Navajo Nation Turns to Israel for Inspiration for Economic Potential

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and First Lady Phefelia Nez met with officials with the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem, Israel on February 6. The self-funded trip served to learn about Israel’s vision and efforts toward economic, infrastructure and agricultural development that may help the administration’s efforts to build a stronger Navajo Nation.

During the meeting, President Nez stated that the Navajo Nation is the largest land-based Indigenous Nation in the United States with many untapped resources that can transform the Navajo Nation into an industry leader in many ways.

“I believe we have similar resources as Israel in terms of land, workforce, and the ingenuity of our people. I’ve said before that the Navajo Nation is a sleeping giant in terms of our economic potential. We need to improve our coordination and unify our efforts to move forward in building industries that create long-term benefits for our Navajo people,” said President Nez, who also noted that the land base of the Navajo Nation is over three times the size of Israel—at 27,000 square-miles and 8,000 square miles respectively.

Thursday’s meeting was held with Director of the U.S. Consulates Department Itai Bardov, Deputy Director of the U.S. Consulates Department Revital Malca, and Gil Haskel who serves as the Deputy Director General for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Head of MASHAV – Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation.

“The country of Israel had made substantial advances in technology that have helped in the development of their capital infrastructure, tourism industry, agricultural production, and their overall economy. With this visit, it presents a great opportunity to learn more about their strategies that have made many of their ventures successful, and hopefully to help us apply those teachings to help the Navajo Nation expand tourism, develop energy, strengthen the economy, and increase agricultural production,” said President Nez.

First Lady Nez also met with the Jewish Agency’s Goodwill Ambassador Dvora Ganani-Elad, to discuss potential partnerships between the Office of the First Lady and Second Lady and the Jewish Agency’s non-profit sector to help address social welfare issues and to provide educational outreach on the Navajo Nation.