Israel

Flag of Israel

Short Bio:

• Name: State of Israel
• An Un-Member?: Yes
• Capital: Jerusalem
• Continent: Asia
• Area: 20,772 sq.km
• Population: 7,708,900  (Approx)
• Religion: Jewish-76.5%, Muslim-16%, Christian-2.1%, Others-5.5%
• Literacy: 97.5%  (Approx)
• Language: Hebrew, Arabic
• Currency: New Shekel
• Income (Per Capita): $29,410  (Approx)
• Avg life span: 80.8 years  (Approx)
• Date of Independence: 14^th May 1948  
• Government type: Parliamentary Democracy 
• President: Shimon Peres
• Prime minister: Binjamin Netanyahu
• Chief Mineral Resource: *
• Principal Crop: Citrus fruits
• Main Industry: Wine-making, Textiles, Processed foods
• Main exports: Citrus fruits
• Main imports: *

History:

• In 1948 Israel came into being as a result of pressure of international reorganisation for a Jewish state.
• Thousands of Palestinians were displaced as a result of formation of Israel and many wars have been fought involving Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.
• Palestinians in west bank have lived under Israeli occupation since 1967.
• Israel evacuated its settlers from Gaza Strip in 2005 and withdrew its forces ending 40 years of military activity.
• In 1979 Egypt and Israel signed a peace agreement, but was followed after 1990.
• The years of uprising of the peace progress with Palestinians is known as ‘Intifada’
•     A ‘final status’ agreement is yet to be reached between Palestine and Israel.