The Digital Revolution and the Elderly - Dealing with the Digital Divide: The Israeli Case

The increase in life expectancy characterizing the modern age has seen humanity enter the 21st century with a digitized momentum. However, the Digital Age, with its many facets and nuances, seems to sometimes be at odds with reality as it is, in fact, not as all-inclusive as it purports to be. The technological strides made daily are based on the assumption that the synergy between progress and technology, which feeds the process of digitalization, will see the world dash forward technologically in every way, and that digitalization will improve every aspect of our lives. This begs the question: is that truly the case, or will this race toward total digitalization leave behind entire sectors that are not familiar with the concept of a computer or an app? Are these sectors doomed to be left behind, in the proverbial cold of all other forsaken things of the Analog Age? This paper will review Israeli society as a case study, and will present the basic concepts of the phenomenon known as the “digital revolution,” the digital gaps this phenomenon entails, how Israel and other countries around the world deal with this challenge, and the social, economic, psychological, and cognitive implications this bears on the sectors affected by the digital divide. Potential solutions will also be presented, particularly with respect to the elderly. The elderly comprise about 12% of the Israeli population, numbering some 1,350,000 people. Given their age at the onset of the digital revolution, many have found that - almost overnight - they were lagging far behind their children and younger society as a whole, and that they were slowly becoming somewhat detached from the “buzz” of the 21st century. A worse turn of events, however, was the fact that this digital gap meant that many were being cut off from essential services provided to the elderly as an age group. Better planning and organization for the integration of the results of the technological and digital revolution could lead to a better understanding of its components. This, in turn, will lead to a better and more widespread application of the products of the digital revolution by audiences that - left unprepared for the changes to come - will find that they are excluded from the very society to which they belong

The Hague International Court of Law and Israel The Jewish Settlements A Reflection to the Nearest Past

One of the major problems that the hague international court of law is trying to deal with is the question about the legality of the jewish settelments at the west bank of the Jorden river-one of the outcomes from the 1967 war.   Throughout history, the treatment of non-combatant civilian populations has been examined from various angles, most prominently with respect to the issue of the displacement of those on the losing side of a conflict, while the victorious party often settles the seized land with "less desirable" elements within its own population.[1]This phenomenon is repeated in the exile of the Jewish people throughout history; the exile of criminals from England to Australia between 1788 and 1868; and in the appalling efforts of ethnic cleansing pursued by the Nazis in the Second World War, the Soviet Union's purge in Eastern Europe the 1950s, or the French rule of Algeria.[2]This has been the case in countless wars and conflicts worldwide, one of the most prominent of which is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Here, the issue at heart is Jewish settlement in an area the Palestinians call the "West Bank" of the Jordan River and that Jews refer to as "Judea and Samaria" and see as an inextricable part of their ancestral homeland, of which they had been robbed and which they liberated.On November 18, 2019, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced an announcement that in this article I wish to examen as a reflection to the major problem that the hague court of law call that this is "a crime of war" and Israel call it "our legal right"-who is on the right side?   At first glance, this statement seems to contradict everything that has been said, done statement? Or is it that the concept of "illegal settlements" is a distortion of the Geneva Convention?[3]The first chapter of this essay focuses on international law and whether it is a doctrine set in stone or a mutable fabric of woven conventions, including some that may be politically motivated or biased with respect to a certain issue, namely, populating disputed areas with the people of a party perceived as an occupying force.The second chapter of this essay focuses on the dispute over the settlement enterprise in the Israeli-Palestinian case and how it is viewed from a number of completely different perspectives.The third chapter of this essay focuses on the circumstances and motives that drove the latest American administration to make such a controversial statement.the big question is are these circumstances still valid under a new American regime? how such statement affects the Hauge court decisions about investigate the so called war crimes made in Israel?The final chapter of this essay will summarize and attempt to predict the future results of this move: Whether Israel — as the Palestinians have already warned[4] — plans to exploit the court move in favor of annexing areas it perceives as a bulwark against threats to its sovereignty, such as the Jordan Valley; or whether this move will brace the parties' ability to, for example, explore a land swap, and will this render the two-state solution[5] upon which the Israeli-Palestinian peace process has been so far based invalid.This paper will try to outline the possibilities this decision of the court may herald, and delve into its implications, reasoning, and potential consequences. On this days that we make the scope on the Hague court to check Israel crime of war this essay will try to open another scope to events that occurred only three years ago.[1] Morgenthau, H. J. (1948). Politics Among Nations: The Struggle for Power and Peace, New York, Alfred A. Knopf, p.50[2] Barclay, F (2017). "Settler colonialism and French Algeria" in Settler Colonial Studies, Vol. 8, no.2, pp.115-130[3] Baker, Alan (2019). "The Legality of Israel’s Settlements: Flaws in the Carter-Era Hansell Memorandum," Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs[4] Kuttab, Daoud (2019). "Pompeo's gift to Netanyahu might bring about new Israeli annexation," Al-Monitor.com[5] The two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict envisages an independent Palestinian state alongside the State of Israel, west of the Jordan River. It is at the core of the 1993 Oslo Accords signed between the parties

