ABSTRACT
Only one-tenth of Israel’s population is rural, making it one of the most urbanized and industrialized nations in the region. It is also the most militarized, owing to continued hostility from its more populous Arab neighbors. All Jewish citizens are required to serve in the armed forces for several years; once their service is over, they enter the reserves and continue to undergo annual training until well into middle age. Thanks to its military, one of the best trained and best equipped in the world, Israel has survived more than a half-dozen major wars and lesser conflicts since its independence in 1948.
