Israel

Capital City - Jerusalem
Currency - Israeli New Shekel
Population - 7,587,000 (2010 estimate)
National Language(s) - Hebrew, Arabic
Religion - Due to its recent creation as a homeland for the Jewish people, Israel is considered to be a Jewish state.  About 75% of its population count themselves to be practicing Jews.  The remaining 25% is comprised of various Muslim and Christian groups, with a small presence of Buddhists and Hindus.
Type of Government - Parliamentary Democracy
Leaders - Shimon Peres (President); Benjamin Netanyahu (Prime Minister)
Country's Motto - Israel does not have a motto

Geographical Highlights - The State of Israel is a country in western Asia located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Lebanon in the north, Syria in the northeast, Jordan and the West Bank in the east, and the Gaza Strip and Egypt on the southwest. Israel is home to a variety of geographic features, from the Negev desert in the south to the mountain ranges of the Galilee, Carmel and the Golan in the north. The Israeli Coastal Plain on the shores of the Mediterranean is home to seventy percent of the nation's population. East of the central highlands lies the Jordan Rift Valley, which forms a small part of the Great Rift Valley. The Jordan River runs along the Jordan Rift Valley, from Mount Hermon through the Hulah Valley and the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea (the lowest point on the surface of the Earth).  Further south is the Arabah, ending with the Gulf of Eilat, part of the Red Sea.

History - Israel has had a long and tumultuous history.  From around the second millenium B.C.E., for a period of roughly 1,000 years, Israelite kingdoms ruled the land that is now the State of Israel.  In the interim, between Israelite rule and the 7th century Muslim conquest, the country had fallen into the hands of many rulers - these rulers included the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Persians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Sassanians, and the Byzantines.  Jewish presence dwindled after a failed revolt against the Romans; however, they were not purged from the country until Byzantine Emperor Heraclius recaptured Jerusalem in 629 C.E.  Within a few years of that time, the Muslims took momentary control of Israel.  Following this initial Muslim conquest, power teetered between Umayyads, the Abbasids, and the European Crusaders, finally returning to the Muslim Sultanate in 1260.  By 1516, the land of Israel was conquered by the Ottoman Empire, which ruled the region until the 20th century.  Great Britain ruled from 1917 until Israel became an independent nation in 1948.

Most modern Israelis are descendants of immigrants who began to resettle the land from the 1880's forward.  Large Zionist movements, as well as many escaping Nazi persecution, found a new home in Israel.  A displeasing concept to many of the Arabs (namely Palestinians) in the region, the Jews formally consider Israel to be their homeland and birth-right.  Many conflicts have arisen due to these opposing factions and their polarizing views.  An effort for peace in the region, over the past few decades, has ended with little more than hopeful dreams and distant realities.  The struggle continues for Israelis and Palestinians, alike, to regain stability and normalcy in their shared land.

Landmarks -

• Masada - A desert fortress overlooking the Dead Sea, Masada remains a symbol of the ancient kingdom of Israel, its violent destruction and the last stand of Jewish patriots in the face of the Roman army.
• The Western Wall - In Jerusalem on the site of the Temple Mount, the Western Wall is the most sacred of all Jewish sites.  It is the last remnant of the Second Temple that was destroyed in 70 C.E. by the Romans.
• The Sea of Galilee - An important site for Christian pilgrims, it is said that this is where Jesus preached, performed miracles and walked on water.
• The Dome of the Rock - Another site in Jerusalem, with particular significance to Muslims, the Dome of the Rock is a beautiful Muslim shrine which encloses the rock on which Abraham nearly sacrificed his son and from which the Prophet Muhammed ascended to heaven.
• The city of Bethlehem - A pilgrimage site for Christians, Muslims and Jews, Bethlehem is believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, the traditional burial place of the biblical patriarch Jacob's wife Rachel and the place where prophet Muhammad prayed en route to Jerusalem.

Interesting Trivia -

• Israel produces 93% of its own food requirements.
• The Dead Sea is the lowest body of water on Earth, at 1,315 feet below sea level.  Also, it has 10 times the salt content of other sea water, making it very difficult to sustain life.  Only a few types of algae and bacteria live in or near the water.
• The Mount of Olives is the oldest continually used cemetary in the world.
• Albert Einstein was offered the Presidency of Israel in 1952 - (he declined).
• Israel has the highest percentage of engineers in the world.