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The GW Hatchet

AN INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SERVING THE GW COMMUNITY SINCE 1904

The GW Hatchet

Serving the GW Community since 1904

The GW Hatchet

NEWSLETTER
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Officials name senior vice president, chief of staff
By Fiona Riley, Assistant News Editor • March 26, 2024

Israel: a world success

Fifty years ago the impossible happened – the modern State of Israel was born and a new, unique and democratic voice joined the international community.

Although April 30 – Israel’s Independence Day – will be a milestone in world history, the very existence of the Jewish State is cause for celebration. After the devastation of the Holocaust and out of the chaotic British Mandate, the Jewish people accepted the United Nation’s partition of Palestine with the hope of building a vibrant democracy and a secure home. That dream has become a reality.

In only 50 years, Israel has stepped out of the post-colonial Middle East to embrace the new realities of the modern world and engage the global community. A country almost the size of New Jersey, with little natural resources, has amazingly transformed sand dunes into cities, deserts into forests and olive groves into a Mediterranean Silicon Wadi.

Quickly becoming a world leader in high-tech industry, Israel has produced a highly-skilled populace with creative, entrepreneurial zeal, who have sparked a technological revolution that is defining the nation. The economy is in the process of shifting from a socialist to a thriving capitalistic system. While Israel has accomplished an unprecedented absorption of immigrants, it still has been able to increase its gross national product, standard of living, per-capita income and life expectancy to a level close to many Western nations.

The land of Israel is no longer just the spiritual center of the Jewish people, but now is the intellectual and cultural hub. Jewish life, art, music and most of all the Hebrew language – dormant since the days of the Bible – all have been revitalized. Israel is blessed with a diverse population comprised of European (Askenazi), Middle Eastern (Sephardic), Ethiopian, Yemenite and Russian Jews, as well as Muslim, Christian, Bedouin and Drouze peoples.

The Israeli government protects the free access to worship at holy sites for all of the world’s religions. Israel’s democracy is constantly challenged by countries and ideologies that fundamentally seek to destroy it through terrorist actions or chemical and biological attacks. The government struggles to protect and maintain the rights of all its citizens in the face of these ever-present threats.

Cooperation with Israel’s neighbors has increased on important regional projects concerning water, agriculture, education, terrorism and industry.

One of the greatest challenges of the Jewish State continues to be the struggle to achieve a secure peace. Since her Declaration of Independence in 1948, and through many tragedies and wars, Israel has slowly gained acceptance and recognition toward this goal. The past two decades are witness to this ongoing process to end conflict, foremost with advanced negotiations and compromise with the Palestinians. Already agreements of peace with Jordan and Egypt have been celebrated, with hopes of a further comprehensive agreement with Syria and Lebanon.

These issues are both complex and difficult, but Israel is working to find a successful balance and solution to the harsh reality of the Middle East.

As an intricate part of the international community, Israel will continue to serve as a model for new developing countries and will contribute greatly to human advancement. This is the promise of the next 50 years.

-Adam Segal and Marc Rosenbergare members of GW’s Israel 50th Committee.

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