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{{Image|Israel Map.gif|right|200px|Map of Israel}}
'''Israel''' (Hebrew: מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, Medinat Yisra'el) is a country in the Middle East region, bordering the [[Mediterranean Sea]] on the west, [[Egypt]] on the south-west, [[Jordan]] on the east, [[Syria]] on the northeast, and [[Lebanon]] on the north. Israel's capital is [[Jerusalem]]. Israel's population is 7,291,200<ref>CBS Israel: http://www1.cbs.gov.il/reader/mainind/indengnew.html. The statistical data does not contain non-citizen residents.</ref>, of which 75.8 percent are [[Jew|Jews]] and 19.9 percent are Muslim and Christian Arabs.<ref>CBS Israel: http://www1.cbs.gov.il/reader/newhodaot/hodaa_template.html?hodaa=200711171</ref>. Close to half the population of Israel lives in the [[Gush Dan]] metropolitan area around the coastal city of [[Tel Aviv]]. Other major urban centers are around the cities of [[Jerusalem]] and [[Haifa]]. Israel's total land area is 20,330 square kilometers.
{{seealso|State of Israel}}


{{for|other meanings of the name|Israel (disambiguation)}}
==Occupied territories==
{{Infobox Country
The "Occupied Territories" are essentially the Gaza strip, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.  These are parts of [[Jordan]] (i.e., the [[West Bank]] and [[East Jerusalem]]) and [[Egypt]] (i.e., [[Gaza]]) that were occupied by the [[Israeli Defense Forces]] during the [[1967 Arab-Israeli War]], and are now under the civil authority of the [[Palestinian Authority]] subject to Israeli military control. East Jerusalem's status is less clear than that of the West Bank and Gaza. This specific term  implies a belief that the Israeli actions are illegal, with which the [[State of Israel]] does not agree.  
|native_name = מדינת ישראל<br />''Medīnat Yisrā'el''<br />دولة إسرائيل<br />''Dawlat Isrā'īl''
|conventional_long_name = State of Israel
|common_name = Israel
|image_flag = Flag of Israel.svg
|image_coat = Israel coat of arms.svg
|symbol_type= Coat of arms
|image_map = LocationIsrael.png
|national_anthem = "[[Hatikvah]]" ("The Hope")
|official_languages = [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], [[Arabic language|Arabic]]<!-- NOTE: Only these two are official languages. See http://www.biu.ac.il/hu/lprc/fog0000000007.html -->
|capital = [[Jerusalem]] <ref name="capital">[[Jerusalem]] is the official capital, and the location of the presidential residence, government offices and the [[Knesset]], Israel's Parliament. In 1980, the Knesset asserted Jerusalem's status as the nation's "eternal and indivisible capital", by passing the ''[[Jerusalem Law|Basic Law: Jerusalem — Capital of Israel]]''. However, the [[United Nations]] does not recognize this designation. The bulk of the international community argues that the city is still legally an international [[corpus separatum]] and the final issue of the status of Jerusalem will be determined in future Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. The Palestinian Authority claims East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state. Most countries maintain their embassies in [[Tel Aviv]] ([https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/is.html CIA Factbook]), and the two remaining countries with embassies in [[Jerusalem]] have announced that they will move them to [[Tel Aviv]] too ([http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3295745,00.html Ynet]). See [[Positions on Jerusalem]] for more information.</ref><br/><small>{{coor dm|31|47|N|35|13|E}}</small>
|government_type = [[Parliamentary democracy]]
|leader_title1 = [[President of Israel|President]]
|leader_title2 = [[Prime Minister of Israel|Prime Minister]]
|leader_name1 = [[Moshe Katsav]]
|leader_name2 = [[Ehud Olmert]]
|largest_city = [[Jerusalem]]
|area = 22,145<sup>1</sup><!--UN figure-->
|areami² = 8,550<sup>1</sup>
|area_rank = 151th
|area_magnitude = 1 E10
|percent_water = ~2%
|population_estimate = 7,026,000<sup>2</sup><!-- http://www.cbs.gov.il/hodaot2006n/11_06_092b.pdf -->
|population_estimate_year = May 2006
|population_estimate_rank = 98th
|population_census = 5,548,523
|population_census_year = 1995
|population_density = 324
|population_densitymi² = 787 <!--outdated - please convert and update-->
|population_density_rank = 34th
|GDP_PPP_year = 2005
|GDP_PPP = $163.45 billion
|GDP_PPP_rank = 53rd
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $23,416
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 28th
|HDI_year = 2003
|HDI = 0.915
|HDI_rank = 23rd
|HDI_category = <font color="#009900">high</font>
|sovereignty_type = [[Independence]]
|sovereignty_note = From the [[United Kingdom]]
|established_event1 = [[Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel|Declaration]]
|established_date1 = [[14 May]] [[1948]] (05 [[Iyar]] 5708)
|currency = [[Israeli new sheqel|New Israeli sheqel]] (₪)
|currency_code = ILS
|time_zone = [[Israel Standard Time|IST]]
|utc_offset = +2
|time_zone_DST =
|utc_offset_DST = +3
|cctld = [[.il]]
|calling_code = 972
|footnotes=<sup>1</sup>Includes the Golan Heights (UN figure)<br><sup>2</sup>Includes Israeli population living in the [[West Bank]]
|}}
'''Israel''' ([[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]: {{Audio|He-Medinat Israel.ogg|מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל}}; ''Medinat Yisra'el''; {{lang-ar|دَوْلَةْ إِسْرَائِيل}}, ''Dawlat Isrā'īl''), officially the '''State of Israel''', is a country in [[Southwest Asia|Western Asia]] on the southeastern edge of the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. It is the [[Middle East]]'s only [[Parliamentary system|parliamentary]] [[democracy]] and the [[Nation-state|nation state]] of the [[indigenous]] people of [[Land of Israel|Eretz Yisrael]] ([[Hebrew (language)|Hebrew]]: ארץ ישראל). As such, it is the world's only [[Jewish state]], though its population includes citizens from many [[Ethnicity|ethnic]] and [[religion|religious]] backgrounds. (See also [[Israelis]].)


Israel is bordered by [[Lebanon]] in the north, [[Syria]] and [[Jordan]] in the east, and [[Egypt]] in the south-west. It has a population of over seven million people, in an area of around 22,000 [[square kilometre]]s (8500&nbsp;square miles).
The West Bank and East Jerusalem, but not Gaza, contain Israeli civilians, as well as security forces.
 
Israel has a technologically advanced economy and is ranked 23rd on the 2005 [[United Nations]] [[Human Development Index]].


==Name==
==Name==
The name "Israel" is rooted in the [[Hebrew Bible]], [[Genesis]] 32:28, where [[Jacob]] is renamed Israel after successfully wrestling with a mysterious adversary.<ref name=israelname>this adversary was "a man", and later "God" according to [[Genesis (Old Testament)|Genesis]] 32:24–30; or "the angel", according to [[Book of Hosea|Hosea]] 12:4</ref> The biblical nation fathered by Jacob was then called "The [[Children of Israel]]" or the "[[Israelite]]s."
The word "Israel" was the name given to the Biblical [[Jacob]] after wrestling with an angel (Genesis 32). It was commonly used to denote the Jewish people in general. The name was also the name of the Jewish people, the northern kingdom of the Hebrews (c. 1000-721 BC), and is also sometimes uses as a first name.
 
The modern country was named ''State of Israel'', and its citizens are referred to as ''Israelis'' in English. Other rejected name proposals included ''[[Eretz Israel]]'', ''[[Zion]]'', ''[[Judea]]'' and ''New Judea''.<ref name=PalestinePost>''[[The Palestine Post]]'' December 7, 1947, page 1. "Popular Opinion" column.</ref> The use of the term Israeli to refer to a citizen of Israel was decided by the Government of Israel in the weeks immediately after independence and announced by [[Foreign Minister]] [[Moshe Shertok]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,798687-2,00.html |publisher=[[Time (magazine)|TIME Magazine]] |date=May 31, 1948|title=On the Move}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
{{main|History of Israel}}
{{main|State of Israel}}
 
Israel declared its independence on Friday, May 14, 1948 following the United Nations (UN) Partition Plan that had been adopted by the UN's General Assembly on November 29, 1947.
===Historical roots===
{{see also|History of ancient Israel and Judah}}
The first historical record of the word "Israel" comes from an Egyptian [[Merneptah Stele|stele]] documenting [[military campaign]]s in [[Canaan]]. Although this stele which referred to a people (the [[determinative]] for '[[country]]' was absent) is dated to approximately 1211 [[BCE]], <ref name="stones">{{cite web| url= http://www.ebonmusings.org/atheism/otarch2.html#merneptah| title= The Stones Speak: The Merneptah Stele| accessdate=2006-04-08}}</ref> Jewish tradition holds that the [[Land of Israel]] has been a Jewish [[Holy Land]] and [[Promised land]] for 3,000 years. The land of Israel holds a special place in Jewish religious obligations, encompassing Judaism's most important sites — including the remains of the [[Solomon's Temple|First]] and [[Second Temple]]s of the Jewish [[Monarch|King]], [[Solomon]]. Connected with these two versions of the temple are religiously significant rites which stand as the origin for many aspects of modern Judaism. <ref name="land">{{cite web| url=http://www.jewfaq.org/israel.htm| title=The Land of Israel| accessdate=2006-04-08}}</ref> Starting around the 11th century [[Common Era|BCE]] the first of a series of [[History of ancient Israel and Judah|Jewish kingdoms and states]] established intermittent rule over the [[Land of Israel#Dimensions of the Land of Israel|region]] that lasted more than a [[millennium]].
[[Image:Sack of jerusalem.JPG|thumb|The holy [[Menorah]] sacked from Jerusalem]]
Under [[Assyria]]n, [[Babylonia]]n, [[Persian Empire|Persian]], [[Hellenistic Greece|Greek]], [[Roman Empire|Roman]], [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]], and (briefly) [[Sassanid Empire|Sassanian]] rule, Jewish presence in the region dwindled because of mass expulsions. In particular, the failure of the [[Simon bar Kokhba|Bar Kochba Revolt]] against the [[Roman Empire]] in [[132|132 CE]] resulted in a [[Siege of Jerusalem (70)|large-scale expulsion of Jews]]. It was during this time that the Romans gave the name [[Syria Palaestina]] to the geographic area, in an attempt to erase Jewish ties to the land.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.usd.edu/erp/Palestine/history.htm#135-337
|title = Palestine: History: 135-337: Syria Palaestina and the Tetrarchy
|accessdate = 2006-07-19
|last = Lehmann
|first = Clayton Miles
|year = 1998
|month = Summer
|work = The On-line Encyclopedia of the Roman Provinces
|publisher = University of South Dakota}}</ref> The [[Mishnah]] and [[Jerusalem Talmud]], two of Judaism's most important religious texts, were composed in the region during this period. The [[Muslim]]s conquered the land from the [[Byzantine Empire]] in 638 [[Common Era|CE]]. The area was ruled by various Muslim states (interrupted by the rule of the [[Crusader states|Crusaders]]) before becoming part of the [[Ottoman Empire]] in 1517.
 
