Nissim Dahan
Admin
|
10.03.2007 13:13
Hi Ari,
Thanks for joining our Forum.
I agree with you that Gaza presents a monumental challenge for Israel and for the world at large. But as you seem to suggest, it presents an opportunity as well.
You are right to say that the emphasis should not be on giving money to Gaza. In fact, the history of the region makes it clear that giving money to extremist regimes does not improve the lives of the people on the street, and is used mostly to consolidate power, and to enrich people in power. I don?t believe in giving money to Gaza. I believe in investing money in Gaza.
I want to see investments which create jobs, and which are profitable to the investor. I want to see business deals which benefit both sides of the transaction, the people who are putting up the money, and the workers who are now able to provide for their families. I want to see projects which protect the environment as well. Business has a way of creating its own reality on the ground, a reality which speaks louder than the empty words of hate. And believe me, Israel, with her technological and economic expertise, could be the linchpin of an effort to revitalize the stagnant economies of the Middle East. And that, more than anything else, will secure Israel for generations to come, especially if it is backed up with a new ideological perspective in the Middle East.
You are also right to suggest that a great deal of investment money should come from the Arab countries themselves. They have the money, and may be willing to use it for this purpose, if they can somehow become convinced that Selling a Vision of Hope is a better way to stabilize the region, and to secure their leadership, than funding extremist ideology. It will not be an easy sell. But the reality on the ground is very compelling, and more and more members of the Arab ruling elite are beginning to see the writing on the wall. Israel, and the Western world at large, should help them, in any way possible, to make the painful transition from hate to hope.
With regard to the Kasam rockets on Sderot, I couldn?t agree with you more. Violence should never be perpetrated intentionally against innocent civilians. It is wrong, and should never be used as a means of pursuing ideological goals. But people will resort to such wrong-headed thinking, when there is nothing else on the table. It is time to put something else on the table, ideologically and economically. And Israel and the West are in the best position to do it in a big way. It is time, before time runs out, to make it happen, and to give the dream of peace a fighting chance.
|
