Israelis' Top Concern Is Not Terror
But The Economy
By Yossi Amrani,
Consul General of Israel in San Francisco

December 14, 2001

At the end of the 19th Century, a leading Zionist ideologue, Ahad Haam (whose name means “one of the people”), traveled to the land of Israel, collecting his journey’s experience in a piece entitled “truth from the land of Israel”. Some historians have criticized the Zionist philosopher for his failures to grasp the complexities and realities of the country’s life at the time. But returning from a 3-week trip to Israel myself, I also feel the need to report my impressions.
Spending time with my family, re-exploring my hometown of Haifa, discovering an Israeli society somehow changed by almost a year and a half of intifada have left me with the urge to put my insights on paper - the urge to attempt an analysis of the seemingly insurmountable challenges Israel is facing.

The second intifada has made many Israelis aware of their shortcomings in understanding Arab attitudes as well as the national aspirations of the Palestinians living in and outside Israel. In his recent novel “the liberating bride”, the well-known Israeli novelist Abraham B. Yehoshua touches on this very failure, showing how Israelis never completely grasped the Arab “way of thinking” and underestimated the Arabs’ energy and mobilization in their “struggle” against the Jewish / Israeli community of this land.

The recent terrorist atrocities have not diminished Israelis’ lack of understanding: How can one fathom why a human being would take up his own life together with so many others’ in an attempt to become a martyr. But if terrorism shattered so many lives and inflicted so much pain, it has not undermined Israelis’ strength and determination to maintain our normalcy.

During my stay in Israel, terrorist attacks hit cities and places in the north, south and center, targeting buses and cafes, killing and maiming innocent people of all ages on their way to and from school and work. “We must be strong and united,” declared the driver of the bus No. 16 after 15 of his passengers lost their life in an explosion in Haifa last Sunday. His straightforward message is reflected in all of the recent polls.

If military measures are crucial, our moral strength and cohesion are indispensable. As of now, social unity and solidity should preoccupy us foremost. And in these times of tremendous security crisis, there is no bigger challenge, no more important task than the need to strengthen the internal links that make us one.

I visited places like Kiryat Shmona - a city that is so dear to the community here. Today, Kyriat Shmona enjoys quiet and is no longer facing shelling and bombings from Lebanon. But it should be of no surprise to learn that the city is paying the heavy price of the global economic crisis and regional tensions. Factories are being closed one after the other and many employees are being laid off. Scores of people face doubts and concerns about the future - losing dignity and respect and living in poverty is an existing plight in a society with a 10% national unemployment-rate.

Measures such as creating new jobs, bolstering investment in national infrastructure, distributing benefits to the entire population throughout the country must be top priorities. The expected budget deficit for 2001, which originally computed to $2.5 billion, is today expected to reach $4 billion. There is an urgent need to attend to the matter. But if overall expenses should be cut, can it be done on the account of the security and defense sectors? This is an impossible thought and the conclusion is clear.

The treasury is working on a new budget for 2002 that will reallocate some of the resources to creating jobs and improve infrastructure. It will not be enough. If Israelis do not doubt in their capabilities to win the war against terror, some remain skeptical that economic and social plights will be overcome. Political reasons and coalition considerations have their impact as well.

On the path towards building a better Israeli society, social reforms must be added to the general agenda alongside the fight against terrorism and the efforts to build bridges for possible future negotiations with the Palestinians.

To insure that the needs of the population of all different sectors are met, a special focus must be brought to the educational and medical fields.

During the course of my visit in Israel, family concerns brought me to visit different hospitals only to realize how lacking in investment our public health system is. At Haifa Rambam Hospital, one will find an average of 5 to 6 people per room. When innocent victims of terror are also being hospitalized, one will see many wounded in corridors. Additional financial resources are all the more necessary as Israel has managed to bring the level of its medical treatment to one of the highest in the world.

The multicultural background of Israeli medical professionals truly reflects the face of Israeli diversity: Physicians of Jewish and Moslem faiths work hand in hand together with a staff made up of Russians or Ethiopians immigrants, people living in Arab and Druze villages as well as in Haifa.

The Milken family recently funded a new top-of-the-line library for the Shevah-Mofet high school - many of whose students counted among the victims of the Tel Aviv Dolphinarium bombing. This example illustrates that Israeli schools are in need of new equipment in order to provide students with better opportunities. It is undeniable that such steps are mainly the responsibility of the central government. But at the end of the day, it is the part of the Israeli society and the Jewish people as a whole to guarantee the future of the Jewish homeland.

We have the strongest military in the region, our army is better equipped and trained but to win our war, the same principles apply: we need a strong and moral power. During my stay, a prominent American political strategist visited on a mission to improve Israel’s Public Relations efforts. He came up with a long line of ideas but he failed to understand that the major concern for most Israelis is not terror but the economy. Ironically, the strategist in question is James Carville. To his immortal saying, I would add that it is the society and the economy, my friends!

In my journeys to different places I was impressed with my compatriots determination not to give up, to get back to normalcy and go on. We know that without that willpower our enemies will have the upper hand. It is therefore our obligation and moral responsibility to create a society that will allow Israel to defend itself. This, in my opinion, is the latest message from home.