===Zionism and Immigration===
{{Israelis}}
{{main|Zionism|Aliyah}}
Waves of immigration occurred during the centuries. For example, in the years 1209-1211, the "aliyah of the Rabbis of France and England" to [[Acre]] became famous as in 1258 and 1266. Waves of Rabbinical students occurred in 1808 - 1809, who settled in [[Tiberias]], [[Safed]] and then in [[Jerusalem]].
 
Small waves of modern immigration occurred during the 18th and the 19th century out of religious motives. In 1860, the old Jewish community in Jerusalem started building neighborhoods outside the walls of the Old City. In 1878, the first modern agricultural settlement was founded in the form of [[Petah Tikva]].
 
The first big wave of modern immigration to Israel, or ''Aliyah'' (עלייה) started in 1881 as Jews fled growing persecution, or followed the [[Socialist]] [[Zionism|Zionist]] ideas of [[Moses Hess]] and others of "redemption of the soil." Jews bought land from Ottoman and individual Arab landholders. After Jews established agricultural settlements, tensions erupted between the Jews and Arabs.
 
[[Theodor Herzl]] (1860 – 1904), an [[Austria|Austrian]] Jew, founded the [[Zionist movement]]. In 1896, he published ''[[Der Judenstaat]]'' (''The Jewish State''), in which he called for the establishment of a national Jewish state. The following year he helped convene the first [[World Zionist Congress]].
 
The establishment of Zionism led to the [[Aliyah#Second Aliyah (1904-1914)|Second Aliyah (1904 – 1914)]] with the influx of around 40,000 Jews. In 1917, the British Foreign Secretary [[Arthur Balfour|Arthur J. Balfour]] issued the [[Balfour Declaration, 1917|Balfour Declaration]] that "view[ed] with favour the establishment in [[Palestine]] of a national home for the Jewish people." In [[1920]], Palestine became a [[League of Nations]] [[British Mandate of Palestine|mandate administered by Britain]].
 
Jewish immigration resumed in [[Aliyah#Third Aliyah (1919-1923)|third (1919 – 1923)]] and [[Aliyah#Fourth Aliyah (1924-1929)|fourth (1924 – 1929)]] waves after [[World War I]]. A [[1929 Palestine massacre|massacre of Jews by Arabs in 1929]] killed 133 Jews, including 67 in [[Hebron]].
 
The rise of [[Nazism]] in 1933 led to a [[Aliyah#Fifth Aliyah (1929-1939)|fifth wave of Aliyah]]. The Jews in the region increased from 11% of the population in 1922 to 30% by 1940{{fact}}. 28% of the land was already bought and owned by Zionist organizations plus additional private land owned by Jews{{fact}}. The southern half of the country is the barren and mostly empty [[Negev]] desert. The subsequent [[Holocaust]] in Europe led to [[Aliyah#Aliyah Bet: Illegal immigration (1933-1948)|additional immigration]] from other parts of Europe. By the end of [[World War II]], the number of Jews in Palestine was approximately 600,000.
 
In 1939, the British introduced a [[White Paper of 1939]], which limited Jewish immigration over the course of the war to 75,000 and restricted purchase of land by Jews, perhaps in response to the [[Great Arab Uprising]] (1936-1939). The White Paper was seen as a betrayal by the Jewish community and Zionists, who perceived it as being in conflict with the [[Balfour Declaration of 1917]]. The Arabs were not entirely satisfied either, as they wanted Jewish immigration halted completely. However, the White Paper guided British policy until the end of the term of their Mandate. As a result, many Jews fleeing to Palestine to avoid Nazi persecution and the [[Holocaust]] were intercepted and returned to Europe. Two specific examples of this policy involved the ships ''[[Struma]]'' and [[Exodus (ship)|''Exodus'']]. [http://www.israeltoday.co.il/Default.aspx?tabid=139&view=item&idx=726] These attempts by Jews to circumvent the blockade and flee Europe became known as [[Aliya Beth]].
{{see also|Jewish refugees|1922 Text: League of Nations Palestine Mandate}}
 
===Jewish Underground groups===
{{main|British Mandate of Palestine}}
As tensions grew between the Jewish and Arab populations, and with little apparent support from the British Mandate authorities, the Jewish community began to rely on itself for defense.
 
Arab nationalists, opposed to the Balfour declaration, the mandate, and the Jewish National Home, instigated riots and [[pogroms]] against Jews in Jerusalem, Hebron, Jaffa, and Haifa. As a result of the 1921 Arab attacks, the [[Haganah]] was formed to protect Jewish settlements. The Haganah was mostly defensive in nature, which among other things caused several members to split off and form the militant group [[Irgun]] (initially known as Hagana Bet) in 1931. The Irgun adhered to a much more active approach, which included attacks and initiation of armed actions against the British, such as attacking British military headquarters, the [[King David Hotel]], which killed 91 people. Haganah, on the other hand, often preferred restraint. A further split occurred when [[Avraham Stern]] left the Irgun to form [[Lehi (group)|Lehi]], (also known as the ''Stern Gang'') which was much more extreme in its methods. Unlike the Irgun, they refused any co-operation with the British during [[World War II]] and even attempted to work with the [[Nazi]]s to secure European Jewry's emigration to Israel.
[[Image:Hagardom.jpeg|thumb|right|Monument in [[Ramat Gan]] commemorating the rebels hanged by the British]]
These groups had an enormous impact on events and procedures in the period preceding the [[1948 Arab-Israeli War]], such as [[Aliya Beth]] — the clandestine immigration from Europe, the forming of the [[Israel Defense Forces]], and the withdrawal of the British, as well as to a great degree forming the foundation of the [[Politics of Israel|political parties]] which exist in Israel today.
 
===Establishment of the State===
[[Image:Declaration of State of Israel 1948.jpg|thumb|180px|[[David Ben-Gurion|Ben-Gurion]] pronounces the [[Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel]] on [[May 14]] [[1948]] in [[Tel Aviv]].]]
{{main|Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel}}
In 1947, following increasing levels of violence together with unsuccessful efforts to reconcile the Jewish and Arab populations, the British government decided to withdraw from the [[Palestine Mandate]]. The [[United Nations General Assembly|UN General Assembly]] approved the [[1947 UN Partition Plan]] dividing the territory into two states, with the Jewish area consisting of roughly 55% of the land, and the Arab area roughly 45%. [[Jerusalem]] was planned to be an international region administered by the UN to avoid conflict over its status.
 
Immediately following the adoption of the Partition Plan by the UN General Assembly on [[November 29]], [[1947]], [[David Ben-Gurion]] tentatively accepted the partition, while the Arab League rejected it. Scattered attacks on civilians of both sides soon turned into widespread fighting between Arabs and Jews, this civil war being the first "phase" of the 1948 War of Independence.
 
The State of Israel was proclaimed on [[May 14]] [[1948]], one day before the expiry of the [[Palestine Mandate]].
 
Israel was admitted as a member of the [[United Nations]] on [[May 11]], [[1949]].
 
===War of Independence and migration===
{{main|1948 Arab-Israeli War}}
{{see also|Jewish refugees|Palestinian refugee|Palestinian exodus|Arab-Israeli conflict}}
Following the State of Israel's establishment, the armies of [[Egypt]], [[Syria]], [[Jordan]], [[Lebanon]], and [[Iraq]] joined the fighting and began the second phase of the 1948 Arab – Israeli War. From the north, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq, were all but stopped relatively close to the borders. Jordanian forces, invading from the east, captured East [[Jerusalem]] and laid siege on the city's west. However, forces of the [[Haganah]] successfully stopped most invading forces, and [[Irgun]] forces halted Egyptian encroachment from the south. At the beginning of June, the [[UN]] declared a one-month ceasefire during which the [[Israel Defense Forces]] were officially formed. After numerous months of war, a ceasefire was declared in 1949 and temporary borders, known as the [[Green Line (Israel)|Green Line]], were instituted. Israel had gained an additional 26% of the Mandate territory west of the [[Jordan River]]. Jordan, for its part, held the large mountainous areas of [[Judea]] and [[Samaria]], which became known as the [[West Bank]]. Egypt took control of a small strip of land along the coast, which became known as the [[Gaza Strip]].
 
During and after the war, then Prime Minister [[David Ben-Gurion]] set about establishing order by dismantling the [[Palmach]] and underground organizations like the [[Irgun]] and [[Lehi (group)|Lehi]]. Those two groups were classified as terror organizations after the murder of [[Folke Bernadotte]], a [[Sweden|Swedish]] diplomat.
 
Large numbers of the Arab population fled the newly-created Jewish State during the [[Palestinian exodus]], which is referred to by many Palestinian groups and individuals as the ''Nakba'' ([[Arabic language|Arabic]]: النكبة), meaning "disaster" or "cataclysm". Many historians suggest that the Palestinians fled because of orders from Arab generals. Many Palestinians left under the belief that the Arab armies would prevail and they would return.<ref name=NYPost>''The Arab Refugees'', The [[New York Post]]. November 30, 1948. [http://www.varchive.org/obs/481130.htm Reproduction].</ref> Moreover, Israel offered &mdash; in the [[Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel]] &mdash; to the ''Arab inhabitants of the State of Israel'' the ''full and equal citizenship and due representation in all its provisional and permanent institutions'', but many refused.
 
