Despite its relatively small size and the constant threats it encounters, Israel is a world-class power, an international survey shows.
By: United with Israel Staff
Israel was ranked the eighth most powerful country in the world, ahead of powerhouses such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Canada and Singapore.
The Best Countries rankings, published by US News and World Report, ranks nations based on a survey that asked more than 21,000 people from four regions to associate 80 countries with specific characteristics.
The countries’ power is ranked based on their alliances, influence and leadership.
“Despite its strained relationship with many of its neighbors and its population of only eight million, Israel has a large presence on the global stage, thanks in part to its close relationship with the US. Despite the Palestinian conflict, the country has a strong economy,” the survey says.
Furthermore, “Israel has a technologically advanced market economy with cut diamonds, high-technology equipment and pharmaceuticals among its major exports. The country is highly developed in terms of life expectancy, education, per capita income and other human development index indicators.”
The US, Russia, China, Germany and the UK ranked as the top five. After Israel came Saudi Arabia, the UAE and South Korea.
When all factors and parameters of the survey are taken into consideration, Israel ranks 30th in the world.
Yonatan Urich, an adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, tweeted: “An amazing figure. Prime Minister Netanyahu is turning Israel into a rising world power.”