Israel – the western model of government in the heart of the Middle East

Israel, a Middle Eastern country on the Mediterranean Sea, is regarded by Jews, Christians and Muslims as the biblical Holy Land.

 Its most sacred sites are in Jerusalem. Within its Old City, the Temple Mount complex includes the Dome of the Rock shrine, the historic Western Wall, Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Israel's financial hub, Tel Aviv, is known for its Bauhaus architecture and beaches.

The population of the country is 8.547 million (2016), by information of the World Bank. The currency is Israeli new shekel. The official languages are Hebrew, Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic.

As we can find out, in its Basic Laws, Israel defines itself as a Jewish and democratic state.Israel is a representative democracy with a parliamentary system, proportional representation and universal suffrage.The prime minister is head of government and the Knesset is the legislature. Israel is a developed country and an Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member,with the 32nd-largest economy in the world by nominal gross domestic product (GDP) as of 2017. The country benefits from a highly skilled workforce and is among the most educated countries in the world with one of the highest percentages of its citizens holding a tertiary education degree.Israel has the highest standard of living in the Middle East,and has one of the highest life expectancy in the world.

The state of Israel is ranked 1st in the world in expenditure on research and developments as a percentage of GDP. Science and technology in Israel is one of the country's most developed sectors. Israel spent 4.2% of its gross domestic product (GDP) on civil research and development in 2013, one of the highest ratios in the world. Israel ranks fifth among the most innovative countries in the Bloomberg Innovation Index.

Located on the Mediterranean coast, the new Ashkelon SWRO plant will provide around 15% of Israel’s domestic needs. It is the first of a number of similar large-scale seawater desalination facilities planned.

Simply put the plant is using uniquely designed filters and highly-pressurized system of valves, that go for hundreds of meters underground, and above, to remove the salt from the sea water, and make it clean and safe for drinking and available for use in the agriculture and farming. The plant’s output has increased gradually since its inception, producing 101 million m³ in 2006, 104 million m³ in 2007, and 111 million m³ in 2008. Almost the entire process works under the laws of physics, and very little no to non-chemical reactions are required. Really an amazing feat of engineering for example.

Except of the Hydraulic engineering, other advanced and worldly recognized researches and technologies, that are developed in Israel, are Solar Power technologies; Natural Gas and other types of energetic technologies; Space science and technologies; Aerospace engineering; Agricultural engineering; Computer engineering; Cyber security; Water saving technologies; Military engineering; Life sciences, Biotechnology; Genetics and cancer research; Biomedical engineering; Pharmaceutical sciences. Israel has a number of Noble Prize laureates.

Education in Israel refers to the comprehensive education system of Israel. The education system consists of three tiers: primary education, middle school and high school. Compulsory education takes place from kindergarten through 12th grade. The primary languages of the studies are Hebrew and Arabic. Israel, being the home to major players in the high-tech industry and has one of the world's most technologically literate populations.

Israel is a signatory of the Convention against Discrimination in Education, and ratified it in 1961. The convention has the status of law in Israeli courts Israel operates an Arab education system for the Israeli-Arab minority, teaching Arab students, in Arabic, about their history and culture. However, there have been claims that the Jewish education system gets more resources. According to the Follow-Up Committee for Arab Education, the Israeli government spends an average of $192 per year on each Arab student, and $1,100 per Jewish student. It also notes that drop-out rate for an Israeli Arab citizen is twice as high as that of their Jewish counterparts (12 percent versus 6 percent). The same group also noted that in 2005, there was a 5,000-classroom shortage in the Arab sector.

It is imminent, as we research the interesting facts about the country, we will inevitably reach the point, when we have to mention the apparent apartheid, which is taking place in the country, and the ethnic division, and all the surrounding controversy, all of which, largely portrayed in the world media. It is easy to see from the context of our summary, that there are two main ethnicities, that populate the country and these are the Jewish and the Arab groups of the population, respectively and approximately standing at 74% and 20% of the local population. 4.6 percent of the population is categorized as "other".

