In facing challenges head on, Israel is working to make the future better for all | Opinion

Many of Israel’s contributions to the world are widely recognized, while others are less known. Israeli technological, scientific, medical and additional innovations have improved the lives of countless people across the globe.

Israel places great emphasis on using its talents to implement the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The backbone of its efforts are its formidable tech and R&D skills, and inherent innovative spirit.

Water is among the fields in which Israel is making an impact. It has developed drip irrigation, wastewater reclamation, desalination and technology that creates water out of air. In addition, Israel assists global efforts to combat climate challenges. Climate-related enterprises make up 10% of recent high-tech start-ups.

Israel, whose proactive problem-solving approach combines pragmatism and idealism, believes that sharing solutions not only brings tangible benefits to the participants, but also generates an ecosphere of international collaboration that advances common interests.

In these complicated times, we all face a multiplicity of challenges, including desertification and climate change, extremism and terrorism. As a result, the need for combined action is more acute.

Israel is not alone in acknowledging the importance of unity. However, since its founding 75 years ago, modern Israel has had to contend with boycotts, both by those who want to see its destruction and by those who mistakenly believe that isolating Israel could somehow resolve a tenacious conflict not of its choice.

Fortunately, that counter-productive posture is fading and the number of states in the region still challenging the Jewish state’s right to exist has drastically decreased. Now, in the eyes of many formerly hostile states and their people, Israel is no longer part of the problem; it is part of the solution.

The Abraham Accords are one visible outcome of this change of attitude. The accords are a framework of agreements between Israel and other countries in the region. Beyond establishing diplomatic relations, collaborative efforts in various fields have flourished. It is Israel’s hope that additional countries join and, through channels for progress, the accords contribute to the evolution of the Middle East.

We sought to assist countries long before the Abraham Accords. In 1958, then Foreign Minister Golda Meir initiated MASHAV, an international cooperation program that continues to this day. Israeli leaders believed that sharing our hard-earned knowledge and expertise with friends in Asia, Africa and the Americas was a national mission.

Israel’s aspirations to help make our planet a better place is rooted in the Jewish tradition of Tikkun Olam — to repair the world — and values such as equality, respect for human dignity and compassion.

Florida and Israel share these moral bonds, democratic values, friendship and interests that reinforce longstanding ties. In times of need, such as the tragic building collapse in Surfside, Israel quickly dispatched a search-and-rescue team to assist with the efforts. In addition, we both support joint business and research ventures, such as the Florida-Israel Innovation Partnership, in which Space Florida and the Israel Innovation Authority each invest $1 million annually in joint aerospace projects.

There are frequent delegations to Israel. Gov. De Santis’ first visit was in 2019, when more than 20 strategic partnerships and memorandums of understanding were established. Last week, he returned to Israel, furthering political and economic ties. Last year, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava led a 60-person delegation with the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce Americas Linkage program, while Miami Mayor Francis Suarez also visited on a separate mission.

Florida plays a special role to match the unique connection it has with Israel. South Florida alone, is home to the third largest Jewish population in the world (during the winter months). It has one of the most active communities, and it is no surprise that the largest Jewish delegation in the world that visited Israel last week for the 75th anniversary, was the 800-member Greater Miami Jewish Federation delegation. Furthermore, the largest celebration in the world outside of Israel was held in Miami with almost 7,000 youth from Jewish schools in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach coming together at a sports stadium.

While the biggest U.S. Israeli community celebration outside New York and L.A. was held Sunday in Hollywood, Florida. Yes, there is much to celebrate, and South Florida is leading the way.

As the “Start-Up Nation,” Israel’s strengths in innovation and social matters are merging, and the Jewish state is increasingly recognized as the “Impact Nation.”

As Israel celebrates its 75th anniversary we remain confident that by uniting with like-minded nations around the world, and with regions such as Miami-Dade and Florida, we can overcome challenges and make strides toward a better future.

Maor Elbaz-Starinsky is consul general of Israel in Miami.