From Silicon Valley to Israel

It is widely known that many Israelis enjoy great success at the Silicon Valley high-tech "capital." These success stories, which can be found both in the technological and financial fields, are presented in reports as people who grew up, were educated, and showed promise here, in Israel. Many of them are deeply attached to Israel and our social life.

On the other hand we have witnessed, unfortunately, technological mishaps in the IDF that led to grave operational results. For example, the mishaps in the cannon system that led to the horrid killings in Beit Hanoun and phenomena of inefficient surveillance, as was the case in the abduction of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. We can also add to this list the unwise utilization of plasma screens during the Lebanon War.

We must not underestimate the possibility that recently the IDF and Israeli economy have been suffering from a brain drain and a lack of motivation to continue the innovation drive that was developed here in a manner that stunned the entire world.

In the face of this problem, we must raise in the gravest manner the existential threat Israel faces in light of Iran's nuclear program and the "Tsunami" of Arab populations in the Middle East that is sweeping the region with hatred and a desire to eliminate Israel.

IDF Major General (Res.) Yossi Peled, and later Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh, gave expression to this sense and conveyed the message that Israeli society, without faith in its ability to handle these new challenges, may heaven forbid face an existential crisis, with the level of our security deterrence we conveyed in the past declining.

In the face of this, the Absorption Ministry's solutions for bringing bright minds back to Israel can perceived as ephemeral. The mode of thinking in this area must be creative and be based on our tradition of finding dramatic solutions that are effective practically and premised on the moral plain we enjoyed in the past, when we received great assistance from world Jewry and our youngsters were quick to offer their support at times of distress, such as the Yom Kippur War.

Avoid gimmicks

In this context, we should place on the agenda the idea of holding a convention, similar to the Prime Minister's Business Convention in the past, which led to very positive results.

It would be proper to think about a similar format for a convention for Israelis, and specifically for Israeli high-tech workers across the world. Such dignified and focused convention would call upon the most successful ones, who have the ability to contribute to boosting capabilities and innovation, to return home, on their initiative, and to join missions meant to secure Israel's deterrence and development power.

They will also support continued growth and initiative in this field as a personal and national mission that presents the motivation to share in the nation's destiny and ensure its existence.

We should not be disparaging this idea, which is only lacking a business element. In the past, our soldiers filled airports abroad in order to report for wars of no choice, and we must not forgot the Jews who volunteered in the War of Independence and came to our aid, including the special units of overseas volunteers who fought with us and the many volunteers who lost their lives to this end.

We must recall in this context that the successful former Israelis are part of us. They are people who view Israel as their homeland and we can assume they won't remain indifferent to such initiative if they sense its vitality and significance for them and their families.

Yes, the IDF also needs them – they should be told this – as does the whole of Israeli society, which seeks to see the Jewish Israeli existence not as a temporary entity the way our enemies wish to characterize us, but rather, as a living and breathing organism that is able to unify and use all resources to ensure its existence.

However, as noted, such initiative should be prepared in a serious and thoughtful manner and not like the gimmicks we are used to finding at our government ministries who seek to glorify their ministers and parties.