low end! To refute all these fictional ailments Barnea attributes the capitalistic-piggish USA and (who else) Bibi, would take quite a few columns. The believers will clap their hands but us, the enlightened and quite trim, thank you, part of our society know better. It's not the system's fault, it is the moronic Americans who voted Obama into the White House thus allowing him to wreck all, that the patriotic folks have built through tens of years, if not hundreds! So Nahumke, go peddle it at the Tahrir Square!!!

I came to Israel in '68. I remember the lean muscular youth, boys and girls. Spirited, idealistic and active and this was before the TV was widely available in Israel. Today, after imitating the America G-d the Israelis lack idealism, lack the active life and are as Nachum Barnea points out so well eating junk foods and playing with electronic toys. There are certain things we can learn from America, but there are many evils that we must reject. Not everything that America does is worth aping.

Barnea is right in pointing to undesirable aspects of the American reality that is mistakenly imitated in Israel. I think in many cases these are the 'global reality' among the ' well- to- do' but his point is nonetheless well taken. But there are many other qualities it would not hurt for Israelis to learn from Americans. One is a certain general overall politeness and Derech eretz at least in certain situations and among certain populations.

If we Americans are so fat, lazy, and stupid, why is our economy still the strongest, even in weak times.....? Why do we kick everyone's posteriors in the Olympics?

Overeating and over-consumption is not the 'American way!' The American way is self-control and hard work and sacrifice. One of the Wall Street protesters was complaining about having to pay off her university debt and not wanting to eat rice and beans every day. She wants the U.S. government to pay for it and make sure she has good food to eat! This is NOT the American way....nor is it the way that Israeli should emulate!

To Lucy! Would you propose England as a model to humanity?

I so agree with you. I also think that Mr. Barnea might be off track a bit with blaming America for what's so wrong about Israeli society today. I believe that we Israelis have only ourselves to blame for the degeneration of society here, in so many aspects, be it materialism or misguided politics. And our greedy ways are very typically Israeli, not American. Or the way we take it for granted here that not being polite, no matter how phony it might be, is the norm. I love this country, sure, and I consider myself Israeli, but still have those ridiculous manners that I grew up with in the States. They don't get me very far here, even after 41 years. How about a social protest about that?

That's what they've been saying for years, because, just like you, most people don't really know us "Amis." 'We are patient, we are tolerant and we are generous to a fault. Schadenfreude is an unknown concept to us. But when we've had it, get out of the way! Remember who saved your butts not too many years ago? Well, you can relax. We'd probably do it again. Your own Tony Blair said it quite well: "The value of a country is determined by how many want in and how many want out." According to that, we're in good shape. BTW, the most beautiful sight I remember from my childhood was the arrival of the guys of Patton's 3. Army, straight from the Ardennes, aka The Battle of the Bulge. Did they mistreat or scold us? No! They smiled, babbled up a storm of which I didn't understand one word and, seeing that we hadn't eaten in days, they not only fed us, but stuffed our pockets full of more goodies. So forgive me, if I'm a little prejudiced in our favor.

The US has been vastly weakened by its entitlement programs which encourage large segments of the population to reproduce and live off welfare---the work ethic has been weakened as jobs have been lost to other countries. Does the Welfare State work?--perhaps the author ought to review some literature and films of Israel in the 1950's ---Want a stronger Israel? ----Stop subsidizing certain segments of the population who refuse to work!

Fish and chips French fries and fromage Spagetti German sausages or Felafel and tahineh??

It's not right to blame America for peoples behaviour in Israel. Maybe America is not the best country to follow, but it not a worse. Mr.Nahum Barnea probably forget, that we people, not a monkeys to copy everything what Americans do. America don't invent greed. Greedy people lived in this world many thousends years, before America was created. People fought because of greed, killed each other, started wars, because their always was jelouse of someone', who have something they wanted. Yes some of American way was imposed on Israel and on all countries in the world, but we are humans have choice how we want to live our life. And everything for the them starts in his or hers family. The way you parents will rase you, they way you become. If someone in Israel is greedy it's their own choice to be that way. If someone is hard working and decent, it's also a person choice. I think, if someone didn't greedy, even all American millions can't make this person to be this way. Everyone in this world responsible for their own behaviour and choice they like to live their life. We are not a mob, we are individuals and everyone takes the way of life they choose. Nobody is in fault, just we are.

