Israel - the country that does not celebrate Christmas
Tel Aviv @prognosemaker
January 11 was reported that Ariel Sharon is dead. For some
time I wanted to write an article about Israel ; the death of this man
pushed me to do so.
At the end of last year two people have traveled to Israel . The
trip was impromptus, just once again occurred good offer from Wizzair (please
not get the false impression; we are not a travel maniacs or going mad). The
company operates direct flights from Vilnius .
They are flying to Israel
from other European cities too.
Of course we had to find an accommodation. And it was not so
easy. First of all, I was surprised by hotels rates. They are comparable to the
prices in Norway !
As the plane landing in the largest Israeli airport, Ben Gurion, it was
necessary to decide where we should live: in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem . The airport is located between
these two cities, but Tel Aviv is close. So we decided to stay in Tel Aviv.
It was surprise for me that in the Vilnius we were checked ones again. When I
asked what the point to make an additional check is, I got the answer that you
are traveling to Israel .
For the first time traveler it was unnuasuall. The journey lasted more than
three hours.
@prognosemaker
We landed in Ben Gurion airport. Quite large and good looking
airport. But before entering Israeli ground we had to get visa. Apparently two
Lithuanians who arrived to Israel
for four days, only with backpacks and dressed in black caused enormous
suspicion. And, in fact, I already
thought that our journey will end soon. Fortunately I had correspondence with
the hotel and it saved us. Finally, the officer believed that we were tourist…
After we discovered where we can exchange dollars to the new
Israeli shekel NIS ,
we began to look how to get to Tel Aviv. Of course it is the easiest way jus
take a taxi. But the price is quite high, 180 NIS . Another option – the train, it cost
about 15 NIS . But
that day trains did not go. We found bus. But the bus was so hopelessly old,
that reminded me Soviet times. So we got quite mix feelings of country:
difficult to entry, palm trees, a very modern airport and the Soviet shuttle.
But as we say: nobody looks in to the teeth’s of the hours which has been given
as a gift. I tried to talk to the driver in English, but immediately got the
answer in Russian. Another surprise, that alongside Hebrew and Arabic is very
important to know Russian too. By the way it was not necessarily to pay for the
trip. Someone from the Lithuanian tourist offered same shekel to the driver,
but remained misunderstood. Even in the Soviet Union
I do not remember that way would be.
Historical deviation
During Nazi German occupation in Lithuania , the Jews were herded
into ghettos and then most of them were shouted down. In total were shouted or
tortured 196000 Lithuanian Jews. Unfortunately for this Jews massacre can not
be blamed only Nazi. Lithuanians quite significantly helped them. There had
been Jews rescue cases too, when they were hidden in the countryside. After all
these war crimes Lithuanians society remained vacant.
@prognosemaker
When Jews settled
down in Lithuania ?
There are speculations that the first Jews settled in the 12th
century, seeking asylum from persecutions during the Crusades time. They
created their own communities, Vytautas the Great in 1399 given them privileges.
They were under the Grand Duke supervision.
In the XVI century in Lithuania
lived approximately 10 000 and in the XVII century – more than 150 00 Jewish.
It was allowed for them to live freely, to settle in the lands of nobles,
trade, and keep shops and pubs. LDK Statute (1588) equated Christian Jews and
nobility rights. In 1897 Jews were up to 13% of population in cities, Vilnius – 40%.
Sinagoga in Vilnius, reconstruction@prognosemaker
As it was mentioned in the beginning Ariel’s Sharon ’s parents came from Lithuania also.
Restoration of the Jewish state
British and American commission declared that in Palestine lives 1,269,000 Arabs (67%), 608 000 Jews (32
%).Jewish immigration in to Israel
territory steadily were growing, the Palestinian refugees had no right to
return.
East Jerusalem@prognosemaker
The United Nations has adopted resolution which divided Palestine (1947), 55 %
prescribed to Jews and 45% Arabic. Jerusalem
was announced as international city. There should manage neither Israel nor the
Arabs. Palestinian Arabs and the surrounding Arab states did not agree with
this division, because a minority of the population constituting Jews has got a
bigger part of the territory.
In 1948 May 14 Israel declared
independence. The next day surrounded Arab states declared war on Israel , which Israel won. Arab states occupied
Gaza Strip (Egypt ) and West
Bank (Jordan ).
In 1967 Israel
accused Arab countries – Egypt ,
Syria , Iraq and Jordan
– planning to attack Israel
again and struck a preventive strike and after six days smashed the opposing armies
and forced the Arab states to accept the UN proposed ceasefire. During six day
war Israel got two
territories of Palestine : the Golan Heights (Syria owned), Sinai Peninsula (belonged to Egypt ).
Israel occupied eastern part
of Jerusalem .
This success has brought to Israel Ariel Sharon.
1973 was Yom Kippur war, when Egypt
and Syria attacked Israel
surprisingly. Offense was initially successful, but later the Israeli military
forces were mobilized and successfully counter attacked. The Arab oil – exporting
country’s cut off oil supplies to the United
States and other countries supported Israel (1973 oil crisis).
In 1982 Israeli invaded to Lebanon
that was Sharon ’s
plan. After invasion Israeli formed the commission. It was found that Ariel
Sharon was indirectly guilty for 800 Palestinians refugees death in Shabra and
Shatila. Sharon
has lost the defense minister post.
