>>Mike, I don't see what there is to debate. Israel is on the Asian continent and therefore is an Asian country. But because we name the entire region as Middle East, which is not a continent, people have problems in recognizing this as Asia.
>>
>>BTW, Indonesia is at the Asian continent.
>>
>>http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-continent-map.htm
>
>We don't need to bat it back and forth forever. I just think the Middle East is distinct from both Europe and Asia, even if it isn't the name of a continent. It's not really important so over and out from me on the subject.

It may become important. You are dividing the Asians into true Asians and the false Asians, those of the Middle East (which we call Near East). You're depriving the whole region of their asianship. They may object to that, and come to politically rectify you :).