The country's achievements have been remarkable, receiving a level of international attention far exceeding its size, writes Zion Evrony.
Today Israel celebrates 59 years of independence. After 4,000 years of history it is great to be only 59. In 1948 Israel declared independence in the historical homeland of the Jewish people and joined the family of nations as a democracy. A nation's anniversary is a time to reflect on past achievements and contemplate future challenges.
Since independence, Israel's achievements have been remarkable, receiving a level of international attention, far exceeding its size. Yet in Irish public opinion and the media, it is evident that a considerable gap exists between the portrayal of Israel and its realities. All too often, Israel is viewed solely through the lens of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Seemingly little is known or reported regarding Israel's democratic and liberal values, its economy and its contribution to the sciences and arts. Israel is a nation that has struggled and now thrives by drawing the best from its diverse population - a colourful mosaic of cultures, religions and lifestyles.
Throughout history Jewish people have lived in the land of Israel, their historic birthplace and maintained their bond with the land. During its initial years, the modern state of Israel faced the colossal challenge of absorbing an influx of Jewish refugees, many of whom were from Arab countries, and survivors of the Holocaust. They returned to Israel from over 100 countries, speaking 82 languages, thus providing a modern meaning to the biblical prophecy of "the ingathering of the exiles". Together with Israelis already living in the country, they created a safe haven for the Jewish people, after centuries of persecution and displacement.
Since 1948 Israel has developed and maintained a political system based on democratic principles, an independent judiciary and basic freedoms.
Israel's democracy guarantees civil rights to all its citizens, irrespective of religion, race or gender. In the nation's parliament, the Knesset, freely elected Jews, Muslims and Druze sit side by side.
Despite Israel's lack of natural resources, the country's founding fathers successfully transformed an arid desert into a green and viable agricultural region on which Israel's economy was initially built.
Today Israel has an economy based on high technology in which research and development play an integral part.
Although a tiny country, about one third the size of Ireland, with a population of just seven million people, Israel's economy is ranked 15th in the world in terms of global competitiveness and is highly-regarded as a positive place to do business. Israel, like Ireland, has also been successful in attracting foreign direct investment, particularly in technologically-advanced industries. Israel hosts branches of many of the world's major multinational corporations and the state encourages local and foreign investment by offering a wide range of incentives and benefits.
Science and technology are the globally recognised keys to Israel's success. Israeli scientists have excelled in the fields of computer science, physics, medicine and agriculture. In recent years, four Israelis have received the Nobel Prize for scientific achievements and Israel has gained a reputation as the Silicon Valley of the Middle East.
Israel's cultural identity, drawing from east and west, is expressed through creativity in a broad range of art forms. Israel has a number of world-renowned orchestras, musicians and talented composers.
However, daily life in Israel continues to be dominated by the desire to achieve security and real peace with its Arab neighbours. This has been demonstrated in the peace accord with Jordan, withdrawal from Sinai (three times the size of Israel) in return for peace with Egypt, the withdrawal from southern Lebanon, the disengagement from the Gaza Strip and dismantling of settlements.
For the sake of true peace with its Palestinian neighbours, Israel, as it has proven at Camp David in 2000, has made and is ready to make painful concessions, including the evacuation of additional territories and communities.
This commitment includes the eventual establishment of an independent democratic and viable Palestinian state, living side by side in peace with its neighbours with territorial contiguity, full sovereignty and defined borders.
The vast majority of the Israeli public, moderate Palestinians and moderate Arab states share this view.
In fact, this vision for a just solution to the conflict is recognised almost universally.
If the present Palestinian government adopts this vision, ends all violence and terror against Israeli citizens and recognises that Israel has the right to live in peace and security, it would enable greater and faster progress towards peace.
Furthermore, the international community can play a role by encouraging voices in the region that call for comprehensive peace and normalisation of relations between Israel and its neighbours, while criticising those who call for Israel's destruction.
The very idea of two states, the state of Israel as the national homeland for the Jewish people and the realisation of Jewish rights, and a Palestinian state, as a homeland for the Palestinian people and fulfilment of Palestinian rights, is a vision based on reality not dreams, on mutual acceptance not rejection, on compromise not resistance.
Realising this vision of a comprehensive peace with all its neighbours will continue to be Israel's major challenge in the future.
Zion Evrony is Israel's ambassador to Ireland.