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Location
Eastern Mediterranean.
Area
22,145 sq km (8,550 sq miles).
Population
7.04 million (Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, 2006).
Population Density
317.9 per sq km.
Government
Republic. The state of Israel was founded in 1948.
Religion
80% Jewish, 18% Muslim, with small Christian, Druze and other
minorities.
Head of Government
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert since March 2006.
Head of State
Moshe Katzav since 2000.
Internet
There are many Internet cafes.
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Capital
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Jerusalem.
Population: (including East Jerusalem) 724,000 (2006). The Israeli
government has designated Jerusalem as the capital, although this is
not recognized by the UN, and most foreign embassies are based in
Tel Aviv. |
Language
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Hebrew and Arabic
are the official languages.
Hebrew is the first language of about two-thirds of the population.
Arabic is spoken by around 15%. Other languages, including English,
French, German, Hungarian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Spanish and
Yiddish are widely spoken. A large proportion of the population speak
good English, a compulsory school subject. |
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Time |
GMT + 2 (GMT + 3
during summer Daylight Saving Time. Daylight Saving Time in Israel
starts on 1 April every year and ends on the Saturday between Rosh
Hashana and Yom Kippur.) |
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Electricity |
230 volts AC, 50Hz. Three-pin plugs are
standard; if needed, adaptors can be purchased in Israel. |
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Telephone
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Country code: 972.
Local telephone directories are in Hebrew, but there is a special
English-language version for tourists. |
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Mobile Telephone |
Roaming agreements
exist with most international mobile phone companies. There is
coverage all over the country, including the Negev Desert. Visitors
should note that it is illegal to drive whilst holding a mobile
telephone. |
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Media |
Israel has vibrant
and exceptionally diverse media, produced in Hebrew, Arabic, English
and Russian, expressing all viewpoints and spanning the entire
political spectrum. All publications are privately owned, and there is
no state interference with editorial. News in English is broadcast on
radio and TV several times daily. |
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Post |
Airmail to Europe
takes up to one week.
Post office hours: May vary but are generally Sun-Tues and
Thurs 0800-1200 and 1530-1830, Wed 0800-1330 and Fri 0800-1200. All
post offices are closed on Shabbat (Saturday) and holy days,
although central telegraph offices are open throughout the year. |
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Press |
• The main dailies
are Ha’aretz, Ma’ariv and Yedioth Aharonoth.
• The main English-language daily is the Jerusalem Post.
• The Jerusalem Report is a popular left-of-center monthly
magazine in English. |
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Radio |
• There is a huge
range of radio stations offering music, news or features in several
languages.
• The Israel Broadcasting Authority runs the principal station
Kol Israel.
• The popular and authoritative Army Radio broadcasts news and
music to a mostly-civilian audience and operates the music and traffic
news network Galgalatz.
• There is also a proliferation of unauthorized/ pirate radio
stations. |
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Below are listed Public Holidays for
the January -December 2008 period. |
2008
21 Mar Purim.
20-26 Apr* Pesach (Passover).
8 May Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Israel Independence Day).
9 Jun Shavuot (Pentecost).
30 Sep 30-1 Oct Rosh Hashana (New Year).
9 Oct Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).
14-20 Oct* Sukkot (Tabernacles).
24 Oct Simchat Torah.
22-29 Dec Chanukah (Festival of Lights). |
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Note
*Only the first and last days of Passover and Sukkot are national
holidays, but there may be some disruption on intermediate dates; many
shops and businesses may open but close early. The festival of
Chanukah is a holiday period, but it is not a national holiday -
businesses remain open. Jewish festivals always commence on the
evenings before the dates given above.
The Jewish religious day is Saturday (Shabbat) and begins at
nightfall on Friday until nightfall on Saturday. Most public services
and shops close early on Friday as a result. Muslim and Christian
holidays are also observed by the respective populations. Thus,
depending on the district, the day of rest falls on Friday, Saturday
or Sunday. |
Note
The Palestinian areas (the West Bank and Gaza) are administered by the
Palestine National Authority, not by the government of Israel. |
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