Brief History

The area that is now Israel has been sacred to Jews for many years. Most Israelis are Jews, who are said to be descendants of Abraham through his son Isaac. The Kingdom of Israel was established in 1050 BC. Over the next 1000 years, many empires ruled over the area, including the Assyrian, Byzantine, Roman, and Greek Empires. Muslims gained control of Israel during the seventh century. Later, the Ottoman Empire took control and ruled over Israel until the 1900s. After World War II, the United Nations divided Israel into separate Jewish and Arab states. Arab leaders refused to accept this division. In 1948, the State of Israel declared its independence. Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq declared war on Israel. This was the first of several Arab-Israeli wars. Even today, there is still tension and hostility between the Arabs and Israelis.

National Flag

The national flag of Israel has a white background with two blue horizontal stripes at the top and bottom. The Star of David, which is an important Jewish symbol, is in the center of the Israeli flag.

Geography

Israel is a small country located in the Middle East. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, and Egypt. Israel has diverse physical geography, including coastal plains, deserts, and the Jordan River Valley.

World Land Mass Ranking: 153rd

Highest Mountain: Mount Tabor, 557 m (1,886ft)

Longest River: Jordan River, 251 km (156 mi)

Main Languages

Hebrew, Arabic

Israel Population: 9.7 million  (as of 2023)

 

Capital City: Jerusalem

 

Capital City Population: 970,000 (as of 2023)

Climate

Northern Israel has a Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and humid winters. Southern Israel has an arid climate. Due to the varied climates, rainfall varies significantly throughout Israel.

Key People

Gal Gadot
David Grossman

Omri Casspi
Yitzhak Rabin

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  Cuisine

  Israeli cuisine is diverse and flavorful. It draws influence from Arab, Jewish, and Mediterranean cuisines. Some common foods in Israeli cuisine include hummus, couscous, msabbaha, and shakshuka. Due to the country’s favorable climate, fresh fruits and vegetables are plentiful in Israel. The national dish of Israel is falafel, which are deep-fried balls made from either broad beans or ground chickpeas.

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  Sports

  Sports are an important part of Israeli culture, and citizens enjoy a wide variety of sports and other activities. The most popular sport in Israel is football (soccer), followed by basketball. Other major sports in Israel include baseball, swimming, rowing, tennis, and track and field. Israel has competed as a nation at the Olympic games since 1952, and became a member of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) in 1994.

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  Culture

  Israel’s culture is deeply rooted in the Jewish tradition, and about 75% of the population practice Judaism. Jewish celebrations and holidays, such as The Feast of Pesach, Yom Kippur, and Rosh Hashana, are important in Israel. The second most prevalent religion in Israel is Islam, followed by Christianity. As a whole, Israelis are known for being family-oriented, straightforward, and welcoming. Philosophy, literature, music, dance, visual art, and theater are all important aspects of Israeli culture.