'Israel is not a corrupt country'

[bemildred]

This seems to be Ehud too, but they do not specify.

Many people abroad are looking at the country - at Ramon, at Katsav, at Hirchson and at their perception of the war in Lebanon, and say, "This isn't the Israel we knew or dreamed of. What has happened to this country?" How do you respond to that?

First of all, put aside the war in Lebanon. It doesn't belong in this context. I guess most of those people are from America. Did they win the war in Iraq so rapidly? Sometimes there are difficulties. What does this have to do with the basic image of Israel?

The problem is not in their question. The problem is in your ability to answer them. If I were you, I would have said, "Let's go to visit the north of Israel, and look at the piece of land that was attacked by thousands of rockets. See how it is flourishing, how beautiful it is. There is more employment in the North than there was a year ago, more income in the North than a year ago. More investments in the North than a year ago."

Then you can take them to some of the high-tech plants, in both the North and South, and show them what is being done there. Tell them, "This is the State of Israel that in spite of the war, and the fighting, had more growth last year than your economy, in America, and than most of the European economies. This is a country in which there was more investment in the social needs of the people last year. You have many answers to give.

Jpost

[EST]

1. Growth and investment does not signify lack of corruption.

That answer signifies misdirection: the attempt to obfuscate and cover up.

[The Magistrate]

2. People Are Corrupt, Sir

Any land containing them is bound have scandal....

[bemildred]

3. It is the pretense that they are not that annoys me Sir. nt

[cali]

4. I'm not sure where you live

but what evidence do you have to suggest that Israelis pretend that there country isn't corrupt, in greater numbers, than Americans or Brits, or Aussies, or whoever?

[bemildred]

5. Why would I "present evidence" for something I don't agree with?

How am I in a position to make statements about what Israelis "pretend", or their relative position in those matters with respect to other nations? To be clear, I don't think Israelis are more corrupt that Americans, or Australians, or the British. I don't really see where you got the idea that I do.

[cali]

6. From the fact that you posted the article and

from your comment that you were bothered by the pretense of Israelis that theirs isn't a corrupt country. Seems pretty evident to me that you found this troubling enough to post about.

[bemildred]

7. You are reading a great deal in.

My interest is in Mr. Olmert and his problems, and I am not "troubled" at all about it.