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Introduction: Israel at 40
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14611 |
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CURRENT ISSUES
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5 / 1988 |
679 Words |
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One hundred years ago, the famed Zionist Theodore Herzl wrote of Israel: "In order to achieve a homeland secured by international law, we must first present to the world the evidence of our existence as a people. If the people are there, then the piece of land which it needs comes by itself."
It took 60 years from then to win the land, and today, 40 years later, Israel is still struggling to secure it. As the joke goes, few would have imagined that the only piece of land in the desert without oil would be so coveted.
Israel at 40 is a tumultuous land of remarkable accomplishments and continuing challenges. To mark Israel's anniversary and to examine its current crises and future prospects, THE WORLD & I asked prominent academics and journalists to participate in our special report.
Bernard Reich, professor of international relations at George Washington University, describes the Israel of 1988 as a "country at war with its neighbors and in turmoil at home." Yet Israel has managed to establish a liberal democratic political system that has "melded immigrants from more than 70 countries" into its population. Israel is renowned for its scientific accomplishments and has become "a respected military power."
Israel achieved the latter status without formal military ties, but with very formal military aid from its strongest ally, the United States, which considers its ties with Israel a strategic asset.
Writing on the history of relations between the
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