Estimates of the final refugee count range from 600,000 to 900,000 with the official United Nations count at 711,000.<ref name="un">[http://domino.un.org/unispal.nsf/9a798adbf322aff38525617b006d88d7/93037e3b939746de8525610200567883!OpenDocument General Progress Report and Supplementary Report of the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, Covering the Period from 11 December 1949 to 23 October 1950], published by the [[United Nations Conciliation Commission]], [[October 23]] [[1950]]. (U.N. General Assembly Official Records, Fifth Session, Supplement No. 18, Document A/1367/Rev. 1) The Committee believed the estimate to be "as accurate as circumstances permit", and attributed the higher number on relief to, among other things, "duplication of ration cards, addition of persons who have been displaced from area other than Israel-held areas and of persons who, although not displaced, are destitute".</ref> The continuing conflict between Israel and the Arab world resulted in a lasting displacement that persists to this day.
 
Immigration of Holocaust survivors and Jewish refugees from Arab lands doubled Israel's population within a year of independence. Over the following years approximately 850,000 [[Sephardi Jews|Sephardi]] and [[Mizrahi Jews]] fled or were expelled from surrounding Arab countries and [[Iran]]. Of these, about 600,000 settled in Israel; the remainder went to Europe and the Americas. See: [[Jewish exodus from Arab lands]]
 
===1950s and 1960s===
[[Image:Eichmann_trial_1961_in_glass_box.jpg|right|thumb|120px|Nazi war criminal Eichmann and a bulletproof glass booth during the open trial in 1961]]
Between 1954 and 1955, under [[Moshe Sharett]] as prime minister, the [[Lavon Affair]], a failed attempt to bomb targets in [[Egypt]], caused political disgrace in Israel. Compounding this, in 1956, Egypt nationalized the [[Suez Canal]], much to the chagrin of the [[United Kingdom]] and [[France]]. Following this and a series of [[Fedayeen]] attacks, Israel created a secret military alliance with those two European powers and declared war on Egypt. After the [[Suez Crisis]], the three collaborators faced international condemnation, and Israel was forced to withdraw its forces from the [[Sinai Peninsula]].
 
In 1955, [[Ben-Gurion]] once again became prime minister and served as such until his final resignation in 1963. After Ben-Gurion's resignation, [[Levi Eshkol]] was appointed to the post.
 
In 1961, the [[Nazi]] [[war criminal]] [[Adolf Eichmann]], who had been largely responsible for the [[Final Solution]], the planned extermination of the [[Jews]] of Europe, was captured in [[Buenos Aires]], [[Argentina]], and brought to trial in Israel. Eichmann became the only person ever sentenced to death by the Israeli courts.
[[Image:Western Wall - by Jacob Rask.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[Western Wall]] after [[Six Day War]]]]
On the political field, tensions once again arose between Israel and her neighbors in May 1967. Syria, Jordan, and Egypt had been hinting at war, and Egypt expelled [[Timeline of UN peacekeeping missions|UN Peacekeeping Forces]] from the [[Gaza Strip]]. When Egypt closed the strategic [[Straits of Tiran]] to Israeli vessels, Israel deemed it a [[casus belli]] for pre-emptively attacking Egypt on [[June 5]]. After the ensuing [[Six-Day War]] between Israel and its Arab neighbors, the Jewish State emerged triumphant. Israel had defeated the armies of three large Arab states and decimated their [[air force]]s. Territorially, Israel conquered the [[West Bank]], Gaza Strip, [[Sinai Peninsula]], and [[Golan Heights]]. The [[Green Line (Israel)|Green Line]] of 1949 became the administrative boundary between Israel and her [[Occupied Territories]], also called [[Disputed Territories]]. However, Israel has spread its administrative domain to [[East Jerusalem]] and the Golan Heights. The Sinai was later returned to Egypt following the signing of a peace treaty.
 
In 1967 Israeli aircraft [[USS Liberty incident|attacked the USS ''Liberty'']], killing 34 American servicemen. American and Israeli investigations into the incident concluded that the attack was a tragic accident involving confusion over the identity of the [[USS Liberty (AGTR-5)|''Liberty'']].
 
In 1969 [[Golda Meir]], Israel's first and, to date, only female prime minister was elected.
{{see also|Positions on Jerusalem|Jerusalem Law|Golan Heights|Israeli-occupied territories}}
 
===1970s===
Between 1968 and 1972, a period known as the [[War of Attrition]], numerous scuffles erupted along the border between Israel and Syria and Egypt. Furthermore, in the early-1970s, [[Palestinian political violence|Palestinian groups]] embarked on an unprecedented wave of attacks against Israel and [[Jewish]] targets in other countries. The climax of this wave occurred at the [[1972 Munich Olympic Games]], when, in the [[Munich massacre]], Palestinian militants held hostage and killed members of the Israeli delegation. Israel responded with [[Operation Wrath of God]], in which agents of [[Mossad]] assassinated most of those who were involved in the massacre.
 
Finally, on [[October 6]] [[1973]], on the Jewish fast day of [[Yom Kippur]], the Egyptian and Syrian armies launched a surprise attack against Israel. However, despite early successes against an unprepared Israeli army, Egypt and Syria failed to accomplish their goal of regaining the territories lost in 1967. Yet after the war, a number of years of relative calm ensued, which fostered the environment in which Israel and Egypt could make peace.
 
In 1974, [[Yitzhak Rabin]], with Meir's resignation, became Israel's fifth prime minister. Then, in the 1977 [[Knesset]] elections, the Ma'arach, the ruling party since 1948, created a storm by leaving the government. The new [[Likud]] party, led by [[Menachem Begin]], became the new ruling party.
 
Then, in November of that year, Egyptian President [[Anwar Sadat]], making a historic visit to the Jewish State, spoke before the [[Knesset]] — the first recognition of Israel by its Arab neighbors. Following the visit, the two nations conducted negotiations which led to the signing of the [[Camp David Accords]]. In March 1979, Begin and Sadat signed the [[Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty]] in [[Washington, DC]]. As laid out in the treaty, Israel withdrew from the [[Sinai Peninsula]] and evacuated the settlements established there during the 1970s. It was also agreed to lend [[Autonomous entity|autonomy]] to [[Palestinians]] across the [[Green Line]].
 
{{see also|War of Attrition|Munich Massacre|Yom Kippur War|Anwar Sadat|Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty}}
 
===1980s===
[[Image:Ilan Ramon.jpg|thumb|160px|right|[[Ilan Ramon]] participated in [[Operation Opera]] and later became Israel's first [[astronaut]]]]
On [[July 7]] [[1981]], the [[Israeli Air Force]] bombed the Iraqi [[nuclear reactor]] at [[Osiraq]] in an attempt to foil Iraqi efforts at producing an [[atomic bomb]]. This operation was known as [[Operation Opera]].
 
In 1982, Israel [[1982 invasion of Lebanon|launched an attack]] against [[Lebanon]], which had been embroiled in the [[Lebanese Civil War]] since 1975. The official reason for the attack was to defend Israel's northernmost settlements from terrorist attacks, which had been occurring frequently. However, after establishing a forty-kilometer barrier zone, the [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] continued northward and even captured the capital, [[Beirut]]. Israeli forces expelled [[Palestinian Liberation Organization]] forces from the country, forcing the organization to relocate to [[Tunis]]. Unable to deal with the stress of the ongoing war, Prime Minister [[Menachem Begin|Begin]] resigned from his post in 1983 and was replaced by [[Yitzhak Shamir]]. Though Israel withdrew from most of Lebanon in 1986, a buffer zone was maintained until May 2000 when Israel unilaterally withdrew from Lebanon.
 
The rest of the 1980s were spent constantly shifting from the right, led by [[Yitzhak Shamir]], to the left under [[Shimon Peres]]. Peres, for example, was prime minister from 1984, but handed the position over to Shamir in 1986. The [[First Intifadah]] then broke out in 1987 and was accompanied by waves of violence in the [[Occupied Territories]]. Following the outbreak, Shamir once again was elected prime minister, in 1988.
{{see also|1982 Lebanon War|Lebanese Civil War|PLO}}
 
===1990s===
During the [[Gulf War]], [[Iraq]] hit Israel with 39 [[Scud]] missiles, even though Israel was not a member of the coalition and was not involved in the fighting. The missles didn't kill Israeli citizens directly, but there were some deaths from wrong use of the gas masks provided, one Israeli died from a [[heart attack]] following a hit, and one Israeli died from a [[Patriot missile]] hit. During the war, Israel also provided gas masks for the Palestinians in the [[West Bank]] and [[Gaza]]. <ref>[http://72.14.221.104/search?q=cache:W5GxcejzitQJ:www.nevo.co.il/Psika_word/kitvey/0106758-kt.doc+%D7%9E%D7%A1%D7%9B%D7%95%D7%AA+%D7%92%D7%96+%D7%91%D7%A9%D7%98%D7%97%D7%99%D7%9D&hl=iw&gl=il&ct=clnk&cd=9&client=firefox-a|High Court ruling] Israeli High Court of Justice ruling mentioning how it enforced handing masks to all Palestinians during the Gulf War as a principle of equality {{he icon}} </ref> The PLO however supported [[Saddam Hussein]]. <ref> Mideast Mirror, August 6, 1990 </ref> Palestinians in the [[West Bank]] and [[Gaza]] marched and famously stood on their rooftops while Skads were falling and cheered Saddam Hussein calling for him to bomb Israel with chemical weapons <ref> Associated Press, August 12, 1990 </ref> <ref>[http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasite/pages/ShArtPE.jhtml?itemNo=742910&contrassID=2&subContrassID=21&sbSubContrassID=0|Haaretz article] An article in Ha'artez talking about the Palestinians' support for Nasrallah mentioning that in the 90's Saddam captivated the hearts of the Palestinians because of his goal to eradicate Israel. {{he icon}} </ref> <ref> [http://www.nrg.co.il/online/archive/ART/271/591.html] An article in Ma'ariv talking about an anti Israel wide demonstration of Arabs citing their famous song from the Gulf War era: "Ya Saddam Ya Habib - destroy Tel Aviv". {{he icon}} </ref>. Ultimately, Palestinians also used the gas masks against Israeli use of [[tear gas]] in the coming years. <ref> [http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/1,7340,L-2099554,00.html] Yediot Ahronot article: Israeli Deputy Minister of Defense says that in case Israel is 100% sure of another Iraqi attack (in 2002) , gas masks will be provided for the Palstinians , and mentioned their use against tear gas. {{he icon}} </ref>
 
The early 1990s were marked by the beginning of a massive [[Aliyah|immigration]] of Soviet Jews, who, according to the [[Law of Return]], were entitled to become Israeli citizens upon arrival. About 380,000 arrived in 1990-91 alone. Although initially favouring the right, the new immigrants became the target of an aggressive election campaign by [[Labor (Israel)|Labor]], which blamed their employment and housing problems on the ruling [[Likud]]. As a result, in the 1992 elections the immigrants voted ''en masse'' for Labor, letting the left achieve a 61-59 majority in the 1992 Knesset elections.
 
