Israel's passport climbs to record high in Henley Passport Index despite conflicts

Israel's passport has achieved its highest-ever ranking, 18th globally, in the latest Henley Passport Index, despite the country's low ranking (159th) in the Global Peace Index. This marks the 20th anniversary of the Henley Passport Index, which assesses global mobility based on visa-free access. Daniel Shmeylin, director of Henley & Partners' Israeli office, stated that "the strength of a passport is not measured solely by the level of peace in a country." The report indicates that factors like diplomacy, geopolitical influence, and economic strength can elevate a passport's standing even amid instability, with Israel and the US being prime examples of this trend. Global peace has declined for the 12th consecutive year, with conflicts at their highest level since World War II.