Richard Silverstein: Israel's high-tech industry is robust, but its economy could be doing better

You remember that famous quote: "Everything for the best in this best of all possible worlds." Well, that defines Tom Friedman's perspective on Israel and his perspective on the ability of global trade to triumph over the all the world's ills. Ostensibly, the subject of Friedman's recent New York Times column was to compare the indomitable economic engine Israel has become with the lumbering "dinosaur" that is Iran. Friedman's proof positive was Iscar, one of the newer additions to Warren Buffett's stable of companies. Here is some of his cheerleading: From outside, Israel looks as if it's in turmoil, largely because the entire political leadership seems to be under investigation. But Israel is a weak state with a strong civil society. The economy is exploding from the bottom up. Israel's currency, the shekel, has appreciated... [read full story]