What About Israel? 

     Eleven minutes after Ben-Gurion declared independence, 75 years ago, President Truman, a Baptist, officially recognized Israel, against the advice of Secretary of State George Marshall. 

     National affairs are seldom squeaky clean, and that goes for us and Israel, our lone friend in the Middle East, as well. 

     Views by the Sea offers three blogs based on an interesting WORLD magazine article by Jenny Lind Schmitt. 

Part 1 - Since May 14, 1948, Israel has lived through wars with its neighbors and continued growth, prospering through it all. Meron Medzini, 90, who was government spokesman for three prime ministers, told Schmitt, "Israel is in a major turmoil, the likes of which I have never experienced." 

     He said, "Current turmoil is about judicial reform" and now "the deeper question: What role will religion play in public and private life? We don't have a constitution mainly because we couldn't agree on the role of religion." 

     That and "ongoing tribalism in a country made up largely of immigrants from the global Jewish diaspora are reasons for internal conflict." 

     The majority of Israel's founders came from Eastern Europe. They were often secular and influenced by Europe's socialism. Later immigrants came from Arab countries and tended to be more religious. After the fall of the Soviet Union, about 1 million Russian Jews were airlifted in as refugees. 

     Each of those groups brought their own religious sensitivities and practices with them. Arab Israelis, both Muslim and Christian, make up 20 percent of the population.

Next: The nation at a crossroads