Israel's 'island state' is a dangerous illusion
Reading the news from the wider Middle East and then watching US President Barack Obama visiting Israel triggered this thought: the President looked as if he were visiting an atoll in the Pacific, or maybe New Zealand - but definitely some kind of island state surrounded by roiling seas.
Ari Shavit of the daily Haaretz captured this mood in his column that began by reference to a ''sharp, amusing article'' in another local newspaper. ''He described how Shimon Peres' innovative technological project causes Israel to detach from the Middle East and sail westward through the Mediterranean Sea, like a sort of floating island. Laughter aside, [he] nailed the spirit of the time. In recent years Israel has been feeling, thinking and behaving as though it is no longer located in west Asia and can exist as an island that has broken off from it. As if there was no Arab world, no Palestine, no Iran. No Arabs, no settlers, no occupation.''
In fact, while Obama was in Israel, there was a report that chemical weapons were used next door in Syria and rockets were fired into Israel from next door in Gaza. But, at the very same time, Globes, Israel's business newspaper, published this item: ''Accel Partners has completed the closing of Accel London IV, a $475 million fund focused on Europe and Israel. … Accel London IV will invest in the firm's core areas of expertise, including consumer internet, big data, cloud, SaaS and mobile. Accel partner Kevin Comolli said, 'The fact that Accel London IV was raised in eight weeks and was significantly over-subscribed is a powerful endorsement of Accel London and the market opportunity in Europe and Israel.'''
Rockets arrive from Gaza in the morning and venture capital from London in the afternoon. Israel's ability to live as if it were disconnected from the rest of the region is impressive and necessary. It's also illusory and dangerous.
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The best way for Israel to deal with the chaos around it is not to put its head in the sand but to collaborate with Palestinians to build a West Bank state that is modern, secular and Westernising; one where Muslims, Christians and Jews can work together.
If Israelis and Palestinians do not try everything to make that happen, this will be remembered not as a lost opportunity but the lost opportunity, and no island will escape the storm that will follow.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/comment/israels-island-state-is-a-dangerous-illusion-20130326-2gs3y.html#ixzz2PC5FTn8T
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