Israel

Welcome Shalom. Peace. That might be the greeting you hear if you visit Israel. The dead sea is popular in Israel because you can not sink in it because of all the salt so babies and other people that can not swim could go in the dead sea. The population is 6,631,100 people in Israel. Its about the size of the U.S. state of New Jersey. The religions in Israel are 80% Jewish, 15% Islamic, 2% Christian, and 3% other. The average January temperature is 56 degrees Fahrenheit (13 degrees Celsius). The average July temperature is 79 degrees Fahrenheit (13 degrees Celsius). The languages in Israel are Hebrew, Arabic, and English. The countries chief imports include chemicals, computer equipment, grain, iron, and steel, petroleum products, rough diamonds, and vehicles.

Israel has a landform called the dead sea. The capital of Israel is Jerusalem. The major cities in Israel are Jerusalem, Nahariyya, Haifa, Nazareth, Hadera, Netahya, Petah Tiqwa, Tel Aviv-Yafa, Bat Yam, Rishon Leziyyon, Ashdod, Ashqelon, Beersheka, and Dimona. The Negev Desert forms the southern part of Israel. The Negev is very hot and very dry. It has stony cliffs and giant craters. MAP WITH KEY

Israel is a democracy. People vote but they must be 18 or older. The head of the Israel government is the Prime Minister. People are free to live the way they want. In Israeli courts, cases are heard by judges and Israel has no juries like the U.S. People in Israel are happy with there country. The form of government in Israel is Parliamentary, Democracy. People vote for all there leaders. Israels people vote a single person and the party that wins the most votes receives the most seats in parliament. Israels parliament is called, the Knesset, and is the law maker of Israel. The Knesset also elects a president and the president names a Prime Minister, who has political power.

History/Culture Settled in 9500, B.C. the Arab city of Jericho is one of the oldest human Settlements. People farmed crops and kept animals. There is now little documentation on the earliest inhabitants of modern Israel. Throughout history a lot of powers ruled Israel including the Egyptians, Persians, Babylonians, Greeks, Romans, and Islamic leaders. The fighting continues today. Spicy foods are very popular in Israel. Popular foods in Israel are fruits, vegetables, hamburgers, chicken, and fish. The languages in Israel are Hebrew, Arabic, and English. The holidays in Israel are Rosh Hashanoh, Yom Kippur, Ramadan, Pesach, Purim, Memorial Day, and Independence Day.

Economics Natural Resources/Products Israel was a poor country with little industrial or agricultural. The countrys chief imports include chemicals, computer equipment, grain, iron and steel petroleum products, rough diamonds, and vehicles. Shekels are Israels money. The natural resources in Israel are farmland, phosphates, and potash. In late 1990s about 4.2 new shekels equaled 1 U.S. dollar and about 2.7 new shekels equaled 1 Canadian dollar.

The flag of Israel is white with blue bands at the top and bottom. In the middle of the flag is the star of David, a Jewish symbol, the flag was designed in the colors of the shawls that Jews wear when they pray. The Israeli flag is white and blue.

FACT FILE AND FUN FACTS The capital of Israel is Jerusalem. The population of Israel is about 5.5 million. The languages in Israel are Hebrew, Arabic, and English. The official religions in Israel are Judaism and Islam. The size of Israel is 7,876 square miles (20,399 square kilometers), Israel is about the same size as the U.S. state of New Jersey. The crops in Israel are oranges, clives, and grapes. The Monetary unit in Israel is Shekels. Israel has cool mild winters and hot dry summers.

Say it in Hebrew English Hebrew How you pronounce it Good-bye and hello and peace Shalom (SHAHLOHM) Mother Ima (EE-MAH) No Father Aba (AH-BAH) Lo (LO) Please Bevakasha (BE-VAH- KAH-SHAS) Thank you Toda (TOH-DAH)

Book title or Website nameAuthorYear Countries of the World IsraelKristin Theomes1999 Discovering Cultures IsraelJennifer Ruzines Roy2004 Welcome to IsraelElma Schemenauer2008 Israel a question and answer book Kvemeha Spengler2005 First Reports IsraelShirley W. Gray2002 World Book National Geographic Kids