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The Makings of History / The facts, according to Bibi By Tom Segev Benjamin Netanyahu said this week: "There has never been a time of emergency like this, except perhaps [during] the War of Independence." Netanyahu is known not only for his affinity for history, but also for his tendency to put it to political use. In the process, and on more than one occasion in the past, he has said things that made no sense - which is true here as well. The truth is that Israel has never been stronger than it is today; it even has an answer to the Iranian threat. The population has never been this large. International organizations such as the World Bank, World Health Organization, UNESCO and others rank Israel among the top 15 countries in their respective assessments, which means most Israelis are living better than ever before, and most are living better than the majority of other people on the planet. Advertisement Since the War of Independence, Israel has experienced much worse emergency situations than the current one. During the recession that preceded the 1967 Six-Day War, for example, when masses of Israelis believed that a second Holocaust awaited them and fled the country. There was the Yom Kippur War, there were intifadas. There was the political and social crisis that led to Yitzhak Rabin's assassination. There are not many democracies that have survived such tough times. Netanyahu the historian got it right only in the sense that, since 1948, there has never been a racist party as large as the one he is about to include in his government. One can therefore say that Israeli democracy has never been in greater danger. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Ivrit in Iraq Iraqi professor asks Israel for shipment of Hebrew books. Racist reality show Reality show contestant calls his shoe 'Mohammed', angering Israel's Arabs.

Read & React Orthodox irate over women rabbis' prayer at Western Wall Responses: 80 Former peace negotiators urge world to engage with Hamas Responses: 68 Israel launches campaign against UN nuke watchdog chief Responses: 39 Iran assuming Mughniyeh role inside Hezbollah Responses: 37 Editorial: You can't make Qassams out of pasta Responses: 19 More Headlines 21:51 Barak: We're running out of time on Iran threat 18:22 U.S. envoy, Netanyahu meet on peace efforts 16:57 Israel's next government will be 'more Jewish and more Zionist' 21:37 Clinton: Too soon to say whether U.S.-Syria ties will thaw 18:25 Israel bombs Gaza tunnels in response to Qassam fire 19:58 Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel says he cannot forgive Madoff 21:31 Canada schools blasted for ban on anti-Israel 'apartheid' poster 15:45 Lieber-fear II: The real issue is why Israelis voted Lieberman 21:22 Catholic bishop that denied Holocaust apologizes for his remarks 15:53 See your message on the West Bank wall, for a price 13:59 Shalit negotiator heads to Cairo after ousted mediator reinstated 21:32 Justice Minister urges pardon for disengagement objectors 18:45 IMF report: PA urgently needs $1.5b to cover financing requirements 16:11 NGO: Ariel Sharon's son has commandeered hospital room for personal use Previous Editions Select Day 25 feb 24 feb 23 feb 22 feb 20 feb 19 feb 18 feb 17 feb 16 feb 15 feb 13 feb 12 feb

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