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
- IDF Colonel reflects on deadly Lebanon incident involving Ze’ev 'Jabo' Hanoch Erlichon April 3, 2025
Col. (res.) Yoav Yarom spoke out for the first time in a televised interview aired on Channel 12's "Uvda," as part of an investigative report by journalist Chen Lieberman.
- Tufts doctoral student speaks out for first time after she was grabbed by masked ICE agentsby Alex Woodward on April 3, 2025
Rumeysa Ozturk speaks out through her attorneys after lawyers spar in court
- Majority of Israelis believe civil war is a real riskon April 3, 2025
The poll also surveyed Israelis views towards the attempted dismissals of the Shin Bet chief and attorney-general, as well as if there is an Israeli "deep state."
- Casting his shadow over time on April 3, 2025
“In the Shadow of Time,” Eduard Shyfrin’s new album, is a tour de force of music and meaning .
- Lawyers for a detained Tufts student from Turkey demand her case remain in Massachusettsby Michael Casey on April 3, 2025
Lawyers for a Tufts University doctoral student from Turkey who was detained by immigration authorities have argued that her case should be handled by the federal court in Massachusetts
- Yale fires legal scholar amid review of possible ties to 'sham charity' for designated terror groupby Dave Collins on April 3, 2025
Yale Law School has fired a scholar it says refused to appear in person to answer questions about her possible ties to organizations deemed to support terrorism
- Israel kills four Hamas terrorists in Jabalya, including one who partook in in Oct. 7 attackson April 3, 2025
The terrorist that partook in the October 7 attacks and was killed was Shadi Diab Abd Al-Hamid Falouji of Hamas's East Jabalya Battalion.
- Deputy A-G: 'Government ignoring IDF draft needs amid manpower crisis'on April 3, 2025
Gil Limon told attendees at Reichman University that the government failed to pass a draft law amidst the IDF manpower crisis.
- Defense Minister Katz appoints Col. Netanel Kula as IDF chief censoron April 3, 2025
Kula was most recently the chief of intelligence for the IDF Central Command.
- New IDF spokesman: Military killed 250 Hamas terrorists in new Gaza invasionon April 3, 2025
Describing the new actions taken on Wednesday, Defrin said, “We stepped up [the invasion] to a new level to serve the goals of the war."
- ‘Freedom was Taken:' Passover Seder at Foreign Ministry highlights hostage crisison April 3, 2025
Noa Argamani and Ditza Or, hostage Avinatan Or's mother, spoke to diplomats about the urgent need for a hostage deal.
- IDF, Israel Police ignored all security dangers leading to Nova festival massacreon April 3, 2025
Over 400 partygoers were essentially left defenseless once Hamas noticed their presence in the Re'im field areas near Gaza's border.
- Nova festival massacre: Hamas murdered 378 Israelis in bloodiest Oct. 7 attackon April 3, 2025
Of the 378 Israelis killed, 344 were civilians • Hamas took 44 hostage from music festival, 17 remain in Gaza including 11 still among living
- Food wasted during wartime costs Israelis $445m., report findson April 3, 2025
The report also stated that approximately 1.5 million Israelis live with insufficient access to food, an increase from 1.4 million in 2022.
- Doing the dance of life: Trailblazing leader advancing philanthropy, and the power of educationon April 3, 2025
For Monette Malewski, national chair of Canadian Friends of Hebrew University, the cup is always three-quarters full.
- Jerusalem Marathon: What are the traffic changes, road closures announced?on April 3, 2025
The city has announced the traffic arrangements for the marathon.
- El Al set to resume flights to Eilat from Ben-Gurion after 12 yearson April 3, 2025
El Al Airlines will resume flights between Ben-Gurion Airport and Eilat for the first time in 12 years, operating two flights per week.
- The Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel leading the Battle against sexual violenceon April 3, 2025
From legislative victories to international advocacy, CEO Orit Sulitzeanu discusses the fight for survivors.
- Hiring freezes, impacts on exports: Israeli companies prepare for Trump's tariffson April 3, 2025
"There will be effects, primarily through decreased foreign demand and higher import costs," Danny Brietman, the CEO of Bimeniv Investment House and Bimeniv Finance College said.
- Training for IDF observers to change after Oct. 7 massacreon April 3, 2025
As part of the new guidelines, the observers will be given a personal weapon throughout their training in addition to the M-16 rifle.
- Observers say IDF abandoned Gaza border outpost in 12-hour security lapseon April 3, 2025
60 observers at the post were left without any protection, and the base gate was open and unsupervised.
- Hostage mother releases new footage of Matan Angrest in captivity, kidnapping on Oct. 7on April 3, 2025
In the released footage, Angrest can be seen surrounded by terrorists on the tank with his uniform ripped off the upper half of his body.
- Al Jazeera analyst calls on Hamas to deal with protesters, Fatah members as ‘traitors’on April 3, 2025
The call was understood by many Palestinians as a direct incitement to kill Fatah members and protestors, sparking rage online.
- Digging too deep? Political dispute delays archaeological congress in Israelon April 3, 2025
Greenberg was expected to lecture on the “archaeologization” of Israel in a session on archaeology and politics, before his participation raised concerns from right-wing activists.
- Katz: Duma village riots 'not defined as terrorism'on April 3, 2025
On Tuesday, the military said some 30 masked men, believed to be Jewish residents from the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council area, entered the village, torching property.