About Israel
0 
Country name: The State of Israel
Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Administrative divisions: 6 districts (mehozot, singular - mehoz); Central, Haifa, Jerusalem, Northern, Southern, Tel Aviv
National holiday: Independence Day, 14 May. Israel declared independence on 14 May 1948, but the Jewish calendar is lunar and the holiday may occur in April or May.
Land area: 20,329 sq km; total area: 20,770 sq km
Population (2009 est.): 7,233,701 (growth rate: 1.6%); birth rate: 19.7/1000; infant mortality rate: 4.2/1000; life expectancy: 80.73; density per sq km: 319
Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Jerusalem, 695,500 Note: Israel proclaimed Jerusalem as its capital in 1950, but the U.S., like nearly all other countries, maintains its embassy in Tel Aviv.
Other large cities: Tel Aviv, 365,300; Haifa, 280,200
Monetary unit: Shekel
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.
National emblem: 
President: Shimon Peres (2007)
Prime Minister: Benjamin Netanyahu (2009)
Comments