ISRAEL - 4th Happiest People in the World
Israelis are the happiest they’ve been in over a decade, the World Happiness rankings revealed, though the findings predated the widespread social upheaval over the government’s judicial overhaul program and therefore could not take it into account.
Israel’s 2023 fourth-place ranking, up from ninth last year, is its highest position since the UN-sponsored index began publication in 2012.
The list crowned Finland as the world’s happiest country for the sixth year running, with Afghanistan again the unhappiest, closely succeeded by Lebanon.
The World Happiness Report, now in its 11th year, is based on residents of 137 countries’ own assessment of their situation, as well as economic and social data.
Anat Fanti, a social science researcher at Bar Ilan University, said that if the survey had been conducted after the judicial overhaul was revealed, “its results would be different and Israel’s ranking would have been harmed.”
Anat Fanti told the Ynet news outlet that the ranking could be explained by a strong economic recovery following the coronavirus pandemic, as well as “the level of hope and optimism among some populations as a result of the broad unity government” led by former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, though that government was despised by many in the right wing.
-www.timesofisrael.com, 20 March 2023
Arno's Commentary
This survey seems to stand diametrically opposed to the news media reports about present day Israel. However, it does not determine individual contentment and happiness.
This report reveals an important issue for Christians who, like the waves of the sea, are being blown back and forth in their opinion, all based on prevailing news sources, which do not and cannot reveal the full picture of people residing in certain countries.
Of course, for Israel this is a great benefit because it is the home of the Jewish people. Positive results are a good sign for those who are still residing in the Diaspora to return to the land of their ancient forefathers.
Another statistic to emphasize is life expectancy, revealing the health of the nation’s population. According to Worldometers.info, some of the top countries are:
• Japan 85.0 years (along with Hong Kong, leads the world)
• Israel 83.5 years
• Norway 82.9 years
• Finland 82.5 years
• Denmark 81.4 years
Yet we must point out that all life expectancy comes to an end, for the Bible declares: “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
Arno Froese is the executive director of Midnight Call Ministries and editor-in-chief of the acclaimed prophetic magazines Midnight Call and News From Israel. He has authored a number of well-received books, and has sponsored many prophecy conferences in the U.S., Canada, and Israel. His extensive travels have contributed to his keen insight into Bible prophecy, as he sees it from an international perspective.
