(Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
Street party

Israel is the only democratic country in the Middle East, where one could actually say, “Hey, it’s a free country.”

Israel is the only Middle Eastern country to rate as “free,” according to Freedom House, a top US-based pro-democracy NGO, The Israel Project (TIP) points out on its website.

“Israel is an anomaly in its region, with many of its neighbors receiving negative ratings,” TIP explains.

“Freedom House cited the Israeli government’s commitment to fundamental rights, including freedom of expression and the protection provided to a wide range of civil society organizations. Ranking as ‘free’ under Freedom House’s criteria requires an environment of ‘open political competition, a climate of respect for civil liberties, significant independent civic life, and independent media.’”

Israel’s minority citizens live with freedoms and rights unavailable in any other country in the Middle East thanks to the Jewish state’s liberal democratic values.

They serve in the Israel Defense Forces, in the Knesset, in the Supreme Court, as medical department heads in Israeli hospitals, as researchers, as soccer stars, as television celebrities, as professors, and in any other field. Indeed, Israel’s minorities contribute to every aspect of Israeli life as full and equal members of society.

So in Israel, one could actually say, “Hey, it’s a free country!”

By: United with Israel Staff