Unmistaken disparates
Two news items, totally unconnected, caught my attention because they both are perfect examples of how Israel is a leader in innovation and at the same time a favourite target of double standards.
Michael Kuttner
Countless instances of this phenomenon abound but it should just take these two to demonstrate how the Jewish State is uniquely placed.
Many commentators have noted that in the short space of seventy four years Israel has resurrected a neglected, barren and abused territory into a thriving and modern hub of an advanced society. Moreover this has all been accomplished in the face of unrelenting hostility and endless attempts at annihilating the country and its citizens from the family of nations. For most of these seven decades Israel had no vast natural resources to speak of and instead had to rely on the natural brain and brawn resources of its population and determined will to survive and surmount all challenges.
Another critical factor to bear in mind is that the international community in the guise of the United Nations has decided that Israel should be designated as the eternal scapegoat for all the ills of the Middle East and beyond, thus perpetuating the millennia old conspiracy theories. Incubated at first theologically and then later spread far and wide by so called “enlightened” liberal, secular haters, this virus persists and mutates unchecked.
I mention all these background factors because it is vitally important to remember them when comparing the situation here in the Promised Land with that in other countries.
New Zealand and Israel would seem at first glance to be similar in that both countries are liberal democracies and both gained sovereignty after years of British colonial rule. NZ is vastly larger than Israel and its natural resources were certainly more abundant. While Israel ‘s population is approaching ten million that of NZ is only just over five million and therein perhaps lies a clue as to why the contrast in economic development is so evident.
The headline I read in a NZ newspaper concerned the parlous state of water resources in the nation’s Capital of Wellington. It seems that the city’s water pipes are “leaking like a sieve” with regular breaks in supply as pipes erupt. Apparently years of total neglect have resulted in a situation where ancient infrastructure, lack of maintenance and refusal to invest, all now contribute to a water crisis. In addition and hard to believe, despite a bounty of rainfall there is a looming shortage of water which necessitates hosing bans and two minute showers. This water scarcity affects not only the Capital but other cities and parts of the country as well.
Here is the conundrum.
New Zealand’s annual average rainfall is between 640mm and 1,500mm. Wellington’s annual average rainfall is 1,250mm.
Israel’s annual rainfall equals 550mm. Jerusalem’s annual rainfall is 348mm.
Wellington has on average 144.30 days of rain per year.
Jerusalem has on average 45.20 days of rain per year.
Given these statistics, wouldn’t you think that Israel and its Capital might be facing catastrophic shortages rather than NZ and its Capital?
Israel’s rainy season only lasts for 3 or at the most 4 months. For the rest of the year there is nary a drop descending from the heavens. On the other hand rain in NZ falls regardless of the seasons.
Surely there must be some sort of explanation for this discrepancy in the availability of water for domestic and commercial use.
Jerusalem’s water infrastructure was much older than Wellington’s. In fact it dates back to the times of the Temple when water was conveyed by pipes from as far away as Gush Etzion. The infrastructure from Roman times and the Ottoman occupation were certainly more ancient than those now blowing up down under.
The answer is very simple and epitomizes the difference between both countries.
Israel, when faced with a challenge, acts decisively to solve the problem. A massive undertaking to renew all the old pipes in our Capital means that today we do not face the sort of disasters which are occurring in Wellington.
That however is only part of the answer.
What accounts for the fact that NZ faces a critical water shortage despite bountiful rainfall and Israel situated in the arid Middle East is actually an exporter of water to some of its neighbours? We do not have exhortations for 2 minute showers and bans on watering our gardens.
Once again it all comes down to Israeli innovation (drip irrigation), recycling of waste water and above all else massive investment in desalination. The Sorek desalination plant was built at a cost of US$400 million and is the largest plant in the world. In addition other desalination plants have been built and are being planned. A total of more than 55% of Israel’s domestic water supply is desalinated. By the year 2025 the amount will have reached 1.1 billion cubic meters.
With water from the Kinneret piped south via an extensive network of pipes plus the mountain aquifers Israelis have access to adequate water supplies.
New Zealand (and other countries) could benefit from a similar investment in modern technology and innovative forward thinking. The fact that countries with abundant rainfall and access to oceans are suffering droughts and critical water shortages highlights the difference between Israel where we get on with the job and others who dither and delay in the hope that some committee somewhere will come to their rescue.
Meanwhile back at the UN the latest “emergency” meeting of the Security Council demonstrated yet again the glaring hypocrisy which prevails when it comes to Israel. We should by now have become used to the likes of China and Russia hyperventilating every time Israel dispatches more terrorists to paradise where they can enjoy the pleasures of 72 virgins. The UN Ambassador to Israel cannot help himself and feels compelled to burble about disproportionate responses and the usual motley collection of other countries utter disapproving statements.
When the USA killed the leader of Al Qaeda most democracies applauded or stayed silent. When Israel removes the top terrorist leaders of terror groups the world convulses. When over a thousand rockets are fired towards Israel and we retaliate all hell breaks loose. When Jihad rockets explode inside Gaza and kill Palestinian Arab children guess who gets the blame? Turkey’s President, a paragon of human rights has already accused us of murdering innocents and our peace partner’s Egyptian UN Ambassador lamented the “martyrs.” For good measure he also denounced Jews praying on the Temple Mount on Tisha B’Av which according to him was a desecration. All this mind you after our PM praised Egypt’s President.
The ongoing frenzy of double standards is par for the course and will only increase as Israel takes further measures to safe guard the security of its citizens.
If you are looking for unmistakable disparities you need look no further.
