Is Israel the oldest country in the Middle East?

Answer 1

NO. The Modern State of Israel gained independence in 1948, but nearly half of the Middle East has older dates of independence. The Sultanate of Oman was founded in 1744, Egypt gained independence in 1922, Saudi Arabia was established and Iraq gained independence in 1932, Lebanon and Syria both declared independence in 1943, and the Kingdom of Jordan declared independence in 1946. Conversely, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates did not become independent until the 1970s and the current Iranian government tracks to the Islamic Revolution of 1979.

If the question is asking about the original Israelite Kingdoms, there are many older civilizations in Phoenicia, ancient Egypt, and Mesopotamia as well. Ancient Egypt and Sumeria were founded over 2000 years prior to the Israelite Kingdoms.