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Introduction - Israel
Background:
Following World War II, the British withdrew from their mandate of Palestine,
and the UN partitioned the area into Arab and Jewish states, an arrangement
rejected by the Arabs. Subsequently, the Israelis defeated the Arabs in a series
of wars without ending the deep tensions between the two sides. The territories
Israel occupied since the 1967 war are not included in the Israel country
profile, unless otherwise noted. On 25 April 1982, Israel withdrew from the
Sinai pursuant to the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty. In keeping with the
framework established at the Madrid Conference in October 1991, bilateral
negotiations were conducted between Israel and Palestinian representatives and
Syria to achieve a permanent settlement. Israel and Palestinian officials signed
on 13 September 1993 a Declaration of Principles (also known as the "Oslo
Accords") guiding an interim period of Palestinian self-rule. Outstanding
territorial and other disputes with Jordan were resolved in the 26 October 1994
Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace. In addition, on 25 May 2000, Israel withdrew
unilaterally from southern Lebanon, which it had occupied since 1982. In April
2003, US President BUSH, working in conjunction with the EU, UN, and Russia -
the "Quartet" - took the lead in laying out a roadmap to a final settlement of
the conflict by 2005, based on reciprocal steps by the two parties leading to
two states, Israel and a democratic Palestine. However, progress toward a
permanent status agreement was undermined by Israeli-Palestinian violence
between September 2003 and February 2005. In the summer of 2005, Israel
unilaterally disengaged from the Gaza Strip, evacuating settlers and its
military while retaining control over most points of entry into the Gaza Strip.
The election of HAMAS to head the Palestinian Legislative Council froze
relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA). Ehud OLMERT became
prime minister in March 2006 and presided over a 34-day conflict with Hizballah
in Lebanon in June-August 2006 and a 23-day conflict with HAMAS in the Gaza
Strip during December 2008 and January 2009. OLMERT, who in June 2007 resumed
talks with PA President Mahmoud ABBAS, resigned in September 2008. Prime
Minister Binyamin NETANYAHU formed a coalition in March 2009 following a
February 2009 general election. Peace talks are currently stalled.
Geography - Israel
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon
Geographic coordinates:
31 30 N, 34 45 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 22,072 sq km
country comparison to the world: 152
land: 21,642 sq km
water: 430 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total: 1,017 km
border countries: Egypt 266 km, Gaza Strip 51 km, Jordan 238 km, Lebanon 79 km,
Syria 76 km, West Bank 307 km
Coastline:
273 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
Climate:
Current Weather
temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
Terrain:
Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains; Jordan Rift
Valley
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Har Meron 1,208 m
Natural resources:
timber, potash, copper ore, natural gas, phosphate rock, magnesium bromide,
clays, sand
Land use:
arable land: 15.45%
permanent crops: 3.88%
other: 80.67% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,940 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
1.7 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.05 cu km/yr (31%/7%/62%)
per capita: 305 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
sandstorms may occur during spring and summer; droughts; periodic earthquakes
Environment - current issues:
limited arable land and natural fresh water resources pose serious constraints;
desertification; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions;
groundwater pollution from industrial and domestic waste, chemical fertilizers,
and pesticides
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
there are about 340 Israeli civilian sites - including 100 small outpost
communities in the West Bank - as well as 42 sites in the Golan Heights, 0 in
the Gaza Strip, and 29 in East Jerusalem (July 2008 est.); Lake Tiberias (Sea of
Galilee) is an important freshwater source
People - Israel
Population:
7,353,985
country comparison to the world: 96
note: the population estimates previously published on this site for the West
Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights are under review, please check back
in the future for revised estimates. (July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.8% (male 1,044,814/female 997,066)
15-64 years: 62.3% (male 2,321,455/female 2,257,301)
65 years and over: 10% (male 320,484/female 412,865) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 29.3 years
male: 28.6 years
