Israel, like Palestine, is in the midst of change, controversy, and challenges. Unlike Palestine, Israel has relative peace, stability and a strong economy. Israeli history is filled with a lot of different interpretations, but accordingly has origins from pre biblical times.
There is a lot to be said with the conflicts going on now about Israel and the holy land. Israel is unique for bringing back its tradition and language of Hebrew to the front of everything in their existence. The Israel Palestine conflict is the most damaging and controversial land dispute in modern times.
Israel is a state with many unique facts. As the only Jewish homeland in the world it also serves as a business center. Moreover, it is the only country in the world brought back and made official a dead language and made it the national language.
Today, Israel is a global leader. But, Israel is fighting the attention of the world with terrorism and threats of violence. Palestine, especially Gaza has been a constant reminder of that conflict for Israel.
In conclusion, we learn about the facts and figures of Israel in 2023. This is a place with great mystery, controversy, and history. Let’s learn more about Israel below:
Israel is the only Jewish Nation in the world
In the entire world, there is only one national Jewish state. In essence, the State of Israel is the sole Jewish nation historically in the modern period, and the region that now falls within its borders has a lengthy and rich history that dates from pre biblical times.
With Judaism, there is a basic law that claims Israel as the Nation State of the Jewish People. Many may think there is no other state to go to if you are Jewish but this is not the case. The fact that Israel is an issue can be linked to this fact of being the only Jewish nation on earth.
There are laws or what is known as the Nation-State Bill that have created an Israeli Basic Law making this a special distinction. The official directive of Israel being a Jewish state was furthered on 19 July 2018, and is largely symbolic and declarative in nature. And overall, it is very small as Israel is covering only 1 percent of the Middle East.
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Israel has a small size yet a large influence around the world
Israel in terms of its geographical size, it is a small country in the Middle East. For example, Israel is one of the ten most powerful, politically influential countries in the world. However, the land size of Israel is only the size of New Jersey.
Israel has a lot of power and influence that has only started since the end of World war 2. In terms of military strength, Israel is respected as one of the stronger countries for defense in the world. As well, in terms of global outreach and impact, Israel and the Jewish state have among the strongest international alliances and networks in the world.
Israel being located on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea and bordered by Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria has taken in a lot of influence and cultural capital. The whole country of Israel, with only about 9 million people, has numerous vital archaeological and religious sites. The sites located in Israel are often regarded as sacred and important by Jewish people, Muslims and Christians.
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Israel like Palestine is the birthplace of Jesus and Christianity
There are many struggles in Israel today, For example, there is even the struggle of Jerusalem, which is claimed by two peoples. But, one thing is agreed is that Israel Palestine is the sight and history and birthplace of Christianity.
Historically, the birthplace of Jesus is quite significant for Israel. Why? Because the Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route is in Bethlehem. There are historical documents located about 10 km or 6 miles south of Jerusalem. This is important because the Israeli and Palestinian site has been identified by Christian tradition as the birthplace of Jesus. This has been traced back to the 2nd century.
Historically and throughout time, at least the 2nd century, many have seen how Bethlehem in present day Israel and Palestine is believed to be the place where the Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem. Still to this day, Israelis and Palestinians both claim this fact about the birthplace of this great major religion.
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Israel has roots that go back to the Roman Empire
Judea, what are the lands of Israel, were ruled by a Roman procurator. This arrangement meant it was managed in terms of its political, military, and fiscal governance through the Roman Empire. As well, the government was led and conquered by Gabinius, the Roman governor.
Israel has a history with a very interesting and complex timeline. Why? At first, the population that migrated there seemed to come into being through wars and migration. These days, the history of the Jews in the Roman Empire connects historically to the Jewish in the Roman Empire.
The historical period linking Jewish people and Israel is of the Roman Empire era of 27 BCE – CE 476. The reasoning behind this was that a Jewish diaspora had migrated to Rome. This migration had created a lot of stories, history, and claims of itself in the Roman Empire, Italy, and beyond Europe. These territories of Roman Europe had included as well the land of Israel, Anatolia, Babylon and Alexandria. In conclusion, the lands of Israel were a part of the Roman Empire and, later, the Byzantine Empire.
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The Lowest Point in the entire earth Is Located In Israel
Israel as well Palestine has the Dead Sea. This is a unique part of the earth to share in your land. Why? Because the Dead Sea has a high saline content of about 33%.
It is a fascinating fact about Israel and Palestine for sure. Because the water in this part of Israel makes swimming impossible. The reason is because the salty water makes you buoyant and float without any sort of effort.
