In the Trenches: Top ten good news stories of 2007

Amidst all the Sturm und Drang, some positive things did happen in the past 12 months. They're worth recalling, if only to remind ourselves that the landscape is not unremittingly bleak.

Here's my top ten list:

First, at long last, the United States Congress passed, and President George Bush signed, a comprehensive energy bill. In this case, better late than never. The bill may not be perfect, but it's a big step in the right direction. America's dependence on imported oil from hostile countries is the nation's Achilles' heel. It undermines national security big time, because our addiction inevitably leads us to kowtow to someone and send massive sums of petrodollars into the wrong hands. This bill alone won't solve the problem, but it serves as a wake-up call for a nation that slept far too long. Its provisions for increasing fuel economy standards and other measures are designed to help wean us from that addiction.

Second, with the election of Nicolas Sarkozy as French president, there is increasing harmony between the United States and Europe's three leading nations - Britain, France, and Germany. That's a far cry from where we were in 2003, when Washington and London faced off against Paris and Berlin. Such transatlantic cooperation is vital in dealing with the world's most challenging issues, from nuclear proliferation to Middle East conflict resolution to terrorism. And speaking of terrorism, it looks like these three European countries, joined by others, have been ever more alert to the dangers lurking within their borders and adopting tougher, if often unpublicized, counter measures.

Third, the international consensus on isolating Hamas-led Gaza has largely held. The three conditions set by the Quartet for engaging Hamas haven't been abandoned; to the contrary, Hamas's quest for legitimacy has been a spectacular failure to date. Israel's need to enter Gaza to ferret out terrorists and seek to halt the incessant rocket and mortar attacks, which have caused such havoc in and around Sderot, has gone unchallenged by most nations, including some in the past that made an art form of questioning Israel's legitimate acts of self-defense.

Fourth, the meeting at Annapolis took place. This may or may not lead to a final Israeli-Palestinian settlement - and the skeptics certainly outnumber the optimists - but the gathering itself was impressive as a case study of what Washington can achieve when it puts its diplomatic shoulder to the wheel, for the sheer number of Arab and other Muslim-majority countries that attended. It also served as yet another reminder of Israel's deep yearning for peace. The speeches of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, and Defense Minister Ehud Barak are well worth reading. And as follow up, the donor's conference in Paris the next month signaled to the Palestinian Authority that the international community is prepared to support peaceful political, economic, and social development in the West Bank on a major scale. It's now up to the Palestinian leadership to do what they and their predecessors haven't done before - and use the demonstrated support of the international community to transform the lives of their people, enforce security for themselves and their Israeli neighbors, and cleanse the media, schools and mosques of calls to hatred and violence.

Fifth, Israel's operation in Syria on September 6, still shrouded in a veil of secrecy, clearly was a major moment for the Middle East strategic balance. While remaining mum, Israeli leaders nonetheless signaled their satisfaction at the outcome of the operation. Indeed, it's been compared to the 1981 strike on Osirak, the nuclear reactor in Iraq. Also notable was the deafening silence of neighboring states. In fact, with the exception of North Korea, which had a more-than-passing interest in the matter, there was hardly a peep of protest from the international community. The UN, never shy about Israel-related matters, was uncharacteristically quiet. Moreover, the operation was a reminder to those who wondered if the IDF had lost its luster after the inconclusive 2006 summer war with Hizbullah.

Sixth, Jeffersonian democracy isn't around the corner anytime soon in Iraq. But even the war's fiercest critics have to acknowledge that the leadership of General David Petraeus, the surge in troop levels, and the support of growing numbers of Iraqis in security matters have made an appreciable difference on the ground. That's good news for the Iraqi people, for the region, and, not least, for the credibility of American power and commitment. The struggle is far from over, but the last thing the world needs is an Iraq totally out of control that becomes an unchallenged playground for Iran, al-Qaida, and mujahadeen mercenaries.

Seventh, in a face-off with Argentina, Iran lost. When Iran challenged the unanimous decision of the INTERPOL executive committee to issue arrest notices for five Iranians (and one Lebanese) in connection with "crimes against humanity" in the 1994 bombing of the AMIA building in Buenos Aires, Teheran went on a full-court offensive to reverse it. The decisive vote took place in November at the INTERPOL General Assembly meeting. Despite a heavily utilized bribery-and-blackmail toolkit, Iran was decisively defeated and INTERPOL reissued the arrest notices. The outcome was, above all, a triumph for the quality of Argentina's legal investigation, led by Alberto Nisman, and widespread recognition that the stakes regarding terrorism were high in the vote.

Eighth, all of our challenges are not external. There are encouraging signs of involvement and engagement among young Jews. Birthright is a good example. What a brilliant concept! And its popularity speaks for itself. Indeed the program could not accommodate all those who wished to participate this year. Its impact both on identity and connection to Israel is already apparent. By itself, of course, it's not a panacea, but it's a huge step forward. And there is lots of evidence of new points of entry for young people into Jewish life, of established organizations speaking less and doing more to open themselves to meaningful involvement by younger Jews, and of growing interest in Jewish expressions of spirituality and community.

Ninth, signs of dynamic Jewish life are everywhere. To be sure, there are lots of challenges, but they can't detract from the remarkable sight of the re-emergence of Jews and Jewish life in Eastern Europe, for example, where previous generations of rulers sought to suppress them. The same is true in Germany, where new synagogues are opening and no one can say that "the future of Jewish life in Germany is behind it." A visit to one of the dynamic synagogues in Buenos Aires or Santiago reveals such an infectious spirit of participation and pride that is hard to forget. Witnessing the intense feeling of community in Australia and South Africa is another reminder of the vitality of the Jewish people today. And, in the United States, again with all the demographic issues we face, the Jewish community remains strong and resilient.

And finally, in 2007, the sixtieth anniversary of the 1947 UN Partition Plan was marked. Sixty years ago, the Jewish people were just two years past the end of the Shoah. At the time, the idea of a Jewish state was still a big question mark. Would it come to pass? If so, could it survive? Would it attract Jews from around the world? Could it forge a new national identity? Would it fulfill its aspirations to be a democratic and Jewish state? Could it contribute to the common good? Would it achieve peace with its neighbors?

Sixty years later, Israel, of course, is still a work in progress. And its challenges, both external and internal, remain many. But its trajectory in just six decades from that fateful day in Lake Success on November 29, 1947, is nothing short of remarkable. That single fact alone ought to give us reason to pause from grappling with our daily travails to be thankful.

What do you think of the news stories of 2007? Is there anything you would add to the list? What can we expect for 2008? Add your comments below.