The Human Truth Foundation

Israel (State of Israel)

http://www.humantruth.info/israel.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#israel

Israel
State of Israel
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index47th best
CapitalJerusalem
Land Area 21 640km21
LocationAsia, The Mediterranean, The Middle East
Population8.4m2
Life Expectancy82.26yrs (2017)3
GNI$41 524 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesIL, ISR, 3765
Internet Domain.il6
CurrencyShekel (ILS)7
Telephone+9728

1. Overview

#egypt #israel #lebanon #syria

Following World War II, the British withdrew from their mandate of Palestine, and the UN partitioned the area into Arab and Jewish states, an arrangement rejected by the Arabs. Subsequently, the Israelis defeated the Arabs in a series of wars without ending the deep tensions between the two sides. (The territories Israel occupied since the 1967 war are not included in the Israel country profile, unless otherwise noted.) On 25 April 1982, Israel withdrew from the Sinai pursuant to the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty. In keeping with the framework established at the Madrid Conference in October 1991, bilateral negotiations were conducted between Israel and Palestinian representatives and Syria to achieve a permanent settlement. Israel and Palestinian officials signed on 13 September 1993 a Declaration of Principles (also known as the "Oslo Accords") guiding an interim period of Palestinian self-rule. Outstanding territorial and other disputes with Jordan were resolved in the 26 October 1994 Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace. Progress toward a permanent status agreement was undermined by Israeli-Palestinian violence between September 2003 and February 2005. Israel in 2005 unilaterally disengaged from the Gaza Strip, evacuating settlers and its military while retaining control over most points of entry into the Gaza Strip. The election of HAMAS to head the Palestinian Legislative Council in 2006 froze relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA). In 2006 Israel engaged in a 34-day conflict with Hizballah in Lebanon in June-August 2006 and a 23-day conflict with HAMAS in the Gaza Strip during December 2008 and January 2009. Prime Minister Binyamin NETANYAHU formed a coalition in March 2009 following a February 2009 general election. Direct talks with the PA launched in September 2010 collapsed following the expiration of Israel's 10-month partial settlement construction moratorium in the West Bank.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverAt the intersection of Asia, Europe and Africa, the region of Israel and the Palestinian Territories has been a meeting place of cultures, empires and religions since history began. The Holy Land, cradle of Judaism and Christianity and sacred to Muslims and Baha´is, offers visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the richness and variety of their own religious traditions and to discover the beliefs of other faiths.Human beings have lived in Israel and the Palestinian Territories since long before recorded history, and thanks to the painstaking work of archaeologists, you can explore and ponder what they left behind. After you´ve admired the 10,000-year-old mud-brick relics of Jericho, you might find inspiration in Jerusalem´s City of David, which dates from the time of Kings David and Solomon.

Distances are short, so you can relax on a Mediterranean beach one day, spend the next floating in the Dead Sea and the day after that scuba diving in the Red Sea.

In 2012 the Palestinian Territories were elevated to a `non-member observer state´ by the United Nations but as yet a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains only a vague hope.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

2. Israel National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Value11
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
...
19=Japan0.925
19=S. Korea0.925
21USA0.921
22Israel0.919
23=Malta0.918
23=Slovenia0.918
25Austria0.916
26UAE0.911
Asia Avg0.75
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
...
29New Zealand$44 057
30Italy$42 840
31Japan$42 274
32Israel$41 524
33Slovenia$39 746
34Bahrain$39 497
35Malta$38 884
36Czechia$38 745
Asia Avg$22 215
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12
1Norway28.6
2Denmark30.0
3Sweden30.7
...
44Romania65.8
45Lithuania65.8
46Mauritius66.0
47Israel66.5
48Argentina66.5
49Barbados70.3
50Brazil70.9
51Serbia71.1
Asia Avg87.7
World Avg86.8
q=195.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Israel's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population

Population:

Israel's population is predicted to rise to 9.816 million by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 2.91. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population is growing, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity, i.e., the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate, which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1.

