2000 Edition

Background

Following World War II, the British withdrew from their mandate of Palestine, and the UN partitioned the area into Arab and Jewish states, an arrangement rejected by the Arabs. Subsequently, the Israelis defeated the Arabs in a series of wars without ending the deep tensions between the two sides. The territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 war are not included in the Isreal country profile, unless otherwise noted. In keeping with the framework established at the Madrid Conference in October 1991, bilateral negotiations are being conducted between Israel and Palestinian representatives (from the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip) and Israel and Syria, to achieve a permanent settlement. On 25 April 1982, Israel withdrew from the Sinai pursuant to the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty. Outstanding territorial and other disputes with Jordan were resolved in the 26 October 1994 Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace.

Area

land

20,330 sq km

total

20,770 sq km

water

440 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Climate

temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas

Coastline

273 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Har Meron 1,208 m

lowest point

Dead Sea -408 m

Environment - current issues

limited arable land and natural fresh water resources pose serious constraints; desertification; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; groundwater pollution from industrial and domestic waste, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservation

Geographic coordinates

31 30 N, 34 45 E

Geography - note

there are 231 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the West Bank, 42 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 24 in the Gaza Strip, and 29 in East Jerusalem (August 1999 est.)

Irrigated land

1,800 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Egypt 255 km, Gaza Strip 51 km, Jordan 238 km, Lebanon 79 km, Syria 76 km, West Bank 307 km

total

1,006 km

Land use

arable land

17%

forests and woodland

6%

other

66% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

4%

permanent pastures

7%

Location

Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

continental shelf

to depth of exploitation

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

sandstorms may occur during spring and summer

Natural resources

copper, phosphates, bromide, potash, clay, sand, sulfur, asphalt, manganese, small amounts of natural gas and crude oil

Terrain

Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains; Jordan Rift Valley

Age structure

0-14 years: 28% (male 825,443; female 787,159) 15-64 years: 63% (male 1,831,142; female 1,820,424) 65 years and over: 9% (male 248,695; female 329,591) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

19.32 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

6.22 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

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.)

Infant mortality rate

7.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab minority, English most commonly used foreign language

Life expectancy at birth

female

80.67 years (2000 est.)

male

76.57 years

total population

78.57 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

93% (1992 est.)

male

97%

total population

95%

Nationality

adjective

Israeli

noun

Israeli(s)

Net migration rate

3.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

5,842,454

note

includes about 171,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank, about 20,000 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, about 6,500 in the Gaza Strip, and about 172,000 in East Jerusalem (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

1.67% (2000 est.)

Religions

Jewish 80.1%, Muslim 14.6% (mostly Sunni Muslim), Christian 2.1%, other 3.2% (1996 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.6 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Administrative divisions

6 districts (mehozot, singular - mehoz); Central, Haifa, Jerusalem, Northern, Southern, Tel Aviv

Capital

Jerusalem

note

Israel proclaimed Jerusalem as its capital in 1950, but the US, like nearly all other countries, maintains its Embassy in Tel Aviv

Constitution

no formal constitution; some of the functions of a constitution are filled by the Declaration of Establishment (1948), the Basic Laws of the parliament (Knesset), and the Israeli citizenship law

Country name

conventional long form

State of Israel

conventional short form

Israel

local long form

Medinat Yisra'el

local short form

Yisra'el

Data code

IS

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Martin S. INDYK

embassy

71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv

mailing address

PSC 98, Unit 7228, APO AE 09830

telephone

(3) 519-7575

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador David IVRY

telephone

(202) 364-5500

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet selected by prime minister and approved by the Knesset

chief of state

President Ezer WEIZMAN (since 13 May 1993)

election results

Ezer WEIZMAN reelected president by the 120-member Knesset with a total of 63 votes, other candidate, Shaul AMOR, received 49 votes (there were seven abstentions and one absence); Ehud BARAK elected prime minister; percent of vote - Ehud BARAK 56.08%, Binyamin NETANYAHU 43.92%

elections

president elected by the Knesset for a five-year term; election last held 4 March 1998 (next to be held NA March 2003); prime minister elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 17 May 1999 (next to be held NA May 2003); note - in March 1992, the Knesset approved legislation, effective in 1996, which allowed for the direct election of the prime minister; under the new law, each voter casts two ballots - one for the direct election of the prime minister and one for a party in the Knesset; the candidate that receives the largest percentage of the popular vote then works to form a coalition with other parties to achieve a parliamentary majority of 61 seats; finally, the candidate must submit his or her cabinet to the Knesset for approval and this must be done within 45 days of the election; in contrast to the old system, under the new law, the prime minister's party need not be the single-largest party in the Knesset

head of government

Prime Minister Ehud BARAK (since 6 July 1999)

note

government coalition - One Israel, Shas, MERETZ, Yisra'el Ba'Aliya, Center Party, National Religious Party

FAX

(202) 364-5610

(3) 517-3227

consulate(s) general

Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco

consulate(s) general

Jerusalem; note - an independent US mission, established in 1928, whose members are not accredited to a foreign government

Flag description

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)

International organization participation

BSEC (observer), CCC, CE (observer), CERN (observer), EBRD, ECE, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, appointed for life by the president

