[National Review] Mark Steyn - On a tiny strip of land narrower at its narrowest point than many American townships, Israel has built a modern economy with a GDP per capita within striking distance of the European Union average. Israel also enjoys a birth rate twice that of the European average. The Jews lived in Europe for centuries, but without ever being accepted as "European": To enjoy their belated acceptance as Europeans, they had to move to the Middle East. Unlike much of the rest of the West, Israel has the advantage of living on the front line of the existential challenge. All the reasons for Israel's predicted doom apply to Europe with bells on. "I have a premonition that will not leave me," wrote Eric Hoffer, America's great longshoreman philosopher, after the '67 war. "As it goes with Israel, so will it go with all of us."
2008-05-14 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive