While sirens wail in Israel, reservists are torn from everyday life, and the country repeatedly has to live with terror and war, something is happening that doesn’t seem to fit the picture: Israelis have one of the highest life expectancies in the world. According to the latest OECD data, Israel now stands at 83.8 years, placing it fourth among all member states – only Japan, Switzerland, and Spain rank higher. Germany reaches 81.1 years, the United States a mere 77.5.

These figures are remarkable, but they are all the more surprising when you see how little Israel invests in comparison. While Germany spends over 12 percent of its GDP on health, Israel spends only 7.6 percent. Yet on average, Israelis live almost three years longer than Germans. How can a country under constant threat, with limited resources, a chronic shortage of doctors, and overcrowded hospitals rank so high?

The healthcare system

Part of the answer lies in the structure of the Israeli healthcare system. Since the National Health Insurance Law of 1995, every resident – regardless of income, origin,...

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