The emergence of Israel as a small but significant player on the world stage is one of the remarkable developments at the end of the post-Cold War era. The slow economic growth of the United States (2.5 percent/ capita) and Europe (1.5% GDP/capita) has shown the weakness of the status quo powers. The American semi-withdrawal from the Middle East and the British withdrawal from the European Union have opened the door to new powers.

The chaos in the Middle East and the rise of revisionist authoritarian states such as Russia, China and Iran and democratic states like India raise the possibility of a new world order. This would be partly dominated by hardline conservative nationalism, charismatic leadership, slow economic growth and hostility to the old globalist order.

With eight million people Israel can only play on the fringes of a new global order, but it has a flourishing economy of $300 billion and nearly $40,000 GDP/ capita. Its democratic, liberal politics and growing economy make it able to play both sides of the street.

Its military was rated by the Institute for the Study of War as “pilot to pilot and airframe to airframe” having “the best air force in the world” and the best army in the Middle East. Israel’s extensive work on air defenses (Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Arrow 2 and soon Arrow 3), carried out with the United States, makes it a serious military power. Its alleged nuclear arsenal puts it in a rarified club of nine states in the world. Its intelligence capabilities are formidable.

Read the full article at the Jerusalem Post.