|
Gathering Place
Orion Kopelman |
Little island of Israel
a model of self-sufficiency
During her mid-May trip to Israel, Governor Lingle saw how that miraculous nation has made the desert bloom and become one of the leading technological nations in the world. Like Hawaii, Israel has overcome geographical isolation to thrive and depend on agriculture, technology, alternative energy and the military. With its population of 6 million people compared with Hawaii's 1.5 million, Israel stands as a model and a shining light from which we can learn valuable lessons.
|
How did Israel become so isolated? In 1947, the United Nations declared a compromise two-state solution in Palestine as both Jews and Arabs laid claim to it. Israel accepted this solution, but the Arabs did not. The seven surrounding Arab nations of 50 million people (at that time) invaded a land the size of Rhode Island and tried to decimate the 600,000 Jews. After winning a nearly two-year battle, Israel became a fledgling independent state.
Today, after four more wars with the Arab countries, "Island Israel" finds itself in an ocean of 140 million Arabs, many of whom, unfortunately, would still like to throw the Jews into the Mediterranean Sea.
In the less than 60 years of its modern existence, Israel's values of capitalism and democracy have helped it flourish. Its $100 billion economy is larger than all of its immediate neighbors combined, and it has a standard of living similar to the United States'.
Technologically, it has the highest percentage in the world of home computers per capita, and it developed, among other things, the cell phone for Motorola, Windows NT and XP for Microsoft, and builds most of Intel's Pentium chips. It has made the desert flourish and has excelled in agricultural self-sufficiency, even exporting some of its produce.
Lingle marveled at meeting the only democratically elected Arab woman in the world, which includes even the 40 Muslim nations. She's a member of the Israeli parliament!
Throughout its existence, Israel has found a way to integrate harmoniously the various cultures of the people who have flocked there seeking freedom and the opportunity to thrive -- just as we in Hawaii have assimilated people from diverse cultures seeking to better their lives.
For example, under Israeli rule since 1967, the standard of living of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip has risen a whopping tenfold.
Synergistic co-existence in brotherhood breeds success for all.
Let us learn to become even more of a shining light from Island Israel, this sister state half a world away. Thank you, Governor Lingle, for having the wisdom to visit the Jewish state and learn first hand the many ways we can improve our economy and quality of life here in our beloved Hawaiian Islands.