| Area Total | 20,770 sq km |
| Climate | temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas |
| Natural Resources | timber, potash, copper ore, natural gas, phosphate rock, magnesium bromide, clays, sand |
| Imports | $68.61 billion (2017 est.) partners: US 11.7%, China 9.5%, Switzerland 8%, Germany 6.8%, UK 6.2%, Belgium 5.9%, Netherlands 4.2%, Turkey 4.2%, Italy 4% (2017) |
| Exports | $58.67 billion (2017 est.) partners: US 28.8%, UK 8.2%, Hong Kong 7%, China 5.4%, Belgium 4.5% (2017) |
| Government | parliamentary democracy |
| Capital | Jerusalem |
| Population | 8.4 million (July 2018 est.) |
| Ethnicity | Jewish 74.4% (of which Israel-born 76.9%, Europe/America/Oceania-born 15.9%, Africa-born 4.6%, Asia-born 2.6%), Arab 20.9%, other 4.7% (2018 est.) |
| Language | Hebrew (official), Arabic (used officially for Arab minority), English (most commonly used foreign language) |
News about Israel
- Negev governance crisis: 16,256 women in polygamy, contractors exposed to extortionon April 28, 2026
The Negev faces a growing crisis as 16,256 women live in polygamy, and contractors are exposed to protection money.
- 'This will be an all out war': Israel Police launches operation clamping down on youth crimeon April 28, 2026
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said that the operation would reflect a "zero tolerance" approach to those who "disrupt public order, undermine governance, and harm citizens."
- Did Israel risk lives? Debate rages over Israel sending Arrow missiles to Germany mid-Iran waron April 28, 2026
Israel's capacity to produce Arrow missiles for Israeli defense increased between seven and 10 times, The Jerusalem Post learned.
- West Bank hospitals in crisis as PA reported pays medical staff only fraction of wage for Aprilon April 28, 2026
Palestinian medical staff in the West Bank are set to strike over wage cuts, staff shortages, and a mounting healthcare crisis that threatens patient care and medical services.
- Netanyahu gets private counsel option to defend against Gofman Mossad chief disqualification caseon April 28, 2026
Netanyahu may hire private counsel in a High Court case challenging his appointment of Maj.-Gen. Roman Gofman as Mossad chief, as petitions citing the Elmakayes affair seek to block the move.
- Economist Shaul Meridor joins Eisenkot's Yashar! Partyon April 28, 2026
Economist Shaul Meridor, former director-general at Israel’s Energy Ministry and head of the Budget Division, joined Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar! Party, pledging to help lead a deep reform in Israel.
- Middle East crisis live: IDF orders evacuations in southern Lebanon as it accuses Hezbollah of ceasefire violationsby Yohannes Lowe (now) and Tom Ambrose (earlier) on April 28, 2026
Residents in 16 towns and villages are told to evacuate immediatelyUS is being ‘humiliated’ by Iran’s leadership, says Friedrich MerzSaudi Arabia is to host a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council in Jeddah later today, in what will be first in-person meeting of Gulf leaders since their states became dragged into the war.A Gulf official told the […]
- Zelensky’s row with Israel over ‘stolen Ukrainian grain’ growsby James Reynolds on April 28, 2026
- Zamir orders IDF commanders to report on allegations of stealing Lebanese property within one weekon April 28, 2026
An IDF source said no theft occurred in his division involved in the Lebanon invasion, but acknowledged awareness of multiple similar incidents in other divisions.
- Lapid offers to concede second spot on joint list with Bennett to bring Eisenkot inon April 28, 2026
The invitation follows Sunday’s announcement by Bennett and Lapid of their new unified party, Together, during which they also publicly called on Eisenkot to join them.
- The Latest: US appears cold to Iranian proposal to end the war without a nuclear dealby The Associated Press on April 28, 2026
The Trump administration seems unlikely to accept Iran’s offer to end the war and its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz
- Mossad reached 'heart of enemies' secrets' in groundbreaking operations, chief Barnea revealson April 28, 2026
Mossad Director David Barnea praised groundbreaking operations in target countries and highlighted the success of operations against Iran and Hezbollah during a citation ceremony.
