ISRAEL

ISRAEL

Where you find yourself on the planet and where we are in the solar system determines your fate

The State of Israel (Hebrew: מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל); Medinat Yisra'el; Arabic: دَوْلَةْ إِسْرَائِيل‎, Dawlat Isrā'īl) is a country in Western Asia on the southeastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea. It is a parliamentary democracy and the world's only Jewish state.


Flag	Coat of arms

Motto: none

Anthem: Hatikvah

Capital

Jerusalem
31°47′N 35°13′E

Largest city

Jerusalem

Official language(s)

Hebrew, Arabic

Government

Parliamentary democracy

- President

Moshe Katsav

- Prime Minister

Ehud Olmert

Independence

From the UK

- Declaration

14 May 1948 (05 Iyar 5708)

Area

- Total

22,145 km² (149th)

8,019 sq mi

- Water (%)

~2%

Population

- May 2006 est.

7,026,000¹ (99th)

- 1995 census

5,548,523

- Density

304/km² (18th)
787/sq mi

GDP (PPP)

2005 estimate

- Total

$163.45 billion (53rd)

- Per capita

$23,416 (28th)

HDI (2003)

0.915 (23rd) – high

Currency

New Israeli sheqel (ILS)

Time zone

IST (UTC+2)

- Summer (DST)

(UTC+3)

Internet TLD

.il

Calling code

+972

Name

The name "Israel" is rooted in the Hebrew Bible, where Jacob is renamed Israel after wrestling with a mysterious adversary. The biblical nation fathered by Jacob was then called "The Children of Israel" or the "Israelites". Citizens of the modern State of Israel are referred to, in English, as "Israelis".

In an interlinear, literal translation of Genesis 32:28, the first mention of the word "Israel" in the Bible reads as follows: "And-he-is-saying not Jacob he-shall-be-said further name-of-you but rather Israel that you-are-upright with Elohim and with mortals and-you-are-prevailing." Thus one literal translation of ישראל, Israel, is "Upright (with) God" (ישר-אל; Ishr-al).

History

Historical roots

The earliest known mention of the name 'Israel', probably referring to a group of people rather than to a place, is the Egyptian Merneptah Stele dated to about 1211 BCE. For over 3,000 years, Jews have regarded the Land of Israel as their homeland, both as a Holy Land and as a Promised land. The land of Israel holds a special place in Jewish religious obligations, encompassing Judaism's most important sites — including the remains of the First and Second Temples, as well as the rites concerning those temples. Starting around 1200 BCE, a series of Jewish kingdoms and states existed intermittently in the region for more than a millennium.

Under Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and (briefly) Sassanian rule, Jewish presence in the province dwindled due to mass expulsions. In particular, the failure of the Bar Kochba Revolt against the Roman Empire resulted in the large-scale expulsion of Jews. It was during this time that the Romans gave the name Syria Palaestina to the geographic area, in an attempt to erase Jewish ties to the land. The Mishnah and Jerusalem Talmud, two of Judaism's most important religious texts, were composed in the region during this period. The Muslims conquered the land from the Byzantine Empire in 638 CE. The area was ruled by various Muslim states (interrupted by the rule of the Crusaders) before becoming part of the Ottoman Empire in 1517.

Frank Kruschandl

7 Spring Close

Wish Hill

Eastbourne

BN20 9HD

Nancy Pelosi

Speaker Elect

House pf Representatives Airmail Recorded

United State Congress

Capitol Hill

Washington DC USA 4 December 06

Dear Ms Pelosi

Middle East Woes - IRAQ - PALESTINE (part 3)

** US Policy could lead to Nuclear War Iran/Israel

IRAQ : Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is viewed by the US as a 24 carat upholder of democracy. In reality he is afflicted by a maelstrom of emotions - like the majority of Iraqis. The Kurds, themselves mostly Sunni, are consumed by their recently found Freedom and a de facto Homeland of their own. Achieved by Saddams downfall. Well done the US and the Coalition! Residually, Iraq comprises Sunnis - former Masters of Iraq abd Shi'ites their former vassals. The sects simply loathe one another.

Democracy - the shoe to fit all - fits no-one in particular! A subtle acquiescing in Shia militia murder and mayhem, on the part of Houri al-Maliki, has become exacerbated in that the reisn have redically 'slipped' in respect of imported terrorism. Sunnis, numerically inferior, reciprocally follow the sectarian path. Their concerns being Survival - Retaliation in a holding of their position - the equitable distribution of Oil Revenue. This last notably absent from the area of their predominance. It is therefore wholly illogical for such disparate groups to be collectively wedded to Democracy. The Kurds are relatively insulated. Keeping a 'watching brief' in protection of their Homeland interests. Sharp eyes watch the (southern) Sunni/Shi'ite fiasco. Razor sharp where outsiders are concerned, eg. the coalition but particularly Iran.

Autonomous Sates - is surely the realistic solution - held together within a Federation of States. External defence could be guaranteed by the US - Coalition - UN - NATO. Such posture would keep the foxes from the chickens. Proceeds from Oil Revenue to be shared upon a percapita basis. The States being responsible for their use. Each State with its own police force and armed military Detachments. Maintaining Security and eliminating Terrorism.

PALESTINE : Fused for a future Nuclear War starting with Iran/Israel. Israeli 'special status' supported by the US in their monopoly on power must end! Equal treatment + financing should become endemic! External defence guaranteed to Israelis and Palestinians - after a style set out viz Iraq in the foregoing. It is the absence of impartiality which is the Road Block (forget the road map) which encourages abuse. Palestinians are hungry - not the Israelis!

Sincerely yours

Frank Kruschandl

[The above views are not necessarily those of the website owners, but are the views of the writer concerned - Please address all comments accordingly]

Israel: thoughts for the future - independent comment

LINKS

General information

BBC News Country Profile - Israel and Palestinian Territories
Jewish Virtual Library Israel articles including information on history, economics, and military issues. (From the American-Israel Cooperative Enterprise, an Israel-advocacy group)
CIA World Factbook - Israel
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Israel - Country Page
US State Department - Israel includes Background Notes, Country Study and major reports
Columbia University Libraries - Israel directory category of the WWW-VL
Israel Lexicon, ynet news includes definitions of people, events and terms related to Israel
Open Directory Project - Israel directory category
SABRAnet - Where Israel comes alive on the Internet
Yahoo! - Israel directory category

Government

Government Portal of Israel
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel
The President of the state of Israel
Prime Minister's Office
Bureau of Statistics
Israel Defence Force site
Israel Security Fence Project
isayeret.com - The Israeli Special Forces Database
Religion and State in Israel: a Discussion a three-way discussion between Anat Hoffman (executive director, Israel Religious Action Center), Professor Steven Mazie (author of Israel's Higher Law: Religion and Liberal Democracy in the Jewish State) and Rabbi Avi Shafran (director of public affairs, Agudath Israel of America)

History

Resources > Modern Period > 20th Cent. > History of Israel > State of Israel The Jewish History Resource Center, Project of the Dinur Center for Research in Jewish History, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The birth of Israel from the BBC
Israel Museum, Jerusalem
Historical documents from the Israeli Ministry of Public Affairs
Authentic historical Recordings - UN Partition Vote of 1947, Arab Rejection, "First" Hatikva, David Ben-Gurion - On Independence, Arab Countdown to Six Day War, Moshe Dayan - Six Day War, Gen. Ariel Sharon - "Move forward!", Nasser's Infamous Phonecall, Gen. Yitzhak Rabin - Six Day War, Abba Eban's "Stalingrad" Speech

Foreign relations and the current conflicts

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