The Israel Test [Hardcover]

Gilder argues that land or religion are secondary causes of the Middle East conflict. The real reason is psychological, i. e. resentment of success. Anti-Zionism is driven by the same phenomena that have always promoted antisemitism: envy and ignorance of economics. This emotion manifests in the hatred of traders, entrepreneurs, bankers and other wealth creators that exists wherever a minority distinguishes itself economically. One of many examples is the Chinese community in Southeast Asia. Helmut Schoeck's Envy: A Theory of Social Behaviour provides an in-depth analysis. Ordinary people do not normally harbor this resentment; the intelligentsia does and often manages to spread it to society at large through the notions that poverty results from 'exploitation,' that resources are limited and that therefore the wealth of some is the cause of others' poverty.

That's why Israel divides the world. Its opponents in the West, concentrated at the UN, transnational bodies and the humanities departments of academia, are those who consider capitalism as a zero-sum game in which success is attained at the expense of the poor & the environment. On the other side are those who admire success and recognize that everyone benefits by the accomplishments of achievers. Antisemitism is similarly a zero-sum delusion. Collectivists and their apologists envy Jews since they're unable to emulate them; they therefore attempt to destroy that which shows up their own failure. The author explains how Jewish entrepreneurs and scientists like Albert Einstein, Niels Bohr, Heinrich Hertz, John von Neumann and Richard Feynman helped to bring about the IT-revolution that provides the matrix of our modern prosperity.

Gilder profiles contemporary Israeli scientists and entrepreneurs, especially those in physics and information technology. They are the minds behind Israel's gifts to the world, some of which are highlighted in the book Israel in the World: Changing Lives Through Innovation by Helen and Douglas Davis. Israel in fact leads the world in per-capita innovation as proved by a 2008 Deloitte & Touche survey indicating that the Jewish State outperformed all but the United States in software, telecoms, microchips, biopharmaceuticals, medical devices and clean energy. The country's growth since the 1990s is primarily due to (a) immigration of freedom-loving people from the former Soviet Union (b) immigration from the USA of people with business acumen and entrepreneurial skills (c) economic reforms that reduced taxes, regulations and state ownership, for which Benjamin Netanyahu deserves much credit. The author holds the current prime minister in high esteem, viewing him as the right leader for our times.

After the 1967 war Israelis started settling in the Territories, establishing an infrastructure of education, electricity, water & medical care. During Israeli rule, the economy in these areas surged by about 25% annually; growth surpassed that of Israel itself which was still shackled by statist thought. Palestinian life expectancy increased significantly as did their numbers, while the median income tripled. All of this came to a halt when the West and the United Nations forced the return of Arafat and his terrorists. The Palestinian Authority became the globe's prime per capita consumer of foreign aid as billions of dollars were squandered on maintaining a culture of corruption, blame, victimhood and dependency.

The reader is reminded that peace necessitates the imposition of penalties on aggression. Those who justify terrorism against a democracy that respects the rule of law and then condemn the inevitable retaliatory defense are supporters of barbarism and tyranny. There's a link between European antisemitism and Palestinianism as document by Chuck Morse and others. Haj Amin al-Husseini, the grand mufti of Jerusalem, was an ally of the Nazis and a participant in the Shoah/Holocaust. Unsurprisingly, Arafat was an ardent promoter of Mein Kampf. In addition, antisemitic stereotypes disgrace the Arab media whilst the Iranian proxies Hamas and Hezbollah openly proclaim their genocidal goals.

Gilder has identified the core issue and its consequences, revealing why Israel separates the free-market USA from statist Western Europe, individualists from collectivists and those who oppose high taxes from those in favor of big government. This line of demarcation broadly corresponds with the ideological divide between statism and classical liberalism. In psychological terms the book illuminates two opposing world-views, two incompatible mentalities -- the mind which considers resources as finite & limited, versus the mind that engages reality in an endless creative process. Meticulously researched and well-written, The Israel Test is a work of outstanding discernment and clarity.

Within the context of how history panned out, and with the need to adopt a rational position vis-à-vis the existential threats which emanate from within and without, by those of an Islamist and/or not dissimilar disposition, this book makes the convincing case that Jews are an indispensable component of any country which advocates liberty and prosperity, underpinned by capitalism. And that Israel is a country to be supported wholeheartedly instead of being vilified for perceived abuses, as propagated by the sworn enemies of liberty, prosperity and capitalism.

As per the Arrivista of Dubai, it would make good sense for them to be stacking this book at Dubai International as a counter to the stacks of Mein Kampf at Jordan International, so as to head off the likelihood of the Burj Dubai becoming a victim of the 'dirt and rubbish' syndrome, to be a castle made of sand, that slips in the sea, sooner than eventually. Albert Speer Jr. (Der Spiegel) gives a significant amount of Dubai as little as ten years, before it has to be demolished.

Gilder has written a powerful argument for the importance of Israel and the Jewish people. He sees Israel and our approach to it as the "crucial battlefield for Capitalism and Freedom in our time."
His case is persuasive, even if a little too overbearing at times (even arrogant).
He states that "Israel is hated, as the United States is hated, because Israel is successful, because Israel is free, and because Israel is good".

When giving due credit to those Jews that have made massive contributions to science, technology, medicine etc... (they certainly punch above their weight) I was dissappointed that he did not expound much on the foundational contribution and support given by the British and their contributions to the same; particularly through the Enlightenment onwards and their support to Israel's survival and growth. I assume this is because the book is primarily aimed at the American market.

The book is so provocative (it's dangerous!), you cannot remain neutral about it, even if you disagree with some of his points.

Although he really only addresses the secular arguments, there are obviously arguments that can be made from a religious perspective too - and I think he could have done better to cover at least some of these (such as the Abrahamic covenant) and the importance of this relative to the unacceptable approach to 'land for peace' deals.

The passion that Gilder has for the subject exudes from every page. I heartily recommend it.