- Netanyahu criminal trial returns after two months, testimony hearing cut shorton April 28, 2026
Questioning continued by prosecutor Yehudit Tirosh on Case 4000, the Bezeq-Walla affair, where Netanyahu is accused of advancing regulatory decisions that benefited Shaul Elovitch.
- WATCH: IDF destroys over 1,000 Hezbollah terror sites in southern Lebanon, seizing weaponson April 28, 2026
The IDF dismantled more than 1,000 Hezbollah terror sites in southern Lebanon, uncovering a wide range of weapons the terror group planned to use to attack IDF soldiers.
- IDF to present findings of investigation into Israelis entering Bint Jbail's active warzoneon April 28, 2026
An IDF investigation into four Israelis' entry into Bint Jbail during the ongoing conflict is set to be presented to Northern Command Chief Maj.-Gen. Rafi Milo.
- IAF probe finds pilots took off under fire, bypassing commander in Lebanon helicopter attackon April 28, 2026
The Israel Air Force has completed a preliminary investigation into an incident in southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah attempted to target a medical evacuation helicopter with a drone.
- Police open investigation into Jaffa shooting involving M16 rifleon April 28, 2026
After conducting searches at the scene of the incident, police officers found an M16 rifle and a magazine filled with ammunition, seizing them both.
- Lebanon accuses Israel of committing ‘ecocide’ in country since 2023by Damien Gayle on April 28, 2026
Claim by environment minister opens new report into profound ecological damage allegedly done by IDF forces Lebanon’s minister for the environment has accused Israel’s military of committing “an act of ecocide” in the foreword to a report detailing the harm done to the country’s natural resources during the invasion of 2023 to 2024.Israeli […]
- Doctor arrested on suspicion of threatening Channel 12 journalist Mohammad Magadlion April 28, 2026
The suspect, a 40-year-old doctor from northern Israel, had contacted Muhammad Majdallah, a journalist for Channel 12, from an unknown number, threatening his life on several occasions.
- Compensation to be given to employers of reserve soldiers, Knesset plenum decideson April 28, 2026
"The fronts of the conflict rely on a solid economic rear," said Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich regarding the decision, which hopes to alleviate the economic burden of employing reserve soldiers.
- Israel’s direction poses ‘existential threat’ to Judaism, UK’s leading progressive rabbis warnby Aamna Mohdin Community affairs correspondent on April 28, 2026
Rabbis Charley Baginsky and Josh Levy say criticising Israeli government is not disloyalty but a Jewish obligationThe UK’s most senior progressive rabbis have warned that Israel’s current political direction risks becoming “incompatible with Jewish values”, while insisting that criticism of the country’s government is “a Jewish obligation” […]
- Fallen soldier Sgt. Idan Fooks laid to rest in Petah Tikva cemeteryon April 28, 2026
Fooks fell in southern Lebanon on Sunday after a Hezbollah drone exploded near his unit's location.
- Psychological warfare: Israelis receive threatening WhatsApp messages, likely from Iranian hackerson April 28, 2026
The pattern of the attack aligns with that of the Iranian hacker group Handala, which typically combines cyberattacks with psychological warfare targeting citizens.
- Pizza Hut to pay family of Petah Tikva stabbing victim indefinitely, company announceson April 28, 2026
The pizza chain also committed to establishing a dedicated aid fund for the family of 21-year-old Yemanu Binyamin Zalka, killed following his shift at the restaurant's Petah Tikva location.
- The TV series, 'Unconditional,' has its Israeli premiere - reviewon April 27, 2026
The series co-creators are two of the biggest names in the Israeli television industry, Adam Bizanski (Magpie) and Dana Idisis (On the Spectrum), and it was written by Bizanski.