Population2
Pos.2018
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
...
97Serbia8.8m
98Papua New Guinea8.6m
99Switzerland8.5m
100Israel8.4m
101Togo7.9m
102Sierra Leone7.7m
103Hong Kong7.4m
104Laos7.1m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
16Luxembourg82.6
17France82.5
18New Zealand82.5
19Israel82.3
20Finland82.0
21Ireland82.0
22Belgium81.9
23Netherlands81.7
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
13
Pos.201313
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
116Bosnia & Herzegovina1.13
117Paraguay2.87
118Hong Kong1.12
119Israel2.91
120Jordan2.93
121Honduras3.02
122Philippines3.06
123Lesotho3.08
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
Lower is better
14
Pos.2016
Per 10014
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3=Chad04.7
...
124Trinidad & Tobago21.9
125Bahamas22.4
126Costa Rica22.6
127Israel22.9
128Sri Lanka23.7
129Moldova24.7
130China25.3
131Mauritius25.9
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants15
Pos.2017
%15
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
...
17Australia28.8%
18Antigua & Barbuda28.1%
19Brunei25.3%
20Israel23.6%
21Palau23.0%
22New Zealand22.7%
23Canada21.5%
24Kazakhstan20.0%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants16
Pos.2010
%16
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
...
44Seychelles14.6%
45New Zealand14.5%
46Ukraine14.4%
47Israel14.0%
48Swaziland13.4%
49Lithuania13.2%
50Romania13.1%
51Iceland13.0%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gaza_strip #gender #gender_equality #human_rights #israel #morals #palestine #politics #prejudice #tolerance #west_bank #women

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)17
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank17
1Sweden9.0
2Norway14.5
3Denmark14.5
...
82Turkey82.4
83Russia83.0
84Dominican Rep.83.1
85Israel83.3
86Andorra84.0
87Barbados85.0
Asia Avg99.9
World Avg87.9
q=199.
Israel does relatively well in ensuring human rights and freedom, compared to many other countries. Israel does better than average in opposing gender inequality18 (amongst the lowest in Asia), LGBT equality19 (the best in Asia) and in supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms20. Israel does not succeed in everything, however. Israel does worse than average in commentary in Human Rights Watch reports21, speed of uptake of HR treaties22, supporting press freedom23 (still low for Asia), its nominal commitment to Human Rights24 and in freethought25. Critics of Israel (including journalists) faced increasing restrictions in 201726 and its blasphemy law is too vague and wide-ranging27. The Israeli government continues to enforce severe and discriminatory restrictions on Palestinians´ human rights and restricts movement in/out of the Gaza Strip26. Israel does not investigate violent abuses committed by its security forces in Palestinian areas. Unfortunately, the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza both conducted their own crackdowns on their own citizens, including making arbitrary arrests and persecuting dissenters.26

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

5. Israel's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #Israel #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #suicide #vaccines

Compared to Asia (2020)28
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank28
1Hong Kong18.3
2Maldives41.0
3Singapore42.6
...
24Myanmar (Burma)79.1
25India79.6
26Nepal80.3
27=Israel82.1
28Turkmenistan83.1
29=Tajikistan83.1
30Turkey84.5
31Jordan84.8
32Vietnam85.4
Asia Avg80.1
q=50.
Health (2020)28
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank28
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
...
51=UK81.1
51=Slovakia81.1
53Solomon Islands82.0
54=Israel82.1
54=Brazil82.1
56Cuba82.4
57Macedonia82.5
58Croatia82.9
World Avg93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives29. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau29.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean29, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa29.

For more, see:

Health:

Israel does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. Israel comes in the best 20 when it comes to its average life expectancy11. It does better than average in its suicide rate30, its adolescent birth rate18, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance31, its alcohol consumption rate32 and in its immunizations take-up33. But, things still need to improve in Israel. Israel does worse than average in its fertility rate13 and in its smoking rate34. The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the past 40 years. Life expectancy in Israel in 1990 was the tenth highest in the world, at 77.2yrs. It improved this by another +5.6yrs in the 30 years from 1990, although less than the global average of +7.9yrs.

Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
16Luxembourg82.6
17France82.5
18New Zealand82.5
19Israel82.3
20Finland82.0
21Ireland82.0
22Belgium81.9
23Netherlands81.7
Asia Avg73.48
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption
Lower is better
32
Pos.2016
Per Capita32
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
...
63Malawi3.7
64=El Salvador3.8
64=Gambia3.8
64=Israel3.8
64=UAE3.8
68N. Korea3.9
69Honduras4.0
70Jamaica4.2
Asia Avg3.9
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
13
Pos.201313
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
116Bosnia & Herzegovina1.13
117Paraguay2.87
118Hong Kong1.12
119Israel2.91
120Jordan2.93
121Honduras3.02
122Philippines3.06
123Lesotho3.08
Asia Avg2.46
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Smoking Rates
Lower is better
34
Pos.201434
1Guinea 15
2Solomon Islands 26
3Kiribati 28
...
138Philippines1 291
139Indonesia1 322
140Libya1 33335
141Israel1 346
142Argentina1 359
143Denmark1 378
144Georgia1 378
145Cuba1 392
Asia Avg1 035
World Avg 819
q=182.
Suicide Rate30
Pos.2013
Per 100k30
1Haiti0
2Grenada0
3Egypt0.1
...
23Bahrain7.5
24Albania8
25=Mexico8.5
25=Israel8.5
27Georgia8.8
28Seychelles8.9
29Cyprus9.1
30Uzbekistan9.3
Asia Avg19.50
World Avg20.93
q=91.
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance
Lower is better
31
Pos.2017
Rank31
1Sweden1
2Ireland2
3Denmark3
...
48China48
49Singapore49
50Ecuador50
51Israel51
52Slovakia52
53Bulgaria53
54Panama54
55Ukraine55
Asia Avg64.4
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better36
Pos.2016
%36
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
...
162=UK63.7
163Fiji63.8
164Canada64.1
165Israel64.3
166Bahamas64.4
167Australia64.5
168Iraq64.6
169Mexico64.9
Asia Avg44.3
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate
Lower is better
18
Pos.2015
Per 100018
1N. Korea0.5
2S. Korea1.6
3Switzerland2.9
...
28Saudi Arabia8.8
29France8.9
30Croatia9.5
31Israel9.7
32Canada9.8
33Kuwait9.8
34Portugal9.9
35Czechia9.9
Asia Avg29.9
World Avg47.9
q=185.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015
Higher is better
33
Pos.2015
Avg %33
1=Hungary99.0
1=China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
...
63Gambia95.4
64Cyprus95.3
65Switzerland95.3
66Israel95.2
67=Grenada95.2
67=Slovenia95.2
67=Macedonia95.2
70Belize95.1
Asia Avg90.5
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. Israel's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #energy #food #meat #over-exploitation #sustainability #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Asia (2023)37
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank37
1Japan33.2
2Philippines45.0
3Sri Lanka49.0
...
25Cambodia90.0
26Thailand90.4
27Syria91.0
28Israel92.0
29Turkey92.2
30Pakistan92.4
31Bhutan92.7
32Myanmar (Burma)93.3
33Kazakhstan95.4
Asia Avg88.8
q=51.
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2023)37
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank37
1Japan33.2
2Philippines45.0
3Uruguay48.0
...
114Thailand90.4
115Syria91.0
116Dominica91.7
117Israel92.0
118Turkey92.2
119Cape Verde92.3
120Pakistan92.4
121Bhutan92.7
World Avg85.7
q=188.
Israel comes 117th in the world with regard to its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is calculated from 7 data sets. Israel comes in the best 20 when it comes to its environmental performance38 (the best in Asia). It does better than average in its forested percent change 1990-201539 and in energy to GDP efficiency40. But, there's bad news too. Israel does worse than average for its score on the Green Future Index41 (still high for Asia), the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population42 and in how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 for annual meat consumption per person43 (one of the highest in Asia).