Contrary to Nahum Barnea's rant, there is no major obesity problem in Israel. It's one of our many small problems, but there's no evidence that it's growing. In fact, there is great awareness about healthy food in Israel which is only increasing. I don't remember the last time I saw a fat kid (below Bar Mitzva age) in Israel. I don't know where Barnea lives, but if what he says is sincere, it is probably one of the many middle-class leftist enclaves in the country like the State of (North) Tel Aviv, which are more likely to suffer from an obesity problem.

with the system. The system is rotten at the core. The people are wonderful and fighting back. The GIs treated you well as a child in Europe. The system refused to give refuge to fleeing Jews and to save those who were being murdered.

America was a nation, it moslty cared about the total country, through struggle it tried to correct its faults and include everyone. The America you castigate is one that slowly developed over the past thirty five years to the point that the very wealthy more than ever, control the country, the poltical process, the economy leaving the rest of us as a bunch of poor ignorant bottom feeds as we head toward feudalism.

Or not.

the change of the Israeli economy, called "modernization", is ruining Israel. there are many poor people now, lots who are leaving Israel not due to security problems but purely economical, kibbutzim are trying to make money now via collective property ownership (building malls on land they own, instead of doing traditional work of growing food for israel), and all this privatization in the past 15+ years. there's no need to be "just like" americans in every way.

To put it in Israeli speak "Good go home" Its not like all the packages being handled by Israelis on the US coast are doing our children any good. "Oh that white stuff is just 600 dollar dead sea salt and those are kosher candy officer." "sure she has a work permit." I never knew you could do so much laundry at US mall kiosks. ...and give us back our tax money.

America has humus also

Disappointing that Nahum fails to see other shallow traditions that stems from the West. Jews have so many different experiences from all over the world, from Ethiopia to Murmansk; China to California. It is only sad that the Muslims all of a sudden has become unison, while Israel is ruining its chances of good relationship with countries in its own continent.

What a shallow article; full of judgmentalism and sweeping generalizations that have no place in guiding principles. Trite and silly, nothing short. Sounds like Soviet propaganda.

Who makes as much as this joker? And he tells us to tighten the belt.

if I had neighbors like Egypt, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

And nothing to add. Mr Barnea, take off your shoes before u even talk about the US Without it, Israel would have been dust in history You, Israeli, talk about the US way? Have criticism? You are just like a fat little kid who is anger with his father. Respect to the hand that keeps u alive and kicking

USA system (capitalism??) is a mixed blessing. Some clever people become super rich. Most clever people don't succeed. ----------------------------------------------- Some intelligent people become well to do. Many intelligent people won't become well to do. ----------------------------------------------- Some, even many, ordinary, trained people have great jobs. ---------------------------------------------- Even simple, untrained people can live nicely ---------------------------------------------- IF the USA system hits an economic rut... the above success diminshes. the USA becomes a mixed curse. Like today: when the screw up is BIG time, or like the 1930 Depession : The clever will escape. Most of the Intelligent; the well trained ordinary; the simple people... will suffer...screwed BIG time by a pitiless system . moshe

Nice point, finely. Where are the great comunity model the great builders of your state gave? The sharing, the humanistic values... this government is harming the Israel´s beauty, people´s values you brought to the world. From a outsider point of view (in general, not really myself) this actual politicians are fueling blindness, hate and going against what the jews greatly gave to the world: share, intelligence, perseverance... where is it now? (thanks, partner journalist, hope you come back to Brazil. It was nice to talk to you then. We keep hoping...)

This disorganized & unanalytical article does not give proper credit where it is due, which in America's closest ally in the ME, is disturbing.