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Israel

Israel is a country in southwestern Asia, which borders the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea. It is surrounded by the Arab states of Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt. Israel includes most of the land which was known as Palestine. Some parts of Israel look much the same as they did in Biblical times.

Galilee, in northern Israel, is hilly, with wide, fertile valleys. The Sea of Galilee (Lake Tiberias) is in the east. South of Galilee is the fertile plain of Esdraelon. East of the narrow, coastal plain, the Judean Hills rise to Jerusalem. The green countryside ends around Beersheba and the Negev begins. Covering half of Israel, the Negev is a desert which extends to Eilat on the Gulf of Aqaba, an arm of the Red Sea. Very little rain falls on this hot, rocky wilderness.

Northern Israel has hot summers and cool winters. Rain falls only in the winter. Israel's most important water supply is the River Jordan, which flows along part of Israel's border with Jordan. This river is used to irrigate farmland. About nine-tenths of the people of Israel are Jews. Most of the others are Arabs.

The official language of Israel is Hebrew, but Arabic is also used in business. Many Jews from other lands have settled in Israel. Israeli law permits Jews from other countries to live in Israel. The Israelis have worked hard to make their country prosperous. They have reclaimed much land which seemed useless. They have drained swampy areas in the north and irrigated parts of the southern desert. They have found underground water and built long pipelines to carry water to desert regions.

Some Israelis live in farming communities called kibbutzim. The kibbutz provides everything for its members, who do not own property themselves. Important crops include citrus fruits, cotton, grain and vegetables. Much of Israel's mineral wealth comes from the Dead Sea. Copper and iron ore have been found in the Negev and an oilfield is situated in central Israel. The country has many expanding industries.

After World War 1, the British ruled Palestine. In 1948, the British left and Israel became independent. Israel's Arab neighbors claimed that the country belonged to Arabs. War between Israel and the Arabs broke out in 1948, 1956 and 1967. Israel won all three wars. Since 1967, the Israelis have held Arab territory east of the River Jordan and in Syria, and part of the Sinai Peninsula belonging to Egypt.