into an integrated regional ap- proach bringing Arab and Is- raeli partners together," he said. Conditions in Israel strongly support the influx of private de- velopment, Mr. Meyuhas said. "The government is commit- ted to privatization," he said. "Business will be conducted by business people; the govern- ment is backing off." Coupled with a peace process which has encouraged multi- national companies to do busi- ness in Israel, and which has already started breaking down walls between Israel and its neighbors, he noted that in- vestors now consider selling to a market of over 100 million people in the Middle East, as opposed to the limited 5.5 mil- lion in Israel. The speakers emphasized the importance of using these in- roads to create equal partner- ships between Israelis and Palestinians and to avoid creat- ing an inherently unstable soci- ety °Mayes and have-nots. They also emphasized the need for Is- raelis to seek out those in Arab countries who are accomplished in technology and business and to work more closely with them on development projects. "The Arabs are afraid that Is- rael will try to dominate them," Mr. Meyuhas said. "It's very im- Conditions in Israel strongly support the influx of private development. portant for us to understand it, appreciate it, and find ways that we can work as partners." While the peace process is ac- celerating the positive econom- ic indicators that were already in place, it is also changing the psychology of business, noted Mr. Galil. "What's the No. 1 change?" he asked. "It's attitude. The key element is the realization in the world that peace in the Middle East is something that can hap- pen in our lifetime, and that's a m aj or difference." At the same time, he said that Israel is well positioned to benefit from global changes in the manner that business is conducted. Multinational com- panies no longer simply look for large markets to sell their prod- ucts; increasingly, they decide how and where to do business based on the development of global markets that are pro- ductive enough to drive large- scale job creation at home. Israel has wide experience in this, given its reliance on tech- nology-based exports to over- seas markets since its domestic consumption cannot provide sufficient growth and employ- ment. "Being big or small is not so important anymore," Mr. Galil said. "This is a change." Israel also offers a model for conversion of defense industries to commercial products. While a defense contractor is not eas- ily able to convert, Mr. Galil not- ed the example of Rafael, Israel's armament research fa- cility, which has formed a spin- off partnership with a commercial group of companies; the concept is to form an inde- pendent operation that com- bines the advanced defense technology of one organization with the management culture and operations of the other. Israel's advanced technolo- gy-based industries, plus the ability to develop advanced in- ternational data links and in- formation management systems, provide a way for the country to exercise a relative ad- vantage in international mar- kets. In addition, Mr. Galil said, these advantages form a strong basis for joint projects that will form the backbone of regional cooperation. "High tech and advanced data management will be the things in the longer run that will ensure the peace because they will improve the standard of living of the people in the area," he added. Summarizing the political context of these changes, Mr. Merhav noted, "The time is ripe; history is on our side; the way for political coexistence between Jews and Arabs is paved." Adding that certain problems must be approached jointly, such as preserving the aquifer below the West Bank regard- less of the political relationships above them, he suggested, "We have to use the water as a bridge over troubled water." The Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, located in Haifa, is Israel's only comprehensive scientific and technological uni- versity and its major center for basic and applied research. More than 75 percent of Is- rael's professional engineers are Technion graduates, as are vir- tually all the founders and di- rectors of Israel's high-tech industries. Both Mr. Meyuhas and Mr. Galil are Technion graduates and members of its International Board of Direc- tors; Mr. Galil is honorary chair- man of the board. The American Technion so- ciety, based in New York City, is the Technion's liaison and fund-raising arm in the United States. It is the leading Unit- ed States organization sup- porting higher education in Israel. Technion societies are lo- cated in 24 countries around the world. Ell Pctssover Greetings Huntington Banks Member FDIC Main Office 801 West Big Beaver Road - Troy 362-5000 Oakland County Branches Commerce Township 39440 W. 14 Mile Road 669-9050 Farmington Hills 37600 W. 12 Mile Road 553-2600 3030 Union Lake Road 360-4800 West Bloomfield Township 6705 Orchard Lake Road 626-3970 Waterford Township 4396 Highland Road 681-4830 Rochester 407 N. Main Street 651-5460 40 Locations to Serve You Barry's Let's Rent It PARTIES EXCLUSIVELY • Tents • Tables • Chairs • China • Paper Goods 4393 ORCHARD LAKE RD, N. OF LONE PINE IN CROSSWINDS 855-0480 COATS UNLIMITED Oak Park Lincoln Center 26150 Greenfield Road Oak Park, MI 48237 (313) 968-2060 West Bloomfield Orchard Mall 6337 Orchard Lake Road West Bloomfield, MI48322 (313) 855-9965 Troy Troy Commons 871 E. Big Beaver Road Troy, MI 48237 528-9966 CLASSIFIED GET RESULTS! Call The Jewish News 354-5959 Martin I. Ap_ple, M.D. Michael Y. Greenley, M.D. Allan Stahl, Optician And The Staff Of AMERICA!' EYE IIIITITUTI ADD OPTION Wish Everyone A Healthy, Happy Passover 28905 Northwestern Highway, Southfield 358-3937 • Bloom co Bloom • • Registered Eleotrologists • Come and let us remove your unwanted hair problem and improve your appearance. Near 12 Mile Rd. bet. Evergreen & Southfield 559-1969 Appt. Only. Ask For Shirlee or Debby 59