Forest Area Change 1990-2015
Higher is better
39
Pos.2015
%39
1Iceland+205.6
2Bahrain+144.4
3Uruguay+131.3
...
19UAE+31.7
20Samoa+31.5
21Moldova+28.2
22Israel+25.0
23Swaziland+24.2
24Greece+22.9
25Philippines+22.7
26Lesotho+22.5
Asia Avg+07.0
World Avg+02.8
q=184.
Environmental Performance
Higher is better
38
Pos.201838
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
...
16Italy77.0
17New Zealand76.0
18Netherlands75.5
19Israel75.0
20Japan74.7
21Australia74.1
22Greece73.6
23Taiwan72.8
Asia Avg54.5
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Energy to GDP Efficiency
Higher is better40
Pos.201440
1Hong Kong26.32
2Sri Lanka20.00
3Panama17.86
...
34=Greece11.24
34=Tunisia11.24
36Indonesia11.11
37=Israel11.11
37=Turkey11.11
39Azerbaijan10.87
40Netherlands10.75
41Mexico10.64
Asia Avg09.14
World Avg09.29
q=119.
Convention on Biological Diversity
Earlier is better
Pos.0
Signed
1=China1993 Dec 29
1=Guinea1993 Dec 29
1=Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
...
120Uzbekistan1995 Oct 17
121Niger1995 Oct 23
122Honduras1995 Oct 29
123Israel1995 Nov 05
124Algeria1995 Nov 12
125Morocco1995 Nov 19
126=Bhutan1995 Nov 23
126=Mozambique1995 Nov 23
Asia Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.
Rational Beliefs on the Environment
Higher is better42
Pos.2011
%42
1Argentina78.3%
2Greece77.6%
3Brazil77.1%
...
97Senegal29.6%
98Comoros28.3%
99Ireland27.9%
100Israel27.6%
101Palestine27.5%
102Saudi Arabia27.2%
103Belgium26.9%
104Syria26.6%
Asia Avg37.9%
World Avg39.9%
q=145.
Meat Consumption
Lower is better
43
Pos.2021
kg43
1Congo, DR03.0
2Burundi03.5
3Bangladesh04.3
...
174Brazil98.8
175Spain100.3
176Samoa106.2
177Israel107.7
178St Vincent & Grenadines109.5
179Australia110.2
180Bahamas111.9
181Argentina115.5
Asia Avg46.7
World Avg52.5
q=185.

In the 2010s, Israel's meat consumption per person was the 6th-highest in the world, putting unnecessary strain on water supplies and the environment.43

Green Future Index
Higher is better41
Pos.2023
Score41
1Iceland6.7
2Finland6.7
3Norway6.4
...
40=Kenya4.7
41New Zealand4.6
42=Philippines4.6
42=Israel4.6
42=Australia4.6
45Taiwan4.5
46=Mexico4.5
47Ukraine4.4
Asia Avg4.3
World Avg4.8
q=76.

