Let’s list some of the technology that has come out of the Jewish state for world use.
by Farley Weiss
An important question asked recently was: What does the United States get from Israel? What are some of the benefits, in addition to the nation being the only democracy in the Mideast and an ally from the get-go?
The answers come in the form of some very useful items.
Israel’s positive impact on the world is apparent in just an abbreviated list of companies, technology and more that have come out of the Jewish state, developed by its citizens.
• PillCam (capsule endoscopy): A swallowable camera pill that revolutionized gastrointestinal diagnostics
• ReWalk exoskeleton: A wearable robotic exoskeleton that enables paraplegics to walk
• Copaxone and Rebif: Leading multiple sclerosis treatments developed in Israel
• Cherry tomatoes (genetically modified to be long-lasting): Developed at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
• Mobileye: Vision-based driver-assistance technology that underpins many autonomous vehicle systems (acquired by Intel)
• USB flash drive (disk-on-key): Created by M-Systems (Dov Moran), changing portable storage forever
• ICQ (early instant messaging platform): The forerunner of WhatsApp, Messenger and other chat apps
• Waze: Mobile satellite navigation application, or GPS, later acquired by Google
• Firewall and cybersecurity software: Check Point Software pioneered modern network security
• Intel chips (Pentium and Centrino developed largely in Israel)
• Iron Dome: Missile-defense system capable of intercepting short-range rockets with high accuracy
• UAV/drone technologies: Israel is a world leader in developing advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
• Drip irrigation: Netafim pioneered precision drip irrigation, now used worldwide to save water and boost crop yields
• Water desalination and recycling: Israel leads the world in water reclamation, with advanced desalination plants and reuse systems
• Solar-energy innovations: Early development of solar-water heaters and modern solar tech.
• Face ID-style 3D-Sensing (PrimeSense): Technology behind Microsoft Kinect, later bought by Apple and used in iPhones.
• OrCam: Wearable AI device that helps visually impaired people read text and recognize faces.
Israel also has around 100 companies listed on NASDAQ—the fourth most in the world after the United States, Canada and China. Compare Israel to Jordan, which has four times Israel’s land mass and about 1.5 million more residents than Israel. Jordan has one company listed on NASDAQ. Egypt has 116.5 million people; it, too, has only one Egyptian company on NASDAQ.
The Israeli military is ranked among the top 15 in the world, and with its recent crushing of Iran in its 12-day war, it is obvious that its air force, special forces and intelligence are among the top five in the world.
The fact that Israel does not require American troops to fight for it is different than American allies like Japan and South Korea, where the United States has 81,000 military troops stationed in those two countries. The United States also appropriates $36 billion to defend Europe and has 80,000 troops in Europe, including around 34,000 in Germany.
