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| Israël | |
|---|---|
| Conventional long name | State of Israël |
| Common name | Israël |
| Capital | Jerusalem |
| Largest city | Tel Aviv |
| Official languages | Hebrew language, Arabic language |
| Government type | Parliamentary republic |
| Area km2 | 20770 |
| Population estimate | 9,300,000 |
| Currency | Israeli new shekel |
| Independence | 14 May 1948 |
Israël is a Middle Eastern country on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea bordered by Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt, with disputed boundaries involving the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Founded in 1948 following the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine, the state rapidly became central to regional diplomacy, conflict, and migration, hosting diverse populations including descendants of Zionism adherents, Mizrahi Jews, Ashkenazi Jews, and Palestinian Arabs. Israël maintains vibrant high-technology sectors around Tel Aviv, significant archaeological sites in Jerusalem and Masada, and complex relations with neighboring states including peace treaties with Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty and Israel–Jordan peace treaty.
The modern English name derives from the Latinized form of the Hebrew Bible name "Israel", associated with the patriarch Jacob who was renamed "Israel" after wrestling in Genesis. Historical uses appear in inscriptions such as the Merneptah Stele and texts like the Book of Judges and Book of Kings, while medieval maps employed variants seen in works by Al-Idrisi and Benjamin of Tudela. Nineteenth-century Zionist movement leaders like Theodor Herzl reclaimed the name for the political project culminating in statehood proclaimed by David Ben-Gurion.
Ancient periods include settlements of Canaan, kingdoms referenced in the Hebrew Bible such as Kingdom of Israel (Samaria) and Kingdom of Judah, conquests by empires like the Neo-Assyrian Empire and Achaemenid Empire, and Hellenistic and Roman eras marked by figures such as Alexander the Great and the Roman Empire. Late antique and medieval chapters feature the Byzantine Empire, Islamic caliphates including the Umayyad Caliphate and Abbasid Caliphate, the Crusades, and Ottoman rule under the Ottoman Empire from 1517. The modern era saw the rise of Zionism and increased Jewish immigration, tensions during the British Mandate for Palestine, the 1947 UN Partition Plan for Palestine, the 1948 Arab–Israeli War with combatants such as Transjordan and Egypt, and subsequent conflicts like the Six-Day War and the Yom Kippur War. Peace processes involved negotiations mediated by actors like United States administrations, producing accords including the Camp David Accords and the Oslo Accords while tensions persisted with groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.
The country spans varied terrain from the Negev Desert in the south to the Galilee highlands in the north, with the Jordan River valley and the Dead Sea—the latter lying at the Earth's lowest land elevation. Coastal plains host urban centers like Haifa and Ashdod, while the Golan Heights provide strategic high ground seized in 1967 and later annexed in disputed actions involving United Nations Security Council resolutions. Climatic zones range from Mediterranean weather on the coast to arid conditions inland, affecting biodiversity in protected areas such as Ein Gedi Nature Reserve and archaeological landscapes including Beit She'an National Park.
The political system centers on a unicameral legislature, the Knesset, and executive leadership headed by a Prime Minister and a President with largely ceremonial duties. Major political parties include Likud, Israeli Labor Party, and Yesh Atid, while coalitions frequently form governments and involve negotiations with smaller factions such as Shas and Joint List. Judicial oversight arises from the Supreme Court, which adjudicates constitutional and administrative disputes, and security policy engages institutions like the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet under frameworks shaped by laws including the Basic Laws of Israel.
The economy features advanced sectors in high-tech, biotechnology, and defense industry exports centered around hubs in Tel Aviv District and Haifa District. Agriculture in areas like the Jordan Valley uses drip irrigation innovations pioneered by entrepreneurs associated with institutions such as the Weizmann Institute of Science and Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. Trade partners include the United States, European Union, and China, while natural gas fields such as Tamar gas field and Leviathan gas field altered energy imports and regional maritime economics. Financial institutions like the Bank of Israel regulate monetary policy and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange hosts capital markets.
Population comprises diverse communities: Jewish ethnic groups including Sephardi Jews, Ethiopian Jews, and Russian Jews alongside Arab citizens including Druze and Bedouin communities; languages prominent include Hebrew language and Arabic language. Immigration waves known as Aliyah brought migrants from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, influencing urban development in cities like Beersheba and Netanya. Social dynamics involve debates over minority rights, conscription policies relating to the Israel Defense Forces, and civil movements led by organizations such as B'Tselem and Peace Now.
Religious life is shaped by major traditions: Judaism with holy sites in Western Wall, Christianity with notable locations like the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and Islam with shrines such as the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Cultural institutions include the Israel Museum, performing arts venues like the Habima Theatre, and festivals such as Jerusalem Film Festival. Literature features writers like Shmuel Yosef Agnon and Amos Oz, while music and cuisine reflect influences from Yemenite Jews, Polish Jews, and regional Arab cultures producing dishes like falafel and shakshuka appearing in urban markets like Machane Yehuda.
Category:Countries in Asia