Israel
Country Guide

Explore Israel

Israel with its capital Jerusalem is located in Asia (Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea). It covers some 20,771 square kilometers (slightly larger than New Jersey) with 8,299,710 citizens. Hebrew, Arabic and English are the common languages used in Israel (consider regional differences). Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestinian Territory and Syria are bordering countries.

Israel is a small yet diverse Middle Eastern country with a long coastline on the eastern Mediterranean Sea and a small window on the Red Sea at the Gulf of Eilat (Aqaba). Israel possesses a number of diverse regions, with landscapes varying between coast, mountain, valley and desert landscapes, with just about everything in between. Beyond the towns and cities, each region of Israel holds its own unique attractions. In getting around Israel, be aware of the Sabbath: from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown, train and bus services are not available in Israel (except in Haifa, Nazareth and Eilat, and limited sherut services - shared taxis, see below).

Popular Destinations in Israel

Administrative regions of Israel

• Central District
• Haifa District
• Jerusalem
• Northern District
• Southern District
• Tel Aviv

About the country

The topography is Negev desert in the south with low coastal plain, central mountains as well as Jordan Rift Valley. The average density of population is about 400 per km². The climate in Israel can be described as temperate with hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas. Potential natural disasters are droughts, periodic earthquakes and sandstorms may occur during spring and summer.

To reach someone Israel dial +972 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".il". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 230 V - 50 Hz (plugs: C, H). The sign for the locally used currency Shekel is ILS.

White with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as the Magen David (Star of David or Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag; the basic design resembles a traditional Jewish prayer shawl (tallit), which is white with blue stripes; the hexagram as a Jewish symbol dates back to medieval times.

Following World War II, Britain withdrew from its mandate of Palestine, and the UN proposed partitioning the area into Arab and Jewish states, an arrangement rejected by the Arabs. Nonetheless, an Israeli state was declared in 1948, and Israel subsequently defeated the Arab armies in a series of wars that did not end deep tensions between the two sides. (The territories Israel has occupied since the 1967 war are not included in the Israel country profile, unless otherwise noted.) On 25 April 1982, Israel withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula pursuant to the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty. In keeping with the framework established at the Madrid Conference in October 1991, Israel conducted bilateral negotiations with Palestinian representatives and Syria to achieve a permanent settlement with each. Israel and Palestinian officials on 13 September 1993 signed a Declaration of Principles (also known as the "Oslo Accords"), enshrining the idea of a two-state solution to their conflict and guiding an interim period of Palestinian self-rule. The parties achieved six additional significant interim agreements between 1994 and 1999 aimed at creating the conditions for a two-state solution, but most were never fully realized. Outstanding territorial and other disputes with Jordan were resolved in the 26 October 1994 Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty. Progress toward a final status agreement with the Palestinians was undermined by Israeli-Palestinian violence between 2001 and February 2005. Israel in 2005 unilaterally disengaged from the Gaza Strip, evacuating settlers and its military while retaining control over most points of entry into the Gaza Strip. The election of HAMAS to head the Palestinian Legislative Council in 2006 temporarily froze relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA). Israel engaged in a 34-day conflict with Hizballah in Lebanon from July-August 2006 and a 23-day conflict with HAMAS in the Gaza Strip from December 2008-January 2009. In November 2012, Israel engaged in a seven-day conflict with HAMAS in the Gaza Strip. Direct talks with the Palestinians most recently launched in July 2013 but were suspended in April 2014. The talks represented the fourth concerted effort to resolve final status issues between the sides since they were first discussed at Camp David in 2000. Three months later HAMAS and other militant groups launched rockets into Israel, which led to a 51-day conflict between Israel and militants in Gaza.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 154)	20,770	sq km
Land (World Rank: 152)	20,330	sq km
Water (World Rank: 122)	440	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 146)	6.30	%
Comparative	slightly larger than New Jersey
Coastline
273
Landborder
1068
Elevation
Lowest point (World Rank: 75)	-431	m
Highest point (World Rank: 156)	1,208	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 149)	23.80	%
Arable (World Rank: 86)	13.70	%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 68)	3.80	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 146)	6.30	%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 75)	2,250	sq km
Map reference
Middle East
Environment
Issues	- air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions - and pesticides - chemical fertilizers - desertification - groundwater pollution from industrial and domestic waste - limited arable land and restricted natural freshwater resources
Agreement party	- Biodiversity - Climate Change - Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol - Desertification - Endangered Species - Hazardous Wastes - Ozone Layer Protection - Ship Pollution - Wetlands - Whaling
Agreement signed	Marine Life Conservation
Hazzards	- droughts - periodic earthquakes - sandstorms may occur during spring and summer
Location
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon
Climate
temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
Terrain
Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains; Jordan Rift Valley

