The State of Israel is a country in the Western Asian Levant, on the southeastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea. It is bordered by Lebanon to the north, Syria to the northeast, Jordan to the east, and Egypt to the south-west. Israel declared independence in 1948 and although its population includes citizens of many ethnic and religious backgrounds, it is the world's only Jewish state.

The name 'Israel' comes from the Hebrew Bible, Genesis 32:28, where Jacob is renamed Israel after successfully wrestling with an angel of God. The biblical nation fathered by Jacob was then called 'The Children of Israel' or the 'Israelites'. Some rejected name proposals for the new State included Judea, Zion and Eretz Israel.

Israel is a bustling, noisy, modern country. It's best not to arrive with preconceptions of spiritual epiphany. If you do, you'll almost certainly have them confirmed, but in doing so you run the risk of missing the best that this fascinating country has to offer.

Everyone has their own perception of what Israel and the Palestinian Territories are about: it's the Promised Land of the Jews; it's the birthplace of Christ; it's a travel agency package of beaches and sun; it's a ticking time bomb. And whilst it is all of these things, it's much more besides.

If you want to understand Israel, take time to visit the new, cosmopolitan city of Tel Aviv, dive the Red Sea at Eilat, explore some of the country's thriving national parks and float for hours in the salty stillness of the Dead Sea.

  • Full Country Name: State of Israel

  • Local Name: Medinat Israel

  • Capital: Jerusalem (Note: the United Nations and most countries (including the UK) do not recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital, and most countries maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv)

  • Language: Hebrew, Arabic (both official), English.

  • Currency: New Israeli shekel (ILS) = 100 agorots.

  • People: Jewish (80%), Muslim (15%), Christians (1.7%) and Druze (1.3%), Arab.

  • Life Expectancy: Male: 77.21, Female: 81.55.

  • Religion: Jewish (mainly), Sunni Muslim, Christian.

  • Size (sq km): 20,770 / 22,145 (including Golan Heights) (151st)

  • Population: 7,150,000 (98th)

  • Population Density per sq km: 324 (34th)

  • Country Dialling Code: 972

  • Internet Country Code: .il

  • Time Zone: GMT +2 (+3 from March to September)

  • Voltage Guide: 220 AC, 50 Hz.

  • Finance: All major credit cards and traveller's cheques accepted.

  • Business Hours: 0830-1200,1600-1800 Sunday-Tuesday and Thursday, 0830-1230 Wednesday, 0830-1200 Friday.

  • GDP: US$103 billion

  • GDP per Capita: US$16,291

  • Annual Growth: 5%

  • Inflation: -2%

  • Major Industries: Metal, defence, machinery, technology, diamonds, chemicals.

  • Major Trading Partners: USA, UK, Belgium/Luxembourg, Germany.

  • Personal Safety: Mainly safe, but significant unrest in some areas due to civil conflict. Seek latest information at time of visit.

50 Must see places in Israel

  • Abu Gosh
  • Acre
  • Banias
  • Beit She’an
  • Ben Yehuda Street
  • Caesarea
  • Caesarea Philippi
  • Capernaum
  • Cardo
  • Cave of John the Baptist
  • Church of Gallicantu
  • Daliat El Carmel
  • David’s Spring
  • Davidson Center
  • Dead Sea
  • Eilat
  • Ein Akev
  • Ein Boqek
  • Ein Gedi Nature Reserve
  • Ein Karem
  • Ein Tzukim (Ein Feshkah)
  • Ein Zik
  • Elah Valley
  • Garden of Gethsemane
  • Garden Tomb
  • Golan Heights
  • Haas Promenade
  • Hazor
  • Hamat Gader
  • Hezekiah’s Tunnel
  • Israel Museum
  • Jewish Quarter Jerusalem
  • Jezreel Valley
  • Kfar Hanokdim
  • Katsrin
  • Knesset
  • Kidron Valley
  • Korazin
  • Kursi
  • Masada,
  • Megiddo
  • Mt. Arbel
  • Mt. of Beatitudes
  • Mt. Carmel
  • Mt. Hermon
  • Mt. of Olives
  • Mt. Scopus
  • Nazareth Village
  • Neot Kedumim
  • Nof Ginosar
  • Old City, Jerusalem
  • Old City, Jaffa
  • Qumran
  • Rainbow Cave
  • Ramon Crater
  • Red Sea
  • Rosh Hanikra
  • Sataf
  • “Shechiyanu Service”
  • Sea of Galilee
  • Second Temple Model
  • Sde Boker
  • Southern steps
  • Tabgha
  • Tel Aviv
  • Tel Dan
  • Temple Institute
  • Temple Mount
  • Upper Galilee
  • Upper Room
  • Via Dolorosa
  • Western Wall
  • Western Wall Tunnel Tours
  • Wilderness Tabernacle
  • Yad VaShem
  • Yardenit