Yoram Ettinger

High return on US investment in Israel

The annual US investment in Israel -- erroneously defined as"foreign aid" - has yielded one of the highest rates of return on US investments overseas. Israel is no longer a supplicant, transforming itself from a national security and economic consumer to a national security and economic producer, generating substantial dividends, which exceed the annual investment by its lead investor, the US.

The volcano of Islamic terrorism

Islamic terrorism has dominated the history of Islam, as demonstrated by the murder of three of the first four Caliphs succeeding Muhammed: Umar ibn Abd al-Khattab (644 AD), Uthman Ibn Affan (656 AD) and Ali ibn Abi Talib (661 AD). Islamic terrorism has been one of the most active and dangerous volcanoes - domestically, regionally and globally - since the initial eruption of Islam in the 7th century. Historically, all Arab regimes have achieved, sustained and eventually lost power through domestic violence, subversion or terrorism.

Overseas investors attracted to Israel

1. PricewaterhouseCoopers: Israeli mergers and acquisitions (M&A) totaled $12.6bn in 2015, a 73.3% increase over 2014 ($7.25bn). Moreover, 62 Israeli companies were acquired for $7.2bn, compared to 52 companies and $5bn in 2014, a fifth year in a row with over $5bn. Overseas investment in Israeli companies reached $6.5bn, compared to $3.8bn in 2014, a 71% increase. 2015 experienced a rise in the number of investors from the US, China, Hong Kong and Canada. Israeli entrepreneurs and developers are less inclined to sell early-stage startups, investing more resources to reach mature stage, hence the higher price per transaction/investment (Globes business daily, December 28, 2015).

The demographic bottom line

1. The gap of the Jewish-Arab fertility rate (number of births per woman) has been closed. From a 6 births gap in 1969 to a 0.06 gap in December, 2014, the Arab rate is 3.17 trending downward and the Jewish rate is 3.11 trending upward, and 3.4 when both spouses are Israeli-born.

The demographic scaremongering fraternity

Demographic scaremongering has played a key role in the sustained campaign to infect Jews with faintheartedness and fatalism, dissuading Jews from settling the Land of Israel, and luring Israel to concede the historically and militarily critical high ground of Judea and Samaria. This campaign preceded Secretary John Kerry’s speech on December 5, 2015, when he stated: “How does Israel possibly maintain its character as a Jewish and democratic state when from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea there would not even be a Jewish majority?”

Is Secretary Kerry Reinventing the Middle East?

Secretary of State John Kerry's November 24, 2015 visit to Jerusalem confirmed his determination to reinvent "the energetic, youthful and forward looking Middle East" in accordance with his own worldview, irrespective of Middle East reality. Kerry recycled well-intentioned, but failed, assessments and tactics, further eroding the US posture of deterrence and US power projection among pro-US Arab countries.

Palestinian terrorism: institutional or random?

In contrast to national liberation movements, Palestinian terrorism has targeted--deliberately, institutionally and systematically--Arab and Israeli non-combatants, sometimes hitting combatants.

Foreign investors demonstrate confidence in Israel

1. Moody’s investors service (Oct. 7, 2015): “Israel’s resilient growth model, effective governance and steadily improving debt metrics underpin its A1 government bond rating and stable outlook…. Israel’s economic growth has outpaced that of most advanced industrial economies over the past decade, supported by a competitive high-tech export sector, substantial spending on research and development and a well-educated labor force…. Israel is one of the few advanced countries that have a lower debt-to GDP ratio….” Bloomberg (Aug. 2): “Israel’s workforce participation rates have reached the targets set by the government for 2020…. In the age group 25-64, the labor force participation rate was 77.2% for the first half of 2015….“

Reality-based vs. Palestinian-based Demography

Israeli opposition leaders, Yitzhak Herzog, Yair Lapid and Tzipi Livni recently echoed the erroneous assumption – shared by the White House and Department of State - that Arabs will, eventually, become a majority in the combined area of Judea, Samaria and pre-1967 Israel. Driven by demographic pessimism and fatalism – which has eroded Israel's negotiation posture - they urge a retreat from geography (the mountain ridges of Judea and Samaria) in order to secure demography.

