Diplomacy: Memorializing Shlomo Argov
Diplomacy: Memorializing Shlomo Argov
Diplomacy: Memorializing Shlomo Argov
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the PLO, Iran instead of Syria. The existential issues are the same. So here was this guy who's dead, and was<br />
basically a quadriplegic for 21 years, coming through the speakers talking basically about today, 25 years ago. And<br />
then there were his friends, comrades-in-arms, who were with him along the way, and are still alive and well,<br />
reminiscing about him and talking about what happened in Israel since then. Then there was [IDC head] Prof. [Uriel]<br />
Reichman and others who spoke about the current problems Israel faces and why this program is necessary. And<br />
then there were the students who, 10 to 15 years from now, will be in key positions to make decisions that will impact<br />
the future of this country. It was mind-blowing. Whatever else I'm going to achieve in life - I have four beautiful<br />
children, and they're the most important things I could do in life, and I've done lots of business stuff - I know sitting<br />
here today that this is going to be one of the more satisfying things I will ever do.<br />
How was your connection with your father during the 21 years between the attack and his death?<br />
What I learned from my father, I learned before he was hit. After he was hit, it was the worst of all possible<br />
situations. He couldn't function, but he could still think. He couldn't move, but he could speak.<br />
You served as a tank commander in the IDF, while today you're a successful American businessman. Do<br />
you consider yourself Israeli or American?<br />
I have two homes, here and in the United States. I'm a bit of a schizophrenic. When I'm there, I want to be here.<br />
When I'm here, I want to be there. [Laughs] It's a strange place to be, but I feel at home in both places. I miss Israel<br />
a great deal and I love being back here. I grew up here. After my military service I went to study in the States and<br />
built a business career. But I maintained close ties to Israel, including business ties. My last company [Kollmorgen<br />
Corp.] ended up purchasing an Israeli company called Servotronix, a software company that makes controls for high-<br />
tech devices. It was a great acquisition and I ended up becoming extremely close to Dr. Ilan Cohen, who runs it. He<br />
and I are still good friends. I'm also the chairman of the board of an Israel-based software company called Fundtech,<br />
a banking software company. Dad didn't like the fact that Israeli diplomats are not always respected by the local<br />
Jewish community where they served. He didn't like that, because he felt that if you want to criticize us [Israelis], you<br />
must walk a mile in our shoes. Send your sons and daughters to the army. I share that partially. I think Israel is a<br />
national home for all Jews, not just those who are here. That was the whole idea. Jews who live around the world<br />
have the right to think of themselves as the "board of directors" of Israel, but not as the executive branch. If Israel<br />
makes a decision, it can be right or wrong, and Jews around the world should have input, but they can't prescribe. If<br />
you live in Brooklyn or Los Angeles, you're not in the same situation [as Israelis]. It's a balance.<br />
What brought you to the IDC?<br />
I brought this group of about 20 friends of mine - CEOs, venture capitalists, investors - over in 1999 expressly to see<br />
Israel. I'm doing it again in March with a group of 25. I do it for one reason: to win the hearts and minds, to get<br />
people to understand what's going on here on a human level, something they can't get by watching news and<br />
reading newspapers. So I brought this group over. Somebody - I think my friend Avi Fisher, today in Clal Industries -<br />
suggested coming over here [to the IDC] and spending some time. He said it was a tremendous place, with lots of<br />
creativity, and he knew Reichman. So I spent half a day here with the group. I found almost a nature preserve of the<br />
values dad believed in alive and kicking. Sacrifice, commitment, leadership by example, excellence. I decided I had<br />
to get involved in some ways. I was asked to be on the international board of IDC, which I was happy to do. When<br />
my father passed away, I started thinking about how and where to do something to preserve those values that were<br />
so important to him. I needed to do that. I just needed to do that. This was the obvious place. Even though my father