israel - general info:

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.

Capital
 

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
 

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.

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.)

Electricity

230 volts AC, 50Hz. Three-pin plugs are standard; if needed, adaptors can be purchased in Israel.

Telephone

Country code: 972. Local telephone directories are in Hebrew, but there is a special English-language version for tourists.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.