Talking Points and Presentation Themes

AT THE OPENING OF THE CONFERENCE THAT CREATED ISRAEL BONDS (1950) Prime Minister David Ben Gurion spoke to American philanthropists, Jewish Community lay-leaders/executives and Israeli government officials gathered in Jerusalem. "Neither our security nor our future is safe, and there is not yet attained the main purpose of the State of Israel." These words, spoken 70 years ago, are still true today. With every Israel bond investment, we bring Israel closer to attaining Ben Gurion's goals.

UNLIKE THE FIRST ISRAEL BONDS OFFERED ALMOST 70 YEARS AGO, today's Israel bonds have shorter maturities, different denominations, and maturity checks are mailed automatically. Yet in some ways - some very important ways - the bonds have not changed one bit. They contain the same values, passion and dreams they have all along. When you gift an Israel bonds for a simcha, or give an Israel bond instead of cash or check for dues, tributes or pledges you declare a connection to our values and commitment to strengthen our people, our state and our future.

GLOBALLY RENOWNED INVESTOR WARREN BUFFETT, CHAIRMAN AND CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, welcomed Israel Bonds back to Omaha on June 7 for the second Bonds event in his hometown and his third with the organization in the last 18 months. The three Buffett events generated a combined total of $290 million in Israel bonds investments and intentions to invest. When asked why he remains committed to Israel and the Bonds institution, Buffett stated, "I have nothing but good feelings about what I am doing."

INVESTING IN ISRAEL BONDS IS NOT AN INVESTMENT IN PARTIES OR POLITICS, in ruling coalition or opposition. Every dollar of every investment - no matter the sum - is a dollar invested in strengthening the achievement of the dreamers, founders and builders of Israel to create a state, a life and a future for the Jewish people.

ANNIVERSARIES HONOR TIME AND SIGNIFICANT RELATIONSHIPS IN OUR LIVES. Israel's 70^th anniversary is a time to honor the person who introduced you to Israel - parents, grandparents, friend or teacher who helped you understand Israel's value to our people, to our history, and to our personal and Jewish identity. Israel's 70^th is also a time to honor the person who introduced you to Israel bonds — the person who showed you how to support and strengthen Israel through investing in Israel bonds.

There is yet one more honor to bestow upon them — this one the most enduring of all. Give to someone the gift of Israel awareness/connection - the same gift once given to you.

During Israel's 70^th anniversary year introduce Israel to a family member, friend or colleague; grandchild, niece or nephew. Share with them Israel's value to our people; its role in our heritage and identity. Introduce them to supporting Israel through an investment in Israel bonds. Share with them the value, responsibility and excitement of being connected to Israel and to strengthening Israel through an investment in Israel bonds.

BDS ADVOCATES INFURIATED BY ISRAEL'S ECONOMIC SUCCESS PROMOTE boycotting Israeli products, companies and social institutions; also divesting from corporations anywhere in the world that do business with Israel. Every investment in Israel bonds is a...

• Rejection of BDS advocates claims, proposals and objectives.
• Declaration of support for Israel's path, purpose and accomplishments.

 

ISRAEL BONDS ARE CURRENTLY HELD BY CLOSE TO 270,000 PEOPLE. This wide dispersion of a portion of Israel's sovereign debt is a positive factor that helps earn strong ratings for the State of Israel from credit analysts at the major credit agencies. The advantages Israel bonds provide include inexpensive foreign capital to help Israel manage its economy.

EARLY ZIONISTS "DRAINED THE SWAMPS" AND CAUSED THE "DESERT TO BLOOM" and grow tomatoes, cucumbers, and a new state. Modern Israelis are "piercing the mountains," i.e. boring holes in the Judean Hills, to build a high-speed rail link from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. One of Israel's largest infrastructure project ever will bring enormous economic and environmental benefits the region and the State.

THE COUNTRIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST ARE AMONG THE MOST UNSTABLE AND REPRESSIVE countries in the world. Yet Israel, an open, democratic, tolerant, freedom-granting and rights-guaranteeing society is the target of a constant rebuke and a global boycott, divestment and sanction campaign. Why boycott a nation that...

• Guarantees the rights, speech, and liberty of all its citizens and visitors
• Is the source of one out of every four of the medicines, treatments and technologies in use today
• Is a first responder to disaster or humanitarian crises anywhere

 

INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS WITH THE STRICTEST FIDUCIARY REQUIREMENTS, including banks and insurance companies, invest in Israel bonds. Over 80 state and municipal public employee pension funds and treasury funds currently hold more than $3 billion in Israel bonds.

ISRAEL'S ECONOMIC RESILIENCE IS BUILT ON THREE PILLARS:

• Israel has been proactive in developing far-reaching policies enabling its economy to remain stable in the face of ongoing global challenge
• Israel's leading, innovative technology sector attracts billions of dollars in foreign investment, hosts development centers that create jobs, rents, tax revenues and generate global demand for Israeli products
• The Israel Bonds organization is approaching $41 billion in worldwide sales since inception in 1951

 

AN ISRAEL BONDS INVESTMENT DECLARES YOUR APPRECIATION for "brand Israel," i.e., the ideals and values of the State of Israel - democracy, pluralism, tolerance, safety, and putting human creativity and ingenuity to work to make the world a cleaner, safer, healthier, better place. Your investment declares you appreciate and identify with a nation that:

• Sends a field hospital to Nepal (earthquake); erects another near Syrian border to treat refugees
• Builds a complex of water desalination facilities to reduce the burden on natural fresh water systems and produce excess capacity to transfer to neighboring countries
• Constantly invents new life-saving, time-saving, food-producing, products that make the world a cleaner, safer, healthier, better place