Legal system

mixture of English common law, British Mandate regulations, and, in personal matters, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim legal systems; in December 1985, Israel informed the UN Secretariat that it would no longer accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral Knesset or parliament (120 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - One Israel 20.2%, Likud Party 14.1%, Shas 13%, MERETZ 7.6%, Yisra'el Ba'Aliya 5.1%, Shinui 5%, Center Party 5%, National Religious Party 4.2%, United Torah Judaism 3.7%, United Arab List 3.4%, National Union 3%, Hadash 2.6%, Yisra'el Beiteinu 2.6%, Balad 1.9%, One Nation 1.9%, Democratic Movement NA (party formed after election, members elected under Yisra'el Ba'Aliya list); seats by party - One Israel 26, Likud Party 19, Shas 17, MERETZ 10, Yisra'el Ba'Aliya 4, Shinui 6, Center Party 6, National Religious Party 5, United Torah Judaism 5, United Arab List 5, National Union 4, Hadash 3, Yisra'el Beiteinu 4, Democratic Movement 2 (party formed after election, members elected under Yisra'el Ba'Aliya list), Balad 2, One Nation 2

elections

last held 17 May 1999 (next to be held NA May 2003)

National holiday

Independence Day, 14 May 1948; note - Israel declared independence on 14 May 1948, but the Jewish calendar is lunar and the holiday may occur in April or May

Political parties and leaders

Balad ; Center Party ; Democratic Movement ; Gesher ; Hadash ; Labor Party ; Likud Party ; MERETZ ; Moledet [Rehavam ZEEVI]; National Democratic Alliance (Balad) ; National Religious Party ; National Union (includes Herut, Tekuma, Yisre'el Beiteinu and Moledet); One Israel (includes Labor, Gesher, and Meimad); One Nation [Amir PERETZ]; Shas ; Shinui ; Third Way ; Tzomet ; United Arab List [Abd al-Malik DAHAMSHAH]; United Torah Judaism ; Yisra'el Ba'Aliya ; Yisra'el Beiteinu

Political pressure groups and leaders

Gush Emunim, Israeli nationalists advocating Jewish settlement on the West Bank and Gaza Strip; Peace Now supports territorial concessions in the West Bank and is critical of government's Lebanon policy

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

citrus, vegetables, cotton; beef, poultry, dairy products

Budget

expenditures

$42.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)

revenues

$40 billion

Currency

1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot

Debt - external

$18.7 billion (1997)

Economic aid - recipient

$1.1 billion from the US (1999)

Economy - overview

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 is largely self-sufficient in food production except for grains. Diamonds, high-technology equipment, and agricultural products (fruits and vegetables) are 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. The influx of Jewish immigrants from the former USSR topped 750,000 during the period 1989-99, bringing the population of Israel from the former Soviet Union to 1 million, one-sixth of the total population, and adding scientific and professional expertise of substantial value for the economy's future. The influx, coupled with the opening of new markets at the end of the Cold War, energized Israel's economy, which grew rapidly in the early 1990s. But growth began slowing in 1996 when the government imposed tighter fiscal and monetary policies and the immigration bonus petered out. Those policies brought inflation down to record low levels in 1999 and, coupled with improved prospects for the Middle East peace process, are creating a climate for stronger GDP growth in the year 2000.

Electricity - consumption

31.805 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

1.061 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

2 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

35.338 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

99.9%

hydro

0.1%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (1998)

Exchange rates

new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1 - 4.2260 (November 1999), 3.8001 (1999), 3.4494 (1997), 3.1917 (1996), 3.0113 (1995)

Exports

$23.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities

machinery and equipment, software, cut diamonds, chemicals, textiles and apparel, agricultural products

Exports - partners

US 32%, UK, Hong Kong, Benelux, Japan, Netherlands (1997)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $105.4 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

2%

industry

17%

services

81% (1997 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $18,300 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.1% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 26.9% (1992)

Imports

$30.6 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Imports - commodities

raw materials, military equipment, investment goods, rough diamonds, fuels, consumer goods

Imports - partners

US 19%, Benelux 12%, Germany 9%, UK 8%, Italy 7%, Switzerland 6% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate

5.4% (1996)

Industries

food processing, diamond cutting and polishing, textiles and apparel, chemicals, metal products, military equipment, transport equipment, electrical equipment, potash mining, high-technology electronics, tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.3% (1999 est.)

Labor force

2.3 million (1997)

Labor force - by occupation

public services 31.2%, manufacturing 20.2%, finance and business 13.1%, commerce 12.8%, construction 7.5%, personal and other services 6.4%, transport, storage, and communications 6.2%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 2.6% (1996)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

9.1% (1999 est.)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

23 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 23, FM 15, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios

3.07 million (1997)

Telephone system

most highly developed system in the Middle East although not the largest

domestic

good system of coaxial cable and microwave radio relay; all systems are digital

international

3 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

2.8 million (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.5 million (1999)

Television broadcast stations

24 (plus 31 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

1.69 million (1997)

Airports

58 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

33 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 7 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

25 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 20 (1999 est.)

Heliports

2 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

15,965 km (including 56 km of expressways)

total

15,965 km

unpaved

0 km (1998 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

container 19, roll-on/roll-off 1 (1999 est.)

total

20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 711,831 GRT/823,929 DWT

Pipelines

crude oil 708 km; petroleum products 290 km; natural gas 89 km

Ports and harbors

Ashdod, Ashqelon, Elat (Eilat), Hadera, Haifa, Tel Aviv-Yafo

Railways

standard gauge

610 km 1.435-m gauge (1996)

total

610 km

Military branches

Israel Defense Forces (includes ground, naval, and air components), Pioneer Fighting Youth (Nahal), Frontier Guard, Chen (women); note - historically there have been no separate Israeli military services

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$8.7 billion (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

9.4% (FY99)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 1,499,186 females age 15-49: 1,462,063 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 1,226,903 females age 15-49: 1,192,319 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

females

47,996 (2000 est.)

males

50,348

Disputes - international

West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation; Golan Heights is Israeli-occupied; Israeli troops in southern Lebanon since June 1982

Illicit drugs

increasingly concerned about cocaine and heroin abuse; drugs arrive in country from Lebanon and increasingly Jordan

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