THE MIRACLE OF ISRAEL by Larry Stout, 6/6/05
THE MIRACLE OF ISRAEL by Larry Stout
Last month an event occurred that should not have gone unnoticed. On May 14th, the nation of Israel celebrated its 60th anniversary. Not much media attention was given to this incredible event, which is truly a travesty, because modern Israel is a modern-day miracle.
Most people know that Israel had to defend itself against the Arab nations from the moment of its inception in 1948, again in 1956, during the Six Day War in 1967, the Yom Kippur War of 1973, the Intifadas through the 1990s, and as recently as Hezbollah War in 2006. To simply survive at all would have been a miracle.
But they did much more than survive. Today, Israel remains the region's only democracy, replete with a resoundingly free press and an independent judiciary. It is the only country in the region where Arab women have the right to vote. In 60 years, Israelis have created a modern nation-state, absorbing millions of immigrants, building prestigious educational institutions and making great advances in agriculture, medicine and technology that have helped the world. That all of this has been accomplished in what might be called a challenging environment makes it all the more amazing.
Other countries faced with the security issues that Israel faces would probably look like a police state, but Israel has somehow balanced this need with an entrepreneurial spirit that sees it produce more initial public offerings, patents, and new technology in general than countries twenty times their size.
Many Christians support Israel because of their eschatology. Ironically, I love Israel but do not believe that a modern-day Israel is necessary for the return of Christ. I support Israel for what it is, not for what it will become.
Last month an event occurred that should not have gone unnoticed. On May 14th, the nation of Israel celebrated its 60th anniversary. Not much media attention was given to this incredible event, which is truly a travesty, because modern Israel is a modern-day miracle.
Most people know that Israel had to defend itself against the Arab nations from the moment of its inception in 1948, again in 1956, during the Six Day War in 1967, the Yom Kippur War of 1973, the Intifadas through the 1990s, and as recently as Hezbollah War in 2006. To simply survive at all would have been a miracle.
But they did much more than survive. Today, Israel remains the region's only democracy, replete with a resoundingly free press and an independent judiciary. It is the only country in the region where Arab women have the right to vote. In 60 years, Israelis have created a modern nation-state, absorbing millions of immigrants, building prestigious educational institutions and making great advances in agriculture, medicine and technology that have helped the world. That all of this has been accomplished in what might be called a challenging environment makes it all the more amazing.
Other countries faced with the security issues that Israel faces would probably look like a police state, but Israel has somehow balanced this need with an entrepreneurial spirit that sees it produce more initial public offerings, patents, and new technology in general than countries twenty times their size.
Many Christians support Israel because of their eschatology. Ironically, I love Israel but do not believe that a modern-day Israel is necessary for the return of Christ. I support Israel for what it is, not for what it will become.
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