Facts about the 100th smallest country, with less than 1/1000th of the world's population (Israel)

NewsOfTheDay.com ^ | 9-19-03

[tictoc]

The Negev (mostly) desert makes up half of Israel's land area.

If Israel survives the 21st century, their experience will put them in the lead when we terraform Mars.

[dwd1]

A temple on Mars.... Ilan Ramon would be proud...

[Ready4Freddy]

"AOL's instant message program was designed by an Israeli software company."

Well, AOL bought ICQ, but AIM was around long before ICQ.

[Guillermo]

Of course, I hate Jews because I think we should end welfare to Israel.

Just like I hate children because I don't think the Feds should fund education.

Just like I hate Senior Citizens because I don't think the Feds should be paying for their pills.

Just like I hate the poor because I don't think the Feds should be subsidizing bad behavior.

Go back to Democratic Underground where you belong, you disgusting demagouge.

[evolved_rage]

Windows NT software was developed by Microsoft-Israel.

I always thought the blue screen of death was Talmudic.

[Snerfling]

Maybe even the "Smartest" group of people.

The interesting question is not if, but why. That is, was it environmental or genetic factors that created superior IQ? The case for environment is 2,000 years of oppression, including prohibitions against owning real estate. The net result was that Js were forced into city centers and non-capital intensive trades such as media, finance, retail, etc. - areas which they still exert significant influence.

On the other hand, the Js were one of the first to popularize the notion of a monolithic God around 5,000 yrs ago. This in itself could point to an early ability to sythensize complex philosophical concepts while the rest of the known civilized world was still attributing natural causes to individual dieties.

I myself lean more towards the environmental explanation. If over 40+ generations you periodically directed murder, theft, emmigration, etc at a specific targeted group, they would either (a) die out, or (b) become incredibly hardy with diverse survival skills.

[norraad]

According to Tom Brokaaawww on the evening news last night Israel is a hurricane!

Yes, he said it without retraction or any correction hoping we wouldn't notice. I guess he thought we were all as drunk as he was.

[A Broken Glass Republican]

HEY!!!

Where did I say "You hate Jews"???

And your "Disruptor" charge proves you're WEAK! Get an imagination and find a new one!!

[yonif]

Your numbers place both loans (which are the most of the aid) and grants together.

Loans by Israel have always been repaid. What's more, it is due to these loans that American jobs are created.

[A Broken Glass Republican]

Thank you so much. Very interesting comments.

[Ready4Freddy]

Maybe Isabel can put a cap in the egyptian's a$$.

I've mis-read Isabel several topics on FR as 'Israel'.

[Snerfling]

Very interesting comments.

Not a J myself, but have know many. They usually point to their history of oppression as the primary reason for their success ie sink or swim.

[new cruelty]

bump

[norraad]

The mind is a terrible thing.

[Duan]

Israel's $100 billion economy is larger than all of its immediate neighbors combined.

Does this include Egypt?

[tictoc]

According to CIA World Factbook:

ISRAEL (pop. 6,116,533 (July 2002 est.) 
======

Gross domestic product, purchasing power parity: $122 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:  -1.1% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:  (PPP): $19,000 (2002 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):  5.7% (2002 est.)

Unemployment rate: 10.4% (2002 est.)  


EGYPT pop. 74,718,797 (July 2003 est.) 
=====

GDP, purchasing power parity: $268 billion (2002 est.) 

GDP - real growth rate:  1.7% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:  (PPP): $3,900 (2002 est.)  

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.3% (2002)

Unemployment rate: 12% (2001 est.)  

[tictoc]

Regarding the GDP figures for Egypt, the CIA Factbook notes:

"In developing countries with weak currencies the exchange rate estimate of GDP in dollars is typically one-fourth to one-half the PPP estimate."

[Guillermo]

You compared me to Pat Buchanan.

Pat Buchanan is NOT pro-Israel. It should be clear to any objective Buchanan observer that from his statement of the last 11, 12 years, he is AGAINST Israel.

I AM pro-Israel.

You're a demagouge.

[Duan]

Thank you . …. The Egyptian economy is more than twice that of Israel. So Veronica must be talking about something else . …. :-)

[cookcounty]

Amidex35 Israeli mutual fund YTD +42.7% (in US$!).