“The establishment of the state in 1948, the fulfillment of its envisioned role as home and haven for Jews from all corners of the world, its wholehearted embrace of democracy and the rule of law, and its impressive economic, scientific and cultural achievements, are extraordinary accomplishments,” has said the Israeli Ambassador to Albania, Boaz Rodkin.
Asked by Albanian Daily News in an exclusive interview on what Israel and its people had achieved in those 7 decades, and which are the expectations for the future both as far as economic and social development were concerned, the Ambassador replied by saying that Israel’s most striking economic and social achievements was the rate at which it has developed while simultaneously dealing among others with enormously costly challenges like absorbing large numbers of immigrants, establishing a modern economic infrastructure, providing a high level of public services like health, education, and welfare, maintaining National Security while striving to adhere to a strict code of military conduct.
“Achieving peace with our neighbors has been our goal from Israel’s first day. In its Declaration of Independence on May 15, 1948, Israel stretched out its hand in peace to its Arab neighbors, calling for an end to war and bloodshed,” Mr. Rodkin said, adding that direct, bilateral Israeli-Palestinian negotiations are the only viable path to accomplish a comprehensive peace.
Speaking of Israel’s relations with Albania the Ambassador said they are strong and cover a broad spectrum, including trade ties, investment, energy and water, as well as security issues.
It is expected a significant rise in the number of Israeli visitors to Albania in the next years as a new direct flight path between Tel-Aviv and Tirana will commence its operation soon, allowing more and more Israelis to visit Albania and explore its spectacular coastline, its rich history and culture, as well as the magic of its marvelous cuisine, said Ambassador Rodkin in the following interview:
– On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion, future first prime minister of Israel, declared the state’s independence, outlining the Jewish story: “The people kept faith with (the land) throughout their dispersion and never ceased to pray and hope for their return to it and for the restoration in it of their political freedom.” As celebrations on the 70th anniversary of Israel’s founding have begun, Mr. Ambassador, would you share with ADN’s readers your opinion on the significance of such an anniversary and how the Israeli people feel in such a moment?
– For many centuries, Jews around the world prayed for a return to Zion. We are the lucky ones who have seen those prayers answered.
The establishment of the state in 1948, the fulfillment of its envisioned role as home and haven for Jews from all corners of the world, its wholehearted embrace of democracy and the rule of law, and its impressive economic, scientific and cultural achievements, are extraordinary accomplishments.
And when one adds the key element, namely, that all this took place in the volatile Middle East, where Israel’s neighbors determined from day one to destroy it through any means available to them, the story of Israel’s first 70 years becomes all the more remarkable.
– Can you please make a wrap up of what your country and people have achieved in these 7 decades, and which are the expectations for the future both as far as economic and social development is concerned?
– Israel’s most striking economic and social achievement is the rate at which it has developed while simultaneously dealing with the following enormously costly challenges:
– Absorbing large numbers of immigrants: The “ingathering of the exiles” is practically the raison d’etre of the Jewish state. Since its inception, Israel has absorbed more than 3 million immigrants, more than five times the number of Jews living in the country when it attained independence in 1948. In its first four years alone, Israel’s population more than doubled as 700,000 immigrants, mostly refugees from postwar Europe and Arab states, poured into the country.
Since 1990, another wave of 1.2 million immigrants (940,000 from the former Soviet Union alone), required enormous outlays for their physical and social absorption. However, much faster than the previous waves of immigration, these newcomers soon contributed to accelerating the GDP growth.
– Establishing a modern economic infrastructure: Although basic networks of roads, transportation, port facilities, water, electricity, and communications existed in 1948, they were far from adequate, requiring enormous outlays for their development and expansion. Without this huge investment in communications and transportation, much of the expedited growth of the economy could have never occurred.
– Providing a high level of public services like health, education, welfare, etc; As Israel is committed to ensuring the well-being of its population, a continuously growing proportion of its resources had been devoted to meet these obligations. Recent budgets have placed a special emphasis on education and other programs aimed at investing in the country’s future workforce while helping to close the income gap.
In 2010, Israel has joined the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), a tribute to its emergence as a developed economy of the first class.
Maintaining National Security: we have created one of the world’s most powerful militaries – always under civilian control – to ensure our survival in a rough-and-tumble neighborhood. At the same time, we strive to adhere to a strict code of military conduct.
– With regard to foreign policy the question remains high on the agenda: which are the expectations for the establishment of a long-lasting peace with the Palestinians? What can you say on the state of relations with the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority? And, secondly which is the position of Israel internationally, and particularly how would you describe the relations with the countries of the Middle East?
– Achieving peace with our neighbors has been our goal from Israel’s first day. In its Declaration of Independence on May 15, 1948, Israel stretched out its hand in peace to its Arab neighbors, calling for an end to war and bloodshed. Now, seven decades later, as we view with pride our nation’s extraordinary accomplishments, we are determined to complete the circle of peace around us.
