•    1980s: In an attempt to control an annual inflation rate of 131 percent in 1980, the Israeli government changes the country's currency from the lira to the shekel. In 1985, the currency changes to the new Israeli shekel in an effort to further stabilize the nation's economic growth.

Today: Israel has recently experienced years of positive economic growth. Its per capita gross domestic product for 2000 is higher than that in some European Union countries, and inflation has been reduced to 0 percent.

•    1980s: Thanks to a peace treaty signed between

Egypt and Israel, the two countries open their borders and exchange ambassadors in 1980. The treaty eliminates the threat of Israel's primary Arab adversary, which possesses the largest Arab military capability. In contrast to the struggle and pain Rutchen experiences, Israel enjoys a brief moment of peace with one of its Arab neighbors.

Today: The...