Israel, U.S. celebrate together

As Israel reaches its 58th anniversary of statehood, Americans
have come to enjoy many things Israeli. The software for the
instant messaging program ICQ and cell phones, as well as the
firewall and anti-virus programs that keep our computers safe, are
all originally from Israel.

Farmers use Israeli technology to save water while growing our
crops. The largest generic-drug company worldwide is Israeli. From
medicinal therapies for cancer to Intel computer chips, we use
Israeli inventions every day.

Israel was founded on the same values as our own great nation
““ Israel is one of the few Middle Eastern countries in which
women and men can vote for any party they want without fear.
Nowhere else in the Middle East do politicians, journalists,
academics and artists have such freedom of speech.

In Israel members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
community can feel safe and proud to be themselves. In fact, as a
testament to this, Jerusalem will be hosting World Pride Day this
summer.

Israeli women are some of the most literate in the region. They
serve in the legislature and hold key cabinet-level positions.
Israel even had a female prime minister, Golda Meir, from 1969 to
1974.

Israel also guarantees religious freedom. Israelis can practice
Judaism, Islam, Christianity or other religions, or no religion at
all. Regardless, they all enjoy the same protection under the
law.

Given all these freedoms and rights, Israel should truly be an
American value. That’s why President Kennedy once said Israel
“carries the shield of democracy.”

Today the U.S. and Israel face the same threats to their
security. From al-Qaida to Iran’s President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad ““ who is believed by the U.S. and other Western
countries to be trying to build nuclear weapons ““ the U.S. is
in the same boat as Israel precisely because it upholds the same
values.

Israel helps us counter these and other threats by providing us
with valuable intelligence information and training our law
enforcement personnel, including William Bratton, the L.A. police
chief, in anti-terrorism work.

As the U.S. and Israel are such close allies, we are celebrating
our friend’s anniversary today. Bruins for Israel is inviting
all members of the campus community to join us for the party today
at noon in Bruin Plaza to show support for the country that upholds
the values of freedom and democracy that we hold so dear.

Morad is the vice president of Bruins for Israel.