Israel Past and Present
Israel, the Promised Land of the Bible, is today a modern, thriving and vibrant country. Already in the early 20th century, Jewish pioneers turned barren hillsides, swamps and desert wilderness into the thriving villages, lush farmland and evergreen forests seen today. Cities and towns blossomed, and are today home to sophisticated industry and well-developed commercial enterprises as a nation was reborn, dynamic and democratic, in its ancient land.
For centuries, the sites of many of the most stirring events in the history of mankind lay dormant beneath shifting sands and crumbling terraces, until brought to light (and to life) by explorers of the last century. The echoes of the past still reverberate for the visitor with a sense of history.
Jerusalem, the Holy City and capital of Israel, is a city steeped in history and draped in sanctity. Its sites and museums attract a constant stream of pilgrims of all faiths. Cosmopolitan Tel Aviv and historical Jaffa overlook the blue Mediterranean Sea. The contemporary city of Beer Sheva stands at the gates of the Negev Desert, as it did in the days of the Patriarch Abraham. Eilat, King Solomon's ancient Red Sea port, is today a resort of sun and fun. Nazareth, the site of the Annunciation and the childhood home of Jesus, is set in the historic Galilee.
In addition to its religious, archeological and historical sites, Israel has much to offer the tourist - vast stretches of clean, sunny beaches, modern cities and hotels, kibbutzim (collective villages), theaters and nightclubs, health resorts and colorful markets - all within a relatively small area. Only a few hours traveling time separates the sun-warmed seashores and the snow-capped mountains, the lush forests and the scenic desert landscapes. Israel indeed offers a rich and varied bouquet of attractions.

The State of Israel
The independent State of Israel was proclaimed on May 14, 1948. Israel is a parliamentary democracy, based on the separation of the powers of its three branches: the Legislative (the Knesset or parliament), the Executive (the Government, headed by a directly elected prime minister), and the Judicial (the court system). The official but largely ceremonial Head of State is the President, elected by the Knesset for a five-year term.

Geography
Israel is located in the Middle East, bounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the west, the Great Syrian-African Rift Valley to the east and the Red Sea to the south, sharing its borders with Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt.
The northern and central part of Israel, where most of the population is concentrated, is divided into three distinct longitudinal sectors:
The Coastal Plain, to the west, including the major urban centers of Tel Aviv-Jaffa and Haifa.
The mountain range in central Israel, incorporating the hills of Galilee, Samaria and Judea, and including the capital, Jerusalem.
The Valley Region, to the east, with the Jordan River linking the two inland lakes (the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea).
The Golan Heights and the snow-capped Mt. Hermon are in the north-east. The southern region of the Negev, Judean and Arava Deserts constitute some 60% of the country. Main towns here are Beer Sheva, centre of the Negev, and Eilat, on the Red Sea.
Altitudes vary from 2,224 m (7,296 ft) at Mt Hermon to -400m (-1,300ft) at the Dead Sea, the lowest spot on earth.

Climate
Israel enjoys long, warm, dry summers (April-October) and generally mild winters (November-March), with somewhat drier, cooler weather in hilly regions, such as Jerusalem and Safed. Rainfall is relatively heavy in the north and center of the country, with much less in the northern Negev and almost negligible amounts in the southern areas. Regional conditions vary considerably, with humid summers and mild winters on the coast; dry summers and moderately cold winters in the hill regions; hot dry summers and pleasant winters in the Jordan Valley; and year-round semi-desert conditions in the Negev. Weather extremes range from occasional winter snowfall in the mountain regions to periodic oppressively hot dry winds.

Population
Small in size, the country is home to a diverse population from many ethnic, religious, cultural and social backgrounds. Of its more than 6.3 million population, 80 percent are Jews (over half are native-born and mostly first - and second-generation, while the rest come from some 80 countries around the world. About 17% are Arabs (most Muslim, but with a large Christian minority) and the remainder are Druze, Circassian and other small communities.

Languages
Hebrew, the language of the Bible, and Arabic are the official languages of Israel. Hebrew, Arabic and English are compulsory subjects at school. French, Spanish, German, Yiddish, Russian, Polish and Hungarian are widely spoken. Local and international newspapers and periodicals in a number of languages are available. All street signs and most commercial signs are in Hebrew and English and often in Arabic.

Electric Appliances
The electric current in Israel is 220 volts AC, single phase, 50 Hertz. Most Israeli sockets are of the three-pronged variety. For 110 volts, transformers can be purchased or provided at the hotels.

Shopping
Stores recommended by the Ministry of Tourism display a government-approved emblem. These shops and others carry a wide variety of gifts, ranging from exclusive jewelry and diamonds (Israel's largest industry) to oriental carpets and ladies' fashion; from olive-wood religious items and genuine antiquities to contemporary ceramics, Judaica, weaving, art and countless other items.
Colorful oriental markets and bazaars may be found in the Old City of Jerusalem and in several other towns. In all cities and towns there are shopping malls which are usually open from 9:30 AM until 10 PM. There are duty-free shops at Ben Gurion International Airport.

Currency
The currency of Israel is the shekel (NIS = "New Israeli Shekel"). A shekel is divided into 100 agurot. There are bills of 20, 50, 100 and 200 shekels, and 10, 5, 1 and half-shekel coins, and coins of 10 and 5 agorot.

Kibbutz
The kibbutz (collective settlement) is an Israeli social phenomenon, in which all property is collectively owned. Members receive no salaries, but are provided with housing, education for the children, medical services, social amenities and all other necessities. Most of the 280 kibbutzim throughout Israel are essentially agricultural settlements but many have gone into industry and tourism as well. Several kibbutzim have established guesthouses on their land, providing the visitors with a close-up of this unusual lifestyle.

Keeping Kosher
According to Jewish dietary law, certain foods, such as pork and shellfish, are prohibited, and meat and dairy products should not be cooked or served at the same meal. Food which conforms to these restrictions is called Kosher. Although most hotels and restaurants and all major supermarket chains do adhere to these dietary laws, non-kosher food and restaurant meals are generally available in most parts of the country.