female: 30 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.628% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Birth rate:
19.51 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Death rate:
5.45 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Net migration rate:
2.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Urbanization:
urban population: 92% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.17 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 206
male: 4.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.86 years
country comparison to the world: 13
male: 78.7 years
female: 83.12 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.72 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
5,100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Nationality:
noun: Israeli(s)
adjective: Israeli
Ethnic groups:
Jewish 76.4% (of which Israel-born 67.1%, Europe/America-born 22.6%, Africa-born
5.9%, Asia-born 4.2%), non-Jewish 23.6% (mostly Arab) (2004)
Religions:
Jewish 76.4%, Muslim 16%, Arab Christians 1.7%, other Christian 0.4%, Druze
1.6%, unspecified 3.9% (2004)
Languages:
Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab minority, English most
commonly used foreign language
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.1%
male: 98.5%
female: 95.9% (2004 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 16 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
6.9% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 25
Government - Israel
Country name:
conventional long form: State of Israel
conventional short form: Israel
local long form: Medinat Yisra'el
local short form: Yisra'el
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Jerusalem
geographic coordinates: 31 46 N, 35 14 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Friday in March; ends the Sunday between
the holidays of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur
note: Israel proclaimed Jerusalem as its capital in 1950, but the US, like all
other countries, maintains its Embassy in Tel Aviv
Administrative divisions:
6 districts (mehozot, singular - mehoz); Central, Haifa, Jerusalem, Northern,
Southern, Tel Aviv
Independence:
14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 14 May (1948); note - Israel declared independence on 14 May
1948, but the Jewish calendar is lunar and the holiday may occur in April or May
Constitution:
no formal constitution; some of the functions of a constitution are filled by
the Declaration of Establishment (1948), the Basic Laws of the parliament
(Knesset), and the Israeli citizenship law; note - since May 2003 the
Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee of the Knesset has been working on a
draft constitution
Legal system:
mixture of English common law, British Mandate regulations, and in personal
matters Jewish, Christian, and Muslim legal systems; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Shimon PERES (since 15 July 2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Binyamin NETANYAHU (since 31 March 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by prime minister and approved by the Knesset
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president largely a ceremonial role and is elected by the Knesset for
a seven-year term (one-term limit); election last held 13 June 2007 (next to be
held in 2014 but can be called earlier); following legislative elections, the
president, in consultation with party leaders, assigns the task of forming a
governing coalition to a Knesset member who he or she determines is most likely
to accomplish that task
election results: Shimon PERES elected president; number of votes in first round
- Shimon PERES 58, Reuven RIVLIN 37, Colette AVITAL 21; PERES elected president
in second round with 86 votes (unopposed)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Knesset (120 seats; political parties are elected by popular vote and
assigned seats for members on a proportional basis; members serve four-year
terms)
elections: last held on 10 February 2009 (next scheduled election to be held in
2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - Kadima 23.2%, Likud-Ahi 22.3%, YB
12.1%, Labor 10.2%, SHAS 8.8%, United Torah Judaism 4.5%, United Arab List 3.5%,
NU 3.4%, Hadash 3.4%, The Jewish Home 3%, The New Movement-Meretz 3%, Balad
2.6%; seats by party - Kadima 28, Likud-Ahi 27, YB 15, Labor 13, SHAS 11, United
Torah Judaism 5, United Arab List 4, NU 4, HADASH 4, The Jewish Home 3, The New
Movement-Meretz 3, Balad 3
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (justices appointed by Judicial Selection Committee - made up of
all three branches of the government; mandatory retirement age is 70)
Political parties and leaders:
Balad [Azmi BISHARA]; Democratic Front for Peace and Equality (HADASH) [Muhammad
BARAKEH]; Kadima [Tzipora "Tzipi" LIVNI]; Labor Party [Ehud BARAK]; Likud
[Binyamin NETANYAHU]; National Union [Yaakov KATZ]; SHAS [Eliyahu YISHAI]; The
Jewish Home (HaBayit HaYehudi) [Daniel HERSCHKOWITZ]; The New Movement-Meretz