A bit late Sharon has exploded
Palestinians uprising because of visiting Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem .
Also he shocked his citizen’s unilateral decision to
withdraw Israeli troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip in 2005. This solution
has received support around the world but he lost his supporters in Israel .
Soon he has fallen in to coma, 2006.
Just before that he started to build a controversial high
reinforced concrete wall separating the West Bank from Israel .
I think Ariel Sharon wanted gradually accustom his citizens
that the Palestinians have also a right to there own statehood. But the coma
and death has interrupted his works. And unfortunately Israel having same problems with
leadership up to now
Geography
The entire area of the Israel state is 22.145 sq.km. Israel is about
470km long and 135 km wide at its widest point. Mountains, fertile land and
desert often change each other. Journey from Metula (farthest north) to Eilat
(the southernmost point of the country) lasting 9 hours, crossing by car.
For the farming siutabile
land stretches from the sea about 40 km. The coastal land is home to more than
half of the Israeli population. Where you can find large urban centers, deep
water ports, most of the country’s industry and tourism located there.
a nice lady in Tel Aviv@prognosemaker
Modern Israel
Political, economical and cultural Israel was
formed by the British, during 1917 – 1948.
The Jewish society established social and political
institutions in Israel .
It was encouraged by the Zionism movement. Each of them was designed for public
building. Volunteering was a political backbone of society, equality – the
social glue.
Israeli Jewish society today is made up of believers and
secular Jews. Nevertheless, the differences between them are not entirely
clear. It defined by Orthodox Jewish religious law and practice of compliance.
20% of Israeli Jews trying to fulfill all the religious requirements, 60% try
to fulfill the requirements of religious choice or tradition and 20% of Jews
are secular. Israel
was perceived as a Jewish state. Shabbat and all the other Jewish holidays
recognized as national holidays. They are more or less celebrating in all
community.
One of the issues Jewish discussing in the society: who can
be called as Jew? Orthodox Jew is defined person who has a Jewish woman’s seed
and taking care of strict Jewish laws. Secular Jews believes that a Jew is one
who identifies himself with the Jews.
Knesset
Knesset is the Israeli state parliament. It is a unicameral parliament
composed of 120 representatives. His name came out of the Great Assembly (Knesset
ha – gdola) Representatives of the Council of the Jewish people. This was
established in Jerusalem
five hundred years before our era. Knesset has the highest power in the state
legislature. The board must receive a vote of confidence of the Knesset and
also immediately resign if a majority of parliament members expressed her
confidence. The president of the State is elected by simple majority of the
members of the Knesset .The president performs primarily ceremonial functions,
but also symbolizes the unity of the nation.
@prognosemaker
Education
Multi-ethnic Israel
society nicely equate educational system. Schools are therefore divided into
four groups: public schools (most students goes to them), state religious
school (emphasizing the Jewish tradition), Arab and Druze schools (where the
lessons are held in Arabic and focus on the Arab and Druze history, religion
and culture) and private schools (which takes into account the various
religions and cultures).
Tel Aviv@prognosemaker
According to the authors, Israel is not only the country but
also the holistic way of thinking. Americans take a lot of attention to the
external appearance and thorough preparation. For Israelis is important chutzpah, i.e. courage, audacity,
determination. As it was described by one analyst, “if there is a Jewish businessman
who has a business idea, he begins to implement it in the same week”. Senor and Singer in there book, based on increased geopolitical insights,
trying to explain it. Why Israeli immigration, military service, research and
development policy was and is a major stats economical growth factor. Why Israel has more NASDAQ stock exchange listed
companies than all of Europe, Korea ,
Japan , Singapore , China
and India
combined?
On the Middle East have been
written very much, but even strange how poorly understood Israeli history and
growth strategy was. According to the book authors (the original name “Start Up
Nation”).
Israeli takes lessons for not only other countries, but also
for people who wish to build a prosper organization. In an attempt to
rediscover the optimistic, energetic “I
can do it” spirit. It is the best time to take a look in depth, in an
impressive, surprising ways as one of the most remarkable and resilient country
solves their problems.
Some facts
In the sectors: agriculture 2.5%, industry 31.2%, services
64.7%.
Unemployment rate was 5.9%, 2013.
Debt to foreign countries is about 45% GDP.
In the country lives 8.107 million.
The average wages 9200 NIS ,
2013.
The average life expectancy is 80 for men and 82 for women,
2011.
Interesting to know
1. It
is stated that Israeli security officials spends the most for security money in
the world.
2. All
Israeli boys and girls who have completed school must serve military service. Guys
must serve three years, girls – two.
3. Israeli
is the only country in the world, which in the twenty-first century has more
trees than there was in the twentieth century.
4. In
the most country’s bus stops you can find boxes for charity.
5. Only
about 40% of the world’s Jewish population lives in Israel today.
6. It
is argued that Israel ’s
economy is stronger than all neighbors country’s together.
7. Israeli
scientists have developed the worlds first fully computerized breast cancer
diagnostic devise.
8. Israel was engaged
in 7 wars.
9. There
are 40 kosher McDonald’s restaurants in Israel .
10. Israel is the
only country that uses kosher stamp glue.
11. Three of
ten Israeli children are immigrants from more than 100 different countries.
Keywords: Israel ,
Ariel Sharon, Litvak, economy, Knesset, education, holocaust, Arab, Zionism, Jewish
state, Ben Gurion, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem , Palestine .
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