Separate and Unequal

NABOUT A QUARTER OF A century ago, at a garden party, I was chatting with US chargi-d'affaires in about then ongoing nuclear disarmament talks between United States and Soviet Union, and remarked: of course, you understand Russians far better than anyone else' He grinned: This is curious. You are first Israeli who tells me that. All others try to explain Russians to us, being sure that we are completely ignorant about subject. I agree with you. But how did you arrive at that conclusion? Simple. Giants understand each other. A Japanese capitalist has far more in common with an Israeli capitalist than with a Japanese worker, and vice-versa. You play in same field. So when people discuss a subject like the Americanization of Israel and omit a reference to huge difference in size and weight between two countries, they omit perhaps most important element in equation. To give some examples: Privatization and free are new mantras of economic world, in as in America. The shreds of socialism and state responsibility for citizens' welfare are fashionably regarded as relics of barbarous past. It works somehow in America (albeit with ruthless effect on underclass; and, even in America, antitrust action had to be taken against Microsoft or AT&T). But in Israel, market is so small that deregulation immediately breeds cartels. Far larger countries, such as France or Germany, not to speak of Japan, have restraints on all-out competition even when they sing its praises. The notion that Israeli business can become Americanized may then refer to management styles and decor, much less to substance. Or take press: old-time Israeli party newspapers have almost all gone under. There are now only three press groups: Yedi'ot Aharonot, Ma'ariv, and Ha'Aretz conglomerates, all operating out ofTel-Aviv. A journalist who quits or is sacked by one of them, has only two other potential employers to approach. Only a few people of character can maintain an independent attitude in such circumstances. In America, if you leave

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