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November 2012 Anglo IsrAel AssocIAtIon Chartered Accountants Business and Tax Advisers CHAIRMan’s MESSAGE Last year, in my message, I sought to highlight the number of unpleasant and even violent anti -Israeli eruptions on our campuses. I did so particularly because one of the most Our team specialises in advising unpleasant cases was at my own university - the Queen’s University of Belfast. I am glad to report that in the period since this incident, the Israeli Ambassador to the United Kingdom charities and owner-managed was able to hold a successful visit to the university and hold a seminar on the Middle Eastern conflict. Even so there remain significant problems in our universities but this year it is more businesses important to focus on the international scene. The turbulent experience of the Arab Spring has stretched our conventional media and political establishment’s analytical capacity beyond breaking point. I wish, however, to concentrate on the role of Iran in the region. In the past year We offer professional, yet friendly, advice on all the annihilationist language towards Israel has become ever more explicit. We no longer hear calls for subtle translations business-related and financial matters. because the meaning is now so clear. It is widely and absolutely correctly insisted on in London and Washington that Israel’s response to provocations Please email or call Anthony Epton to arrange a free and challenges in the region should be considered and proportionate. This will always be excellent advice. However initial consultation and see how we can help you. our own debate does not always respect the principles of proportionality. In the House of Lords, for example, since 2009 some 200 questions have been asked about the Israeli/ Palestinian conflict. They are predominantly critical of Israel and do not make mention of Hamas or indeed the role of Iran in the region. Since 2007 there have been seven full length debates on the conflict whilst, in the same period, there has been only one on China and on Latin America. Again, was the 75 Maygrove Road, West Hampstead, media coverage of the murder of Israeli tourists in Bulgaria London NW6 2EG proportionate to its significance? The struggle for peace and historic compromise has not tel: 020 7372 6494 fax: 020 7624 0053 become any easier. But it is all the more reason to sustain the email: [email protected] work of the Anglo Israeli Association which throughout the web: www.goldwins.co.uk year has made every effort to increase understanding at a very difficult moment. CoNteNts 3. CHAIRMAn’S message MESSAGE OF SUPPORT 6. ISRAEL And THE nEW EGyPT 10. HE Ron PRoSoR’S SPEECH at THE Un OF THE ANGLO-ISRAEL 15. 4TH AmbassadoRS’ RoUnd TABLE ASSOCIATION BY HMA 16. HARvESTInG SoLAR EnERGy In ISRAEL 22. ToMoRRoW’S TECHnoLoGy TodAy MATTHEW GOULD 24. ISRAELI InnovATIonS As British Ambassador to Israel I have made it my mission to build the best and strongest relationship 30. ISRAEL’S AdvAnCES againST ALzHEIMERS we can between Britain and Israel. We are building that partnership across the board, from trade to tech, in our universities and in our laboratories, in security, and in the fight against terrorism. 34. HEALInG HUG FRoM ISRAEL To JAPAn Trade is growing at a prodigious rate - last year trade was up 34 percent on the year before. The total value of trade and services between Britain and Israel is now well over $8billion a year. Britain is 37. now Israel’s biggest export market after the US. These are fantastic figures, that show an economic SWIFTS at THE WESTERn WALL relationship in excellent shape. 38. MIzPE RAMon My particular focus has been on developing our hi-tech links. We believe there is a huge opportunity here for both Israeli tech entrepreneurs and for British businesses - Israeli tech can go global using Britain’s business strengths and reach; British companies can get a global edge using Israeli 42. GAMILA’S SECRET innovation. 46. FIvE THREAd FILIGREE FIT FoR A QUEEn Both Governments are committed to developing a UK/Israel partnership in tech. To help make this happen, we have launched the UK/Israel Tech Hub at the British Embassy in Israel. The Hub is the first of its kind in the world – a team drawn wholly from the tech sectors, tasked with promoting 48. TAKInG THE FLoWER TRAIn RoUnd THE WoRLd partnership between our companies. Last month, we saw the launch of the Hub’s TeXchange programme. TeXchange will bring the 50. yEMEn oRdE yoUTH Village very best Israeli tech entrepreneurs to Britain. They will get to see what Britain has to offer Israeli companies looking to expand - the world’s financial capital, three of the world’s top ten universities, 52 AIA EducationAL TRUSTS world-class marketing and business development skills, and business links across the world. The entrepreneurs will also visit Tech City in London – one of Europe’s biggest digital clusters with over 200 companies. 