Israel is a very small nation. It is only 83 miles wide and 265 miles long. In this small area of land, one can find snow, desert, mountains, lakes, rivers and beaches. Besides the beautiful nature in Israel, the infrastructure is very modern and advanced.

There are tall residential and commercial buildings — once, I overheard a visitor say, as they glanced at Israel’s emerging city, Ramat Gan, “It’s just like Manhattan, only smaller.” The roads are straight, smooth and clean with convenient sidewalks for pedestrians and bicycle riders.

The advanced technology and infrastructure is one of the many reasons why Israel is sometimes considered a Western nation, despite its geographical location in the Middle East.

A “Western” nation is defined, for the political part of the world, as modern, highly advanced and free. An “Eastern” nation, however, is seen as the opposite. This implies that this is a black and white issue, but it is not. There are many gray spots in the middle that are as important.

Israel continues to be viewed as more of a Western nation because of economic growth and stability. Israel has a strong, modern and diverse economy that has been unexpectedly successful due to its political and military issues. The economy has been rising since Israel’s independence in 1948 and has made Israel a stable nation.

Many would also be surprised to hear that Israel is a very safe place. During the 14 years I lived there, I never had to worry about being physically abused or mugged. Yes, there is arguably a higher risk of being bombed than in some Western nations, but in reality, there are more chances of being run over by a car. And in the case of a car accident, Israel has the best medical care available to save lives. This sort of security is very rare, even in many Western nations.     

The economic growth has kept equality between social classes. To find people of different classes in one public area is rare in some Eastern nations — however, it is acceptable in Israel. This shows that respect overcomes money, and people aren’t judged according to their class. This equality is one of the most important issues often stressed in Western nations.

Israel, however, is neither a “Western” or “Eastern” nation. These terms are just part of political and economical language that mean nothing when you consider the elements of Israel that actually define it — the warmth and hospitality by the Israeli people, great weather, delicious fruits and historical sites.

Israel’s political issues are always featured on any news channel or newspaper. But those issues shouldn’t be used to judge or overlook Israel’s other qualities. I am very glad that I was brought up in Israel in the middle of many crises. It has helped me to look at every situation from all angles. It has made me the person I am today.

When we look at a country through non-economical, non-political eyes, we don’t look at economic stability, security or infrastructure. We look at the beauty of the nature, the special culture, the delicious food and new people. It is better to define a country with these details rather than just categorizing it in two very vague groups of “Eastern” and “Western.”

Pooja Shah is a freshman exploratory major. E-mail her at pshah1@ithaca.edu.