6,276,883 note: includes about
187,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank, about 20,000 in the Israeli-occupied
Golan Heights, more than 5,000 in the Gaza Strip, and fewer than 177,000 in East
Jerusalem (July 2005 est.) Jewish 80.1% (Europe/America-born 32.1%, Israel-born
20.8%, Africa-born 14.6%, Asia-born 12.6%), non-Jewish 19.9% (mostly Arab)
(1996 est.)
Religions:
Jewish 80.1%, Muslim 14.6% (mostly
Sunni Muslim), Christian 2.1%, other 3.2% (1996 est.)
Languages:
Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially
for Arab minority, English most commonly used foreign language.
Government
type:
Parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Jerusalem
Independence:
14 May 1948 (from League of Nations
mandate under British administration)
National
holiday:
Independence
Day, 14 May (1948); note - Israel declared independence on 14 May 1948.
Flag
White with a blue hexagram
(six-pointed linear star) known as the Magen David (Shield of David) centered
between two equal horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag.
Economy
Israel
has a technologically advanced market economy with substantial government participation.
It depends on imports of crude oil, grains, raw materials, and military equipment.
Despite limited natural resources, Israel has intensively developed its agricultural
and industrial sectors over the past 20 years.
Israel imports substantial
quantities of grain, but is largely self-sufficient in other agricultural products.
Cut diamonds, high-technology equipment, and agricultural products (fruits and
vegetables) are the leading exports.
Israel usually posts sizable current
account deficits, which are covered by large transfer payments from abroad and
by foreign loans. Roughly half of the government's external debt is owed to the
US, which is its major source of economic and military aid.
Currency:
New
Israeli shekel (ILS); note - NIS is the currency abbreviation; ILS is the International
Organization for Standarization (ISO) code for the NIS Currency code: ILS
Military
Military
branches: Israel Defense Forces (IDF): Ground Corps, Navy, Air and Space Force
(including Air Defense Forces); historically there have been no separate Israeli
military services.
Military
manpower
17 years of age for compulsory
(Jews, Druzes) and voluntary (Christians, Muslims, Circassians) military service;
both sexes are eligible for military service; conscript service obligation - 36
months for men, 21 months for women (2004).