54. SUnny WITH THE CHAnCE oF SoLAR – ISRAEL’S climate CHAnGE PoLICIES Israel and Britain are natural partners in tech. At the moment this is a largely unfulfilled potential. The Hub and programmes like TeXchange will help make this partnership a reality. 56. Food FRoM THE FoREST In these efforts the role of the Anglo-Israel Association is an important one. The Ambassador’s Forum on Renewable technology was a great success, bringing together key people from both sides. Its support for building a positive relationship between the countries is a real encouragement and a counterbalance to those with the opposite vision. I am grateful for all you do, and look forward to continuing to work closely with you. Anglo-IsrAel AssocIAtIon Po BoX 47819, London nW11 7Wd t: 020 8458 1284 F: 020 8458 3484 e: [email protected] www.aNgloisraelassoCiatioN.Com REGISTEREd CHARITy no. 313523 4 THE ARTICLES In THIS magazInE reflect THE vIEWS oF THE AUTHoRS And noT necessarily THoSE oF THE AnGLo-ISRAEL Association ideological affinity between the two movements would be a grave mistake. However, the new leadership in Cairo shares with Israel a common interest in avoiding another violent explosion between Israel and Gaza. Israel’s interest is clear: It wishes to avoid developments ISRAEL that endanger its citizens in the south and disrupt their daily lives. But Egypt also fears such explosions, because it seeks to avoid developments that might push the problems AND THE of Gaza and its population into its own lap. Egypt’s concern is that such responsibility would pull it into an unwanted confrontation with Israel NEW instigated by some Hamas action. one important way to avoid such explosions is for Israel and Hamas to reach a tacit understanding on “rules of the game.” This would minimize the danger that, by initiating terror and EGYPT other attacks, small extremist groups would succeed in embroiling Hamas and Israel in an escalating conflict. Egypt’s improve new leaders have an opportunity to play a positive role here. Egyptian- Whereas until now Egypt’s mediation between Israel and Israeli Hamas has been limited to negotiating ceasefires and the IS IT ALL ties depends Shalit prisoner-exchange deal, the new environment offers not only on the an opportunity for Egypt to help Israel and Hamas reach such complexities of post- broader understandings. The understandings suggested revolutionary Egypt here would need to include the creation of mechanisms BAD NEWS? but also on the manner that would allow Israel and Hamas to explain to one another in which Israel will conduct not surprisingly, Israelis are alarmed at the prospect relations. the steps they may take in an evolving crisis, so as to avoid itself—in its relations with that their southern neighbour will now be led by the While these fears and misunderstandings that lead to inadvertent escalation. Such Egypt, as well as in other realms Muslim Brotherhood. Israel lost “the devils it knew”: concerns remain valid, escalation has occurred in the recent past, when Israel that affect Egyptian-Israeli bilateral not only Mubarak, but also his top lieutenants, such the picture emerging some reacted to attacks launched by small extremist groups in the relations. as General omar Suleiman, head of Egypt’s General months after the Muslim Sinai by punishing elements of Hamas in Gaza. Intelligence directorate, with whom Israelis have Brotherhood’s ascent is more The following are a number of key areas been dealing for years. They fear that in the new complex, presenting risks but also Another important possible task for Egypt would be to where an Egyptian-Israeli shared agenda Egypt it may no longer be possible to “close deals” opportunities. Israel and the new play a more effective role in fostering internal Palestinian may emerge. with a very small number of individuals located in the Egypt share some important interests reconciliation. Playing such a role in a manner that does office of the President and in the security services. that may help preserve the two not clash with Israel’s interests would require that both They also worry that public opinion will now matter countries’ relations. These interests are Israel and Hamas reframe their approaches to this issue. more, and that Egyptian policy toward Israel will be important because Egypt’s new leaders HAMAS IN GAZA Israel would need to acknowledge that it has an interest in affected to a far greater extent by the sentiments are likely to follow not only their ideological such reconciliation producing a single Palestinian address Since Hamas was born in the Egyptian street, whose hostility toward inclinations but also the geostrategic with which Israel can reach understandings, even if limited as an offshoot of the Israel was given expression by the ransacking of interests of the Egyptian state.

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