Israel
Israel is a country in the Middle East. Independent since 1948, Israel is notable for being the only country in the world with a Jewish majority. The capital is Jerusalem. Its national language is Hebrew, which was revived by Jews from the ancient Hebrew language.
Geography[edit]
Israel is bounded in the west by the Mediterranean Sea and the Sinai Peninsula, in the south by the Red Sea, in the east by the Jordan River, and in the north by Syria and Lebanon.
Major cities include Jerusalem, Eilat, Tel Aviv, Haifa and Tiberias.
Demographics[edit]
About 80% Jewish, 20% Arab, Bedouin, Druze, and other. Most Israeli Arabs are Muslim, with a Christian minority.
Israeli Jews are about 50/50 European vs. Middle Eastern or North African origin, with minorities from Ethiopia, India, and other parts of the world. There is widespread intermarriage between the groups and the majority of Jews have a mixed background.
Total population is around 10 million.
History[edit]
- Ancient Israel
- Roman Empire
- Byzantine Empire
- Ottoman Empire
- British Mandate of Palestine
- Israeli War of Independence
- Six Day War
- Yom Kippur War
Cartography[edit]
These additional maps are presented for educational purposes and may not reflect international consensus.
West Bank as integral part of Israel[edit]
This map shows Israel including the regions of Judea and Samaria.
Area comparison[edit]
Israel is slightly larger than the state of New Jersey.
Articles[edit]
- Israeli Endgame - Wall Street Journal - November 30, 2000
- Moral Clarity in Gaza - Charles Krauthammer - Washington Post July 17, 2014