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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.
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon
31 30 N, 34 45 E (Latitude, Longtitude)
West | 34.23 |
North | 33.34 |
East | 35.88 |
South | 29.50 |
Middle East
total | 22 072 | square km |
land | 21 642 | square km |
water | 430 | square km |
total | 1 017 | km |
Egypt (eg) | 266 | km |
Gaza Strip | 51 | km |
Jordan (jo) | 238 | km |
Lebanon (lb) | 79 | km |
Syria (sy) | 76 | km |
West Bank | 307 | km |
273.00 km
temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains; Jordan Rift Valley
lowest point | 408 | metres |
highest point | 1 208 | metres |
clay | copper ore |
magnesium bromide | natural gas |
phosphate rock | potash |
sand | timber |
arable land | 15.45 | % |
permanent crops | 3.88 | % |
other | 80.67 | % |
1 940 square km
1 cubic km
droughts | periodic earthquakes |
torms |
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
Biodiversity | Climate Change |
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol | Desertification |
Endangered Species | Hazardous Wastes |
Marine Life Conservation | Ozone Layer Protection |
Ship Pollution | Wetlands |
Whaling |
7 233 701
Growth rate | 1.67 | % |
Birth rate | 19.77 | births/1,000 population |
Total fertility rate | 2.75 | children born/woman |
Death rate | 5.43 | deaths/1,000 population |
Net migration rate | 2.37 | migrant(s)/1,000 population |
0-14 years | 27.90 | % |
15-64 years | 62.30 | % |
65 years and over | 9.90 | % |
total | 29.10 | years |
male | 28.40 | years |
female | 29.80 | years |
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 | 0.77 | male(s)/female |
total population | 1.00 | male(s)/female |
Infant mortality rate | 4.22 | deaths/1,000 live births |
Life expectancy at birth - total population | 80.73 | years |
Life expectancy at birth - male | 78.62 | years |
Life expectancy at birth - female | 82.95 | years |
HIV-AIDS adult prevalence rate | 0.10 | % |
HIV-AIDS people living with HIV-AIDS | 5 100 | |
HIV-AIDS deaths | 200 |
Jewish | 76.40 | % |
Muslim | 16.00 | % |
Christian | 1.70 | % |
other Christian | 0.40 | % |
Druze | 1.60 | % |
unspecified | 3.90 | % |
Hebrew | |
Arabic used officially for Arab minority | |
English most commonly used foreign language |
total population | 97.10 | % |
male | 98.50 | % |
female | 95.90 | % |
conventional long form | State of Israel |
conventional short form | Israel |
local long form | Medinat Yisra'el |
local short form | Yisra'el |
ISO 3166 | IL |
ISO Numeric | 376 |
ISO3 | ISR |
FIPS | IS |
ccTLD | il |
English | Israel |
6 districts (mehozot, singular - mehoz); Central, Haifa, Jerusalem, Northern, Southern, Tel Aviv
name | Jerusalem |
geographic coordinates | 31 46 N, 35 14 E |
time difference | 2.00 |
daylight saving time | 1 |
BIS | BSEC (observer) |
CERN (observer) | CICA |
EBRD | FAO |
IADB | IAEA |
IBRD | ICAO |
ICC | ICCt (signatory) |
ICRM | IDA |
IFAD | IFC |
IFRCS | ILO |
IMF | IMO |
IMSO | IOC |
IOM | IPU |
ISO | ITSO |
ITU | ITUC |
Interpol | MIGA |
OAS (observer) | OECD (accession state) |
OPCW (signatory) | OSCE (partner) |
PCA | Paris Club (associate) |
SECI (observer) | UN |
UNCTAD | UNESCO |
UNHCR | UNIDO |
UNWTO | UPU |
WCO | WFTU |
WHO | WIPO |
WMO | WTO |
1948-05-14
Independence Day
1948-05-14
President Shimon PERES | Prime Minister Binyamin NETANYAHU |
