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
- Rabbi Leo Dee detained for putting on tefillin on Temple Mount on wedding dayon August 31, 2025
On April 7, 2023, Rabbi Leo Dee lost his wife and two daughters in a terror attack.
- IDF prepares for Houthi retaliation after prime minister, gov't officials killed in Israeli strikeson August 31, 2025
The Houthis vowed revenge after Israel killed their prime minister in a Sanaa strike. Now, the IDF is reinforcing air defenses in anticipation of missile and drone retaliation.
- Palestinians flee Gaza City as escalating Israeli offensive kills 77by Arpan Rai on August 31, 2025
Israeli official reveals plan to halt or limit aid into northern Gaza even as malnutrition kills 10 more people
- Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida killed in Gaza City strike - reporton August 31, 2025
Israeli officials told The Jerusalem Post they are optimistic he was killed in the strike. However, his death has not been confirmed.
- Hamas confirms death of Mohammed Sinwar three months after IDF announcementon August 31, 2025
According to the IDF, Mohammed Sinwar was killed in an Israeli airstrike on May 13 in Khan Yunis.
- Turkey's 'big move' of cutting economic ties with Israel probably won't last - editorialon August 31, 2025
Turkey has suspended trade and airspace access to Israel, but past patterns suggest rhetoric may outpace impact as Israel adapts and Ankara weighs its own costs.
- Israel and Turkey on collision course after Ankara severs ties, expert warnson August 31, 2025
Turkey fully suspends trade and closes airspace to Israel, a wartime-level rupture that analysts warn could fuel dangerous escalation.
- 'Too complex and not lethal enough': Gallant reveals original Iran attack planon August 31, 2025
The original plan, which would have cost billions of shekels and demanded a vast amount of intelligence collected to succeed, was continuously delayed and would not have have been ready in time.
- Jerusalem light rail's 'Red Line' to resume full operation this weekon August 30, 2025
Sections of the Red Line have been unoperational since the end of May, due to construction of new light rail lines in the capital city.
- Idan Shtivi identified as second Gaza hostage recovered in special IDF op.on August 30, 2025
His remains were recovered along with Ilan Weiss. The IDF announced Weiss's recovery on Friday.
- Ukrainian officials warn Israelis may be barred from entering Umanon August 30, 2025
Kyiv is angered by Netanyahu’s decision not to call Ukrainian leaders on Independence Day last week.
- Sgt. First Class (res.) Ariel Lubliner likely killed by friendly fire in southern Gaza combaton August 30, 2025
The IDF added that Lubliner was likely killed due to friendly fire, and that the incident is being investigated.
- IDF targets senior Hamas terrorist in strike on Gaza City residential buildingon August 30, 2025
Israeli officials said they are optimistic Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida was killed in the strike. However, his death has not been confirmed.
- Hostage families received evidence Netanyahu's gov't thwarting a deal, forum sayson August 30, 2025
The forum urged Israelis to demonstrate at the Joint Square in Jerusalem at the time of the cabinet meeting to demand that it discuss the existing framework for a hostage deal.
- Apartment building of senior New York Times editor vandalized over paper’s Gaza coverageby Katie Hawkinson on August 30, 2025
The paper’s headquarters was vandalized last month with a similar message
- 'If Matan returns in a bag, I will ensure Netanyahu charged with murder,' Zangauker pledgeson August 30, 2025
Israelis will demonstrate in the evening against the IDF’s upcoming incursion into Gaza City, calling for an immediate ceasefire deal.
- Police arrest suspect in Jaffa car blast, four injured in attempted hiton August 30, 2025
Police said officers from the Tel Aviv-Jaffa district police arrested one suspect, a Jaffa local, shortly upon arriving to the scene of the explosion.
- How Thailand pulled off the impossible: Saving hostages without choosing sides - interviewon August 30, 2025
As Thailand's ambassador to Israel talks to the Post, the country is doubling down on foreign workers in Israel, and fostering its long-standing, genuine diplomatic relationships in the Middle East
- Israel will soon slow or halt aid into parts of northern Gaza as it ramps up offensiveby Julia Frankel and Wafaa Shurafa on August 30, 2025
Israel plans to slow or halt humanitarian aid in northern Gaza as it expands its offensive against Hamas
- Press insignia becomes a rallying cry for peace as activists call for an end to the war in Gazaby Via AP news wire on August 30, 2025
Stickers replicating the ‘Press’ insignia worn by journalists to identify them in the field became a rallying cry for peace at a rally in Nazareth
- UK refuses to invite Israeli government officials to London arms fair over the war in Gazaby Via AP news wire on August 30, 2025
The U.K. has barred Israeli government officials from attending the country’s biggest arms fair over growing concern about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza
- Gideon Sa'ar to WSJ: 'Israel fighting multi-front war on front lines, political arena'on August 30, 2025
He told the American newspaper that he rejoined the Netanyahu government because he believes that differences in Israeli politics will be insignificant in the future.
- Sidelined at Pride celebrations, pro-Israel LGBTQ Jews find breathing room in Tel Avivon August 30, 2025
Organized by the JFNA, the trip included 15 first-time visitors to Israel and came amid a broader sense of alienation many had been feeling in their LGBTQ communities back home.
- Israel to stop humanitarian aid drops in Gaza City in coming days - reporton August 30, 2025
The number of people in the city who must begin evacuating south is around 800 thousand, according to the report.
- IDF strikes terror targets in Gaza City, Khan Yunison August 30, 2025
The Houthi-owned Al-Masirah news source claimed around the same time that there were several killed and wounded at the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip as a result of the strikes.