Happy Birthday, Israel

At 59, Israel is a baby-boomer of a country; worried that its best days are behind it, worried about the next generation’s ability to carry on, and a little selfishly like all boomers, worried that it won’t go gracefully into old age with its comforts intact.

At 59, Israel is a baby-boomer of a country; worried that its best days are behind it, worried about the next generation’s ability to carry on, and a little selfishly like all boomers, worried that it won’t go gracefully into old age with its comforts intact.

True, they no longer dance the Hora, sing “Finjan” by the kumzits or define themselves by how many oranges they grow. Yes, there is intifada, disengagement, the Lebanon War and the Winograd Commission. There is Iran, Syria and the uncomfortable possibility that the U.S. will leave Iraq half-finished. And true, Israel still can’t get a half-fair shake at the UN, the EU or the Arab League. The net result has been a serious crisis of confidence in the State and its institutions.

But Israel is more than the State. Israel is the embodiment of 5,000 years of Jewish history, including 1,900 years of Diaspora and 125 years of return to the land. On the scale then, Israel’s 59 sovereign years look pretty good and like boomers everywhere, Israelis will probably (grudgingly) acknowledge that the younger generation will shoulder the burdens and build on its parents’ sacrifices.

Israel’s citizens continue to show remarkable courage, resolve and love of country. The Palestinians began a vicious war in 2000 – bombs aimed at the civilian population in an attempt to shatter their will to survive and thrive. It was not shattered. In the summer of 2005 the IDF had the heart-wrenching job of evacuating Israeli citizens from their homes in Gaza, knowing the locusts would destroy the farms, orchards and houses lovingly built, tended and managed for decades. Israeli society bent, but did not shatter. In 2006, Hizballah tried. Despite glaring failures at the higher levels of military and civilian leadership, the soldiers of the IDF performed heroically and the people of Israel did not break. The baby boom Israel started to experience 9 months after the war is testimony to its faith in its own future.

Warren Buffet’s $4 billion investment in Israel was extraordinary and so were his words. “Being in Israel has a major advantage of having the exposure to a fabulous pool of talent and brains.” Visiting after the war he said, “My partner and I had the opportunity to see magic with our own eyes… We’ve seen thousands of companies and have never seen such a combination of enormous achievement, power, talent and imagination.” Donald Trump is making his own investment – a new Tel Aviv tower.

Even with the devastation of the war last summer, Israel’s economy GREW by 5.1 percent for the year and 8 percent in the last quarter. Israel’s economic competitiveness improved by 8 places over last year, and the World Bank ranked Israel 5th for best investor protection and the easiest country with which to do business in the Middle East and North Africa.

And it has a baseball team – a serious sign of civilization.

Dickens might say, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” We wouldn’t. Israel’s problems are real and wrenching. But like all mature countries, Israel can take comfort in the strength and ability of its people to address its problems.

Happy Birthday, Israel.