Kadima | 23.20 | % |
Likud-Ahi | 22.30 | % |
YB | 12.10 | % |
Labor | 10.20 | % |
SHAS | 8.80 | % |
United Torah Judaism | 4.50 | % |
United Arab List | 3.50 | % |
NU | 3.40 | % |
Hadash | 3.40 | % |
The Jewish Home | 3.00 | % |
The New Movement-Meretz | 3.00 | % |
Balad | 2.60 | % |
PPP - Purchasing Power Parity | 205 200 000 000 | $ |
Official Exchange Rate | 215 700 000 000 | |
RGR - Real Growth rate | -0.30 | % |
PPP - per capita | 28 400 | $ |
agriculture | 2.60 | % |
industry | 32.00 | % |
services | 65.40 | % |
agriculture | 2.00 | % |
industry | 16.00 | % |
services | 82.00 | % |
Labor force | 3 010 000 | people |
Unemployment rate | 8.00 | % |
Population below poverty line | 23.60 | % |
Distribution of family income - Gini index | 39.20 | |
Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 3.40 | % |
Investment (gross fixed) | 17.10 | % of GDP |
Current account balance | 5 465 000 000 | $ |
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | 56 640 000 000 | $ |
Debt external | 84 690 000 000 | $ |
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad | 55 650 000 000 | $ |
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home | 60 680 000 000 | $ |
Market value of publicly traded shares | 134 500 000 000 | $ |
Military expenditures | 7.30 | % of GDP |
Public debt | 83.90 | % of GDP |
lowest 10% | 2.50 | % |
highest 10% | 24.30 | % |
revenues | 54 100 000 000 | $ |
expenditures | 64 239 999 999 | $ |
beef | citrus |
cotton | dairy |
poultry | vegetables |
aviation | beverages |
caustic soda | cement |
chemical products | communications |
computer aided design and manufactures | construction |
diamond cutting | fiber optics |
food | footwear |
high technology projects | medical electronics |
metal products | phosphates |
plastics | potash |
textiles | tobacco |
wood and paper products |
Electricity Production | 50 410 000 000 | kWh |
Electricity Consumption | 46 150 000 000 | kWh |
Electricity Exports | 2 081 000 000 | kWh |
Oil Production | 5 246 | bbl/day |
Oil Consumption | 235 000 | bbl/day |
Oil Exports | 69 580 | bbl/day |
Oil Imports | 318 900 | bbl/day |
Oil Proved reserves | 1 940 000 | bbl |
Natural gas Production | 1 190 000 000 | cubic metres |
Natural gas Consumption | 1 190 000 000 | cubic metres |
Electricity Exports | 30 440 000 000 | cubic metres |
44 350 000 000 $
United States (us) | 32.50 | % |
Belgium (be) | 7.50 | % |
Hong Kong (hk) | 6.70 | % |
agricultural products | chemicals |
cut diamonds | machinery and equipment |
software | textiles and apparel |
47 400 000 000 $
United States (us) | 12.30 | % |
Belgium (be) | 6.50 | % |
China (cn) | 6.50 | % |
Switzerland (ch) | 6.10 | % |
Germany (de) | 6.00 | % |
consumer products | fuels |
grain | investment products |
military equipment | raw materials |
rough diamonds |
ILS
new Israeli shekel
Telephons Main lines in use | 2 900 000 | |
Telephons Mobile, Cellular | 8 902 000 | |
FM Radio broadcast stations | 15 | |
Television broadcast stations | 17 | |
Internet Country code (ccTLD) | il | |
Internet Hosts | 1 544 000 | |
Internet Users | 2 106 000 |
Airports with paved runways | 30 | |
Heliports | 3 | |
Pipelines - gas | 176 | km |
Pipelines - oil | 442 | km |
Pipelines - refined products | 261 | km |
Roadways - total | 18 096 | km |
Roadways - expressways | 146 | km |
Roadways - paved | 180 960 | km |
Railways | 949 | km |