The Struggle with Anxiety and Depression among the Elderly: Predicting Elderly Behavior in Crisis and Conflict Situations – The Case of Operation Protective Edge

Existing theories cast the elderly as individuals likely to crumble under pressure, suggesting that crisis situations may exacerbate underlying conditions, such as depression.The conflict between Israel and the Palestinians breeds numerous stress situations, which are bound to affect the lives of the elderly population on both sides. This inspired the author to examine whether the elderly population in Israel does, in fact, behave according to existing theories.A prominent example of a crisis situation was the 2014 conflict, which triggered a crisis in Israeli communities that found themselves under the threat of direct rocket fire. The situation lent itself to the assumption that there would be a spike in depression and anxiety among the area's residents, especially the elderly, which would translate into "mass migration" to safer areas.This study sought to substantiate or refute the "helplessness" of elderly people in crisis situations. It was based on a qualitative analysis of questionnaires answered by Holocaust survivors, former Soviet Union immigrants, and long-time residents of the Gaza vicinity communities, shortly after the conflict.The study found little to no evidence of depression or anxiety among elderly Israelis, proving their resilience in the reviewed crisis.While the rationale varied among participants, a clear sentiment came through, spelling devotion among the border communities' residents, defiance among immigrants from the former USSR, and a combination of both among Holocaust survivors.The study indicated the elderly tend to be mentally tougher than younger generations, proving their resilience by weathering multiple threats. To conclude: Senior citizens can be used to bolster the home front's resilience; depression and anxiety experienced by the elderly in crisis situations can be alleviated by providing them with information about the nature of the threat; and it is best to form permanent resilience centers in threatened areas

The Digital Revolution and the Elderly – Dealing with the Digital Divide: The Israeli Case

The increase in life expectancy characterizing the modern age has seen humanity enter the 21st century with a digitized momentum. However, the Digital Age, with its many facets and nuances, seems to sometimes be at odds with reality as it is, in fact, not as all-inclusive as it purports to be. The technological strides made daily are based on the assumption that the synergy between progress and technology, which feeds the process of digitalization, will see the world dash forward technologically in every way, and that digitalization will improve every aspect of our lives. This begs the question: is that truly the case, or will this race toward total digitalization leave behind entire sectors that are not familiar with the concept of a computer or an app? Are these sectors doomed to be left behind, in the proverbial cold of all other forsaken things of the Analog Age? This paper will review Israeli society as a case study, and will present the basic concepts of the phenomenon known as the “digital revolution,” the digital gaps this phenomenon entails, how Israel and other countries around the world deal with this challenge, and the social, economic, psychological, and cognitive implications this bears on the sectors affected by the digital divide. Potential solutions will also be presented, particularly with respect to the elderly. The elderly comprise about 12% of the Israeli population, numbering some 1,350,000 people. Given their age at the onset of the digital revolution, many have found that – almost overnight – they were lagging far behind their children and younger society as a whole, and that they were slowly becoming somewhat detached from the “buzz” of the 21st century. A worse turn of events, however, was the fact that this digital gap meant that many were being cut off from essential services provided to the elderly as an age group. Better planning and organization for the integration of the results of the technological and digital revolution could lead to a better understanding of its components. This, in turn, will lead to a better and more widespread application of the products of the digital revolution by audiences that – left unprepared for the changes to come – will find that they are excluded from the very society to which they belong

