Regional development is not philanthropy; it's pragmatism
by Zafrir Asaf
The Jerusalem Post
March 24, 2026
A regional Marshall Plan could contribute to building a more stable Middle East.
"The Marshall Plan was named after George Marshall who… led a series of large-scale programs that helped rebuild Europe from the devastation of war…
"The US has already increased more than threefold the capital allocation to its development finance institution, the Development Finance Corporation (DFC), which is expected to invest roughly $200 billion in projects across developing countries in the coming years, supporting both American foreign policy goals and US economic interests…
"Development strategies also remain a key component of the Gulf States’ foreign policy. For example, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) leads the Lives and Livelihoods Fund (LLF), whose partners include the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, and the Gates Foundation…
"Beyond the technology sector, Israel possesses a broad ecosystem of companies with experience in infrastructure projects in developing countries, civil society organizations specializing in delivering services to vulnerable populations and providing humanitarian assistance in emergencies and disasters, and professionals skilled in adapting innovation to the complex realities of regions and communities affected by war and crisis…
"On the day after the war, Israel will not only be judged by its missile interception capabilities but also by its ability to… work with neighboring countries to address the major challenges facing the region."
Zafrir Asaf is chair of SID Israel, the umbrella organization of Israel’s international development and humanitarian aid community.
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