Propaganda jargon for Israel in the NYT

Look at this propaganda piece by Ethan Bronner:  "All modern democracies seek to balance collective will and individualism, the force of markets and the power of the state. And every government is accused by its opponents of having abandoned core national values. But in Israel the debate seems more freighted. This is a small and intensely personal state born only decades ago in conflict.  More than most countries, Israel seeks a lyrical narrative about itself stemming from notions of history, divinity and collective redemption."  Where do I begin?  He says Israel is an "intensely personal" state.  What on earth does that mean?  What does it mean, really?  Is the US intensely impersonal by comparison?  Can you imagine such language passing the pen or key of the editor if written on any other state?  And what does it mean that Israel seeks "a lyrical narrative about itself"??? Is that a poetic reference to its war crimes and assassination ploys?