I can’t say living in Eilat at the moment is that comfortable. We are now truly into high summer and the daily temperatures during day light hours rarely drops below 40 ! Reaching mid 40’s in the afternoons, accompanied by strong winds make venturing out feel like entering a tumble dryer. Clothes dry in less than 10 minutes. We must be thankful at least it is a dry heat, we have marvellous air conditioning and we are used to it, unlike Europe who have scant air conditioning and are suffering extreme temperature coupled with humidity.
The sea is beautiful, but how long can one stay in the water without wilting. The pesky tiger shark that was spotted in the Bay of Eilat has not been seen for a few weeks. Hopefully she went on her way back up into the Red Sea, as swimming is our saving grace in these fiery days.
We all understand the crazy temperatures are the result of global warming and all the harm humans have inflicted upon the planet, but it is mostly out of the hands of individuals and it is governments who must force us to change our way of life to save our planet from turning into a fireball.
The US, China and India are some countries that come to mind who continue to not adopt strategies that will slow the warming . Their unwillingness to scale changes that will halt this terrifying march to the point of no return is bizarre and irresponsible.
Israel while being one of the hottest countries in the world, with half of her land mass being desert, has no shortage of water, producing 20% more than her demands.
Israel pioneered water technology and put in place infrastructure that has prevented the country from drying up. With an unprecedented wealth of technological innovation. Israel has become a life line for countries that experience extreme water shortages.
The Arava Institute, whose home is on Kibbutz Ketura, where my son and grandchildren live, actively disseminate Israel’s expertise, technologies and policy strategies with neighbouring and distant communities suffering from endemic water crises. One of the dreams of Theodor Herzl, recognised in his 1902 book Altneuland was a “fantasy plan” to transport water great distance.
Another great source of self sufficiency in the Arava is the solar power projects - from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea now powering 100% of Eilat and the kibbutzim, during the day. It is predicted that by 2025, the sun will additionally power all nighttime electricity needs.
Despite the arid and hot conditions, due to the above technology and the drip irrigation system that was invented in Israel, vegetables grow in their abundance in the desert.
Hothouses using these advanced horticultural techniques grow peppers, eggplants, watermelon, grapes, dates, tomatoes, strawberries and mangoes. In fact, 900 hundred families living in the desert are responsible for 50% of Israel’s fresh vegetable exports.
The population of the Arava, now known as the “Silicone Valley of Israeli agriculture”, has trebled in the last 10 years and the moshavim and kibbutzim all having waiting lists of young families wishing to join this thriving community. The pandemic changed people’s mindsets. Today a quiet and clean desert environment with the freshest of produce, cheaper housing and possibly the best sea in the world has more appeal than the polluted and overcrowded cities of the centre. One no longer needs to live in Tel Aviv to work, as working from home is the new norm.
With all this innovation and success in the South, it is sad to see the protests continuing and descending into civil unrest causing so much disruption in the centre. The government do not seem to be shifting much in their quest for judicial reform and the protestors are certainly not backing away from the fight.
President Herzog addressed a Joint Session of Congress this week, and received an overwhelmingly positive reception, like his father, Chaim, in 1987. He thanked the US for their continued friendship and that special bond between the two countries as Israel celebrates 75 years of independence. He reiterated that Israel is a modern day miracle, with a strong democracy protected by the Supreme Court and an independent judiciary.
He spoke of the threat that Iran poses, being the only nation on the planet publicly calling for the destruction and annihilation of another country, challenging the entire free world. He said indifference and tolerance of Iran was an inexcusable morale collapse. He said Israel is determined to stop Iran’s march to nuclear capability.
He spoke about the progress that Israel has made with her neighbours culminating with peace deals with Egypt, Jordan and the recent Abraham Accords, enhancing regional stability and breaking the cycle of war.
He thanked the US for their continue support in giving Israel a quantitative military capability, but balanced this with words of peace saying:“Israel’s hand is extended, and our heart is open, to any partner in peace – near or far.
My deep yearning, Mr. Speaker, is for Israel to one day make peace with our Palestinian neighbours. Over the years, Israel has taken bold steps towards peace and made far reaching proposals to our Palestinian neighbours. Notwithstanding the deep political differences, and the numerous challenges that surround Israeli-Palestinian relations – and I do not ignore them – but it should be clear that one cannot talk about peace while condoning or legitimising terror, implicitly or explicitly. True peace cannot be anchored in violence.”
He continued to say “ Criticism of Israel must not cross the line into negation of the State of Israel’s right to exist. Questioning the Jewish people’s right to self-determination, is not legitimate diplomacy, it is antisemitism”.
He spoke of the current internal issues that Israel is facing, but as it is a vibrant democracy he said he remains optimistic and that “hope” in the words of the late Rabbi Sacks “is an active virtue, which requires a great deal of courage. Hope is the belief that together we can make the world better, that we can overcome any setbacks, and heal the fractures in our world”. Amen
Shabbat Shalom