Original sentence: According to Freedom House, Israel is the oldest and only liberal democracy in the Middle East, consisting of legislative, executive and judicial branches.In 2005 Reporters Without Borders ranked it 47th out of 167 countries in freedom of the press (just behind the United States at 44th), the highest of any country in the Middle East.Its citizens enjoy political rights and civil liberties that are comparable to that of the United States and the West
Edited sentence: According to Freedom House, Israel is the oldest and remains the only liberal democracy in the Middle East, consisting of legislative, executive and judicial branches.In 2005 Reporters Without Borders ranked it 47th out of 167 countries in freedom of the press (just behind the United States at 44th), the highest of any country in the Middle East, and the only one in the region considered to be a "good situation" in terms of news and press.Its citizens are the only ones in the Middle East whose political rights and civil liberties are comparable to the that of the United States and the West