No place on earth has caused greater worldwide passion and controversy than Israel. This sliver of land at the eastern end of the Mediterranean stands out in the Middle East because, unlike its neighbors, it is democratic and largely middle class culture determined to maintain itself as a Jewish state. These distinctions, as well as its central role in the religious history of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, have been at the heart of the conflicts, which continue to impact the region and the world.
No place on earth has caused greater worldwide passion and controversy than Israel. This sliver of land at the eastern end of the Mediterranean stands out in the Middle East because, unlike its neighbors, it is democratic and largely middle class culture determined to maintain itself as a Jewish state. These distinctions, as well as its central role in the religious history of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, have been at the heart of the conflicts, which continue to impact the region and the world.