Services for the Elderly in Israel: Privatization or Nationalization-An Unending Dilemma-A Reflection

The world in which we live is aging at a dizzying pace and expressions like “70 is the new 50” or the creation of concepts such as the “Silver Tsunami”, a nickname for the aging baby-boomer generation, have become an inseparable part of the reality in our society.On the one hand, the spread of aging is a welcome phenomenon – a sort of solution to the great human effort to reach immortality. On the other hand, however, old age can be perceived as a period burdened by economic, social and health-related challenges and it is becoming more and more clear that throughout the world, and in Israel in particular – the focus of this article - we must begin to prepare systems and services for the provision of rapid and comprehensive solutions for the tsunami of aging that befalls us. This stems from an understanding that the services we have in place today are not sufficiently prepared to handle the range of challenges and issues that will arise as a side effect of this phenomenon.The dilemmas that come hand in hand with the aging of our population are innumerable, however five particular issues stand out: the first is who should be responsible for the elderly and their care – the government or the person’s family? The second: Should all of the elderly receive the same care or should the treatment assistance vary differentially – meaning each elderly person should receive care according to his or her economic, social and health status and receive only according to their needs? The third is, should we provide assistance to the elderly directly (e.g. specific medications) or should the elderly receive financial assistance equivalent to the value of their needs and should we hope that they purchase the relevant medications, for example, and not something else instead? The fourth dilemma is: should we provide assistance for specific projects or should we work on long-term solutions through legislation to provide care and assistance to the elderly? Fifth, which is also the main questions, is should the services provided be privatized or should the treatment be the responsibility of the state and its institutions?The question of privatization or nationalization is the main focus of this article, and while we do not pretend to offer a firm stance on the issue, the authors offer to shed some light on the basic concepts associated with our aging population and how we as a society might handle these issues from the perspective of comparison between privatization versus nationalization of services rendered. The main focus of this article will be around the issue of the residential arrangements for the elderly: Mainly - should the elderly move into what are typically called “old age homes” or should we allow for “Aging in Place” – an approach that favors allowing the elderly to remain in their own homes for the remainder of their lives. Which is the most favorable solution? This issue also falls under the dilemma of whether or not homes for the aging as one possible solution should be a state-provided service or if “aging in place” will result in the privatization of the services granted to the elderly.The focus of this article is the situation in Israel, a country in which a significant portion of the population is elderly and where, by 2035, 15% of the population will be considered senior citizens. We will present the dilemma through the lens of the situation in Israel. The article shall begin with an introduction offering an in-depth examination of the dilemma presented. We will continue by presenting basic concepts from the general literature in the field of gerontology available today. We will then examine the situation in Israel between the years 2017-2019 and conclude by examining the concepts of privatization and nationalization in regards to services for the elderly, while once again emphasizing that comprehensive solutions to these dilemmas are unlikely to be reached in the near future

"It Is Not Good For Man To Be Alone" The Struggle against Loneliness in Old Age: Basic Assumptions for an Integrative Operational Concept –The Israeli Case

