Remarks by Ambassador Ron Dermer on the Embassy of Israel's Independecne Day event, May 12, 2014.
On behalf of General Yaakov Ayish, Deputy Ambassador Reuven Azar and the rest of my colleagues at the Embassy, I want to thank all of you for joining us in celebrating Israel's 66th Year of Independence.
I want to welcome Dr. Yuval Steinitz, Israel's Minister of Strategic Affairs and Intelligence. We don't have Philosopher-Kings in Israel. But we are fortunate to have a Philosopher-Minister. Yuval, we are privileged to have you here with us tonight.
I want to welcome the Members of Congress who are here. At a time when working across the aisle has become the exception rather than the rule, Israel deeply appreciates the fact that support for our country is not only broad and deep but also bipartisan-and I will work hard as Ambassador to ensure that it remains bipartisan.
I want to thank all the Ambassadors who are representing their countries here tonight. In particular, I want to welcome the Ambassadors of Egypt and Jordan.
Israel is very proud to have signed peace treaties with two of our neighbors - peace treaties that serve as anchors of stability in a very unstable region.
And Israel will continue to work toward peace with all our neighbors, including the Palestinians.
Finally, I especially want to welcome President Obama's National Security Advisor, Ambassador Susan Rice.
Last week, I was with Ambassador Rice in Jerusalem for what were very good, open and constructive discussions between our governments about the strategic challenges we face together.
Ambassador Rice, I want to use this opportunity to personally thank both you and President Obama for everything you have done over the past five years to support Israel.
That support is evident in many ways - from unprecedented security cooperation to extensive intelligence sharing to diplomatic backing at the United Nations - an issue which you know all too well.
So I speak for Prime Minister Netanyahu when I convey to you my country's deep appreciation for all the Obama administration has done and is continuing to do to strengthen what President Obama has called the unbreakable alliance between our two countries.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
That alliance has grown stronger over the past five years, and I believe that it will grow even stronger in the decades ahead.
America is and will remain Israel's most important ally. But I believe that Israel's importance to America will become more and more obvious in the future.
In fact, while Britain was the most important ally of the United States in the 20th century, I believe Israel will be the important ally of the United States in the 21st century.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. How can a country the size of New Jersey with 8 million people and a 300 billion dollar GDP be mighty America's most important ally in the 21st century?
But remember, if 30 years ago, an Israeli Ambassador would have stood where I am standing now and predicted that Israel would become a global technological power, that idea would have been dismissed as well.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I believe that Israel will be America's most important ally in the 21st century for two reasons - security and technology.
Everyone understands what America means for Israel's security needs: Sizable military assistance; Robust funding of joint missile defense programs; The sale of advanced weapons; and a long-standing commitment to maintaining Israel's qualitative military edge.
Through all these and more, Israel appreciates how much the United States has helped us become a formidable, advanced military power that is capable of defending itself, by itself against any threat.
That capability will become more important to America in the decades ahead. Unfortunately, many of the most dangerous security challenges facing the United States will continue to emanate from the Middle East for a long time to come.
And Israel's importance as a strong, stable, reliable, democratic ally in the heart of a very dangerous region will become more and more critical for our common security.
Second, the 21st century is a century of knowledge, where prosperity in the developed world will be driven primarily by countries' ability to innovate.
There are two great centers of innovation in the world today. One is to the West, in a valley in Northern California. The other is to the East, on a Mediterranean coastline in central Israel.
Israel is a world leader in technology, a pioneer in medicine and science, an unrivaled innovator in water, agriculture, cyber and many other fields.
Consider this: Israel accounted for 11% of investments in cyber technologies last year. Think about that. Israel is 1/10 of 1% of the world's population. But in cyber, Israel is punching 110 times above our weight - so that 8 million people are more like a billion.
So Israeli technology is not only powering your smartphones and computers. It’s also protecting them – and will be for a very long time to come.
If you are placing a bet on the next revolution in sustainable energy, the next leap forward in cyber defense or the next breakthrough in the battle against cancer, bet on Israel.
America's leading technology companies, including Intel, Microsoft, Apple, Google and dozens of others, are already betting on Israel.
By opening up R&D facilities in Israel and by investing in Israeli start-ups, those American companies are ensuring that they tap into Israel's remarkable culture of innovation. And they are positioning themselves to continue to lead the world in the next century.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Israel is a young country but the Jewish people are an ancient people.
And just as the Jewish people's small size did not prevent us from leaving a huge footprint on history,
So too the Jewish state's small size will not prevent us from leaving a huge footprint on the 21st century.
And I have no doubt that as Israel walks toward this promising future, the United States will be there walking right by our side -- as our steadfast ally, our faithful friend, and our indispensable partner in advancing a future of security, prosperity and peace.
So tonight, let's celebrate 66 years in which Israel defied impossible odds to become the remarkable success it is today.
And let's celebrate the remarkable partnership that America and Israel, two vibrant democracies, have built together over these many decades.
But let's also look toward the future - to the even more remarkable achievements that are yet to come and to the even more remarkable partnership that we will continue to build together.
Yom Haatzmaut Sameach!