[Haim ORON]; United Arab List-Ta'al [Ibrahim SARSUR]; United Torah Judaism or
UTJ [Yaakov LITZMAN]; Yisrael Beiteinu or YB [Avigdor LIEBERMAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
B'Tselem [Jessica MONTELL, Executive Director] monitors human rights abuses;
Peace Now [Yariv OPPENHEIMER, Secretary General] supports territorial
concessions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip; YESHA Council of Settlements [Danny
DAYAN, Chairman] promotes settler interests and opposes territorial compromise;
Breaking the Silence [Yehuda SHAUL, Executive Director] collects testimonies
from soldiers who served in the West Bank and Gaza Strip
International organization participation:
BIS, BSEC (observer), CERN (observer), CICA, EBRD, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OAS (observer), OECD
(accession state), OPCW (signatory), OSCE (partner), Paris Club (associate),
PCA, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael OREN
chancery: 3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 364-5500
FAX: [1] (202) 364-5607
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New
York, Philadelphia, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James B. CUNNINGHAM
embassy: 71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv 63903
telephone: [972] (3) 519-7575
FAX: [972] (3) 516-4390
consulate(s) general: Jerusalem; note - an independent US mission, established
in 1928, whose members are not accredited to a foreign government
Flag description:
white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as the Magen David
(Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal blue bands near the top
and bottom edges of the flag; the basic design resembles a Jewish prayer shawl
(tallit), which is white with blue stripes; the hexagram as a Jewish symbol
dates back to medieval times
Economy - Israel
Economy - overview:
Israel has a technologically advanced market economy. It depends on imports of
crude oil, grains, raw materials, and military equipment. Despite limited
natural resources, Israel has intensively developed its agricultural and
industrial sectors over the past 20 years. Cut diamonds, high-technology
equipment, and agricultural products (fruits and vegetables) are the leading
exports. Israel usually posts sizable trade deficits, which are covered by large
transfer payments from abroad and by foreign loans. Roughly half of the
government's external debt is owed to the US, its major source of economic and
military aid. Israel's GDP, after contracting slightly in 2001 and 2002 due to
the Palestinian conflict and troubles in the high-technology sector, grew about
5% per year from 2004-07. The global financial crisis of 2008-09 spurred a brief
recession in Israel, but the country entered the crisis with solid fundamentals
- following years of prudent fiscal policy and a series of liberalizing reforms
- and a resilient banking sector, and the economy has shown signs of an early
recovery. Following GDP growth of 4% in 2008, Israel's GDP grew by 0.5% in 2009
and is expected to expand in 2010. The global economic downturn affected
Israel's economy primarily through reduced demand for Israel's exports in the
United States and EU, Israel's top trading partners. Exports account for about
45% of the country's GDP. The Israeli Government responded to the recession by
implementing a modest fiscal stimulus package and an aggressive expansionary
monetary policy - including cutting interest rates to record lows, purchasing
government bonds, and intervening in the foreign currency market. The Bank of
Israel began raising interest rates in the summer of 2009 when inflation rose
above the upper end of the Bank's target and the economy began to show signs of
recovery.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$206.8 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
$205.8 billion (2008 est.)
$197.5 billion (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$194 billion (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
4.2% (2008 est.)
5.2% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$28,400 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
$28,900 (2008 est.)
$28,300 (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.6%
industry: 32%
services: 65.4% (2009 est.)
Labor force:
3.015 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 16%
services: 82% (September 2008)
Unemployment rate:
7.6% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
6.1% (2008 est.)
Population below poverty line:
23.6%
note: Israel's poverty line is $7.30 per person per day (2007)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 24.3% (2008)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
39.2 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 67
35.5 (2001)
Investment (gross fixed):
16.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Budget:
revenues: $45 billion
expenditures: $58.6 billion (2009 est.)