7. Israel's Modernity and Learning

#education #english #intelligence #it_security #maths #modernity #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation #technology #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2020)44
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank44
1Taiwan10.0
2Japan21.9
3=S. Korea24.0
4Singapore27.9
5Israel32.2
6Hong Kong32.6
7Russia40.6
8Turkey50.1
9Malaysia50.2
10Macau50.8
11Cyprus54.0
12UAE56.0
13Saudi Arabia60.4
Asia Avg79.0
q=51.
Modernity & Learning (2020)44
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank44
1Finland8.4
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland15.1
...
26Latvia28.2
27France28.8
28USA29.3
29Israel32.2
30Hong Kong32.6
31Poland34.6
32Lithuania35.0
33Spain37.1
World Avg83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Research & Development
Higher is better
Pos.2016
% RDP PPP
1S. Korea4.2945
2Israel4.1145
3Japan3.5845
4Finland3.1745
5Sweden3.1645
6Denmark3.0545
7Taiwan3.0145
8Austria3.0046
9Switzerland2.9647
10Germany2.8445
11USA2.7448
12Belgium2.4645
Asia Avg0.75
World Avg0.84
q=126.
Secondary Education
Higher is better
49
Pos.201849
1=Luxembourg100.0%
1=Estonia100.0%
1=Austria100.0%
...
41Botswana90.0%
42Serbia89.5%
43Denmark89.3%
44Israel89.1%
45Sweden88.9%
46Mongolia88.8%
47Bahamas88.4%
48Ireland88.3%
Asia Avg66.0%
World Avg63.0%
q=169.
Length of Schooling
Higher is better
50
Pos.2021
Years50
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
...
33Czechia16.2
34Latvia16.2
35Saudi Arabia16.1
36Israel16.1
37Tonga16.0
38Poland16.0
39Austria16.0
40Estonia15.9
Asia Avg13.5
World Avg13.5
q=193.
Intellectual Endeavours
Lower is better
31
Pos.2017
Rank31
1Ukraine1
2Czechia2
3Hungary3
...
31Cyprus31
32Ireland32
33Croatia33
34Israel34
35Barbados35
36Estonia36
37Luxembourg37
38USA38
Asia Avg97.1
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Maths, Science & Reading
Higher is better
51
Pos.2015
Score51
1Singapore1655
2Hong Kong1598
3Japan1586
...
36Croatia1426
37Lithuania1425
38Hungary1424
39Israel1416
40Argentina140652
41Malta1391
42Slovakia1389
43Greece1376
Asia Avg1398
World Avg1389
q=70.
Religiosity
Lower is better
53
Pos.2018
%53
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
...
34=Uruguay29
35Poland30
36Serbia34
37=Israel36
37=Portugal36
39Azerbaijan38
40Chile41
41=Croatia42
Asia Avg55.8
World Avg54.3
q=106.
IQ
Higher is better54
Pos.200654
1=Hong Kong108
1=Singapore108
3S. Korea106
...
37=Slovenia96
37=Slovakia96
39Portugal95
40=Israel95
41Kazakhstan94
42=Vietnam94
42=Armenia94
42=Romania94
Asia Avg90.4
World Avg85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users
Higher is better
55
Pos.201655
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
...
46=Hong Kong74%
46=Cayman Islands74%
48Macau73%
49=Israel73%
49=Guam73%
51Poland72%
52Brunei72%
53Slovenia72%
Asia Avg48.7%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
IT Security
Lower is better
56
Pos.201356
1=Ireland0.11
1=Luxembourg0.11
1=Belize0.11
4Hong Kong0.12
5Mexico0.16
6Israel0.20
7Colombia0.22
8=S. Africa0.22
8=Japan0.22
10Philippines0.24
11Czechia0.24
12Argentina0.27
Asia Avg1.08
World Avg0.98
IPv6 Uptake
Higher is better
57
Pos.2017
Ratio57
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
...
40Bosnia & Herzegovina3.1
41Sri Lanka2.9
42Latvia2.2
43Israel1.8
44Italy1.7
45Argentina1.4
46Faroe Islands1.4
47Russia1.3
Asia Avg2.11
World Avg3.82
q=176.

8. National Culture

#charity #corruption #happiness #morals #politics

Israel has a good long-term record on keeping corruption low.

World Giving Index
Higher is better
58
Pos.2022
%58
1Indonesia68.0
2Kenya61.0
3USA59.0
...
80=Iraq37.0
80=Croatia37.0
80=Moldova37.0
80=Israel37.0
80=Mauritius37.0
80=Lithuania37.0
86Panama36.0
87=El Salvador36.0
Asia Avg37.9
World Avg39.6
q=125.
Corruption
Higher is better
59
Pos.2022
Points59
1Denmark90.0
2=Finland87.0
2=New Zealand87.0
...
29Barbados65.0
30Bahamas64.0
31=S. Korea63.0
31=Israel63.0
33Lithuania62.0
34=Portugal62.0
35Cape Verde60.0
36=Spain60.0
Asia Avg39.98
World Avg42.98
q=180.
Happiness
Higher is better
60
Pos.2018
Score60
1Finland7.6
2Norway7.6
3Denmark7.6
...
8New Zealand7.3
9Sweden7.3
10Australia7.3
11Israel7.2
12Austria7.1
13Costa Rica7.1
14Ireland7.0
15Germany7.0
Asia Avg5.29
World Avg5.38
q=156.
Creativity & Culture
Lower is better
31
Pos.2017
Rank31
1Belgium1
2Netherlands2
3Estonia3
...
60Samoa60
61Montenegro61
62Ukraine62
63Israel63
64Mexico64
65S. Africa65
66Lebanon66
67USA67
Asia Avg99.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Open Trading, Aid & Development
Lower is better
31
Pos.2017
Rank31
1Ireland1
2Denmark2
3Sweden3
...
96Peru96
97Libya97
98Czechia98
99Israel99
100Argentina100
101Seychelles101
102Australia102
103Madagascar103
Asia Avg86.3
World Avg82.0
q=163.