Following the elections, [[Yitzhak Rabin]] became prime minister, forming a left-wing government coalition. During the election campaign his Labor party promised Israelis a significant improvement in personal security and achievement of a comprehensive peace with the Arabs "within six to nine months" after the elections. By the end of 1993 the government abandoned the framework of [[Madrid Conference of 1991|Madrid]] and signed the [[Oslo Accords]] with the [[Palestine Liberation Organization|PLO]]. In 1994, [[Jordan]] became the second of Israel's neighbours to make peace with it.
[[Image:Rabins' Grave.JPG|thumb|Yitzhak Rabin is buried in [[Mount Herzl]] in [[Jerusalem]]]]
The initial wide public support for the Oslo Accords began to wane as Israel was struck by an unprecedented wave of attacks supported by the militant [[Hamas]] group, which opposed the accords. Public support slipped even further. On November 4, 1995, a Jewish nationalist militant named [[Yigal Amir]] [[Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin|assassinated]] Rabin.
 
Public dismay with the assassination created a backlash against Oslo opponents and significantly boosted the chances of [[Shimon Peres]], Rabin's successor and Oslo architect, to win the upcoming 1996 elections. However, a new wave of suicide bombings combined with Arafat's statements extolling the Muslim nationalist militant [[Yahya Ayyash]], made the public mood swing once again and in May 1996 Peres narrowly lost to his challenger from Likud, [[Benjamin Netanyahu]].
 
Although seen as a hard-liner opposing the Oslo Accords, Netanyahu withdrew from [[Hebron]] and signed the [[Wye River Memorandum]] giving wider control to the [[Palestinian National Authority]]. During Netanyahu's tenure, Israel experienced a lull in attacks against Israel's civilian population by Palestinian groups, but his government fell in 1999. Labor's [[Ehud Barak]] beat Netanyahu by a wide margin in the 1999 elections and succeeded him as prime minister.
{{see also|Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace}}
 
===2000s===
{{Current-section}}
{{Sectfact}}
 
Barak initiated unilateral withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000. This process was intended to frustrate [[Hezbollah]] attacks on Israel by forcing them to cross Israel's border. Barak and [[Yassir Arafat]] once again conducted negotiations with [[President Clinton]] at the [[Camp David 2000 Summit|July 2000 Camp David summit]]. However, the talks failed. Barak offered to form a [[Palestinian State]] initially on 73% of the West Bank and 100% of the Gaza Strip. In ten to 25 years, the West Bank area would expand to 90% (94% excluding greater Jerusalem). [http://www.mideastweb.org/campdavid2.htm] [http://www.mideastweb.org/campdavid%20orient.htm]
 
After the collapse of the talks, Palestinians began a second uprising, known as the [[Al-Aqsa Intifadah]], just after the leader of the opposition [[Ariel Sharon]] visited the [[Temple Mount]] in [[Jerusalem]]. The failure of the talks and the outbreak of a new war caused many Israelis on both the right and the left to turn away from Barak, and also discredited the peace movement.
 
[[Image:Jerusalem_kotel_mosque.jpg|thumb|The Temple Mount in Jerusalem]]
 
[[Ariel Sharon]] became the new prime minister in March 2001 and consequently was re-elected, along with his [[Likud]] party in the [[Knesset]] elections of 2003. Sharon initiated a plan to unilaterally withdraw from the [[Gaza Strip]]. This [[Israel's unilateral disengagement plan|disengagement]] was executed between August and September 2005.
 
Israel also is building a [[West Bank Barrier]] to defend the country from attacks by Palestinian armed groups. The barrier, which is planned to measure 681 kilometers, meanders past the [[Green Line (Israel)|Green Line]] and effectively annexes 9.5% of the West Bank.<ref name="B'Tselem">[http://www.btselem.org/english/Separation_Barrier/Statistics.asp B'Tselem] separation barrier statistics</ref> The barrier has been met with some criticism from the international community and numerous protest demonstrations by the Israeli left.
 
After [[Ariel Sharon]] suffered a severe [[hemorrhagic stroke]], the powers of the office were passed to [[Ehud Olmert]], who was designated the "Acting" Prime Minister. On [[April 14]], [[2006]], Olmert was elected Prime Minister after his party, [[Kadima]], Hebrew for "forward," won the most seats in the [[2006]] [[Israel legislative election, 2006|legislative elections]].
 
On [[June 28]], [[2006]], [[Hamas]] militants dug a tunnel under the [[Israeli Gaza Strip barrier|border]] from the [[Gaza Strip]] and attacked an [[IDF]] post, capturing an Israeli soldier and killing two others. In response, Israel began [[Operation Summer Rains]], which consisted of heavy bombardment of [[Hamas]] targets as well as bridges, roads, and the only power station in Gaza. Israel has also deployed troops into the territory. Israel’s critics have accused it of disproportionate use of force and [[collective punishment]] of innocent civilians and not giving [[diplomacy]] a chance. Israel argues that they have no other option to get their soldier back and put an end to the rocket attacks into Israel.
 
The [[2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict]] refers to the military conflict in [[Lebanon]] and northern Israel, primarily between [[Hezbollah]] and Israel, which started on [[12 July]] [[2006]]. The conflict began with a cross-border Hezbollah raid and shelling, which resulted in the capture of two and killing of three Israeli soldiers. Israel held the Lebanese government responsible for the attack, as it was carried out from Lebanese territory, and initiated an air and naval [[blockade]], [[airstrike]]s across much of the country, and ground incursions into [[southern Lebanon]]. Hezbollah continuously launched rocket attacks into northern Israel and engaged the Israeli Army on the ground with hit-and-run guerrilla attacks. A ceasefire came into effect at 05:00 [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]], [[14 August]] [[2006]], although violations of the ceasefire have occurred from both sides. The conflict killed over 1000 Lebanese civilians<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.usaid.gov/locations/asia_near_east/middle_east/
| title = Humanitarian Assistance to Lebanon
| accessdate = 2006-09-03
| date = [[1 September]] [[2006]]
| publisher = [[United States Agency for International Development]] Disaster Assistance
}}</ref>, 440 Hezbollah militants<ref>{{http://www.upi.com/InternationalIntelligence/view.php?StoryID=20060906-045027-8532r}}</ref>, and 119 Israeli soldiers<ref name=MFA>{{cite news
|url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Terrorism+from+Lebanon-+Hizbullah/Israel-Hizbullah+conflict-+Victims+of+rocket+attacks+and+IDF+casualties+July-Aug+2006.htm|title=Israel-Hizbullah conflict: Victims of rocket attacks and IDF casualties|publisher=Israel, Ministry of Foreign Affairs}}</ref>, as well as 44 Israeli civilians<ref name=MFA>{{cite news
|url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Terrorism+from+Lebanon-+Hizbullah/Israel-Hizbullah+conflict-+Victims+of+rocket+attacks+and+IDF+casualties+July-Aug+2006.htm|title=Israel-Hizbullah conflict: Victims of rocket attacks and IDF casualties|publisher=Israel, Ministry of Foreign Affairs}}</ref>, and caused massive damage to the civilian infrastructure and cities of Lebanon and damaged thousands of buildings across northern Israel, many of which were completely destroyed.<ref name=warinnums>{{cite web
| url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6022211,00.html
| title = Mideast War, by the numbers
| publisher = Guardian / Associated Press
| date = [[2006-08-18]]
| accessdate = 2006-08-25
}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.jcpa.org/brief/brief006-10.htm
| title = Hizballah's Rocket Campaign Against Northern Israel: A Preliminary Report
| publisher = Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs
| date = [[2006-08-31]]
| accessdate = 2006-09-08
}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.sviva.gov.il/Enviroment/bin/en.jsp?enPage=e_BlankPage&enDisplay=view&enDispWhat=Object&enDispWho=News^l3120&enZone=e_news
| title = Assessing the Environmental Costs of the War in the North - Summer 2006
| publisher = Ministry of Environmental Protection
| date = [[2006-08-30]]
| accessdate = 2006-09-14
}}</ref>
 
==Geography and Climate==
[[Image:Is-map.PNG|thumb|180px|Map of Israel]]
[[Image:Israel_topo_en.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Relief map of Israel]]
{{main|Geography of Israel}}
Israel is bordered by [[Lebanon]] in the north, [[Syria]] and [[Jordan]] in the east, and [[Egypt]] in the south-west. It has [[coastal|coastlines]] on the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] in the west and the [[Headlands and bays|Gulf]] of [[Eilat]] (also known as the [[Gulf of Aqaba]]) in the south.
 
During the [[Six-Day War]] of 1967, Israel captured the West Bank from the Hashemite Kingdom of [[Jordan]], the [[Golan Heights]] from Syria, Gaza Strip (which was under Egyptian occupation), and [[sinai peninsula|Sinai]] from [[Egypt]]. It withdrew all [[Israeli Security Forces|troops]] and [[Israeli settlement|settlers]] from Sinai by 1982 and [[Israel's unilateral disengagement plan|from the Gaza Strip]] by [[September 12]] [[2005]]. The future [[Palestine (region)#Current status|status]] of the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and the Golan Heights remains to be determined.
 
