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
- Middle East crisis live: IDF carries out airstrikes in southern Lebanon ahead of funeral of Hezbollah leader Nasrallahby Daniel Lavelle (now); Yohannes Lowe and Christine Kearney (earlier) on February 23, 2025
Hezbollah’s former leader was killed in Israeli strike last September; Israel suspends release of 600 PalestiniansHezbollah leader Naim Qassem said the group would keep following the path of slain chief Hassan Nasrallah on Sunday during a televised speech broadcast at his massive funeral on the outskirts of Beirut.“We will uphold trust and walk on this […]
- Police arrest east Jerusalem man for supporting Hamas, drug possessionon February 23, 2025
Police recovered live ammunition, a substance suspected to be marijuana, a Palestinian flag, and three scarves linked to Hamas.
- Gomeh hotel to host kosher Passover retreat on the shores of the Kinnereton February 23, 2025
Led by Keter Travel, the holiday program offers a full-service Pesach experience with strict Kashrut supervision.
- Netanyahu rejected proposal to eliminate Sinwar a week before Oct. 7on February 23, 2025
The discussion on 103FM shared newly revealed details that could shed light on Israel’s failure to prevent the October 7 attack.
- Shorthanded blue-and-white beats Portugal; Slovenia on tapon February 23, 2025
Israel's young squad overcomes Portugal 84-78 in a crucial EuroBasket qualifier, boosting Group A record amid national challenges and eyeing a favorable Championship draw.
- Liga Alef North suspended amid match-fixing scandalon February 23, 2025
IFA halts Liga Alef North over match-fixing scandal. A special committee probes deeper corruption—what’s next for Israeli football?
- Education for Life: Investing in informal education in Israel’s peripheryon February 23, 2025
- French authorities detained 4 people after a deadly stabbing linked to Islamic extremismby Via AP news wire on February 23, 2025
French anti-terrorism authorities say four people are in custody after a deadly stabbing in eastern France that authorities linked to Islamic radicalism
- 'What kind of country do we want to be?': Son condemns possible release of father's killeron February 23, 2025
“His murderer was supposed to be released—to return and celebrate, to return and live, maybe even to plan the next murder," Micha Avni, whose father, Richard Lakin was murdered in 2015 said.
- Grapevine February 23, 2025: Kudos to Hebrew University faculty memberson February 23, 2025
Movers and shakers in Israeli society.
- Avera is 'still not talking about what happened,' family sayson February 23, 2025
“Avera is able to recall memories from the past; he's relatively well. He’s a bit weak, but his physical condition is good," they said.
- 'Yair Netanyahu was sent abroad because he hit his father,' MK allegeson February 23, 2025
A Likud representative dismissed the allegations as an “Absolute lie and detestable, a new low from the depths of the left’s sewer."
- Ben-Gurion University of the Negev: Expanding Global Connections in Challenging Timeson February 23, 2025
This January, a Ben-Gurion University delegation traveled to India to strengthen ties with leading universities and industry pioneers.
- OneFamily program helps twins who have lost a sibling in the Israel-Hamas Waron February 23, 2025
Over a dozen people in Israel have lost a twin or even a triplet in the ongoing war with Hamas. OneFamily has made a unique program to help them.
- New documentary commemorates 'Shoah' for 40th anniversaryon February 23, 2025
“I do not hesitate to say that Shoah was the greatest event in the history of our festival, the Forum of the Berlinale, maybe also the greatest event of the Berlinale itself.”
- Significant amount of voters undecided who to vote in next Israeli electionon February 23, 2025
Approximately 26% of those who expressed that they would not be voting for Likud again declared that they were unsure who they would vote for or declined to respond entirely.
- Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli meets with French far-right leaderon February 23, 2025
Chikli spoke about working together with right-wing and far-right European parties at the 50th annual Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
- Former hostage Karina Ariev threatened Hamas captor into halting sexual harassmenton February 23, 2025
On her way to the Gaza Strip, Ariev was hit and strangled by the terrorists who kidnapped her.
- Israel's defense minister says troops to remain in West Bank refugee camps for 'coming year'by Via AP news wire on February 23, 2025
Israel's defense minister says he has instructed the military to prepare to remain in some of the occupied West Bank’s urban refugee camps “for the coming year.”
- 'Lies to break ceasefire': Hamas defends hostage propaganda ceremonieson February 23, 2025
Hamas claimed that the ceremonies don't insult the released hostages and that they "reflect the humane and dignified treatment of them."
- Katz admits IDF has evacuated 40,000 Palestinians from West Bank homeson February 23, 2025
In response, the IDF told The Jerusalem Post that only 13,500 Palestinians have been evacuated.
- Israel delays release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners over ‘humiliating’ handover of hostagesby Alisha Rahaman Sarkar on February 23, 2025
Hamas accuses Netanyahu of ‘stalling’ release of Palestinian prisoners
- 'They took my child and returned him to the tunnels,' Evyatar David's mother sayson February 23, 2025
"He was frightened and frustrated; it was obvious that he had been staged," she added.
- Hezbollah aims at Israel ahead of Nasrallah's funeral, IDF strikes launcherson February 23, 2025
Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike on September 27 when fighter jets dropped some 100 bombs on Hezbollah’s underground headquarters in Beirut.
- Agam Berger reveals she was mostly held in homes with Palestinian familieson February 23, 2025
Berger, who was kidnapped from the Nahal Oz base on October 7 by Hamas, said she was often held in Palestinian civilian homes.