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Modern states /
Israel
Hebrew:
yisrael
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Major cities
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| Tel Aviv metropolitan | 1.5 million |
| Tel Aviv | 390,000 |
| Petah Tiqwa | 200,000 |
| Holon | 170,000 |
| Bat Yam | 150,000 |
| Bene Baraq | 150,000 |
| Ramat Gan | 140,000 |
| Jaffa | 80,000 |
| Haifa metropolitan | 960,000 |
| Haifa | 280,000 |
| Jerusalem | 700,000 |
| Ashdod | 230,000 |
| Rishon Le Ziyon | 220,000 |
| Beer Sheva | 190,000 |
| Netanya | 170,000 |
| Ashkelon | 110,000 |
| Rehovot | 110,000 |
Important towns
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| Eilat | 60,000 |
| Nazareth | 60,000 |
| Akko | 50,000 |
| Tiberias | 25,000 |
All figures are 2005 estimates.
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Status
| Independent republic, but not recognized by a most countries in the Middle East (neighbouring Egypt and Jordan are exceptions). Israel is divided into 6 districts (mohoz-ot).
ARTICLE: Is Israel a state?
Day of independence: May 14, 1948.
| Government
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Head of state: President Moshe Katzav.
Prime minister: Ehud Olmert. The number of ministries varies from every new formation of a government. Sharon's government has 20 ministries.
National Assembly (Knesset): 120 members.
| Geography
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Inhabitants: 7.4 million (2009 estimate). About 400,000 Israeli citizens live in Palestine.
Population growth rate: 1.5%
Total area: 20,770 kmē
Density: 341 per kmē
Water: 440 km²
Border: 1,017 km (Palestine 358 km, Egypt 266 km, Jordan 238 km, Syria 76 km, Lebanon 79 km).
Coastline: 273 km.
Highest point: Har Meron 1,208 m
Lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
Arable land: 17%
Capital: Jerusalem (official), Tel Aviv (internationally recognized).
| Human Development Index
| World rank (of 182): 27
Index (1.0 max): 0.935
Explanation
| Demography
| Ethnic groups: Jews of different racial mixtures (mainly Eastern European, Berber, original Levantine and Ethiopian), Arabs (Palestinians).
Languages: Hebrew (official), Arabic (official), Armenian, English.
Religions: Judaism, Sunni Islam, Christianity, Druze.
| Economy
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Currency: New Shekel (ILS)
1 New Shekel=US$0.28. US$1=3.52 New Shekels (September 2008)
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Climate and Geography
Israel is one of the smallest countries in the Middle East, but has several nature zones: The north is quite green, the middle of the country is partly arid, while the south is desert. The desert covers in total 60% of Israeli territory.
Israel relies very much upon winter rain in the mountains in the north and in Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon, as there is little rain elsewhere in the country.
Israel is far greener than rain makes it, due to clever use of the resources of the country. Israel has by far the strongest economy in the entire Middle East, as it relies upon a larger scale of incomes than the rich oil producing countries.
In recent years, Israel has grown into one of the leading nations in technology and software production.
Israel is also the best working democracy in the Middle East, even if the constitution's apartheid system for controlling Arabs living Israel is still unchanged and in full practice.
Israel continues to occupy three areas that were won in the Six-Day War in 1967: Gaza Strip, West Bank and Golan Heights. In all these areas, extremist Jews have established settlements under a claim that the land has been give to them by God, and does not belong to the indigenous population.
© Copyright 1996-2009 LookLex Ltd. All rights reserved
By: Tore Kjeilen
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