No people have suffered more from war and violence than the Jewish people. The Egyptian President, Anwar Sadat’s visit to Jerusalem in 1977 and indeed the peace agreement between our two countries that was signed in 1979, were a breakthrough in the history of the Middle East. It enabled direct contact between the Arab world and the Jewish state, leading to a historic reconciliation, the first of its kind. Time teaches us that this peace is a stable anchor in our swollen and bleeding region. We want peace for us and for the Palestinian people as well. We are willing to make painful compromises for peace. We hope the Palestinians are ready to make the necessary compromises, too.
Therefore, we call on the Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas to demonstrate his desire for peace by stopping the policy of “paying terrorists to murder Jews,” which cost nearly ten percent of the PA budget, money that could be put to much more constructive uses. Still, Abbas overall has been more obstructionist than facilitator in advancing peace.
The last US effort to encourage direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations collapsed in 2014 when Abbas refused to continue. He subsequently ignored PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s repeated overtures to resume the talks. Direct, bilateral Israeli-Palestinian negotiations are the only viable path to accomplish a comprehensive peace.
– Your Excellency, there is a flare up of deadly violence with many casualties in Gaza over the last weeks. Which is the cause that has prompted such a return of the violence, and as a follow up how would you describe the economic situation in Gaza as there are reports that the situation on the ground for the two million people there is extraordinarily harsh?
– More than a decade ago, in the summer of 2005, Israel implemented the “Disengagement Plan”, in which it unilaterally withdrew from the Gaza Strip. After Israel withdrew all its forces and citizens from the Gaza Strip, the Hamas terrorist organization took control and established a regime of terror over the Palestinian population of Gaza, a regime that continually violates the human rights of its own people.
During its rule, Hamas, with the declared aim of annihilating the State of Israel, invests considerable resources in military buildup and terrorist activity, rather than improving the welfare of its residents and their living conditions. Simultaneously, Hamas continues in its attempts to penetrate the territory of the State of Israel and harm its citizens – through terror tunnels, infiltration of land and sea fences, and by firing tens of thousands of rockets in multiple violent rounds of hostilities. It does this by exploiting the proximity of the Israeli farming communities and infrastructure to Gaza.
In recent weeks, Hamas is promoting a new tactic of terrorist activity under the cover of national commemoration events and protests that are ostensibly popular in nature. In doing so, Hamas compares its behaviors to a peaceful, non-violent demonstration around the fence, in order to camouflage and conduct terrorist activities. This is done, as has been the case in the past, by civilians cynically exploited for the ultimate goals of the terrorist organization.
The reasons for Hamas’ shifting policy are varied. The central reason is its failure as the ruler of the Gaza Strip, the deterioration in its economic situation and the difficulties of the reconciliation process with the Palestinian Authority.
Gazans participating in the riots along with Hamas militiamen are pawns in Hamas’ hands, however although to some their slogan of “return” might seem innocent, it is far from it. The purpose of this “return” is not some peaceful reconciliation with Israel it is in fact euphemism for a call of Israel’s destruction.
– The tragic situation in Syria keeps causing numerous victims, and it is painful especially to see so many casualties among children. Mr. Ambassador, in your view, which are the roots of this tragedy, and, on top of all, why has a solution failed to be achieved?
– In a fractured, troubled region, Syria, above all, represents by far the greatest human tragedy of the 21st century, shattering the country, killing hundreds of thousands, and driving millions into exile, with profound ramifications for both neighboring countries and the European continent as well.
Though Syrian President Bashar Assad and his allies project an alternative reality, his regime’s forces are largely responsible for the more than 400, 000 dead and the 11 million refugees, half the country’s population.
Finding the formula to resolve the Syria conflict, restore stability and rebuild the country so that it does not dissolve into chaos is an enormous challenge. Not doing everything possible would be the ultimate tragedy, with repercussions well beyond Syria’s borders.
– Changing the subject, Mr. Ambassador, how would you describe the relations between Albania and Israel, particularly in view of the anniversary of the founding of your country?
– Israel’s relations with Albania are strong and cover a broad spectrum, including trade ties, investment, energy and water, as well as security issues.
Throughout the duration of our diplomatic relations, the two governments have had an ongoing collaboration that has been materialized in many bilateral agreements in the fields of promotion and reciprocal protection of investments, trade and economic cooperation, agriculture, plant protection, veterinary medicine and air services, as well as cooperation in the fields of culture, education and science. This collaboration has paved the way for other bilateral agreements.
Today, we see cooperation at an all-time high and a bilateral relationship going from strength to strength.
– What can be done more for the widening of the overall relations between the two countries in the future?
– We believe there is always room for improvement in our bilateral economic cooperation and trade. Israeli businesses interest to explore new areas of cooperation with Albania is always growing. Both governments are highly willing to create proper possibilities that will be translated into projects with mutual benefit for both our countries. Such interest is projected for the energy, agriculture, infrastructure and high-technology sectors of the Albanian economy.
Data shows the annual number of Israeli visitors to Albania is only about 6,000 in recent years. We can expect to register a significant rise in that figure this year as a new direct flight path between Tel-Aviv and Tirana will commence its operation soon, allowing more and more Israelis to visit Albania and explore its spectacular coastline, its rich history and culture, as well as the magic of its marvelous cuisine.