AsiaMap.net

About Israel

Israel is located in Western Asia on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea, bordered by Lebanon to the north, Syria to the northeast, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the southwest, and Palestine (West Bank and Gaza Strip). Covering approximately 22,072 square kilometers, Israel is home to over 9.5 million people. Despite its small size, Israel holds immense religious and historical significance as a sacred land for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, containing numerous holy sites including Jerusalem's Old City.

Israel was established in 1948 as a Jewish state, providing a homeland for Jewish people following millennia of diaspora and the Holocaust. The modern state was built on land with ancient biblical history dating back thousands of years. Hebrew and Arabic are the official languages, with Hebrew being revived as a spoken language in the modern era. The population is diverse, including Jewish, Arab, Druze, and other communities. Israel is a parliamentary democracy known for technological innovation, high education levels, and vibrant cultural life blending ancient traditions with modern creativity in music, arts, and cuisine.

Israel's geography is remarkably varied for its size, featuring the Mediterranean coastal plain in the west, the hill country of Galilee and Judea in the center, the Jordan Rift Valley and Dead Sea (Earth's lowest point on land) in the east, and the Negev Desert covering the southern half. The climate ranges from Mediterranean in the north to arid in the south. Despite limited water resources, Israel has become a world leader in agricultural technology, drip irrigation, and desalination. Notable features include the Sea of Galilee (freshwater lake), the Dead Sea's extreme salinity, and the diverse Negev landscape.

Israel has developed a advanced, diversified economy known globally for high-technology industries, particularly cybersecurity, software development, and medical devices, earning the nickname "Startup Nation." The country also has strong agriculture, diamond cutting, and tourism sectors, with millions visiting historical and religious sites annually. Jerusalem is the capital and spiritual center, though international recognition remains contested. Tel Aviv serves as the economic and cultural hub, a modern coastal city known for technology and vibrant nightlife. Other major cities include Haifa (the main port), Beersheba (capital of the Negev), and the ancient port city of Jaffa, each contributing to Israel's position as a highly developed economy in the Middle East.

Major Cities

• Jerusalem - The capital with 970,000 people, sacred to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, home to the Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and Dome of the Rock
• Tel Aviv - Israel's largest city with 470,000 people (4 million metro), the economic and cultural hub known as the "Startup Nation" center and Mediterranean nightlife
• Haifa - Northern port city with 290,000 people, Israel's third-largest city and main international port on Mount Carmel
• Beersheba - Southern city with 210,000 people, considered the "Capital of the Negev" and a growing high-tech center
• Rishon LeZion - Central city with 260,000 people, one of the first modern Jewish settlements founded in 1882

Interesting Facts

• Israel has more startups per capita than any other country, earning it the title "Startup Nation" with a thriving high-tech ecosystem
• The Dead Sea at 430 meters below sea level is Earth's lowest land point, with salt content so high people float effortlessly
• Hebrew was successfully revived as a spoken language in the 19th-20th centuries, the only case of an extinct language being brought back to daily use
• Israel leads the world in water innovation, with over 90% of wastewater recycled for agriculture and advanced desalination technology
• Jerusalem's Old City contains sites sacred to three major religions within less than one square kilometer
• The country has the highest number of museums per capita in the world and more Nobel Prize laureates per capita than any other nation