The sovereign territory of Israel — excluding all territories captured by Israel in 1967 — is 20,770 km² or 8,019 [[square mile|mi²]] in area. (1% is water). The total area under Israeli law — including [[East Jerusalem]] and the [[Golan Heights]] — is 22,145 km² or 8,550 mi²; with a little less than one per cent being water. It should be noted however that UN resolution 497 states the application of Israeli law to the Golan Heights is "null and void and without international legal effect". The total area under Israeli control — including the military-controlled and [[Palestinian National Authority|Palestinian]]-governed territory of the [[West Bank]] — is 28,023 km² or 10,820 mi² (~1% water).
 
The climate of the coastal areas can be very different from that of the mountainous areas, particularly during the winter months. The high mountains in the north, like [[Mount Hermon]] in the Golan Heights, can get cold, wet and often snowy and even [[Jerusalem]] experiences snow spells every couple of years. The coastal regions, where [[Tel Aviv]] and [[Haifa]] are located, have a typical Mediterranean climate with cool, rainy winters and hot, dry summers.
[[Image:TelAviv-Beach2.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Beach of [[Tel Aviv]] at sundown]]
 
===Metropolitan areas===
{{see also|Districts of Israel|List of cities in Israel}}
As of 2006, The Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics defines three metropolitan areas: [[Gush Dan|Tel Aviv]] (population 3 million), [[Haifa]] (population 980,600) and [[Jerusalem]], the Capital (population 706,368).
 
==Government==
<!--Please add new information into relevant articles of the series-->
{{morepolitics|country=Israel}}
Israel is a [[democracy|democratic]] [[republic]] with [[universal suffrage]] that operates under the [[parliamentary system]].
 
===Legislature===
[[Image:Knesset in Jerusalem Israel.jpg|thumb|180px|The [[Knesset]] building, Israel's parliament]]
Israel's [[Unicameralism|unicameral]] legislative branch is a 120-member [[parliament]] known as the [[Knesset]]. Membership in the Knesset is allocated to parties based on their proportion of the vote, via a [[proportional representation]] voting system. Elections to the [[Knesset]] are normally held every four years, but the Knesset can decide to dissolve itself ahead of time by a simple majority, known as a vote of no-confidence. Twelve parties currently hold seats.
{{see also|List of political parties in Israel}}
 
===Executive===
The [[President of Israel]] is [[Head of State]], serving as a largely ceremonial [[figurehead]]. The President selects the leader of the majority party or ruling coalition in the Knesset as the [[Prime Minister of Israel|Prime Minister]], who serves as [[head of government]].<ref name="1990s">For a short period in the 1990s the Prime Minister was directly elected by the electorate. This change was not viewed a success and was abandoned.</ref>
 
===Constitution and legal system===
Israel has not completed a written [[constitution]]. Its government functions according to the laws of the [[Knesset]], especially the "[[Basic Laws of Israel]]" (currently there are 14). These are slated to become the foundation of a future official constitution. In mid-2003, the Knesset's Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee began drafting an official constitution. The effort is still underway as of early 2006. <ref name="cfi">{{cite web| url=http://www.cfisrael.org| title=Constitution for Israel| accessdate=2006-04-08}}</ref>
 
Israel's legal system mixes influences from Anglo-American, Continental and Jewish law, as well as the [[Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel, May 14, 1948|declaration of the State of Israel]].
 
As in Anglo-American law, the Israeli legal system is based on the principle of ''[[stare decisis]]'' (precedent). It is an [[adversarial system]], not an [[Inquisitorial system|inquisitorial]] one, in the sense that the parties (for example, plaintiff and defendant) are the ones that bring the evidence before the court. The court does not conduct any independent investigation on the case.
 
As in Continental legal systems, the [[jury]] system was not adopted in Israel. Court cases are decided by professional [[judge]]s. Additional Continental Law influences can be found in the fact that several major Israeli statutes (such as the Contract Law) are based on Civil Law principles. Israeli statute body is not comprised of Codes, but of individual statutes. However, a Civil Code draft has been completed recently, and is planned to become a bill.
 
Religious tribunals (Jewish, Sharia'a, Druze and Christian) have exclusive jurisdiction on annulment of marriages.
 
===Judiciary===
[[Image:SupremeCourtIsrael ST 06.jpg|thumb|180px|Frontal view of [[Supreme Court of Israel|The Supreme Court]] building]]
Israel's Judiciary branch is made of a three-tier system of courts. At the lowest level are Magistrate Courts, situated in most cities. Above them are District Courts, serving both as [[Appeal|appellate]] courts and as courts of first instance, situated in five cities: [[Jerusalem]], [[Tel Aviv]], [[Haifa]], [[Be'er Sheva]] and [[Nazareth]].
 
At the top of the judicial pyramid is the [[Supreme Court of Israel]] seated in Jerusalem. The current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is [[Aharon Barak]]. The Supreme Court serves a dual role as the highest court of appeals and as the body for a separate institution known as the High Court of Justice (HCOJ). The HCOJ has the unique responsibility of addressing petitions presented to the Court by individual citizens. The respondents to these petitions are usually governmental agencies (including the Israel Defense Forces). The result of such petitions, which are decided by the HCOJ, may be an instruction by the HCOJ to the relevant Governmental agency to act in a manner prescribed by the HCOJ.
 
A committee composed of Knesset members, Supreme Court Justices, and Israeli Bar members carries out the election of judges. The Courts Law requires judges to retire at the age of seventy. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, with the approval of the Minister of Justice, appoints registrars to all courts.
 
Israel is not a member of the [[International Criminal Court]] as it fears it could lead to prosecution of Israeli settlers in the occupied territories.
 
==Military==
{{main|Israeli Security Forces}}
Israel's military consists of a unified [[Israel Defense Forces]] (IDF), known in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] by the acronym ''Tzahal'' (צה"ל). Historically, there have been no separate Israeli military services. The Navy and [[Israeli Air Force|Air Force]] are subordinate to the Army. There are other paramilitary agencies that deal with different aspects of Israel's security (such as ''[[Israel Border Police|Magav]]'' and ''[[Shin Bet]]''). The IDF was based on paramilitary underground armies, chiefly [[Haganah]].
[[Image:IDF-logo.gif|thumb|Logo of the IDF]]
The IDF is one of the [[List of countries by military expenditures|best funded military forces]] in the [[Middle East]] and ranks among the most battle-trained armed forces in the world, having been involved in five major wars and numerous border conflicts. In terms of personnel, the IDF's main resource is the training quality of its soldiers and expert institutions, rather than sheer numbers of soldiers. It also relies heavily on high-tech weapons systems, some developed and manufactured in Israel for its specific needs, and others imported (largely from the United States).
 
Most Israelis (males and females) are [[conscription|draft]]ed into the military at age 18. Exceptions are [[Israeli Arab]]s, those who cannot serve because of injury or disability, women who declare themselves married, or those who are religiously observant. Compulsory service is three years for men, and two years for women. [[Circassians]] and [[Bedouin]] also actively enlist in the IDF. Since 1956, [[Druze]] men have been conscripted in the same way as Jewish men, at the request of the Druze community. Men studying full-time in religious institutions can get a deferment from conscription. Most [[Haredi Judaism|''Haredi'' Jews]] extend these deferments until they are too old to be conscripted, a practice that has fueled much controversy in Israel.
 
Following compulsory service, Israeli men become part of the IDF reserve forces, and are usually required to serve several weeks every year as reservists until their 40s.
 
===Nuclear Capability===
There is much speculation regarding the nuclear capabilities of Israel. Since the middle of the 20th century, the [[Negev Nuclear Research Center]] has been operational and capable of producing [[weapons grade]] [[nuclear material]]. This site has never been under the watch of the [[International Atomic Energy Agency]], so it is therefore widely believed that Israel has a large stockpile of nuclear weapons. The IAEA has stated outright that it believes Israel "to be a state possessing nuclear weapons," but the Israeli government has never confirmed or denied this assertion. Although size of nuclear arsenal is debated, it is generally accepted that Israel possesses more than one hundred devices. Israel has not ratified the [[Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty]].
 
The supposed number of stationary nuclear weapons in 2002 is 200 (compared with 190 in Great Britain). <ref>Source: the French-German textbook ''Histoire/Geschichte - Europa und die Welt seit 1945'', Klett 2006 and Nathan 2006, German version p. 311. ISBN 3-12-416510-1.</ref>
 
Data on Israeli nuclear deployment capability is much more freely available than hard data on their nuclear program. Israel leads the Middle East in [[medium-range ballistic missile]] development. The [[Jericho missile|Jericho]] series of ballistic missile was begun in the 1970s, with three major designs built to date; Jericho I, II, and III. The Jericho II series has been in service since the mid 1980s and has a confirmed range of 1500 km. The latest missile design, the Jericho III, has a conservative range estimate of 4500 km.
 
In addition to ballistic missile technology, Israel maintains a fleet of [[Dolphin class submarine]]s capable of carrying nuclear munitions.
 
==Economy==
{{main|Economy of Israel}}
 
Israel has a technologically advanced market economy with substantial government participation. It depends on imports of [[fossil fuels]] ([[crude oil]], [[natural gas]], and [[coal]]), [[grains]], [[beef]], raw materials, and military equipment. Despite limited natural resources, Israel has intensively developed its agricultural and industrial sectors over the past 20 years. Israel is largely self-sufficient in food production except for grains and beef. Diamonds, high technology, military equipment, software, pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, and agricultural products (fruits, vegetables and flowers) are leading exports. Israel usually posts sizable [[current account deficit]]s, which are covered by large transfer payments from abroad and by foreign loans (although some economists would say the deficit is a sign of Israel's advancing markets). Israel possesses extensive facilities for [[oil refining]], [[diamond#The diamond industry|diamond polishing]], and [[semiconductor]] fabrication.
 
Roughly half of the government's external debt is owed to the [[United States]], which is its major source of economic and military aid. A relatively large fraction of Israel's external debt is held by [[individual investor]]s, via the [[Israel Bonds]] program. The combination of American loan guarantees and direct sales to individual investors, allow the state to borrow at competitive and sometimes below-market rates.
[[Image:800px-Habursa 2.JPG|thumb|300px|A main economical area in [[Gush Dan]] where the diamond stockexchange is located]]
The influx of Jewish immigrants from the former [[USSR]] topped 750,000 during the period 1989 – 1999, bringing the population of Israel from the former [[Soviet Union]] to one million, one-sixth of the total population, and adding scientific and professional expertise of substantial value for the economy's future. The influx, coupled with the opening of new markets at the end of the [[Cold War]], energized Israel's economy, which grew rapidly in the early [[1990s]]. But growth began slowing in 1996 when the government imposed tighter fiscal and monetary policies and the immigration bonus petered out. Those policies brought inflation down to record low levels in 1999.
 
