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  • Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria
  • Date of birth: 14 May, 1948 (77 years old in 2025)
  • Population – almost 10 million: Jewish (74%), Arab (21%), rest (5%)
  • Length: ~500 KM from the northernmost town (Metula) to the southernmost city (Eilat).
  • Israel was founded as the homeland of the Jewish people, and operates according to the Jewish Calendar
  • Jerusalem – capital and biggest city, Tel Aviv – 2nd, Haifa – 3rd - all mixed cities
  • Language: Hebrew (main and official language), Arabic (special status), English most commonly used foreign language
  • Four seas: Mediterranean Sea on the west, Red Sea in the south, Sea of Galilee in the North East, Dead Sea in the South East
  • Two active ports – Haifa and Ashdod
  • Four border crossings: three with Jordan, one with Egypt
  • Climate - Mediterranean, mostly nice and sunny, very hot summers, mild winters.
  • Currently: New Israeli Shekel (ILS / NIS)
  • Time zone: UTC + 2:00
  • Saturday / Shabbat = holy day, day of rest

Did you know?

90% percent of Israeli homes use solar energy for heating water. This is the highest percentage in the world.

  • The Dead Sea is the lowest point in the world.
  • The Mount of Olives is the world’s oldest cemetery.
  • Israel is the center for bird migration. Over 500 million birds fly to and from Israel twice a year.
  • Israeli inventions that have changed the world including: anti-virus software, disk-on-key, voice-over-protocol, cherry tomatoes, drip irrigation, PillCam (aka capsule endoscopy), Mobile Eye and many more.
  • With over 230 museums, Israel has the highest number of museums per capita in the world.

 

For FAQ about Israel in preparation for your trip, press here.

For Israel Moments, press here.