FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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The Israeli success story in numbers

The Israeli success story in numbers

The heated argument in this column regarding Israel is somewhat amusing, but telling: neither supporters not detractors seem to be willing to really listen to each other. 

As I know both Israel and the Palestinian territories, let me offer a slightly different, statistical angle to the debate. 
In my view, Israel is simply way more successful than every single Arab or Muslim country, including those with huge natural resources. (Israel has none, except for a small gas field.) Looking at what Israel has achieved in its 70 years practically from scratch, the outside world is, plain and simple, envious. Israel ranks 19th on the UN Human Development Index, higher than the likes of Finland, Austria and Belgium, and way higher than the first Arab country on the list, Qatar, ranking 33rd. Israel is a high-tech hub with thousands of start-up companies and a major exporter of sophisticated military technology. 
Israelis have won 12 Nobel prizes, which equals the number of Nobel winners in all the 50 Muslim countries combined (seven of those 50 are for peace.) Israeli Arabs, who comprise about 20 per cent of the country’s roughly 8 million citizens, obviously enjoy this economic boom. Just for the record: the West Bank, which has been under Israeli control since 1967, contributes nothing to Israel’s economy. Quite the opposite is true: getting rid of it would raise Israel’s GDP by a significant percentage.
Tikfetzu Lee
Bangkok

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