Twenty-four percent of Israel's workforce holds university degrees - ranking third in the industrialized world, after the U.S. and [[Netherlands]] - and 12 percent hold advanced degrees.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.israelemb.org/economics/whoweare.htm|title=The Israel you don't see on the evening news|publisher=Israel Embassy|accessdate=[[2006-07-20]]}}</ref>
 
The important diamond industry has been affected by changing industry conditions and shifts of certain industry activities to the Far East.
 
As Israel has liberalized its economy and reduced taxes and spending, the gap between the rich and poor has grown. As of 2005, 20.5% of Israeli families (and 34% of Israeli children) are living below the poverty line, though around 40% of those are lifted above the poverty line through transfer payments.{{fact}}
 
Israel's GDP per capita, as of [[28 July]], [[2005]], was $20,551.20 per person (42nd in the world). Israel's overall productivity was $54,510.40, and the amount of patents granted was 74/1,000,000 people.
 
As of [[May]] [[2006]] average monthly wages per employee were: 7,333 [[shekels]] or 1,655 [[USD]].
Percent of unemployed persons - first quarter 2006: 8.7%
[[Image:Weizmann Institute.jpg|thumb|[[Weizmann Institute of Science]]]]
===Science and technology===
{{main|Science and technology in Israel}}
Israeli contributions to [[science]] and [[technology]] have been significant. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, Israel has worked in science and engineering.  Israeli scientists have contributed in the areas of [[genetics]], [[computer sciences]], [[electronics]], [[optics]], [[engineering]] and other [[Technology|high-tech]] industries. Israeli science is well known for its [[Israel Defense Forces#Israeli Military Technology|military technology]]. Israel has pioneered in advanced [[agriculture|agricultural]] technology. Israel has a high reputation in [[theoretical physics]] and is also known for its well-developed and revolutionary [[medicine]].
 
Four Israelis have won science [[Nobel Prize]]s. Biologists [[Avram Hershko]] and [[Aaron Ciechanover]] of the [[Technion]] shared the Chemistry prize in 2004. Israeli-American psychologist [[Daniel Kahneman]] had previously won the 2002 prize in Economics. In 2005 [[Robert Aumann]] from The [[Hebrew University]] also won the prize in Economics.
 
High technology industries have taken a pre-eminent role in the economy, particularly in the last decade. Israel’s limited natural resources and strong emphasis on education have also played key roles in directing industry towards high technology fields. As a result of the country’s success in developing cutting edge technologies in software, communications and the life sciences, Israel is frequently referred to as a second [[Silicon Valley]]. Israel (as of 2004) receives more venture capital investment than any country of Europe, and has the largest VC/GDP rate in the world, seven times that of the United States. Israel has the largest number of [[Startup company|startup companies]] in the world after the U.S. Outside the [[United States|U.S.]] and [[Canada]], Israel has the largest number of [[NASDAQ]] listed companies. Israel also has the highest percentage in the world of home computers per Capita.
 
Israel produces more scientific papers per capita than any other nation - 109 per 10,000 people.<ref name=mideastoutpost>{{cite news|title=BOYCOTT ISRAEL? DO IT PROPERLY.. |date=[[2004-12-31]]|publisher=[[Mideast Outpost]]|url=http://mideastoutpost.com/archives/000121.html}}</ref> It also boasts one of the highest per capita rates of patents filed.
 
Israel is ranked 3rd in Research and development spending, 8th in technological readiness (companies spending on R&D, the creativity of its scientific community, personal computer and internet penetration rates), 11th in innovation, 16th in High technology exports, 17th in technological achievement in [http://www.nationmaster.com Nation Master]'s list of countries in the world by economy standards.
 
[[Image:Negev-2005-1.JPG|thumb|left|Sand Mountains in the [[Negev]]]]
[[Image:Ein-Pik-2005-3.JPG|thumb|left|Landscape in the north]]
===Tourism===
{{main|Tourism in Israel}}
Another leading industry is tourism, which benefits from the plethora of important historical sites for Judaism and Christianity and from Israel’s warm climate and access to water resources. Tourism in Israel includes a rich variety of historical and religious sites in the [[Holy Land]], as well as modern beach resorts, [[archaeological tourism]], [[heritage tourism]] and [[ecotourism]]. ''See also {{Wikitravel|Israel}}.''
 
==Population==
===Demographics===
[[Image:Israeli soldiers and Arabs .jpg|thumb|180px|Israeli [[Bedouin]] soldiers chat with Arab civilians in [[Galilee]], 1978]]
{{main|Demographics of Israel|Languages of Israel}}
According to Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics, as of May 2006, of Israel's 7 million people, 77% were [[Jew]]s, 18.5% [[Arab]]s, and 4.3% "others".<ref name="pdf2">{{cite web| url=http://www1.cbs.gov.il/shnaton56/st02_01.pdf| title=Population, by religion and population group| accessdate=2006-04-08| first =Government of Israel| last =Central Bureau of Statistics}} {{PDFlink}}</ref> Among Jews, 68% were [[Sabra (person)|Sabras]] (Israeli-born), mostly second- or third-generation Israelis, and the rest are [[oleh|olim]] — 22% from [[Europe]] and the [[Americas]], and 10% from [[Asia]] and [[Africa]], including the [[Arab world|Arab countries]]. <ref name="pdf3">{{cite web| url=http://www1.cbs.gov.il/shnaton56/st02_24.pdf| title=Jews and others, by origin, continent of birth and period of immigration| accessdate=2006-04-08| first =Government of Israel| last =Central Bureau of Statistics}} {{PDFlink}}</ref>
 
Israel has two official languages; [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] and [[Arabic language|Arabic]]. Hebrew is the major and primary language of the state and is spoken by the majority of the population. Arabic is spoken by the Arab minority and by some members of the [[Mizrahi Jews|Mizrahi]] Jewish community. [[English language|English]] is studied in school and is spoken by the majority of the population as a second language. Other languages spoken in Israel include [[Russian language|Russian]], [[Yiddish language|Yiddish]], [[Ladino language|Ladino]], [[Romanian language|Romanian]], [[Polish language|Polish]], [[French language|French]], [[Italian language|Italian]], [[Dutch language|Dutch]], [[German language|German]], [[Amharic language|Amharic]] and [[Persian language|Persian]]. American and European popular television shows are commonly presented. Newspapers can be found in all languages listed above as well as others.
 
As of 2004, 224,200 Israeli citizens lived in the [[West Bank]] in numerous [[Israeli settlement]]s, (including towns such as [[Ma'ale Adummim]] and [[Ariel, West Bank|Ariel]], and a handful of communities that were present long before the [[1948 Arab-Israeli War]] and were re-established after the [[Six-Day War]] such as [[Hebron]] and [[Gush Etzion]]). Around 180,000 Israelis lived in [[East Jerusalem]], <ref name="fmep">{{cite web| url= http://fmep.org/settlement_info/stats_data/jerusalem/east_jerusalem_population_area_2000-2002.html| title=East Jerusalem Population and Area, 2000-2002| accessdate=2006-04-08| first =Foundation for Middle East Peace| last =Settlements information}}</ref> which came under Israeli law following its capture from Jordan during the Six-Day War. About 8,500 Israelis lived in settlements built in the [[Gaza Strip]], prior to their forcible removal by the government in the summer of [[2005]] as part of [[Israel's unilateral disengagement plan]].
 
===Culture of Israel===
[[Image:Roth Oil.jpg|thumb|Leo Roth, Flute Players, oil on canvas, 1967]]
{{main|Culture of Israel}}
The culture of Israel is inseparable from long history of Judaism and Jewish history which preceded it.
 
Tel Aviv, Haifa, [[Herzliyyāh]], and Jerusalem have excellent art museums, and many towns and kibbutzim have smaller high-quality museums. The [[Israel Museum]] in Jerusalem houses the [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] along with an extensive collection of Jewish religious and folk art. The [[Beit Hatefutsot|Museum of the Diaspora]] is located on the campus of Tel Aviv University.
 
Israel has [[artist colony|artist colonies]] in [[Safed]], [[Jaffa, Israel|Jaffa]], and [[Ein Hod]].
 
Of the three major repertory companies, the most famous, [[Habima Theater]], was founded in 1917.
 
{{seealso|Archaeology of Israel|Israel Antiquities Authority|Jewish cuisine|Israeli wine|Kibbutz}}
 
====Sports====
[[Image:Galfridman.jpg|thumb|[[Gal Fridman]] won Israel's first [[gold medal]] at the [[2004 Summer Olympics]]]]
{{main|Sports in Israel}}
Sports in Israel, as in other countries, are an important part of the national culture. The Israeli sporting culture is much like that of European countries. Israeli athletics go back as far as before the establishment of the state of Israel. While football (soccer) and basketball are considered the most popular sports in Israel, the nation has reached many achievements in other sports, such as handball and athletics, and Israelis are also involved in hockey, rugby and a wide variety of other athletic activities.
 
Israel has won 6 olympic medals so far.
 
====Literature====
[[Image:Agnon001.jpg|thumb|right|110px|Shmuel Yosef Agnon on official Israeli stamp]]
{{main|Israeli literature}}
Israeli literature is mostly written in Hebrew and the history of Israeli literature is mostly the product of the revival of the Hebrew language as a spoken language in modern times.
Since the middle of the nineteenth century, the Hebrew language was increasingly used for speaking as well as writing modern forms of prose, poetry and drama. Every year thousands of new books are published in Hebrew and most of them are original to the Hebrew language.
 
[[Shmuel Yosef Agnon]] won the [[Nobel Prize in literature]] in 1966.
 
====Music====
{{main|Music of Israel}}
[[Image:Turkey 605.jpg|thumb|[[Infected Mushroom]]]]
[[Image:Itzhak perlman.jpg|thumb|left|100px|[[Itzhak Perlman]]]]
The Israeli music is very versatile and combines elements of both western and eastern music. It tends to be very eclectic and contains a wide variety of influences from the [[Diaspora]] and more modern cultural importation.  [[Hassidic]] songs, Asian and Arab pop, especially Yemenite singers, and [[hip hop music|hip hop]] or [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]].
 
