ABSTRACT
Economic growth has been at record levels, relative to both the recent past and the performance of other advanced economies. Israel has been cut off from commercial relations with its neighbors as a result of the Arab boycott. The top United States imports of Israeli goods include cut diamonds and jewelry, aircraft and equipment, telecommunications equipment, optical and medical equipment, parts for office machinery and automatic data processing machinery, and scientific and measuring instruments. Trade is a primary example of how Israeli economic relations grow out of political relations but then take on an independent status. Israel's highly skilled labor force has promoted the country's membership among the world's advanced-technology countries. Israel's health care system already meets many of the criteria set out by President Clinton. The United States imported $3.8 billion in Israeli goods in 1992, almost all of which was manufactured goods.
