Israel (country)

Israel (country)
Israel Belkind and Fanny Abramovitch (original) “The Provisional Council of Stat · Public domain · source
Conventional long name	State of Israel
Common name	Israel
Capital	Jerusalem
Largest city	Jerusalem
Official languages	Hebrew
Recognized languages	Arabic
Government type	Parliamentary republic
Established	14 May 1948
Area km2	20770
Population estimate	9.6 million
Gdp nominal	High-income
Currency	Israeli new shekel
Driving side	Right

Israel (country) is a country in the Levant on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea, bordering Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, and the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. It was established in 1948 following the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine and has since been central to regional diplomacy, conflict, and cultural exchange. Israel features a technologically advanced market economy, diverse society with Jewish, Arab, and other communities, and significant religious and historical sites important to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Etymology and Name

The English name derives from Hebrew "Yisra'el", a biblical name found in the Hebrew Bible, notably associated with the patriarch Jacob and the phrase "children of Israel" in texts such as the Book of Genesis and the Book of Exodus. The modern state's official full name, "State of Israel," was declared in the Israeli Declaration of Independence by David Ben-Gurion on 14 May 1948, following the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181 (the UN Partition Plan for Palestine). Historical and alternative names include references in classical sources such as Herodotus, Hellenistic records, and Roman-era documents like those by Flavius Josephus.

History

The territory has been inhabited since prehistoric times and features sites mentioned in Bronze Age and Iron Age records, including city-states recorded in the Amarna letters. Ancient polities such as the Kingdom of Israel (Samaria) and Kingdom of Judah appear in archaeological and textual evidence; later periods saw conquest by the Assyrian Empire, Babylonian Empire, and Achaemenid Empire. Hellenistic rule under the Seleucid Empire and the Hasmonean dynasty preceded incorporation into the Roman Empire, with revolts like the Great Jewish Revolt (66–73) and the Bar Kokhba revolt reshaping demographics. During the medieval era the region was part of the Byzantine Empire, experienced the Islamic conquests, and passed through crusader states like the Kingdom of Jerusalem before Ottoman rule under the Ottoman Empire.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, movements including Zionism and Ottoman reforms shaped modern national aspirations; key events include the Balfour Declaration and the British Mandate for Palestine. The aftermath of World War II, the Holocaust, and diplomatic efforts led to the 1947 UN Partition Plan and the 1948 proclamation of statehood; the ensuing 1948 Arab–Israeli War and subsequent conflicts such as the Six-Day War and the Yom Kippur War altered borders and regional politics. Peace processes produced treaties like the Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty and the Israel–Jordan Treaty of Peace, alongside ongoing negotiations with the Palestine Liberation Organization and contemporary agreements such as the Abraham Accords.

Geography and Environment

Israel's landscape ranges from the Mediterranean Sea coastline and the Negev Desert to the Jordan Rift Valley and the Golan Heights, featuring the freshwater Sea of Galilee and the hyper-saline Dead Sea. Climatic zones include Mediterranean, semi-arid, and desert climates; environmental concerns involve water management, addressed by projects like the National Water Carrier and desalination plants such as those near Ashkelon and Hadera. Biodiversity is protected in reserves including Hula Valley and Mount Carmel, while geopolitics affects territorial administration in areas like the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Government and Politics

Israel operates a unicameral legislature, the Knesset, and an executive led by the Prime Minister of Israel and a ceremonial President of Israel. The judiciary includes the Supreme Court of Israel; basic laws such as the Basic Laws of Israel function as constitutional framework. Political life features parties like Likud, the Israeli Labor Party, Yesh Atid, and religious parties including Shas and United Torah Judaism, while security matters involve the Israel Defense Forces and intelligence agencies such as Mossad and Shin Bet. International relations engage bodies and agreements including the United Nations, European Union, United States–Israel relations, and regional treaties like the Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty and the Abraham Accords with states such as the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

Economy

Israel hosts a high-tech sector centered in clusters such as Silicon Wadi, with notable companies like Intel and startups that evolved through incubators and venture capital linked to Yozma. Key sectors include information technology, cybersecurity firms, pharmaceutical companies like Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, and agriculture innovations linked to institutions such as the Volcani Center. Economic institutions include the Bank of Israel, and fiscal policy interacts with trade partners including the United States, European Union, and China. Challenges include housing prices in cities like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, socio-economic disparities involving communities such as Ethiopian Jews and Arab Israelis, and energy developments including offshore fields like Leviathan (gas field).

Demographics and Society

Israel's population comprises Jewish communities of diverse origins—Ashkenazi, Sephardi, Mizrahi, Ethiopian, and Russian Jews—alongside Arab citizens including Palestinian Arabs, Druze, and Bedouin. Languages include Hebrew and Arabic, with immigrant languages like Russian language and Amharic language. Educational institutions include Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, and Weizmann Institute of Science; healthcare is provided through systems involving organizations such as Clalit and Maccabi Healthcare Services. Social issues encompass demographic growth, conscription policies of the Israel Defense Forces, and debates around religion-state relations involving bodies like the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.

Culture and Heritage

Israel's cultural scene includes literature figures such as Shmuel Yosef Agnon, Amos Oz, and David Grossman, musicians like Idan Raichel and Dudu Tassa, and filmmakers connected to festivals such as the Jerusalem Film Festival. Architectural and archaeological heritage includes sites like the Old City of Jerusalem, Masada, and Caesarea Maritima; religious landmarks encompass the Western Wall, Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Cultural institutions include the Israel Museum, Habima Theatre, and musical ensembles such as the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. Culinary traditions feature dishes influenced by Middle Eastern cuisine, North African cuisine, and Eastern European cuisine, with foods like falafel and hummus common in urban centers such as Tel Aviv-Yafo and Haifa.

Category:Countries of Asia Category:Levant