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Fast Facts Country - Israel Capital - Jerusalem Founded - May 14, 1948 Location - between the Sinai Peninsula and Jordan. See map Culture Language - Hebrew (official), Arabic (official), English, and Russian Religion - Judaism 80.1% - Islam 14.6% - Christian 2.1% - Other 3.2% Ethnic Groups - Jews 76.2% - Arabs 19.5% - Other 4.3% Population - 6.3 million Population Density - 294/sq. km. Rban population % - 91.7% as of 2005 Literacy - 96.9% Life Expectancy - 79.32 years - male 77.21 years - female 81.55 years GDP - $170.3 billion Per capita GDP - $26,800 Currency - Shekel (4.13 shekels = 1 US dollar) Government - Parliamentary democracy President - Shimon Peres Prime Minister - Ehud Olmert
Present-day Israel
Israel has a diversified, technologically advanced economy with substantial but decreasing government ownership and a strong high-tech sector. The major industrial sectors include high-technology electronic and biomedical equipment, metal products, processed foods, chemicals, and transport equipment. Israel possesses a substantial service sector and is one of the world's centers for diamond cutting and polishing. It also is a world leader in software development and, prior to the violence that began in September 2000, was a major tourist destination. The United States of America consumes almost 40% of Israel’s total export shipments, far more than second-place Belgium at 6.5% and third-place Hong Kong at 5.9%. Imports- Gem diamonds Complete civilian aircraft Complete military aircraft Civilian aircraft parts Other industrial machines Plastic materials Telecommunications equipment Ammunition, artillery, guns, missiles, rockets, tanks Other petroleum products Military-type parts Exports- Gem diamonds Dental, medical and pharmaceutical preparations Telecommunications equipment Complete civilian aircraft Other hospital, medical and scientific equipment Electric apparatus and parts Civilian aircraft engines Measuring, testing and control instruments Other military equipment Computer accessories, peripherals and parts
Israel After WWII: After 1945 the United Kingdom became embroiled in an increasingly violent conflict with the Jews. In 1947, the British government withdrew from commitment to the Mandate of Palestine, stating it was unable to arrive at a solution acceptable to both Arabs and Jews.[56] The newly created United Nations approved the UN Partition Plan (United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181) on November 29, 1947, dividing the country into two states, one Arab and one Jewish. Jerusalem was to be designated an international city — a corpus separatum — administered by the UN to avoid conflict over its status. The Jewish community accepted the plan, but the Arab League and Arab Higher Committee rejected it. On December 1, 1947 the Arab Higher Committee proclaimed a three-day strike, and Arab bands began attacking Jewish targets. Civil war began with the Jews initially on the defensive but gradually moving into offence. The Palestinian-Arab economy collapsed and 250,000 Palestinian-Arabs fled or were expelled. David Ben-Gurion proclaiming Israeli independence from the United Kingdom on May 14, 1948 below a portrait of Theodor Herz. On May 14, 1948, the day before the end of the British Mandate, the Jewish Agency proclaimed independence, naming the country Israel