The [[Folk music|National/folk songs]] are very canonical and often deal with [[Zionism|Zionist]] hopes and dreams and glorify the life of idealistic [[Jew]]ish youth who intend on building a home and defending their homeland.
 
Israel is well known for its famous classical [[orchestra]]s and the [[Israel Philharmonic Orchestra|Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra]] under the management of [[Zubin Mehta]] has a worldwide reputation. [[Dudu Fisher]], [[Itzhak Perlman]] and [[Pinchas Zukerman]] are some of the more renowned classical musicians from Israel.
 
Music styles popular in Israel include Pop, Rock, Heavy Metal, Hip hop and rap, Trance (especially [[Goa trance]] and [[psychedelic trance]]), Oriental [[Mizrahi music]] and Ethnic music.
 
Israel has [[Eurovision Song Contest winners|won the Eurovision Song Contest]] 3 times.
 
{{seealso|Hatikvah}}
 
===Religion in Israel===
{{main|Religion in Israel}}
[[Image:Israel 1 027.Young male religious Jews.jpg|thumb|180px|Young [[Haredi]] men on [[Purim#Masquerading|Purim]] in [[Jerusalem]].]]
 
According to Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics, at the end of 2005, 76% of Israelis were [[Jew]]s by religion ([[Judaism]]), 19.7% were [[Arabs]] (including [[Muslims]], [[Christians]] and [[Druze]]) and the remaining 4.3% "others" (including mostly family members of [[FSU]] immigrants and some [[Who is a Jew?#"Ethnic Jew"|ethnic Jews]] which were not classified by religion, as well as non-Arab Christians) . <ref name="pdf2">{{cite web| url=http://www1.cbs.gov.il/shnaton57/st02_01.pdf| title=Population, by religion and population group| accessdate=2006-04-08| first =Government of Israel| last =Central Bureau of Statistics}} {{PDFlink}}</ref>
 
Roughly 12% of Israeli Jews defined as ''[[Haredi Judaism|haredim]]'' (ultra-orthodox religious); an additional 9% are "religious"; 35% consider themselves "traditionalists" (not strictly adhering to Jewish [[Halakha]]); and 43% are "secular" (termed "hiloni"). Among the seculars, 53% believe in God. However, 78% of all Israelis participate in a Passover seder. <ref>[http://www.jcpa.org/dje/articles2/relinisr-consensus.htm Religion in Israel: A Consensus for Jewish Tradition] by Daniel J. Elazar (JCPA)</ref>
 
Israelis tend not to align themselves with a movement of [[Judaism]] (such as [[Reform Judaism]] or [[Conservative Judaism]]) but instead tend to define their religious affiliation by degree of their religious practice.
 
Among [[Arab citizens of Israel|Arab Israelis]], 82.6% were Muslim, 8.8% were [[Christian]] and 8.4% were [[Druze]]. <ref name="pdf2" /><!--{{cite web| url=http://www1.cbs.gov.il/shnaton56/st02_01.pdf| title=Population, by religion and population group| accessdate=2006-04-08| first =Government of Israel| last =Central Bureau of Statistics| format=PDF}}</ref>-->
{{seealso|Holidays and events in Israel}}
 
The [[Baha'i]] world centre, which includes the [[Universal House of Justice]], in Haifa attracts [[Bahá'í pilgrimage|pilgrimage]] from all over the world. <ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH_iiKH31BA&mode=related&search= Haifa - Carmel Mountain] (video)</ref> Apart from a few hundred staff, Baha'is do not live in Israel.
 
==Human rights==
{{main|Human rights in Israel}}
 
{{POV-section|NPOV Tag for Human Rights}}
The [[Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel]] proclaimed that the state ''"...will foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; it will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the [[Prophet#Prophets in Jewish thought|prophets of Israel]]; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee [[freedom of religion]], [[freedom of thought|conscience]], language, education and culture; it will safeguard the [[Holy Place]]s of all religions; and it will be faithful to the principles of the [[Charter of the United Nations]]."''<ref>[[wikiquote:Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel]]</ref> However, like many democracies, Israel often struggles with issues of minority rights, especially when it comes to the often contentious issues surrouinding the treatment of Israel's large Arab minority, which constitutes 15% of Israel's population.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.acri.org.il/english-acri/engine/story.asp?id=100
| title = A Status Report – Equality for Arab Citizens of Israel
| publisher = The Association for Civil Rights In Israel
| year = 2002
| accessdate = August 2, 2006
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.huka.gov.il/wiki/index.php/Human_Rights
| title = Human Rights
| publisher = A joint project of the Knesset and the Jewish Agency for Israel, operated in North America by the Israeli American Jewish Forum.
| accessdate = August 25, 2006
}}</ref>
 
Various countries, international bodies, [[non-governmental organizations]] and individuals have evaluated and often criticized Israel's human rights record, often in relation to the ongoing [[Arab-Israeli conflict]] and the [[Israeli-Palestinian conflict]].
Groups such as [[Amnesty International]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://web.amnesty.org/report2005/isr-summary-eng
| title = Israel and the Occupied Territories
| accessdate = 2006-09-03
| year = 2006
| work = AI Report 2005
| publisher = Amnesty International
}}</ref>
and [[Human Rights Watch]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://hrw.org/doc/?t=mideast&c=isrlpa
| title = Israel/Palestinian Authority
| accessdate = 2006-09-03
| year = 2006
| publisher = Human Rights Watch
}}</ref>
are highly critical of Israel's policies. In turn, these groups were accused of anti-Israel bias: [[Amnesty International#Alleged selection bias|in the AI]], [[Human Rights Watch#Middle East controversies|in the HRW]].
According to 2005 [[US Department of State]] report on Israel, ''"The government generally respected the human rights of its citizens; however, there were problems in some areas..."'' <ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2005/61690.htm
| title = Israel and the Occupied Territories
| date = March 8, 2006
| accessdate = July 27, 2006
| year = 2005
| work = Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2005. Israel and the Occupied Territories
| publisher = Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
}}</ref>
In 2006, the [[Freedom House]] rated [[political rights]] in Israel as "1" (1 representing the most free and 7 the least free rating), [[civil liberties]] as "2" and gave it the freedom rating of "Free". Other areas, [[Israeli-occupied territories|controlled by Israel through military occupation]] but not considered with the country's main territory were rated as "6", "5", and "Not Free." <ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.freedomhouse.org/uploads/pdf/Charts2006.pdf
| title=Freedom in the World 2006
| publisher=[[Freedom House]]
| date=[[2005-12-16]]
| accessdate=2006-07-27
| format={{PDFlink}}
}}<br/>See also [[Freedom in the World 2006]], [[List of indices of freedom]]}}</ref>
 
Within Israel, policies of its government are often subjected to criticism by its press (the only country ranked "Free" (28 on the scale 1-100) in the region in 2005 by Freedom House<ref>{{cite web
| title = Press Freedom Rankings by Region 2005
| publisher = [[Freedom House]]
| date = 2005
| url = http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=202&year=2005
| accessdate=2006-08-12
}}</ref>) as well as a vast variety of political, human rights and watchdog groups such as [[Association for Civil Rights in Israel]], [[B'Tselem]], [[Machsom Watch]], [[Women in Black]], [[Women for Israel's Tomorrow]], among others. According to the [[Reporters Without Borders]], ''"The Israeli media were once again in 2005 the only ones in the region that had genuine freedom to speak out."''<ref>{{cite web
| title = Israel - Annual report 2006
| publisher = [[Reporters Without Borders]]
| date = 2006
| url = http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=17231&Valider=OK
| accessdate=2006-08-12
}}</ref>
 
==Foreign relations==
{{main|Foreign relations of Israel}}
 
High priorities in the [[foreign policy]] of Israel include seeking an end to hostilities with Arab forces and gaining wide acceptance as a sovereign state with an important international role.
 
The State of Israel joined the [[United Nations]] on [[May 11]], [[1949]] (See also [[Israel and the United Nations]]). Today, Israel has diplomatic relations with 161 states.
<ref>[http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/about%20the%20ministry/diplomatic%20missions/Israel-s%20Diplomatic%20Missions%20Abroad Israel's Diplomatic Missions Abroad] (Israeli MFA)</ref>
 
== Annotated list of Israeli media sources ==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
'''General references to the Israeli media:'''
* [http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/facts%20about%20israel/culture/the%20printed%20media-%20israel-s%20newspapers The Printed Media: Israel's Newspapers] Summary from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs
* [[List of Israeli newspapers]]
'''English-language periodicals:'''
* ''[[Azure (journal)|Azure]]'' [http://www.azure.co.il/] English edition of the quarterly journal offering essays and criticism on Israeli and Jewish public policy, culture and philosophy
* ''[[Globes]]'' [http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/nodeView.asp?fid=942] English-language website of Israel's business and technology daily
* ''[[Haaretz]]'' [http://www.haaretz.com/] Online English edition of the relatively highbrow Hebrew-language newspaper, Haaretz has a liberal editorial stance similar to that of ''[[The Guardian]]''.
* ''[[IsraelInsider]]'' [http://www.israelinsider.com/] - Independent, right wing outlet. Target audience is American Jewry.
* ''[[Jerusalem Newswire]]'' [http://www.jnewswire.com/ ] Independent, right-wing Christian-run news outlet
* ''[[The Jerusalem Post]]'' [http://www.jpost.com/] Israel's oldest English-language newspaper, considered to have a right-of-center editorial slant
* ''[[The Jerusalem Report]]'' [http://www.jrep.com/] Left-of-center English [[weekly newspaper]]
* ''[[YNetNews]]'' [http://www.ynetnews.com/] English-language website of Israel's largest newspaper ''[[Yedioth Ahronoth]]''
'''Hebrew-language periodicals:'''
* ''[[Globes]]'' [http://www.globes.co.il/ ] business daily
* ''[[Haaretz]]'' [http://www.haaretz.co.il/] Relatively highbrow Israeli newspaper with a liberal editorial stance similar to that of ''[[The Guardian]]''
* ''[[Hamodia]]'' Daily newspaper serving Israel's [[Haredi]] community. English editions are also published in the [[United States|U.S.]] and the [[United Kingdom|U.K.]] and serve local Jewish Orthodox communities in those countries. ''Hamodia'' is not available online.
* ''[[Hazofe]]'' [http://www.hazofe.co.il/] daily newspaper with a [[religious Zionist movement|religious Zionist]] point of view
* ''[[Maariv]]'' [http://www.NRG.co.il/] Second largest Israeli newspaper, centrist.
* ''[[Makor Rishon]]'' [http://www.makorrishon.net/] highbrow conservative [[weekly newspaper]], conceived as a right-wing alternative to [[Ha'aretz]]
{{col-2}}
'''Hebrew-language periodicals (continued):'''
* ''[[Azure (journal)|Tchelet]]'' [http://www.tchelet.org.il/] Hebrew edition of ''Azure'', a quarterly journal covering Israeli public policy
* ''[[Yated Ne'eman]]'' Daily newspaper serving the [[Haredi]] community
* ''[[Yedioth Ahronoth]]'' [http://www.ynet.co.il/] Israel's largest newspaper, centrist
 
