ARNON PERLMAN:
Dani, thank you very much for your time. And as I told you in a previous conversation, it's a pleasure to reconnect after 20 years, I don't think either of us ever believed the reconnection would be like this. But G-d works in mysterious ways.

DANI NAVEH:
G-d creates such great opportunities, so it's great.

ARNON PERLMAN:
You've had an extraordinary civil service career in politics as the Secretary of the government. But also, before the cabinet, you were a leading politician as a Knesset member, and then of course as the Minister of Health. Afterwards, you became an accomplished leading businessperson heading one of Israel's largest insurance companies, and many other ventures. How would all of that, everything you've accumulated in your career, help you to achieve your vision for Israel Bonds?

DANI NAVEH:
Israel Bonds are bonds for the State of Israel. In this respect, the unique background that I have had within the government, different kinds of key positions in the business sector, gives me the capabilities to have, really, the point of view of the State of Israel and its needs, its requirements and agendas.

Everything that we’ve been doing at Israel Bonds is for the sake of the State of Israel, being part of the economic agenda. The kind of background and experience I have is very helpful for me to promote our agenda at Israel Bonds in such a way that it will have the best interaction with the agenda of Israel.It’s a financial product – we sell bonds and so we have all of the financial and regulatory dimensions that are involved here. And as you’ve mentioned, I led one of Israel’s leading financial institutions, Clal Insurance, for seven years. I became involved in all aspects – in products, in regulations, in capital markets – and in the venture capital business, whether it was with Israeli companies on the NASDAQ, or in Europe as well, and that kind of experience is very conducive for me now at Israel Bonds.

We are a broker dealer, at the end of the day – I needed to pass three FINRA exams before taking office! It was quite helpful for me to have such a financial background – it wasn’t like starting elementary school! I already came to this position with significant background and knowledge and information about the financial markets, the capital markets, and whatever is required to be a CEO of a financial company like Israel Bonds.

ARNON PERLMAN:
One of the things which is very dominant when looking at your CV, is how you started your career at a very early age - I think beginning in your 20’s – if I don't count your service in the IDF.

DANI NAVEH:
Actually, it was before the army. I started my political career, my public career, even before the army, when I was a high school student.

ARNON PERLMAN:
At Noar HaLikud?

DANI NAVEH:
Many things… we don't have time to talk about all of that, but I was the chair of The Jerusalem Council for Youth, the chair of The Zionist Congress for Youth, the Noar HaLikud, as you said, which is the Likud Youth Movement. I had my first meeting with Menachem Begin, the late Prime Minister, when I was 17 years old.

ARNON PERLMAN:
Wow! So that actually leads me to the next question - from your experience being a young leader, how important is it, in your eyes, for Israel Bonds to be a driving force for cultivating prominent young leaders in places that we work in?

DANI NAVEH:
You really touched one of the most important missions for Israel Bonds, in my mind: attracting younger generations.

I think that we must approach and reach out to the younger population around the world. The whole concept of Israel Bonds as a powerful interaction between communities and the State of Israel must be grounded in inspiring young leadership. Of course, I have a lot of admiration and respect for all investors, and most of them have been with us for many years and will be for many more. They set the example to see more and more young people involved as active investors in Israel through Israel Bonds.

It's also so important because Israel Bonds can help bring information to young people here in the United States, as well as the UK, Europe, and Latin America. Lack of information about Israel, and so often misinformation, is a real problem. We can play an important role in communicating and portraying the real Israel. We can do this with missions to Israel and participating in gatherings and events with great speakers. It's so important for our entire collective future, not only for Israel Bonds.

ARNON PERLMAN:
I couldn't agree more. Speaking of Israel Bonds being part of the State of Israel, how does that assist when it comes to the challenges that Israel is facing today?

DANI NAVEH:
With the amount of money invested in Israel Bonds on an annual basis. This is based on quotas set by the Israeli Ministry of Finance, based on Israel’s needs in any given year. Thankfully, the Israeli economy is really in great shape and the GDP is strong when compared to the benchmark in the OECD countries.

Still, Israel Bonds is valued as a highly important factor, an important part of the Israeli economy - and crucially, a great way for Israel to increase its connections and ties to different communities. Bonds of friendship are built on an individual basis, as well as through organizations, around the world. It's not just about the investments alone. It’s believing in the future of Israel.

Israel Bonds is unique in that regard: we are the only organization asking people not to just give a donation. It's possible to give a donation, of course, using Israel Bonds. But it starts with the investment, where you get a nice rate of return.

ARNON PERLMAN:
My follow-up question is from the other side. How is being part of the Israel Bonds family important to the challenges that local communities are facing in their own countries, be it in North America or Europe?

DANI NAVEH:
If you are looking for opportunities to increase the ties between Israel and your local community, or if you look for opportunities to increase your connection to our heritage, this is probably one of the best opportunities to do so. Different kinds of gatherings, receiving quality information, forming groups that can access the real Israel, and not the distortions we see on the news. If you really feel the need to make better connections with Israel, Israel Bonds is one of the best platforms for that.

ARNON PERLMAN:
One more professional question before we get a bit more personal: when you look ahead, what are the challenges and opportunities that drive your vision for Israel Bonds over the next five years?

DANI NAVEH:
It goes back to what I said earlier – a special focus on young leadership and next generation engagement. And it's not only about demographics. It’s our core message. We have been facing so many toxic campaigns, such as BDS. I think that one of our main missions for the coming years is really to redefine the conversation. Investing in every sense in the true spirit of Israel. Showcasing Israel as a country that is making peace and reconciliation with many of its neighbours. Israel as a leader in technology, a Startup Nation, a place of creation and innovation.

We are a very strong country, but Israel still faces threats from some places, mainly from Iran and its proxy organizations and allies. And so, we constantly have to strengthen the State of Israel. The main answer to your question is really this, and I say this most especially to our youth: ‘Don't take the State of Israel’s existence for granted.’

Some in our communities may think, ‘Oh, we have Israel. It can manage without us.’ Never take that for granted.
We all have a role to play to maintain a strong State of Israel. And one of the best ways to do that is by investments
in Israel bonds.

ARNON PERLMAN:
I couldn't agree more! Allow me to get a little bit more personal. You spoke in the past about your parents – can you tell us what influence your parents have had on your career, growing up from being a young leader all the way
to the present?

DANI NAVEH:
Well, my parents actually weren't political people. They were not involved in the political scene in Israel. But at the same time, I grew up in a very Zionist family, a very committed family to the State of Israel.

ARNON PERLMAN:
So it was an ideological house, not a ‘political house’.

DANI NAVEH:
Yes. And the atmosphere in our home was the overall importance of strengthening Israel. My parents came from Europe before modern Israel was born. They went through the Holocaust and the War of Independence. I got so much from them – the sense of importance to be involved, active, to do something, to be involved and not just to leave
it to others.

At the same time, I think that one of the most important things that I got from my parents, which is really on a different note, is the importance of education. In Hebrew, we say education for chinuch ve Haskalah, so it's more for Haskalah. I don't know how you would translate it, because it's education, but it's more, general knowledge – it’s Jewish knowledge, Jewish heritage, everything. In many ways, my parents belong to the generation that sacrificed themselves – everything – for the sake of their children's education. I felt a commitment to fulfill this investment and to take it forward.