The IDF versus other regional armies

Israel is no regional Goliath. It is a democracy of 6 million citizens, surrounded by 22 Arab dictatorships (plus Iran) that cover a population of 360 million Arabs and Iranians. Israel’s population constitutes 1.6% of the entire Middle East population. Israel’s territory covers 0.1% of the Middle East.

According to the Jaffe Center for Strategic Studies, as of May 2004, there are about 600,000 Israeli soldiers (including reserves) for over 5 million Arab soldiers, 3,700 Israeli tanks for 15,000 Arab tanks, and 550 Israeli combat aircrafts for 2465 Arab combat aircrafts.