Land of Milk and HoneyFor Few Israelis
Successive Israeli governments have allowed international and Israeli companies to profit unfairly from natural resources that should benefit all Israelis, writes Idan Grinbaum.
“Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.” — Deut. 6:3, King James Bible, Authorized Version
“A land that floweth with milk and honey” appears more than 20 times in the Bible, the most sacred book of the Jewish people. It means, according to most biblical commentators, that the Land of Israel is overly abundant in all the good things in the world — from fruit to cattle and sheep and everything in between. Alas, jumping to modern times and the State of Israel of the new millennium, one finds that Israeli governments over the years have systematically granted all that good in the land to a handful of close associates for an incredibly low price, if any.
The State of Israel stands accused of outrageously and irresponsibly misusing its natural resources — the commonly owned resources shared equally by all its citizens — depriving all but a privileged few of their inherent right to enjoy the fruit these resources bear. The incompetence and short-sightedness of those who allowed Israeli and international companies to take from Israel’s natural resources can be seen in every area of activity and geographical region explored.
The scope of the taking of these natural resources involves the unique natural ore deposits of the Dead Sea, the mineral water springs strewn across the country (from Ein Gedi in the south to the Golan Heights in the north), to the recreational slopes of Mount Hermon, and the sand along the Mediterranean coast and under the sea. The approach to the natural gas fields deep below the Mediterranean are an exception. In this instance, however, the government initially demonstrated the same lack of skill and forethought typical of its activities involving other natural resources. Luckily, it eventually came to its senses and managed at the last minute to repair the damage done and collect on behalf of the citizens of Israel their share in the natural gas deposits discovered there, estimated to be in the billions of dollars, which is expected to flow into state coffers in the coming years.
