Israel's CEO recently spoke about how the country's ability to survive, or even sometimes thrive, during wars requires addressing its Biblical roots. Since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 last year, Israel has waged a seven-front war for survival, from Hezbollah on its northern border to Gaza in the south, and the Houthis in Yemen at the tip of the Arabian Peninsula. There is.
“This all costs money, and it has also affected certain parts of the Israeli economy, such as construction and agriculture (industry), where foreign workers, especially Palestinians, play a big role, and it is now difficult to do so. ''There is a shortage of labor and tourism is difficult, especially because of travel schedules and flights,'' said entrepreneur CEO Jonathan Medved. our crowdsaid CBN News On the economic pressures of the war on the Israeli economy.
One of the sectors that has affected Israel's economy is tourism, which has significantly declined in light of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent war.
Meanwhile, the country's technology sector is booming.
“And the good news is that the main industry here in Israel, you know because we spend a lot of time talking about it, is high-tech, high-tech, or what we call 'start-up nation.' This accounts for 53 percent of Israel's total exports and now accounts for almost 20 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP),'' Medved explained.
“The technology sector remains very strong. We have great companies that are world leaders in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, food technology, defense technology, cloud, alternative mobility and energy.” “And what is remarkable is that this year, already in 2024, during the height of the war, the amount of investment flowing into the Israeli technology industry has increased dramatically by about 40% compared to the second half of last year. By the way, the US is faring better at this rate of increase.
Medved argued that the roots of Israel's success and motivation go back to God's Word.
“Its roots are in the Bible, its roots are in prophecy,” he told us. “And that prophecy came true when it was discovered that the indigenous people of this land, the Jews, had returned to their homeland after 2,000 years of wandering and gathered together exiles.”
“We are an important country, one of the most powerful in the world in terms of our ability to defend ourselves, and we lead the world in many technological areas, including treating cancer and nourishing the planet. “Because we are looking at our own destiny,” he said, “and our mission is not just to survive.” “Survival is important, but we need to contribute to the world. We need to build the world. We need to help solve things. It's called tikkun olam. It is.”
It's the same resilience that helped this country survive the Holocaust.
“Dry bones emerge from Ezekiel's prophecy and we have succeeded. But we have not only succeeded in surviving. We have not only succeeded in a beautiful country, a pleasant country, great food, beautiful beaches. We have succeeded in building a country with great infrastructure, a country on the cutting edge of building the future, and a country that believes in the future. Our birth rate is higher than that of any other member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. The highest of all.”
Despite the immediate threats of rockets, drones and terrorist attacks, Medved takes a long-term view of Israel's fate.
“We are a people who have suffered a lot over thousands of years, and yet we are still here. Many of our enemies from thousands of years ago are gone. We have no memory of them. And if you If you want, you can hardly predict, organizations like Hamas whose purpose is to destroy the Jewish people, people better than you have tried and all have failed, and you will fail. In a thousand years, there will be no memory of this kind of organization.”
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Nick Brundle Photography
