State of Israel Profile

Frida Silva, State of Israel

Historical Background: declared a state in 1948 after Britain withdrew from its mandate of Palestine. Admitted as member of the UN in 1949 and saw rapid population growth. Israel fought wars against its Arab neighbors in 1967 and 1973 followed by peace treaties with Egypt in 1979 Jordan in 1994.Israel and Palestinian officials signed several interim agreements in the 1990s that created an interim period of Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank and Gaza Strip which Israel occupied in 1967.

Political System: Parliamentary Democracy

Economic System:

– Technologically advanced free market economy
– Income inequality and high housing and commodity prices
– Will face structural issues including low labor participation rates for its fastest growing

social segments

Economic Standing:

– GDP – per capita $36,300 (2017 est.)
– GDP (purchasing power parity) – 316.5 billion (2017 est.) – Israel Defense Forces (IDF)
– Israel Naval Force (IN)
– Israel Air Force (IAF)
– Ranked 7th in the world for Military expenditures

Foreign Military Bases:

– Azerbaijan – Eritrea
– Syria

Geographic Location and Features:

– Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon

Political Culture:

– Israeli law influenced by Jewish Laws and practices

– Preference to Judaism

Internal Strengths:

– Well-developed education system
– Technologically advanced market economy

o Cut diamonds, high-technology equipment, pharmaceuticalsInternal Weaknesses:

– Laws preference Judaism
– No clear separation of religion and government
– Income inequality and high housing and commodity prices concerns with Israelis – Income inequality and poverty among the highest of OECD countries
– Tycoons have a cartel-like grip over major parts of the economy

Internal Objectives and Capabilities:

– Technologically advanced Military in the world – Nuclear Capabilities

Key Institutional Memberships:

– European Union
– European Neighborhood Policy
– Union for the Mediterranean
– Euro- Mediterranean Partnership – United Nations

Policy Promotion:

– F-35 Purchase for Military strategy

Policy Detraction:
Allies: US, Mexico, Canada, Egypt, Jordan, India, South Africa, Myanmar, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Nepal, Singapore, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Ukraine, AustraliaAdversaries:

1. Iran,

2. Morocco,
3. Tunisia,
4. Afghanistan,
5. Pakistan
6. Bangladesh
7. North Korea,
8. Ireland,
9. Russia,
10. Sweden

Foreign Policy Objectives:

– Scrap Iran Nuclear Program
– Better US Relations
– Battles against counter terrorism, ISIS – Peace with Palestine
–

Capabilities:

– Timber, Potash, Copper ore, natural gas, phosphate rock, magnesium bromide, clays, sand

Obstacles:

– Limited arable land and restricted natural freshwater resources, desertification, air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions, groundwater pollution from industrial and domestic waste, chem