Israel’s right wing Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was just reelected for the fourth
time.
His party’s war hawk ideology has been a source of severe tension between Israel, Palestine
and their neighbors.
But those strained, and often violent relations go back the entirety of Israel’s 67-year
history.
In the middle of one of the world’s most controversial disputes, we wanted to know,
just how powerful is Israel?
Well, since it’s foundation, Israel has been growing in size.
The original 1947 UN partition allocated 5,500 square miles for about a million inhabitants.
Today, nearly 8 million live within 8,000 square miles.
Israel’s population density rivals that of India and surpasses Japan.
This is unsurprising, as Israel holds religious significance not only for the 75% of Jews
who live there, but also the Muslims and Christians who populate the area as well.
So, how does Israel fare economically?
Although they’re on the smaller side, Israel’s GDP is around 300 billion, ranking them 37th
worldwide, and 19th on the UN’s Human Development Index.
Israel is a high-tech start-up hotspot.
It’s nicknamed “Silicon Wadi”, after the Arabic word for “Valley”.
Some have pointed to their cultural emphasis on education, and disproportionate number
of scientists and engineers, as the leading cause of the ongoing technological boom.
Many wealthy American figureheads have praised and invested in Israel’s economy as well,
including Bill Gates and Warren Buffett.
Israel is also home to one of the largest diamond cutting and polishing industries,
although the land itself is low on natural resources.
Additionally, Israel attracts millions of tourists every year, a significant source
of income.
However, when discussing Israel’s worldwide influence, it is their military and defense
technology that brings them the most attention.
Israel is one of the world’s largest arms producers, supplying 10% of all military equipment,
mostly to the US and EU.
More than 60% of drones come from Israel.
With such a large arms supply, it is probably unsurprising that Israel has the most powerful
military in the Middle East and ranks 11th worldwide.
They are able to maintain this lead by devoting as much as 6% of their GDP on defense spending.
They are also helped by their special and significant relationship with the United States.
The US sends Israel more than 3 billion dollars a year in military aid.
This partnership gives the US a strong foothold in the Middle East.
In return, the US uses its international might to defend Israel from UN resolutions in their
ongoing dispute with Palestine.
Israel is also protected by it’s position as a major non-NATO ally.
However, during Barack Obama’s presidency, tensions between the two countries have grown
over Iran’s attempts for nuclear power, and Israel’s continued settlements in the
West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Golan Heights.
All in all, despite their vulnerable position in the Middle East, Israel has been able to
hold it’s own for over half a century.
Their mixture of military dominance, international support, and economic strength makes Israel
one of the world’s most powerful countries.
But what they do with that power is the source of much debate.
It’s impossible to talk about the situation in Israel without looking at the bigger picture.
If you want to learn more about Palestine’s quest to become a state, here’s our in-depth
video.
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