Israel's Global Standing 74 Years On

Seventy-four years later, we must recognize that Israel is no longer merely a regional power; we must adopt a global perspective and exert global influence.

"If one were to tentatively summarize the situation, our prospects at this moment are highly unfavorable. To be completely candid, the adversary holds a decisive advantage," was the assessment of Israel's prospects by Yigael Yadin, Commander of Operations for the Haganah and future Chief of the General Staff. According to David Ben-Gurion, these remarks were made at a meeting on May 12, just two days prior to the historic declaration of independence.

In our contemporary view, Israel’s Declaration of Independence represents one of the most significant and celebratory days in Jewish history. However, it was accompanied by profound anxiety among Israel’s leadership and surrounded by critical events beforehand and thereafter. The War of Independence had commenced long before that day. By May 1948, intense combat was already underway across the country. Jerusalem was under severe siege. On May 13, the day before the declaration, four kibbutzim of Gush Etzion fell, only to be reconstituted decades later. Following the declaration, hostilities intensified on new fronts, and the initial weeks of the newly established Jewish state proved exceptionally challenging, indeed critical. The final armistice agreement was not signed until the summer of 1949.

Despite the bleak forecasts, Israel demonstrated heroic resilience in this war, and the subsequent seventy-four years—marked by significant achievements, victories, and progress—have become history.

In light of recent events, Israel has faced considerable criticism in the international press and on social media regarding its diplomatic stance. However, beyond criticisms that border on overt antisemitism, there is an invaluable and positive core to this scrutiny. Our perspective and position carry weight with the international community and Jewish diaspora communities, who expect Israel to participate fully in global affairs.

We continue to operate within a volatile region where fundamentalist ideologies hostile to the Jewish state remain potent, generating existential threats to Israel and perpetuating anxieties among its public and leadership. Yet, while the young nation once had to fight for its survival while managing severe domestic crises, Israel is today no longer a minor regional actor. We must think and operate on a global scale.

Technology has been central to this evolution, largely driving Israel's economic development and its international standing. The scale of the innovative sector in the Israeli economy is illustrated by a single metric: since the beginning of 2022, Israel has produced 20 new "unicorn" companies—private startups valued at over one billion dollars. In total, the country hosts over 60 such companies, ranking second globally after the United States. With over 7,000 startups, Israel boasts the highest density of innovative enterprises per capita in the world.

In an environment of peace and security, Israel is prepared to collaborate and share its technologies. Today, other nations in the Middle East have recognized the importance of scientific exchange and business partnership. The recently signed Abraham Accords have already facilitated unprecedented levels of cooperation between Israel and the Gulf States. Watergen, the company I lead, is active in this process. We collaborate with partners in the United Arab Emirates to address water scarcity and food security issues in our region.

Our systems for generating clean drinking water from the air are currently utilized in 85 countries worldwide. We are particularly proud that several of our units have been installed in the Gaza Strip, where nearly two million residents suffer from severe potable water shortages. In cooperation with the Israel Defense Forces and local entities, Watergen is the sole company to have installed dozens of its solar-powered devices in Gaza, including at hospitals and healthcare facilities.

Throughout history, resource scarcity, particularly water, has frequently been a catalyst for conflict. Today, we are pursuing the opposite path: fostering peace and constructing a shared future through technological innovation.

Hundreds of Israeli technology companies continue to build our nation’s reputation as a global technological power dedicated to improving the world and human well-being. While many challenges remain, reflecting on the past reveals the extraordinary journey we have accomplished over these seventy-four years.

I extend my sinceres congratulations to the State of Israel, its citizens, and the Jewish diaspora on this shared celebration for the Jewish people.