staffed by all ethnic groups on behalf of ……. all ethnic groups.

So here are a few examples of what I mean by this:

When my teenage son was hospitalised for a stomach complaint, over half the beds were occupied by non-Jews, as was much of the staff.
Save A Child’s Heart international campaign, located in South Tel Aviv, has treated over 800 Palestinian youngsters in the past decade.
Prof. Zeev Rotstein at the internationally accredited Sheba Rehab Center near Tel Aviv was quoted as saying that: “You have army doctors in white gowns alongside Palestinian doctors who are being trained, at the same time treating Israeli casualties of terrorist attacks and Palestinians who may have been hurt in army actions.”
Earlier this July, a team of 12 physicians from the UK’s NHS visited Jerusalem to learn more of Jerusalem’s emergency health system, Terem. The software in use has won a prize from Microsoft. The aim is to launch a similar initiative in the UK, drastically waiting time.
And finally, let me show off about my own 16 year old daughter. She is currently completing the next level of being a volunteer for Israel’s ambulance service. Nearly 200 youths are engaged in the course, and yes they come from a multitude of different backgrounds.

As the NHS recognises, there is much in Israel’s heathcare to be copied by others.

Pages

Jerusalem for all, except …..

Israel & peace – a green perspective

Israeli biotech firms ignore recession

Israel and the recession

The Palestinian economy

Stats show Israel emerging from recession

Palestinians deserve better

German, French and Israeli economies.

Soap, Syrian army, cricket; What motivates you?

Can you tour Israel freely?

Israel – a market for overseas investor

UBS sees clear recovery in Israel

Has the Tel Aviv stock market got it right?

Blow for Palestinian economy

Motivation + Gaza + war = Hollywood

Building in Jerusalem

Jerusalem; sadness or hope?

Israel cleantech surges ahead

What next for Israel’s economy?

Healthcare in Israel

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