If Israel is in "a crisis", how does one explain this:

In the first nine months of 2006, Israeli companies have raised USD 1.15 billion, up 7 percent from the USD 1.07 billion raised in the same period last year.

This has resulted in a plethora of start-ups dealing with everything from water purification to video websites. While some Israeli companies go on to become multinational giants like Check Point Software Technologies, most of the time these companies focus on narrowly tailored niches. Eventually, many are bought by larger, established companies.

While venture investors have put money into Israeli companies before, activity has increased in the past few years. Israeli companies have been receiving more money than companies from European nations.

Roughly 30 percent of the funds went to life sciences during the quarter. The country and local universities like the Technion are placing a greater emphasis on pharmaceuticals and medical devices.

The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange has been roaring for the past three years and recently soared to record heights.

It's too bad you are such a dim-witted, dipshit and can't deal with the truth.

Phil, the sad thing is that a people trained since toddlers to memorize history by means of the mnemonic device of creating hiperbole and absurd relations between events and peoples will never be able to explain their identity to others. Never.

It's better to learn nothing from the past and start your life afresh than to memorize a distorted version of it for the single purpose of justifying your next act of violence.

That's the way to be less of a Victim and more of a Man, a thing an accountant could easily do, perhaps, were he more of a Man and less eager to exploit the credits he would receive as Victim.

Nicely put. :)

I googled for "Seffi Kedmi", expecting he would be one of the Israeli military refusniks, but came up empty. It is only the group Courage to Refuse (seruv.org) which posts the names of the signers. Kedmi could have belonged to the group of 27 pilots who refused in 2003. Or he could be a reservist who has taken a private vow to partake no longer in the ethnic cleansing of Palestine. It is obvious that any soldier who sees the so-called enemy as a human being with hopes and fears like his own will be able to kill and maim no longer.

There are a total of 1,669 Israeli military refusniks now. Adjusting for population difference, it would be the equivalent of 100,050 American troops balking at military operations which dishonor their arms. Sounds about right.

Pearlman, wiseking et al, don't even think about smearing these Israeli soldiers, who have already paid a huge social price for standing by their principles. If you do, I swear I'll lay a Buddist prayer on you that will keep you awake at night.

You are living up to you dumb reputation, Brenda.

The US Military is about 1.4 million (active and reserves). The Israeli army is about 400,000 (active and reserves). 1,669 Israeli military refusniks equates to 5800 in the US Military.

For those keeping score, Goldstein was merely performing payback for the Arab murders of Jews in 1929. So Goldstein is now a martyr for the settlers, his grave a shrine.

Would also ask people bent on adjusting for population differences if they are willing to aggregate less favourable transactions, for they are plenty.