The modern state of Israel is having its 63rd birthday this month. While its location is the ancient homeland of the Jews, Israel is only a tiny fraction, less than one per cent, of the overwhelmingly Arab Middle East. Yet Israel is a powerhouse militarily, economically, and overall. For example, Israel’s armed forces are so powerful that all the Arab armies combined have never been able to defeat it. Israel’s economy is so innovative that it is larger than all its contiguous neighbors combined. And the satisfaction level of Israel’s diverse population is so high that a “happiness” survey conducted by Gallup ranked Israel eighth out of 124 states, surpassing the United States, Britain, France, and Spain as well as many other Western nations.
Even with a relatively weak and disorganized army, in May, 1948 Israel was able to defeat the combined force of five Arab countries who tried to eliminate it following Israel’s Declaration of Independence. Without having built a powerful military force, Israel would not have made it to its 20th anniversary, let alone its 63rd. It was the Six Day War of 1967 which electrified the world and signaled Israel’s entry among the world’s most powerful military forces.
Outnumbered 30:1 by its Muslim rivals (its contiguous neighbors + Iran), Israel is still capable of defending itself against a combined onslaught, should it happen. Though Israel’s army is dependent on a large reserve force, it is consistently ranked in the “top 10 armies” by experts. The regular army is drawn from 18-year-old recruits who serve a three-year term. Those who vie for induction into infantry brigades are highly motivated and compete fiercely for positions in the elite units and the paratroopers. Equally important is the competition to become a recruit in one of many units specializing in cyber warfare or in intelligence, where Israel’s innovative talent is showcased.
Besides developing military satellites, artillery, missiles, and tanks which are among the world’s finest, Israel has an officially unacknowledged nuclear arsenal. Israel has not admitted to having this capability, but it is reliably assumed that it possesses several hundred warheads, which none of its enemies can match (yet).
While Israel’s navy is small and very specialized, it does maintain a fleet of five Dolphin-class submarines. At least two of the subs are always at sea: one in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf, the other in the Mediterranean. Most experts believe that the fleet is outfitted with nuclear-tipped missiles. There are three additional submarines in Israel’s fleet and a sixth, more advanced sub is being built in Germany.
Israel’s air force is highly regarded by experts and is consistently ranked in the “top ten”; sometimes it’s even coupled with America at the top of the list. Our pilots are perhaps the world’s best trained and there is a large force of the most advanced jet fighters and helicopters. The air force has made unique operations look almost routine, such as the 1981 strike against the Osirak nuclear facility in Iraq, the 2007 strike against a Syrian nuclear facility, and the 2009 strike against an arms shipment in Sudan destined for Gaza.
It is becoming well known around the world that Israel is an economic powerhouse, especially in the newest technologies. On a per capita basis, no other nation comes close to Israel’s accomplishments: highest percentage of home computers except for Switzerland; one of the highest for patents filed (#4); highest ratio of university degrees among the population; highest percentage of workforce with university degrees other than the US; highest number of scientists and technicians; highest number of Nobel prize recipients; among the leaders in citations in scientific publications; and Israelis publish and read the most books.
Israel has many other distinctions, despite its tiny population: largest number of startup companies other than the US; highest concentration of hi-tech companies other than the Silicon Valley; largest recipient of venture capital funds other than the US; the largest number of NASDAQ-listed companies other than the US and Canada; largest number of biotech startups; and it has three universities ranked in the global top 200 (the only such schools located between Europe and India, which has four top universities and a population 165 times that of Israel).
Israel has won 11 Nobel Prizes, the same number as India, and has won more Nobel Prizes per capita than America. Israel is the only country in the Middle East where Christians, Muslims and Jews, including women, are free to vote. It also has the highest life expectancy in the region, 81 years, which is higher than in America. Perhaps the best evidence that life is thriving in Israel is that our increasing birthrate is highest among Western countries and continues to increase the population, unlike all other Western countries. Here, the typical family has three children. With all this, it’s no surprise that Israel has the highest average living standard in the Middle East, despite its lack of oil wells.
Israel is ranked #8 worldwide in the happiness of its citizens. The Gallup poll showed that 62% of Israel’s citizens say they are satisfied with their life, while just 3% described themselves as “suffering”. Four Scandinavian countries head that list. Israel outranked all its neighbors in the Middle East while sharing eighth place with Australia, Canada, and Switzerland.
I’ve presented a lot of facts, maybe too many, but the inescapable conclusion is that Israel is a country whose people are happy, highly motivated, and prosperous. Even our cows are happy – they produce more milk than those in any other country. We are three quarters Jewish, a mixture of peoples from all over the world, and we extend equal rights to all our citizens. We provide expertise in agriculture, public health, anti-desertification and water management to hungry and thirsty countries, even though they mostly vote against us in the United Nations. We do all this with the handicap of spending more money per capita on defense than any other country.
We’ve just returned from the ceremony here in Alfe Menashe which commences the Day of Remembrance for our soldiers and terror victims. It doesn’t get easier each year to come to grips with the losses which afflict our friends and neighbors, as we watch the stories of those who are gone. After 63 years, this outpouring of empathy for vanished comrades is one of the many things to be proud of in Israel. Theodor Herzl would be astonished to see our Jewish country – or perhaps he would not even be surprised. One thing is certain, especially as the memorial day turns into Independence Day eve twenty-four hours from now: Israelis pay a heavy price to live in our homeland, but it is worth all the effort and cost. After 20 years of life in Israel, my wife Michal and I can vouch for that!
Stephen Kramer, Author
“Encountering Israel – Geography, History, Culture”
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