Dotan Rousso: In grief and at war, Israel remains a vibrant nation

People play football on the beach in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv on July 7, 2026. Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP via Getty Images

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If someone landed in Israel today without having followed the news for the past three years, they would likely struggle to conclude they had arrived in a country at war. That was the thought that stayed with me throughout several weeks in Israel this summer.

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Living in Canada, I understand why many Canadians picture Israel almost exclusively through images of destruction, military operations and political controversy. Since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, massacre, international coverage has understandably focused on war and humanitarian suffering. The result is that many Canadians have come to associate Israel almost entirely with conflict. The reality on the ground is strikingly different.

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The journey begins at Ben Gurion Airport, one of the world’s most modern terminals. Minutes later, visitors travel on immaculate highways or fast, modern trains through a country that feels prosperous, organized and remarkably dynamic. Modern skylines stretch across Tel Aviv and beyond. New residential towers, office buildings and neighbourhoods already define much of the landscape.

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Along the Mediterranean coast, long stretches of white sand meet crystal-blue water beneath cloudless summer skies. The beaches are crowded from morning until sunset. Families relax under umbrellas. Surfers wait for the next wave. Volleyball games fill the sand. The unmistakable sound of matkot — Israel’s beloved beach paddle game — echoes up and down the shoreline. Beach cafés, restaurants and pubs are full, while runners and cyclists crowd the promenade. It feels far more like a thriving Mediterranean resort than a country approaching its third year of war.

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That impression extends well beyond appearances. Israel remains one of the world’s leading innovation economies, with globally recognized strengths in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and medical technology. Major international technology companies continue investing in the country, and the Israeli shekel is now stronger than it was before the war and dramatically stronger than in the weeks immediately following October 7, an extraordinary reflection of confidence in Israel’s long-term economic resilience.

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Another widespread misconception concerns Israeli society itself. Watching the news from Canada, one could easily conclude that Israel is defined by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the most controversial members of his coalition. My experience was very different. Throughout my visit, I heard sharp criticism of the prime minister and his government from friends, relatives and complete strangers alike. Many openly expressed hope that the next election would bring new leadership.

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Yet alongside these political disagreements was another reality that receives far less attention in the West. While Israelis argue passionately about politics and government, the overwhelming majority also believe this is not a war their country chose, but one forced upon it by enemies openly committed to Israel’s destruction. They debate how the war should be fought and who should lead the country — not why Hamas attacked on October 7.

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None of this diminishes the tragedy of the war. My own family has paid its price. My nephew, Ofek Rousso, was killed defending Kibbutz Be’eri during the Hamas massacre. Virtually every Israeli knows someone who has been killed, wounded or displaced.