The widespread expression saying that "loneliness is the No. 1 enemy of old age" has, in the 21st century, becomes obvious and banal now that suicide rates among the elderly in many countries and in Israel, the case study for this paper, is higher than among other age groups in those countries.Loneliness itself, its ramifications, consequences, and implications on the lives of the elderly have made it a dominant factor in terms of its potential damage.Old age and loneliness have been the subjects of many different definitions, studies and theories, but despite the quantity and quality of these attempts worldwide, and particularly in Israeli research, there is a conspicuous lack of any comprehensive plan that would address the implications and destructive effects of the loneliness experienced by the elderly. Many limited-scale programs exist on a local level, but they fail to address the clear need to eradicate menacing loneliness.The authors of this essay plan to outline basic principles for designing an operational concept for a national plan to combat the consequences and effects of depression among the elderly, using Israel as an example.This paper will begin with a review of the definitions and literature on the phenomenon of depression, and a review of the literature dealing with the unhealthy connection between old age and depression. We will then review various programs worldwide that deal with the phenomenon of loneliness and old age; continue to present data on the effects of loneliness on elderly Israelis; present various Israeli programs and projects that attempt to deal with this phenomenon; and conclude by detailing the proposed principles for a comprehensive operational approach that maps out this painful phenomenon in Israel and proposes a plan of action on how to best deal with it

The Future of Aging as Reflected in José Saramago's Novel "Death with Interruptions" – Israel as a Case Study

Humanity has won one of the most challenging battles ever presented to it – the struggle to extend human life and increasing life expectancy. Current data and the figures predicted for future generations forecast significant longevity, and humanity has ostensibly marked a monumental achievement: containing death.This achievement, however, is not without its challenges. This essay argues that humanity is not ready to deal with the challenges posed by aging and the dramatic increase in longevity. As the number of older people increases, so will social, political, human, economic, and health issues that are naturally associated with older age. Society will face a so-called "human tsunami," or, alternatively, a "demographic revolution" in which man will find himself preoccupied with his elders in a world that has not prepared for such a revolution.This essay will review José Saramago's masterpiece "Death with Interruptions," which sarcastically describes a world free of death that, in turn, must contend with a myriad of problems. Faced with the issues plaguing Saramago's "deathless" world, authorities attempt to exercise a series of macabre and preposterous solutions vis-à-vis an issue that has all but upturned the "human pyramid" in the book.The novel will serve as the backdrop for presenting the case study at the heart of this essay, aging in Israel. I will present the existing situation in terms of aging-oriented services in Israel and the issues, obstacles and shortcomings of the system currently in place.This essay strives to illustrate the fact that global and Israeli society alike, fall short of rising to the challenges presented by this revolution, as the communities, families and the formal and informal state systems are not ready for the dramatic rise in longevity and its implications.Only nations that prepare themselves from social, religious, healthcare, economic, and organizational standpoints ahead of time will be able to properly deal with this phenomenon

The Struggle with Anxiety and Depression among the Elderly: Predicting Elderly Behavior in Crisis and Conflict Situations – The Case of Operation Protective Edge

Existing theories cast the elderly as individuals likely to crumble under pressure, suggesting that crisis situations may exacerbate underlying conditions, such as depression.The conflict between Israel and the Palestinians breeds numerous stress situations, which are bound to affect the lives of the elderly population on both sides. This inspired the author to examine whether the elderly population in Israel does, in fact, behave according to existing theories.A prominent example of a crisis situation was the 2014 conflict, which triggered a crisis in Israeli communities that found themselves under the threat of direct rocket fire. The situation lent itself to the assumption that there would be a spike in depression and anxiety among the area's residents, especially the elderly, which would translate into "mass migration" to safer areas.This study sought to substantiate or refute the "helplessness" of elderly people in crisis situations. It was based on a qualitative analysis of questionnaires answered by Holocaust survivors, former Soviet Union immigrants, and long-time residents of the Gaza vicinity communities, shortly after the conflict.The study found little to no evidence of depression or anxiety among elderly Israelis, proving their resilience in the reviewed crisis.While the rationale varied among participants, a clear sentiment came through, spelling devotion among the border communities' residents, defiance among immigrants from the former USSR, and a combination of both among Holocaust survivors.The study indicated the elderly tend to be mentally tougher than younger generations, proving their resilience by weathering multiple threats. To conclude: Senior citizens can be used to bolster the home front's resilience; depression and anxiety experienced by the elderly in crisis situations can be alleviated by providing them with information about the nature of the threat; and it is best to form permanent resilience centers in threatened areas