By Don Davis
Israel is NOTHING like what the news media portrays.
Jewish Israeli citizens are not militant, apartheid individuals who prefer fighting wars and building barriers. Neither is Israel only populated with black dressed citizens, radical zealots, and women wearing head coverings. Nor, is Israel all desert, rock, sand and camels. Israeli industry is more than carved olive tree souvenirs, oranges, falafel, humus, and the Uzi.
To the surprise of most visitors, barring war or conflict for the protection of Israel, Jews, Muslims, Druze, Christians, Circassians, Samaritans, Baha’is, Hindus, and Buddhist live in harmony. Culturally, Jews are “live and let live” and are very liberal and tolerate of all ethnic groups unless it threatens them directly. In Israel, except for border areas and restricted zones, most people go where they wish and even Jews will shop, dine and vacation in Arab districts. In fact, many Jewish Israelis continually ignore security alerts and visit Arab locations.
In addition, during regional calm Israeli children (and women) have no fear to go out at night. Most families allow preteen and teenagers the freedom to meet with their friends in the local towns or parks late into the night and early morning. This is because most Israelis will instantly react to any cry for assistance, and peculiar as it may seem, domestic violence is not a common trait for naturalized, Jewish Israelis. A Sabra, (a Jewish person born in Israel), has been raised to use their voice and mind instead of physical strength. Rather most domestic violence is attributed to outside populations and foreign immigration.
In relation to the media labeled radical religious population, Israel has less than 6 million people who are classified as Jewish. Jewish means they observe the religion, philosophy or traditions of Judaism. Though, 2010 statistics reflect that 67% of the Jews in Israel claim to be non-religious traditional or secular (not religious).
In glaring contrast to the surrounding Arab nations, Israeli women are a vital part of society and aggressively pursue governmental, institutional, technological, medical, corporate and military employment. They are intelligent, talented, self-driven and directed. Women who are just as comfortable working in a Kibbutz (communal farm of industry), profession office, holding a wine glass dressed for an evening event, or as a combat instructor holding a GTAR-21 Tavor assault rifle with grenade launcher.
For the most part, Israelis are highly educated and renowned for inventive technologies. They are also keen debaters and commonly defend religions, traditions, behavior and cultures separate from their own. As well as defending rights for Muslim Arabs (as long as the Arabs are not trying to kill Israelis), and rights for Arabs who may refer to themselves as Palestinian (which is a deceptive term as Palestinian is neither a race of people nor has Palestine ever been a country).
Also read: Is the Palestinian claim to statehood Biblical?
Israelis are generous in donating money and their time. Distinguishable from most populations, if Israelis witness a robbery, assault, terror attack, or catastrophe (whether natural or manmade) Israelis are quick to respond, help and defend if necessary. They are not afraid to get involved.
Israelis are generous with their food, cars and homes. Many foreigners have been immediately accepted as family, and are encouraged to participate. Israelis can rapidly become as close and dependable as a devoted brother or sister. What’s more, in numerous private businesses it is not unusual for the owner to let you take your item despite not having the completed purchase amount. Trusting you to return and settle in the near future.
If you need directions or information, Israelis are easy to talk to, and encourage conversation. In many cases they will go to great lengths to ensure you get where you need to be. This includes bus drivers going out of their way and designated routes late at night to guarantee a visitor arrives at their destination (while many times refusing offered compensation for the added journey).
Another thing that surprises a first time visitor is that Israel is not flat. Israel’s geography is packed with small picturesque mountain ranges, hills, ravines and valley basins. The southern region does have desert, desert that Israel has transformed into large agricultural havens by revolutionary plant cultivation and irrigation. The center and northern areas are Israel’s color and green belt regions. They too have extensive agricultural strips, fish farms, and several national forests and parks with splendid Canaanite, Israelite, Greek, Roman and Byzantine archeology along with the origins of Judaism and Christianity.
Israel has many beautiful, clean cities and quaint towns steeped in history and accented by trees, flowers, creeks and fountains. Some towns have classic, old buildings, buildings built later using natural stone to keep continuity, and there are modern buildings which match any western architecture in business quarters and residential neighborhoods.
Furthermore, Israel has excellent wineries, a long and stunning Mediterranean coastline, and resorts on the Red Sea. Wine tasting, gourmet dining, sunbathing, wind surfing, scuba diving and swimming with the dolphins are encouraged.
Industry in Israel has enjoyed a massive acceleration since they began concentrating on developing cutting edge technology. Now, they are recognized as an entertainment and technology powerhouse.
Israelis excel with creativity and are raised in nurturing environments which promote free thinking, unlimited bounds, and no restrictions. This contributes a huge confidence boost to any potential business entrepreneur or inventor. Israel has been a major factor in advances (or inventor) in medical, genetics, optics, engineering, electronics, agriculture, solar energy, electric cars, and probably the most famous, cell phone and computer sciences.
Indeed, Israel is responsible for significant and ongoing factors in cell phones and computer related technologies (including anti-virus) which is why boycotting Israel is a joke unless you want to begin with eliminating your cell phone and computer (which includes gaming, social networking, software and components). Second would be boycotting or refusing your life-saving medical operation as many techniques and products are Israeli made or invented (including a new, ground-breaking “date rape” drug detector). Moreover, Israel is a major contributor, and an international hub of originality for TV programs, movies, music, animation, 3d and digital features. So, if you boycott Israel stop all entertainment in relation to TV, movies and music.
But, one of Israel’s greatest gifts (one of many) is humanitarian organizations like Save A Child’s Heart which has treated more than 2500 children suffering from congenital and rheumatic heart disease in 42 countries (40% from Africa and 49% from the Palestinian Authority, Jordan, Iraq & Morocco).
Therefore, the next time “The News” demonizes Israel for protecting their border against murdering infiltrators, rocket attacks on their civilians, and Arab hooligan so-called “Palestinians” rioting for media coverage (which are Arabs pretending to be a non-existent ethnic group), remember that the majority of the nation of Israel is populated with mainstream, peaceful, humanitarian contributing, loving, fun, educated, (and recently civil protesting for rights) hard working individuals. And, if it wasn’t for Israel’s true democracy and fairness, reporters couldn’t safely interview and film events which might be used later to distort Israel’s image, unlike Arab countries which imprison, torture, and assault men and women journalists.
Also read: Why does Israel always get the bad press?
In conclusion, Israel is NOT a country of warmongers. Instead Israelis are democratic, law respecting, fair, generous people who are fighting for their right to exist amidst malicious and violent regional odds that want to destroy Judaism, Christianity and anything that is not Muslim or Sharia Law.
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Don Davis has over 20 years experience in analytic research particularly regarding Israeli, Middle Eastern culture, behavior and historical patterns. Don is based in Israel, from where he monitors and evaluates worldwide information on finance, technologies, industries, and the military/political environment for a US consulting company.