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People

Population
Total (World Rank: 97)	8,299,710
Deathrate (World Rank: 186)	0.52	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 97)	1.81	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 75)	1.51	%
Migration rate (World Rank: 41)	0.22	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 70)	2.64	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 118)	29.30
Female (World Rank: 112)	30.60
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 93)	1,168,350
0 14 female (World Rank: 93)	1,114,900
15 24 male (World Rank: 94)	658,572
15 24 female (World Rank: 95)	630,675
25 54 male (World Rank: 99)	1,577,190
25 54 female (World Rank: 100)	1,507,790
55 64 male (World Rank: 85)	344,922
55 64 female (World Rank: 85)	357,301
65 x male (World Rank: 71)	421,660
65 x female (World Rank: 69)	518,343
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 200)	0.34	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 11)	83	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 21)	85	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 7)	81	years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 25)	3.62
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 69)	3.30
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 1)	100.00	%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 45)	26.10	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 20)	100.00	%

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Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 47)	60,440,000,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 48)	52,780,000,000	kWh
Export (World Rank: 35)	5,200,000,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 56)	95.50	%
Source renew (World Rank: 96)	4.90	%
Crude oil
Production (World Rank: 94)	390	bbl / day
Imports (World Rank: 31)	215,600	bbl / day
Proved reserves (World Rank: 89)	12,730,000	bbl
Refined products
Production (World Rank: 42)	278,300	bbl / day
Consumption (World Rank: 55)	199,900	bbl / day
Export (World Rank: 39)	115,700	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 56)	98,020	bbl / day
Natural gas
Production (World Rank: 44)	8,500,000,000	m³
Consumption (World Rank: 48)	13,610,000,000	m³
Export (World Rank: 35)	2,605,000,000	m³
Import (World Rank: 65)	0	m³
Carbon footprint
62500000

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Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 36)	6	% of GDP
Military (World Rank: 7)	6	% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 57)	8	% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 89)	-2	% of GDP
National symbol
Star of David
National colours
white
Adjective
Israeli
Noun
Israeli(s)
Background
Following World War II, Britain withdrew from its mandate of Palestine, and the UN proposed partitioning the area into Arab and Jewish states, an arrangement rejected by the Arabs. Nonetheless, an Israeli state was declared in 1948, and Israel subsequently defeated the Arab armies in a series of wars that did not end deep tensions between the two sides. (The territories Israel has occupied since the 1967 war are not included in the Israel country profile, unless otherwise noted.) On 25 April 1982, Israel withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula pursuant to the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty. In keeping with the framework established at the Madrid Conference in October 1991, Israel conducted bilateral negotiations with Palestinian representatives and Syria to achieve a permanent settlement with each. Israel and Palestinian officials on 13 September 1993 signed a Declaration of Principles (also known as the "Oslo Accords"), enshrining the idea of a two-state solution to their conflict and guiding an interim period of Palestinian self-rule. The parties achieved six additional significant interim agreements between 1994 and 1999 aimed at creating the conditions for a two-state solution, but most were never fully realized. Outstanding territorial and other disputes with Jordan were resolved in the 26 October 1994 Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty. Progress toward a final status agreement with the Palestinians was undermined by Israeli-Palestinian violence between 2001 and February 2005. Israel in 2005 unilaterally disengaged from the Gaza Strip, evacuating settlers and its military while retaining control over most points of entry into the Gaza Strip. The election of HAMAS to head the Palestinian Legislative Council in 2006 temporarily froze relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA). Israel engaged in a 34-day conflict with Hizballah in Lebanon from July-August 2006 and a 23-day conflict with HAMAS in the Gaza Strip from December 2008-January 2009. In November 2012, Israel engaged in a seven-day conflict with HAMAS in the Gaza Strip. Direct talks with the Palestinians most recently launched in July 2013 but were suspended in April 2014. The talks represented the fourth concerted effort to resolve final status issues between the sides since they were first discussed at Camp David in 2000. Three months later HAMAS and other militant groups launched rockets into Israel, which led to a 51-day conflict between Israel and militants in Gaza.
Flag description
white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as the Magen David (Star of David or Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag; the basic design resembles a traditional Jewish prayer shawl (tallit), which is white with blue stripes; the hexagram as a Jewish symbol dates back to medieval times

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Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 55)	300,900,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 67)	4.00	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 52)	35,200	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 169)	2.30	%
Source industry (World Rank: 107)	26.40	%
Source service (World Rank: 69)	69.60	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 93)	3,925,000
In poverty (World Rank: 95)	22.00	%
Products
Industries	- beverages - caustic soda - cement - chemical products - communications - computer-aided design - construction - cut diamonds - fiber optics - food - footwear - high-technology products including aviation - manufactures - medical electronics - metal products - paper products - pharmaceuticals - phosphates - plastics - potash - textiles - tobacco - wood
Agriculture	- beef - citrus - cotton - dairy products - poultry - vegetables
Exports	- agricultural products - apparel - chemicals - cut diamonds - equipment - machinery - software - textiles
Imports	- consumer goods - fuels - grain - investment goods - military equipment - raw materials - rough diamonds

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Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 46)	3,340,220
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 35)	41.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 56)	129.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 64)	6,521,540
Population (World Rank: 45)	79.80	%

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Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 61)	29.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 110)	18.00
Heliports (World Rank: 49)	3.00
Rail
Total length (World Rank: 84)	1,250
Road
Total length (World Rank: 116)	18,566
Paved length (World Rank: 61)	18,566

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