During the years, since the inception of the modern state of Israel, there were number of controversies, confrontations, and sadly, even violent clashes between the two main ethnic groups in the country.

As we know about the Muslim people, they are being very emotional at times and also loving, caring and devoted to their kin, also always being aware of the situation of the other Muslim communities around the world, so you can imagine, people were simply inconsolable, due to the alleged ethnic violence and confiscation of land in Israel, on the side of the government against the local Muslim population, this resulted in and outlined a very big part of Israel’s relations with the neighboring, predominantly Muslim countries. A couple of fully-blown military campaigns, and an indefinite number of violent clashes took place, in the history of the modern state of Israel, which shaped it's current political borders, determined control over strategic areas and set the bragging rights in the region. It depends on who you are listening to, to understand whether the score is settled or not. Arguably, these conflicts were flared by such Muslim display of solidarity, shown towards the local Muslim population of Israel or the Arab-Israelis. A pale ghost of a name of a particular Muslim nationality materializes into view here. But no other Muslim nationalities were mentioned here neither, with the intent, firstly to put a heavier emphasis on the fact that the unifying factor here are the values of the Muslim religion, and not the particular nationality here.

To give you a hint, the names for this nationality and the Muslim minority in Israel, are the same. It is also the name of a different state, which was the homeland of this same nationality - but we won't mention this here, also to protest the inability of the International community to deliver a reasonable solution and closure for this seemingly endless paradox, which is still reason for ongoing lack of safety and stability, for the innocent peaceful people from the entire region.

Many solutions were discussed in the international community about the territorial, religious and ethnic - divide of the, opposing sides in this, sadly, ongoing conflict. No apprehensive solution has been reached yet. All sides involved, exchange blows in the international legal courts, and firmly stands behind their allegations and accepted positions on these questions, almost to the point of stubbornness and “devil-may-care attitude”, which of course is making the entire process very long and painful, with the regard to the peaceful living of the population of the country.  Being advanced as it is, in all of its policies, the state of Israel faces number of allegations for breaches in human rights on the international scenery, mainly related to destruction of private property of the Arabic minority, ethnic violence in many different forms, incarceration and prosecution of children, and for what seem to be for very questionable reasons. The term ethnic cleansing is being used worryingly often, to show the excessive violence and lack of transparency, which is taking place between the expanding government forces, and the shrinking Arabic communities, forcefully misplaced from their homes, and often vigorously protesting, a process that was ongoing throughout extensive amounts of time, in benefit of the expanding Jewish settlements.

Every time, when news for escalations arrive, it is a cause for great concern to the attention of the international onlookers, because of course, we all wish for the peace, prosperity and well- being of both the nations, and for quick solutions for all the controversies, and last but not least, the ending of all violence and hostilities.

These philosophical and, sadly again, military conflicts seem to have become the daily routine in the entire region of the Middle East. A region that was shaken by the tremors of war, for what seems to be forever already.

With the very close relations and partnership, that the state has, however, with the EU and the USA, it is surprising, for how long can it take for these disputes to be taken care of once and for all, and all the ugly scenes of violence and war to be stopped - for good. I believe, personally, that the biggest part of the public around the world has had enough with the non-stop ongoing news threads about this crisis. We won’t go anymore in debt in this context, because the controversy seems to be endless, the details are not pleasant for anyone, and we don’t want to conclude here in such anxious and negative mood.

We didn’t fail to mention all the advancements that the state has reached in numerous fields, like the high technologies, education and science, all being of big importance and interest for all of us. If not always with peaceful and transparent policies, at least the shear consistency of these can be mentioned here, in the positive aspect.

In the end, we want to wish for the peace, prosperity and happiness for all the peoples of Israel and beyond. May all the conflicts and contradictions be resolved peacefully and timely! Many argue that the state of Israel is the source of distortion in the region and the world, but we could also argue that it could be, and preferably, should be the one pillar, pioneer and foundation for a new, modern time, long waited and lasting worldly peace. For everybody!

From me your author – Goodbye! (הֱיה שלום) Best wishes! (איחולים לבביים!)

Writing and summary by: Velin Nedkov