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

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