The UK and Israel: A Match Made in Heaven

[King_David]

As modern science has recently borne out, old married couples really do begin to look like each other over time. And while UK-Israel relations tell a story of a steadfast although occasionally testy marriage, certain recent trends in commerce between the countries shows that there is a macroeconomic analogue to this human phenomenon.

Each country's comparative advantage is clear. In traditional finance, London is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with, sitting in a consistent neck-and-neck battle with New York City for the coveted title of the world's top financial capital. When it comes to innovation and entrepreneurship, on the other hand, the eyes of the world are on Tel Aviv. The synergy of its buzzing atmosphere and entrepreneurial culture is the creative energy which feeds the city's unparalleled early stage innovative ecosystem.

According to a recent report, however, one spouse is beginning to look a lot more like the other. Indeed, Israel is becoming an increasingly important financial player, having moved up 11 places last year to number 25 on the list of global financial centers. While banking giants Citigroup and Barclays have been operating in Israel for a while, they have recently taken the initiative to capitalize on the environment in which they find themselves. In short, banks, including British ones, are making "Aliyah" to embrace innovation.

Citigroup, for example, has followed the lead of New York and London's fintech innovation labs by establishing its own accelerator program in Tel Aviv. Barclay's has also developed an in-house R&D center in Tel Aviv, attracting some of the sharpest minds to pioneer the upcoming technologies.



http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/8306152

[bumprstickr]

1. the UK has always been a racist, warlike country that dominates others.

I guess you're right. they are a lot alike. oh yeah, they both also have nuclear weapons. and they both suck up to the US.
a match made in Hell

[King_David]

3. Any countries you like ?

LOL

[bumprstickr]

4. I'm thinking. might take a while. but the UK has always been quite anti-semitic.

this is all about the cash.

[King_David]

5. Agree , complete and utter failure of the BDS movement

... Talking about antisemitism.


Which country do you admire?

[bumprstickr]

6. I was talking about British anti-semitism

always been a problem for them.

I like the US, where I live, but there is a lot to dislike too. Scandinavian countries seem to be cool.

[King_David]

7. Progressive countries:

I admire Canada , the USA , the U.K....
Not so much Australia- long way to go on Gay rights and not one of the Muslim countries except maybe Turkey or Bosnia allow Gays a life.

The U.K.and Scandanavia are pretty progressive on the Gay front as is Israel .....
Palestinian two statelets are completely regressive and backward and inferior on the Gay front.

[bumprstickr]

10. most Middle East and African countries are very anti-gay, anti-women, etc.

[King_David]

11. Except for Israel and South Africa

[King_David]

2. The bigoted BDS movement

That is busy boycotting American Jews and trying to stop them performing in Reggae concerts ( all the while the Bigoted BDS movement allows sick homophobic, gay hating singers to perform at the same concert ) are not making such an impact.


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[grossproffit]

8. I love that Bernie graphic.

[King_David]

9. Yea it's good

[Little Tich]

12. The OP reads like an advert.

Increased UK trade with Israel is a good thing, I guess, but I can't see the BDS link. It's not as if the UK is investing in the illegal settlements...

Or are they?

[oberliner]

13. BDS has nothing to do with settlements

You seem to not know what the BDS movement is.

[Little Tich]

14. I suppport BDS because I don't like the settlements and the occupation.

If BDS was about boycotting Israel I wouldn't support it. Show me a single company or government that is doing BDS against Israel and not only the settlements and the occupation...

[oberliner]

15. Just be aware of what the BDS movement is

Here is one example:

The three Woolworths products causing the boycott

http://www.fin24.com/Companies/Retail/The-three-Woolworths-products-causing-the-boycott-20141118

The article includes the argument from the boycotters and from the store being targeted by BDS.

[Little Tich]

16. I'm not too fond of the self appointed Ayatollahs of BDS.

Their view is the minority view. Most people don't want to support the settlements and the occupation, but most people also instinctively draw a line between the settlements and Israel.

For me, it's not much of a sacrifice not to buy wine made from the crushed hopes of Palestininan statehood. However, I see no reason why I shouldn't buy Pomegranates grown by law-abiding Israelis.

And no, I won't accept that Israel and Israelis share collective guilt for the occupation and the settlements. I don't think complicity works that way.