By Yael Ben-David ~ Where deserts previously towered as a threat for dry climates and unpredictable rains, Israel has turned the dictum on its head: it has fashioned scarcity into means to irrigate surfeit. Through advancements in water desalination, water-conserving irrigation, and green recycling, Israel has turned its natural limitations the water-saving model for the world. What was needed became a clarion call to the nation—a culture of innovation that pinches pennies on every ounce. A Thirst for Innovation Since Israel's inception, all the way back to 1948 when it was founded, its survival had been doubtful at least partly because it was entirely open to aridity. It's largely a half-arid country,...