9. Peace Versus Instability

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index
Lower is better
61
Pos.2023
Score61
1Iceland1.12
2Denmark1.31
3Ireland1.31
...
140=Colombia2.69
140=Venezuela2.69
142Chad2.70
143Israel2.71
144Nigeria2.71
145Myanmar (Burma)2.74
146Pakistan2.75
147=Iran2.80
Asia Avg2.17
World Avg2.07
q=163.
Peacekeeping & Security
Lower is better
31
Pos.2017
Rank31
1Samoa1
2S. Africa2
3Tunisia3
...
120Ivory Coast120
121Kyrgyzstan121
122Guinea122
123Israel123
124Malta124
125Burundi125
126Barbados126
127Chad127
Asia Avg76.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Refugees & UN Treaties
Lower is better
31
Pos.2017
Rank31
1Austria1
2Germany2
3Netherlands3
...
81Kuwait81
82Paraguay82
83Sierra Leone83
84Israel84
85Tanzania85
86Jamaica86
87Nicaragua87
88Niger88
Asia Avg92.2
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Impact of Terrorism
Lower is better
62
Pos.2019
Score62
1Togo0.00
2Mongolia0.00
3Swaziland0.00
...
108Lebanon4.40
109China4.47
110S. Africa4.51
111Israel4.53
112Iran4.72
113Chad4.76
114Russia4.90
115France5.01
Asia Avg3.60
World Avg2.78
q=150.

10. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy
Lower is better63
Pos.201963
1Iceland2.40
2=Singapore2.50
2=Hong Kong2.50
...
11Spain3.00
12Netherlands3.10
13=Italy3.10
14Israel3.30
15=Luxembourg3.40
15=Ireland3.40
17Portugal3.50
18=Greece3.50
Asia Avg11.80
World Avg14.59
q=184.
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient)
Lower is better64
Pos.2017
%64
1Ukraine25.0
2=Belarus25.4
2=Slovenia25.4
...
89Burundi38.6
90=China38.6
91Samoa38.7
92Israel38.9
93=Tuvalu39.1
93=Ethiopia39.1
95Morocco39.5
96=Uruguay39.5
Asia Avg35.2
World Avg38.1
q=152.

11. Religion and Beliefs

#belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #islam #israel #judaism #religion #religiosity #secularisation

Religiosity (2018)53
Pos.Lower is better
%53
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
...
34=Uruguay29
35Poland30
36Serbia34
37=Israel36
37=Portugal36
39Azerbaijan38
40Chile41
41=Croatia42
41=Moldova42
43Argentina43
44Mexico45
45Kyrgyzstan47
46Kosovo48
47=Tajikistan50
47=Romania50
49Georgia51
World Avg54.3
q=106.
Disbelief In God (2007)65
Pos.Higher is better
%65
1Vietnam81
2Japan65
3Sweden64
...
31=Greece16
31=Iceland16
33Spain15
34=Israel15
35Armenia14
36=Lithuania13
36=Singapore13
38Kazakhstan12
39=China12
39=Uruguay12
41USA10
42Trinidad & Tobago9
43Albania8
44=Dominican Rep.7
44=Croatia7
44=Kyrgyzstan7
World Avg9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below66:

