The State of Israel located on southern shore of Mediterranean sea is an Asian nation. Its neighboring countries are Lebanon to the south, Syria and Jordan to the west, and Egypt on the Southwest. Other geographies closer to Israel are the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Israel declared its independence in 1948. The people living in Israel are mainly Jewish, though it’s also a home for Christian and Arab people and some other ethnic groups. Israel is the only liberal democracy in the Middle East.
The modern day Israel came into existence in 1948, the history of Israel associates with 2nd millennium B.C. The King Saul established the kingdom of Israel in 11th century BC. David and Solomon came after Saul and further consolidated the Kingdom. Immediately southern part of Israel became Kingdom of Judah. By 6th century both kingdoms were defeated and Jews were exiled from Palestine.
Israel was part of Ottoman Empire in the late 19th century. Jewish people came in large number to Israel from Russia and Poland in the early 1880s. By 1890s, the revolution to unite Jews people started. By 1914, there were approximately 85 000 Jews people constituting to about 12 % of total Israeli population. In 1917, during First World War, British governments’ Balfour Declaration advocated for the settlement of a national home for Jews in Palestine. Arab people favored British decision and finally in 1918 Ottomans defeated and British took control of the region. Through the 1920s and 1930s economic and cultural development of the country gained momentum. During World War II, Jews were shifted to concentration camps; millions of Jews were lost lives during war.
Post World War II British sought to reassess their position in Palestine and other locations in 1940s. Further the British referred Palestine issue to United Nations in 1947. The United Nations Special Committee on Palestine (UNSCOP) anticipated that the territory of the British mandate west of the Jordan River be partitioned into Jewish and Arab states with Jerusalem under international control.
On November 29, 1947, the UN adopted a partition plan. The British mandate over Palestine expired On May 14, 1948. Jewish authorities declared the establishment of the State of Israel. A provisional government was established, with Jewish Agency chairman David Ben-Gurion as prime minister and former Jewish Agency president Chaim Weizmann as president. The United States, the USSR and the UN, along with many other states, quickly recognized the new government. Israel became the 59th member of the UN in May 1949.
Geographically Israel can be divided into 5 major regions:
- The Galilee region in north Israel stretches 40 Km towards east from a narrow coastal plain across the sea of Galile. Mountain Meron 3963 ft high in the Galilee region is the highest point in Israel.
- Plain of Esdraelon in the south of Galilee region is agricultural region.
- The coastal region in Israel contains largest cities, industries and commerce that stretches 120 mi along the Mediterranean from just north of Haifa to Gaza.
- The hilly region containing Judean and Samarian hills stretches through most of Israel through north and south.
- The Negev is a triangular desert region in southern Israel. The Jordan River forms the northern portion of the borders between Israel and Jordan and between the West Bank and Jordan.
The coastline of Israel is 170 mi long. The climate in Israel is typical Mediterranean. Winters are cool and wet. Summers are hot and dry.
Israel is a democratic republic, the government works under parliamentary systems. The president is head of the state though post of president in Israel is largely ceremonial. The prime minister is head of the government. The Israeli parliament known as Knesset has 120 members. Israel has no written constitution and laws of the state are passed by Knesset. The legal system in Israel has affects from English common law, civil law, Jewish law and the declaration of state of Israel.
Israel is industrially and economically developed national in Middle East region. According to World Bank analysis Israel is having the best regulations for businesses and strongest protections for property rights in the region. Israel has the 53rd-highest gross domestic product and 37th-highest gross domestic product per capita (at purchasing power parity). Natural resources are limited in Israel. Israel has intensively developed its agricultural and industrial sectors over the past twenty years.
Israel is self reliant in food production except for grains and beef. Israel imports fuels, raw materials and military items from others. Israel has centers of many world famous business houses like IBM, Microsoft etc. The tourism industry in Israel is also on the rise. Israel claims to have the largest number of museums per capita of any country.