Israel, a small country in the Middle East, with its amazing achievements, not only has advanced technology, an innovative business environment and a prosperous economy, but also plays an important role in international affairs with its military power and geopolitical role.

However, it is unbelievable that a country with a land area of ​​only over 20,000 square kilometers can achieve such brilliant achievements.

Geographical conditions of IsraelAs a small country located in the Middle East, Israel has a relatively small area and relatively special geographical conditions that can limit the development of this country.

Israel has a very small area, over 20,000 km2,However, Israel is known as the “Silicon Valley” of the world in the field of agriculture and water technology. With only 2.5% of the population working in agriculture, Israel exports about 3 billion USD worth of agricultural products each year, making it one of the world’s leading exporters. Few people know that fruit and vegetable products from the Arava – one of the driest places in the world – account for over 60% of Israel’s total vegetable exports and 10% of its total flower exports.

In its 2022 World Happiness Report (WHR), the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network ranked Israel as the 9th happiest country in the world. Photo: National Geographic

Israel is located on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, bordered by Lebanon to the north, Syria to the northeast, Jordan to the southeast, and Egypt to the south. Although Israel has a Mediterranean coastline, much of its territory, especially its interior, is a vast desert.

This leaves Israel facing severe water shortages, with little annual rainfall, most of which falls in the winter. These unfavorable geographical conditions have limited Israel’s agricultural development, causing agricultural production to fall short of domestic demand and forcing it to rely on imports.

Israel’s geographical location also poses a security threat to itself. Israel is located at the crossroads of the Middle East, and the surrounding countries are politically unstable and frequently in conflict. This requires Israel to invest a lot of resources to maintain national security, such as building up its military and purchasing weapons and equipment. This significantly weakens Israel’s ability to invest in other areas.

In addition, due to border disputes and unstable relations with neighboring countries, Israel has been subject to economic blockades and sanctions from neighboring countries, which limits economic exchanges and cooperation with other countries.

The country’s Mediterranean coast is prone to natural hazards such as earthquakes and tsunamis, creating additional risks and instability for people living in the area. This also requires the Israeli government to invest more resources in disaster response and prevention, and further limits Israel’s development in other areas.

How can Israel overcome geographical limitations?Israel, a small country in the Middle East, faces geographical limitations. However, through continuous technological innovation, Israel has overcome these limitations and achieved incredible development.