Public debt:
78.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
75.4% of GDP (2008 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.3% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
4.6% (2008 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 131
2.25% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
6.06% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 135
6.27% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$18.9 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 44
$19.99 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$170.6 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 19
$154.3 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$145.2 billion (31 December 2007)
country comparison to the world: 35
$113.4 billion (31 December 2006)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$188.7 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 29
$134.5 billion (31 December 2008)
$236.4 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
citrus, vegetables, cotton; beef, poultry, dairy products
Industries:
high-technology products (including aviation, communications, computer-aided
design and manufactures, medical electronics, fiber optics), wood and paper
products, potash and phosphates, food, beverages, and tobacco, caustic soda,
cement, construction, metals products, chemical products, plastics, diamond
cutting, textiles, footwear
Industrial production growth rate:
-1.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Electricity - production:
54.5 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Electricity - consumption:
46.38 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Electricity - exports:
2.081 billion kWh (2007)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008)
Oil - production:
3,806 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Oil - consumption:
231,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Oil - exports:
69,580 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Oil - imports:
318,900 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Oil - proved reserves:
1.94 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Natural gas - production:
1.19 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Natural gas - consumption:
1.19 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Natural gas - proved reserves:
30.44 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Current account balance:
$7.22 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
$1.442 billion (2008)
Exports:
$45.76 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
$57.16 billion (2008 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, software, cut diamonds, agricultural products,
chemicals, textiles and apparel
Exports - partners:
US 35.05%, Hong Kong 6.02%, Belgium 4.95% (2009)
Imports:
$46 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
$64.4 billion (2008)
Imports - commodities:
raw materials, military equipment, investment goods, rough diamonds, fuels,
grain, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
US 12.35%, China 7.43%, Germany 7.1%, Switzerland 6.94%, Belgium 5.42%, Italy
4.49%, UK 4.03%, Netherlands 3.98% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$60.61 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
$42.51 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Debt - external:
$84.69 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
$86.08 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$58.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
$56.93 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$55 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
$54.55 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Exchange rates:
new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar - 3.93 (2009), 3.588 (2008), 4.14
(2007), 4.4565 (2006), 4.4877 (2005)
Communications - Israel
Telephones - main lines in use:
3.1 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 48
Telephones - mobile cellular:
9.5 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 62
Telephone system:
general assessment: most highly developed system in the Middle East although not
the largest
domestic: good system of coaxial cable and microwave radio relay; all systems
are digital; four privately-owned mobile-cellular service providers with
countrywide coverage
international: country code - 972; submarine cables provide links to Europe,
Cyprus, and parts of the Middle East; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2
Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 23, FM 15, shortwave 0 (2010)
Television broadcast stations:
7 (2009)
Internet country code:
.il
Internet hosts:
1.544 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 35
Internet users:
2.106 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 69
Transportation - Israel
Airports:
47 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 92
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 30
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 6 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 17
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 14 (2009)
Heliports:
3 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 176 km; oil 442 km; refined products 261 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 949 km
country comparison to the world: 92
standard gauge: 949 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 18,096 km
country comparison to the world: 116
paved: 18,096 km (includes 146 km of expressways) (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 11
country comparison to the world: 112
by type: cargo 2, container 9
registered in other countries: 60 (Bermuda 3, Cyprus 4, Georgia 2, Honduras 1,
Liberia 23, Malta 18, Panama 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Slovakia 4)
(2008)
Ports and terminals:
Ashdod, Elat (Eilat), Hadera, Haifa
Military - Israel
Military branches:
Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Israel Naval Forces (IN), Israel Air Force (IAF)
(2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory (Jews, Druzes) and voluntary (Christians,
Muslims, Circassians) military service; both sexes are obligated to military
service; conscript service obligation - 36 months for enlisted men, 21 months
for enlisted women, 48 months for officers; pilots commit to 9 years service;
reserve obligation to age 41-51 (men), 24 (women) (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,771,661
females age 16-49: 1,687,698 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,496,542
females age 16-49: 1,425,537 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 61,613
female: 58,679 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
7.3% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 6
Transnational Issues - Israel
Disputes - international:
West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the
Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined
through further negotiation; Israel continues construction of a "seam line"
separation barrier along parts of the Green Line and within the West Bank;
Israel withdrew its settlers and military from the Gaza Strip and from four
settlements in the West Bank in August 2005; Golan Heights is Israeli-occupied
(Lebanon claims the Shab'a Farms area of Golan Heights); since 1948, about 350
peacekeepers from the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) headquartered in
Jerusalem monitor ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements, prevent isolated
incidents from escalating, and assist other UN personnel in the region
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 150,000-420,000 (Arab villagers displaced from homes in northern Israel)
(2007)
Illicit drugs:
increasingly concerned about ecstasy, cocaine, and heroin abuse; drugs arrive in
country from Lebanon and, increasingly, from Jordan; money-laundering center
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