Yom Kippur Guide for the Perplexed, 2015

1. Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) is a major Jewish holiday of individual self-enhancement spiritually and perpetually, transforming acrimony and vindictiveness into forgiveness, peace of mind and peaceful coexistence between God and human beings, but especially between fellow human beings. While Yom Kippur prayers request forgiveness for sins committed against God, it is customary to dedicate Yom Kippur's eve to repentance for sins committed against fellow human beings.

Israel – a R&D and manufacturing powerhouse

While global economic slowdown and insecurity have reduced consumption, export and growth throughout the world:

Rosh Hashanah guide for the perplexed, 2015

1. Rosh Hashanah ("beginning of the year" in Hebrew) is a universal, stock-taking holiday of hope and renewal, celebrated on the 6th day of The Creation, when the first human being, Adam, was produced.

Oy Jerusalem

While the Jewish State benefits from the robust Jewish demographic tailwind of fertility and immigration, Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, is burdened with a Jewish demographic headwind of emigration, which is eroding the current 66% Jewish majority.

The Ayatollahs consider the US their chief target

Enclosed you'll find my politically-incorrect columns on the most critical threat to US national security and economic interests: the nuclearized Ayatollahs. They conduct hate-America education system, bankroll global anti-US Islamic terrorism, terrorize all pro-US Arab regimes, co-develop nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities with anti-US North Korea, collaborate militarily with anti-US Venezuela, egregiously violate civil liberties and systematically abrogate agreements.

Iran: from "roll-back" to "roll-on"

MILITARY OR PEACEFUL NUCLEAR

1. "Why does Iran – which has the world's 4^th largest proven oil reserves and the world's 2nd largest proven natural gas reserves – need nuclear power for domestic energy?.... if Iran is to acquire a nuclear bomb, it will not have my name on it….

US voters shape the Iran debate in Congress

The position of US voters on the nuclear deal with the Ayatollahs – and therefore the position of Senators and House Representatives – is shaped by their worldview, in general, and US homeland and national security considerations, in particular.

Saudi Arabia VS President Obama and Secretary Kerry

Irrespective of Western attempts to portray Saudi Arabia, the Gulf States, Jordan and Egypt as supporters of the Iran nuclear deal, leaders of these countries, and especially the House of Saud, consider the accord a colossal, lethal threat, resulting from a reckless, short-sighted and self-destructive policy, which will initially plague the Arab World, and subsequently the Western World, including the USA, "the Great Satan" according to the Ayatollahs.

Jewish demographic tailwind; no Arab demographic time bomb

In 1898, the top Jewish demographer, Simon Dubnov, projected 0.5mn Jews in Israel in 2000. He was off by 5.5mn Jews. In 1944, the founder of Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics, Prof. Roberto Bacchi, projected 2.3mn Jews in 2001, a 33% minority. He was wrong by 3.7mn Jews.

Israel's technology protects British troops in Afghanistan

1. "British Prime Minister David Cameron: 'Israel's technology is protecting British and NATO troops in Afghanistan….' UK-Israeli trade is at an all-time high, despite recent rumblings by the EU over the labelling of products from the West Bank and calls in some quarters for a boycott of Israeli goods….HSBC, Barclays, Rolls-Royce, GlaxoSmithKline and Unilever have a major presence in Israel. One out of every seven prescriptions filled by Britain's National Health Service is from an Israeli pharmaceutical firm….

Iran--there are reasonable alternatives

The worldview of President Jimmy Carter-- which was resoundingly rejected by President Clinton during the 1992 and 1996 presidential campaigns--has been resuscitated throughout the lengthy negotiations--and the July 2015 agreement - with Iran.