Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
To many, Israel represents a beacon of democracy, stability, and prosperity in the middle
of a bunch of very troubled states. (Having traveled recently in Egypt and Iran, I can cer-
tainly appreciate that.) To others, its very existence is an offense against groups who were
displaced after living here for centuries. As with everything here, it all depends on which
people you talk to. And first, I talked to the Israelis. (Palestinian partisans, your turn is
coming up.)
There are Jews who don't concern themselves about Israel at all. There are Jews who
think the state of Israel is a terrible, even un-Jewish idea. And there are Jews who believe
that their people should live together in the single homeland God chose for them. These
Jews are Zionists. Zionists built Israel.
During my visit, Israel was celebrating 65 years as a nation. Star of David flags flew
everywhere. Perhaps caught up in the excitement, I welcomed the opportunity to gain an
appreciation for the Zionist pioneers who built the country—slowly in the early 20th cen-
tury, then very quickly after its modern founding in 1948—and to see how far the nation
has come.
