Ariel Sharon half a year before the coma: "Israel must serve as a magnet for scientists - certainly Jewish scientists - from all over the world"

Sharon said these things at the Rehovot conference on June 9, 2005. However, those years were the most difficult for science in Israel. The then Minister of Finance Benjamin Netanyahu cut billions from science and promised to return them only if growth is achieved. To this day we are paying the price

"Israel must serve as a magnet for scientists - certainly Jewish scientists - from all over the world." This is what then Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said half a year before falling into a coma at the Rehovot Science and Technology Conference held at the Weizmann Institute. See also a comprehensive report on the Hadam website from that day: "Rehovot conference - a screwed up education system will not produce good people, certainly not scientists". Brought to you in memory of Ariel Sharon who died today, 11/1/2014 after eight years in a coma.

Prime Minister's speech at the Rehovot Conference for Science and Technology, Weizmann Institute

I am happy to be here tonight.

I welcome the initiative of the Ministry of Science and Technology and everyone who helped organize this conference.

I'm sorry that because of all my other occupations I couldn't spend more time with you and hear more about the achievements and the needs regarding science in Israel.

Lately I have been devoting most of my time to carrying out the disengagement plan.

I want to assure you - the disengagement plan will be carried out, I think it is the right and best thing for the State of Israel.

I also estimate that following the move, it is a very difficult move and a painful move, I estimate that security in Israel will increase, I also estimate that investments will increase and the degree of interest in Israel's technological and scientific ability will intensify. I am sure that the need for scientists will also increase and it is clear to me that all of you will have much more to do. I hope that this will pass as easily as possible and that we can really move forward in the direction of an effort to reach a political settlement and perhaps following it, with God's help, also to peace.

It is good to see that while we are dealing with the implementation of the disengagement plan, there are at the same time other people dealing with an equally important issue, which is the scientific advancement of the State of Israel and of the entire human race.

I am sure that just as all Israeli citizens will benefit from a better security and economic situation following the disengagement plan, so will the scientific community.

I hope that we will soon reach a time when a Prime Minister in Israel will be able to spend more time in conferences and scientific conferences and less time in political and security discussions.

The story of science in Israel is also a story of a far-reaching vision.

The leaders of the Jewish community in Israel, led by Chaim Weizmann, realized already at the beginning of the last century that the future lies in science.

And it is true that among the first large enterprises established by the Zionist movement were science and research institutions - the Technion in Haifa, the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and the Ziv Institute - which was a continuation of the Weizmann Institute.

This investment quickly paid off, when the Israeli science that grew in these institutions - and in others that followed them - made an unparalleled contribution to the people and society of Israel.

The achievements of Israeli science place Israel in the first row of the most advanced countries in the world.

Despite our small size, Israeli scientists publish about 6000 scientific articles every year, and are ranked third among the world's scientists in their productivity in writing articles.

It is the scientific and technological infrastructure that was built here over decades that made possible the impressive successes of Israeli hi-tech companies, which place Israel at the top of the world in this field.

The knowledge-rich industry has made a tremendous contribution to Israel's growth in the past fifteen years and currently accounts for about half of our industrial exports.

But in a world where science is developing and renewing itself at a dizzying pace, one must not rest on the laurels of yesterday's achievements - nor on those of today and I am sure that you do not do this either and continue your efforts. Therefore, in order to maintain its national strength, Israel must continue to cultivate its scientific strength.

Israel must serve as a magnet for scientists - certainly Jewish scientists - from all over the world.

It must be a melting pot of groundbreaking ideas and a factory of innovative technologies. Continue to invest in the scientific infrastructures that will allow us to reap scientific achievements in the future as well.

In the coming decade, Israel must establish its position as one of the leading countries in the field of nanotechnology and biotechnology.

To improve the national capacity in the various fields of engineering and to develop the research fields that are essential for the future and the future of the world - such as environmental sciences, earth sciences, health and space.

I see it as a national duty to invest not only in research institutes and academia, but also in strengthening the connection between science and the community.

It is our duty to promote science and technology education among as wide a group as possible, especially in the peripheral areas and population sectors where access to science is not natural and self-evident - in order to bring young and old alike closer to the world of science.

This conference, the Rehovot Conference for Science and Technology - the result of the initiative of the Ministry of Science and Technology - which brings together all the elements of science and science policy in Israel - came to prepare the infrastructure for the formulation of a comprehensive national science policy.

This policy must take into account Israel's human capabilities and financial possibilities, its economic, security and social needs. It must ensure the continued advancement of science in Israel and the harnessing of government-funded research and development to advance topics and fields that are at the forefront of today's science.

I am convinced that the Rehovot Conference for Science and Technology will create a process in which all bodies will be partners. And I expect that at the next convention that will be held, with God's help, before Shavuot next year, all the bodies will present their positions regarding the national science policy. I would of course be happy to participate with you in the next conference.

Only cooperation based on fruitful dialogue and in-depth and critical examination and agreement on national goals can lead to the formulation of a science policy that will lead the State of Israel to success in the coming decades as well.

Our goal should be clear: to march Israel towards new horizons of scientific excellence and technological developments,

which will ensure the improvement of the quality of life in Israel, the strengthening of national security,

Increasing the rate of growth and increasing equal opportunities for all strata of the population in the country.

Thank you very much, good luck and happy Shavuot to all of you.