The location of the Dead Sea is at the border between Jordan, Israel, and Palestinian territories. The area of the lake is quite large and extensive in general. Israel has developed an area of holistic and natural care and as well industry from this along with Jordan. The reason is that the shores and surface of the Dead Sea are 1,412 ft below sea-level. This creates a different sediment and mineral capacity as well for industry and soil.
Lasty, the Dead Sea allows people to naturally try to resolve many kinds of skin conditions like acne, psoriasis, dry skin, dandruff, stress, muscle aches, and more. Recently, as well for Jordan, Israel has attracted many visitors to travel to the area exclusively for health reasons.
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Israel has a mandatory military draft even for women
It is incredible that Israel has such a strict draft, but what is even more surprising is what it expects from women of Israel. In fact, the single biggest thing that makes Israel unique is that Israel has a mandatory military service requirement for women.
For example, Men usually serve for three years while women serve for a little under two years in Israel. This is incredible considering most countries in the world do not have such a strict draft in this way. It is very much a problem for anyone trying to skip out on their military service to their country because Israel demands you serve and defend Israel.
The exemptions from military service are for married women and women with children. And, anyone who is not physically or psychologically able to serve in the military. As well, you are not expected to serve as a religious man studying at a Jewish law institution or as well for religious women.
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Israel along with Palestine has the greatest and most controversial land dispute of all time
In general, Israel is a lot more diverse than many realize or even know. In terms of people and culture, it is said that only around two-thirds of the population were born in Israel. So that means of the other Israelis, this population may come from around 100 different countries.
The history of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict goes back all the way to the late 19th century when Zionists established a homeland for the Jewish people. This was done in Ottoman-controlled Palestine, as it was known then.
The land was chosen in Palestine as the Land of Israel based on Jewish tradition. The Balfour Declaration of 1917, was what happened next. This basically was a declaration issued by the British government that promoted the idea of a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
Conflict in this debate and dispute got much worse with increasing Jewish immigrants to the region. Then after World War II and the Holocaust, there was the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine. This led to the creation of the Jewish state, which is Israel.
Israel’s population is about 74 percent Jewish statistically. So, that means most of the rest of the population is Muslim. Today, the population is much more varied for Israel than many realize.
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Israel revived a dead language and made it their language
Israel stands out for many reasons. The biggest is their adherence to their ancient origins and foundational cultural identifiers. Hebrew is the language of Israel and it has quite a history.
The emergence and revival of the Hebrew language was happening in Europe and Palestine toward the end of the 19th century. This was a period of great change. Furthermore, and into the 20th century, the usage of Hebrew changed from it being deemed as a very special and sacred language to more. Before, Hebrew had been the designated language of Judaism to a spoken and written language used for everyday life in Israel.
Despite bringing back Hebrew, Israel has two official languages. The languages that are accepted are Hebrew and Arabic. But, many people speak English.
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Israel has done a lot of recycling with Ocean water and wastewater
Water is crucial for the survival of life and vegetation on earth. How Israel handles water and is able to transform this basic thing for life is amazing. Why? Because Israel recycles about 90 percent of the wastewater it creates in total.
In essence, Israel’s lead and innovation in sustainable water management started with discovering solutions. With saltwater from the ocean, what Israel did is amazing. Israel has developed reasonably priced advances in drip irrigation, desalination, which makes ocean water drinkable.
Another Israeli company has created technology that pulls and draws drinking water from the air using solar energy. It is truly amazing. As well, ISrael is already helping lots of countries address growing shortages.
In summary, Israel has developed and pioneered major breakthroughs in purification and desalination technologies. Moreover, Israel produces safe drinking water from resources previously seen as not fit or usable for human consumption.
Lastly, Israel has pushed and made desalination from being expensive tech to something much cheaper. Clearly, Israel is the leading nation in the world for water recycling.
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In terms of the land, over half of Israel is a desert and very diverse
Israel is a very extreme place in terms of its climate and landscape. In terms of Israeli land, more than half of land is desert. Historically, the geography of Israel is quite varied and demanding. For example, Israel is next to snowy peaked mountains at one end and a desert and beach on the other side of the country.
In Israel, you will expect and see desert conditions in the south. But, it is shocking to see snow-capped mountains in one part of Israel.
In terms of its location, Israel is at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea. This area is technically West Asia. The area has a lot of landscapes with punishing conditions near Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt. The big problem of Desertification is a massive issue in Israel.
In Israel, desertification is defined as the spread of arid dry areas caused by factors like overexploitation of soil. This is a big problem in Israel, so as a result of human activity and the effects of climate change the area becomes drier and more like a desert.
