- Official name
- State of Israel دولة إسرائيل · Arabic
1 more name
מדינת ישראל · Hebrew - Capital
- Jerusalem
- Region
- Western Asia
- Population (2018 est.)
- ≈ 8.9 million
- Area
- 20,770 km²
- Currency
- Israeli new shekel (ILS)
- Neighbours
- Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria
- Internet / phone
- .il · +972
Where it is
Notable facts
- The Dead Sea shore is the lowest land surface on Earth, around 430 m below sea level.
- Israel recycles a very large share of its wastewater for agriculture, more than any other country.
- Drip irrigation was developed and commercialised in Israel in the 1960s.
- Hebrew is the only case of a language with no native speakers being successfully revived as an everyday vernacular.
World Heritage 9 sites
National dish
Falafelפלאפל Ground chickpeas and herbs, deep-fried and eaten in pita with salad and tahini.
Not official, and not originally Israeli — falafel is eaten across the Levant and Egypt, where it is made with fava beans. Hummus is claimed as often.