Christian2%
Muslim18.6%
Hindu0.1%
Buddhist0.3%
Folk Religion0.2%
Jewish75.6%
Unaffiliated3.1%

By adding up the Pew Forum data for the major monotheistic religions we can see that these make up 96.2% of the population. Yet there are simply too many who disbelieve in God for this to be true (15%). This is due to the so-called 'Census Effect', whereby many put down a religion for cultural reasons rather than because it reflects their beliefs. In highly Christian countries, as many as half of those who say they're a Christian lack any connection to a Church, and do not hold Christian beliefs (such as believing in God!).

It appears that when asked "What religion are you" many give pollsters the 'correct' answer despite how they actually feel, and despite what they actually believe. Although 96.8% of the populace say they belong to a religion, only 36% say that they are religious when the question is phrased as "Is religion an important part of your daily life?".

For more on this phenomenon, see:

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Jewish 75.6%, Muslim 16.9%, Christian 2%, Druze 1.7%, other 3.8% (2008)67.

Freedom of Religion and Belief: Israel upholds the human rights of freedom of belief and freedom of religion, however, "governmental and legal discrimination" exists against those who do not belong to orthodox Judaism, "for example practicing Jews who are not Orthodox must leave the country to marry"27. Israel's blasphemy law (Article 173) is too vague and wide-ranging27.

Links:

12. Divisions: Arabs Versus Jews68

#gaza_strip #israel #judaism #palestine #USA

Conflicts between Arabs and Jews in Israel and Palestine are one of the world's worst causes of violence and sectarianism, stemming from the creation of Israel after World War 2. There have been many attempts to normalize relations, but so far all have failed.

The fact that the Arabs rejected the UN's partition plan of 60 years ago has long given ideological comfort to Israel and its supporters. Abba Eban, an Israeli foreign minister, quipped that the Palestinians 'never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity'. Israel's story is that the Arabs have missed at least four chances to have a Palestinian state. They could have said yes to partition in 1947. They could have made peace after the war of 1947-48.They had another chance after Israel routed its neighbours in 1967 ('We are just waiting for a telephone call,' said Moshoe Dayan [...]). They had yet another in 2000 when Ehud Barak, now Israel's defence minister and then its prime minister, offered the Palestinians a state at Bill Clinton's fateful summit at Camp David. [...]

This is the Israel side of the argument - that the Palestinians have rejected all chances at peace, which Israel keeps offering. The other side is that when Israel's population was 600,000 Jews of Palestine, and the Arabs of Palestine almost twice that, an offer of partition didn't seem fair. In the late 1970s and 1980s, Israel wanted all of the West Bank, and 'Israeli prime ministers such as Menachem Begin and Yitzhak Shamir asserted a God-given right to a 'greater Israel' that included the West Bank and Gaza Strip [...].

If rejection of the other side's national claims is one of the things that make this conflict so hard to end, the other is religion. The two are tied together. Hamas is a religious movement, and its formal creed is to reject the possibility of Jewish statehood not only because of Israel's alleged sins but also because there is no place for a Jewish state in a Muslim land.

The Economist (2009)

Discussion of the Jerusalem issue continued in the Iraeli-Palestinian talks held in the United States under American auspices in late 2000. In his last meeting with the negotiators from both sides, on 26 December, President Clinton proposed the 'general principal' that .

"Israel & Palestine" by Bernard Wasserstein (2003)69

Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak offered the Palestinians their own state in 2000 at Camp David in a prolonged meeting with leaders of both sides (which they rejected, again), orchestrated by American president Bill Clinton70. He himself also proposed that in Jerusalem 'Arab areas are Palestinian and Jewish ones are Israeli', 69. It may seem wise on the surface, but, the ramifications and symbolism is dark. The president of the USA, the "leader of the free world" is recommending a solution that divides up a city into respective parts based on the religion of most of the inhabitants of each part. The best improvements in the human condition across the world have occurred when we stop dividing people up according to their beliefs. When faiths intermingle, it is hard to maintain hatred.