'''German-language periodicals:'''
* ''[[Israel Nachrichten]]'' [http://www.imh-deutschland.de/service/index.php?rubrik=0010&id=0038] The German-language daily from Tel Aviv for the 100,000 German-speaking Jews in Israel
 
'''Arabic-language periodicals:'''
* ''Al-Ittihad'' Arabic-language daily newspaper
<!-- '''Russian-language periodicals:''' -->
'''Israeli broadcast media:'''
* [http://www.iba.org.il/ Israel Broadcasting Authority], TV News in Hebrew, some English.
* [http://www.jerusalemonline.co.il/home.asp JerusalemONLINE] video news update from Israel in English by [[Channel 2 (Israel)|Channel 2]] News.
* [http://www.radioisrael.com/ Radio Israel]
* [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/ Arutz Sheva] news site representing the settler community, right-wing religious (English)
* [http://www.israelradio.org/ Kol Israel - Voice of Israel] Also produced by the IBA. In Hebrew, French, English, Spanish, Ladino, Russian, Persian, Yiddish, etc.
* [http://www.isracast.com/ IsraCast] - Independent, multimedia broadcast and distribution network that focuses on Israeli foreign affairs and defense issues (English)
* [[Israelisms Podcast]] [http://www.israelisms.com] Weekly podcast about everyday life and politics in Israel (English)
'''Notable Internet sources:'''
* [[DailyAlert]] [http://www.dailyalert.org/] daily digest of Israeli and world media reports on Israel and the Middle East prepared by the [[Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs]] for [[The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations]]
* [[IsraPundit]][http://israpundit.com] Pro-Israel news and views from right-wing perspective.
* [http://www.infoisrael.net Israel Habara Committee]
 
'''Relevant non-Israeli media:'''
* [[Jewish Telegraphic Agency]] [http://www.jta.org/], New York-based [[news agency]] covering worldwide Jewish news, centrist (English)
{{col-end}}
 
==References and footnotes==
<div class="references-small">
<references/>
</div>
 
==See also==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
* [[List of Israelis]]
* [[List of cities in Israel|Cities in Israel]]
* [[Communications in Israel]]
* [[Transportation in Israel]]
* [[Israel Defense Forces]]
* [[Foreign relations of Israel]]
* [[Israeli-occupied territories]]
{{col-break}}
* [[Israel and the United Nations]]
* [[Terrorism against Israel]]
* [[List of universities in Israel]]
* [[Tel Aviv Stock Exchange]]
* [[Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities]]
* [[Music of Israel]]
* [[Mechanical biological treatment]] - Israeli leading area of innovation in waste technology
{{col-break}}
* [[Israel-United States relations]]
* [[Accession of Israel to the European Union]]
* [[List of the UN resolutions concerning Israel]]
* [[Israeli passport]]
* [[Sport in Israel]]
{{col-end}}
 
== External links ==
{{sisterlinks|Israel}}
{{portal}}
* {{wikitravel}}
 
===General information===
* [http://www.dinur.org/1.html?rsID=219 The Jewish History Resource Center] Project of the Dinur Center for Research in Jewish History, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/country_profiles/803257.stm BBC News Country Profile - ''Israel and Palestinian Territories'']
* [http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/israel.html Israel] ([[Jewish Virtual Library ]])
* [https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/is.html CIA World Factbook - ''Israel'']
* [http://www.britannica.com/nations/Israel Encyclopaedia Britannica, Israel - Country Page]
* [http://www.state.gov/p/nea/ci/israel/ US State Department - ''Israel''] includes Background Notes, Country Study and major reports
* [http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/indiv/mideast/cuvlm/Israel.html Columbia University Libraries - ''Israel''] directory category of the WWW-VL
* [http://www.ynetnews.com/home/0,7340,L-3131,00.html Israel Lexicon] definitions, events and terms related to Israel, [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3284752,00.html Israel Profile] (YnetNews)
* [http://www.israel21c.com Israel21c: A focus beyond the conflict]
 
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
 
===Government===
* [http://www.gov.il/FirstGov/english Government Portal of Israel]
* [http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel]
* [http://www.president.gov.il/defaults/default_en.asp The President of the state of Israel]
* [http://www.pmo.gov.il/PMOEng Prime Minister's Office]
* [http://www.cbs.gov.il/engindex.htm Bureau of Statistics]
* [http://www.idf.il/ Israel Defence Force site]
* [http://www.seamzone.mod.gov.il/pages/eng/purpose.htm Israel Security Fence Project]
 
{{col-2}}
 
===Legislation and the legal system===
* [http://www.knesset.gov.il/ The Knesset (Parliament)]
* [http://www.knesset.gov.il/description/eng/eng_mimshal_yesod1.htm Basic Laws], legal code of Israel
* [http://www.israelinsurancelaw.com/ Israeli Commercial, Banking, Tort and Insurance Laws] in English
{{col-end}}
 
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
 
===History===
* [http://www.dinur.org/resources/resourceCategoryDisplay.aspx?categoryid=780&rsid=478 State of Israel] The Jewish History Resource Center, Project of the Dinur Center for Research in Jewish History, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/78601.stm The birth of Israel] from the BBC
* [http://www.imj.org.il/ Israel Museum, Jerusalem]
* [http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2002/7/Israel-s%20Foreign%20Relations-%20Selected%20Documents Historical documents] (MFA)
* [http://www.isracast.com/territories.asp Authentic historical recordings] (Isracast)
{{col-2}}
 
===Economy, science, and technology===
* [http://www.standardpoor.co.il/index.html Standard and Poor's Israel Economic Information]
* [http://duns100.dundb.co.il/ DUNS 100], the hundred largest companies in Israel
* [http://www.science.co.il/ Israel Science and Technology Homepage]
* [http://www.isracast.com/tech.asp IsraCast: Science and Technology News From Israel] (isracast.com, English)
{{col-end}}
 
===Society===
* [http://www.iwn.org.il/iwn.asp Israel Women's Network]
* [http://www.gaymiddleeast.com/country/israel Gay Middle East - Israel section]
* [http://www.fmep.org/analysis/ori_nir_israels_arab_minority.html Israeli Arabs and Israeli Society], discussion with Ori Nir, correspondent for Haaretz and the Forward.
* [http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Society_&_Culture/freedom.html Freedom of Religion in Israeli Society and Politics] by Prof. Shimon Shetreet, former minister of Religious Affairs.
* [http://www.nswas.org/ Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam] the [[Oasis of Peace]], an experimental Arab-Jewish cooperative village.
* [http://www.reform.org.il/ Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism], Reform Judaism in Israel
 
{{Southwest Asia}}
{{Middle East}}
{{Mediterranean}}
{{Asia}}
 
[[Category:Hebrew words]]
[[Category:Israel|*]]
[[Category:Levant]]
[[Category:Middle Eastern countries]]
[[Category:Near Eastern countries]]
[[Category:Southwest Asian countries]]
[[Category:Arabic-speaking countries]]
 
{{Link FA|he}}


[[af:Israel]]
==Footnotes==
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[[Category:Geography Workgroup (Top)]]

Latest revision as of 11:00, 3 September 2024

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Map of Israel

Israel (Hebrew: מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, Medinat Yisra'el) is a country in the Middle East region, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the west, Egypt on the south-west, Jordan on the east, Syria on the northeast, and Lebanon on the north. Israel's capital is Jerusalem. Israel's population is 7,291,200[1], of which 75.8 percent are Jews and 19.9 percent are Muslim and Christian Arabs.[2]. Close to half the population of Israel lives in the Gush Dan metropolitan area around the coastal city of Tel Aviv. Other major urban centers are around the cities of Jerusalem and Haifa. Israel's total land area is 20,330 square kilometers.

See also: State of Israel

Occupied territories

The "Occupied Territories" are essentially the Gaza strip, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. These are parts of Jordan (i.e., the West Bank and East Jerusalem) and Egypt (i.e., Gaza) that were occupied by the Israeli Defense Forces during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, and are now under the civil authority of the Palestinian Authority subject to Israeli military control. East Jerusalem's status is less clear than that of the West Bank and Gaza. This specific term implies a belief that the Israeli actions are illegal, with which the State of Israel does not agree.

The West Bank and East Jerusalem, but not Gaza, contain Israeli civilians, as well as security forces.

Name

The word "Israel" was the name given to the Biblical Jacob after wrestling with an angel (Genesis 32). It was commonly used to denote the Jewish people in general. The name was also the name of the Jewish people, the northern kingdom of the Hebrews (c. 1000-721 BC), and is also sometimes uses as a first name.

History

For more information, see: State of Israel.

Israel declared its independence on Friday, May 14, 1948 following the United Nations (UN) Partition Plan that had been adopted by the UN's General Assembly on November 29, 1947.

Footnotes

  1. ↑ CBS Israel: http://www1.cbs.gov.il/reader/mainind/indengnew.html. The statistical data does not contain non-citizen residents.
  2. ↑ CBS Israel: http://www1.cbs.gov.il/reader/newhodaot/hodaa_template.html?hodaa=200711171
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