It is a sign of the astonishing pre-eminence and success of Israeli hi-tech that no one will be the least surprised by the comments of Eric Schmidt, the chairman of Google, that Israel is shaping the 21st century. Nor will there be any surprise at the breadth and stature of the participants at this week's superb Innovate Israel conference. Israel faces many problems.

But in recent years its hi-tech sector has shown the world what can be done, and laid the foundations for an economic strength which will provide a lasting legacy to future genetations. The BDS movement is easily ridiculed when Israeli inventions are listed; to boycott Israel is to boycott the 21st century itself.