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[[Image:Flag of Japan.svg|thumb|300px]]hinomaru! <!-- |
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The '''State of Israel''' ([[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]: {{Audio|He-Medinat Israel.ogg|'''מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל'''}}, ''Medinat Yisra'el''; {{lang-ar|'''دَوْلَةْ إِسْرَائِيل'''}}, ''Dawlat Isrā'īl'') is a country in the [[Southwest Asia|Western Asia]]n [[Levant]], on the southeastern edge of the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. It borders [[Lebanon]] on the north, [[Syria]] and [[Jordan]] on the east, and [[Egypt]] on the south-west.<ref name="MFAarea">http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/facts%20about%20israel/land/ </ref> |
The '''State of Israel''' ([[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]: {{Audio|He-Medinat Israel.ogg|'''מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל'''}}, ''Medinat Yisra'el''; {{lang-ar|'''دَوْلَةْ إِسْرَائِيل'''}}, ''Dawlat Isrā'īl'') is a country in the [[Southwest Asia|Western Asia]]n [[Levant]], on the southeastern edge of the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. It borders [[Lebanon]] on the north, [[Syria]] and [[Jordan]] on the east, and [[Egypt]] on the south-west.<ref name="MFAarea">http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/facts%20about%20israel/land/ </ref> |
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Israel [[Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel|declared its independence]] in 1948. With a diverse population currently exceeding seven million citizens of primarily Jewish background and religion, it is the world's only [[Jewish state]].<ref>[http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=22&year=2006&country=6985 "Country Report — Israel (2006)"], [[Freedom House]], 2006, accessed October 17, 2006.</ref><ref>{{PDFlink|[http://www1.cbs.gov.il/shnaton57/st02_07x.pdf |2=130 [[Kibibyte|KiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 134058 bytes -- |
Israel [[Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel|declared its independence]] in 1948. With a diverse population currently exceeding seven million citizens of primarily Jewish background and religion, it is the world's only [[Jewish state]].<ref>[http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=22&year=2006&country=6985 "Country Report — Israel (2006)"], [[Freedom House]], 2006, accessed October 17, 2006.</ref><ref>{{PDFlink|[http://www1.cbs.gov.il/shnaton57/st02_07x.pdf |2=130 [[Kibibyte|KiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 134058 bytes --}} , Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics, accessed October 2, 2006.</ref> [[Jerusalem]] is the capital city and seat of government.<ref name="capital">The national President's residence, government offices, supreme court and [[Knesset|parliament]] are located in Jerusalem, which is Israel's capital according to Israel's ''[[Jerusalem Law|Basic Law]]''. This states that "''Jerusalem, complete and united, is the capital of Israel.''" However, the [[Palestinian Authority]] sees [[East Jerusalem]] as the future capital of [[Palestine]]. Also, the [[United Nations]] and most countries do not accept the Basic Law, arguing that Jerusalem's final status must await future negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Most countries maintain their embassies in [[Tel Aviv]] <small>(see [https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/is.html CIA Factbook] and [http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/israel.pdf Map of Israel])</small> See [[Positions on Jerusalem]] for more information.</ref> Israel is the only country in the [[Middle East]] considered to be a [[liberal democracy]], having a broad array of [[political rights]] and [[civil liberties]] present.<ref>[http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=70&release=317 Global Survey 2006: Middle East Progress Amid Global Gains in Freedom]</ref><ref>[http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=35&year=2006 freedomhouse.org: Methodology]</ref> In addition, Israel is considered the most advanced in the region in terms of [[economy|economic competition]],<ref>[[Global Competitiveness Report]]</ref> [[commercial law|business regulations]],<ref>[[Ease of Doing Business Index]]</ref> [[freedom of the press]],<ref>[[Reporters Without Borders]]</ref> and overall [[human development]].<ref>[[Human Development Index]]</ref> |
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==Name== |
==Name== |
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==Government== |
==Government== |
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{{main|Politics of Israel}}<!--Please add new information to relevant articles of the series-- |
{{main|Politics of Israel}}<!--Please add new information to relevant articles of the series-- |
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Israel is a [[Democracy|democratic]] [[republic]] with [[universal suffrage]] that operates under a [[parliamentary system]]. |
Israel is a [[Democracy|democratic]] [[republic]] with [[universal suffrage]] that operates under a [[parliamentary system]]. |
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Tel Aviv, Haifa, [[Herzliya]], and Jerusalem have excellent art museums, and many towns and kibbutzim have smaller high-quality museums. The [[Israel Museum]] in Jerusalem houses the [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] along with an extensive collection of Jewish religious and folk art. The [[Beit Hatefutsot|Museum of the Diaspora]] is located on the campus of Tel Aviv University. Israel has [[artist colony|artist colonies]] in [[Safed]], [[Jaffa, Israel|Jaffa]], and [[Ein Hod]], as well as three major repertory companies, the most famous being [[Habima Theater]] which was founded in 1917. |
Tel Aviv, Haifa, [[Herzliya]], and Jerusalem have excellent art museums, and many towns and kibbutzim have smaller high-quality museums. The [[Israel Museum]] in Jerusalem houses the [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] along with an extensive collection of Jewish religious and folk art. The [[Beit Hatefutsot|Museum of the Diaspora]] is located on the campus of Tel Aviv University. Israel has [[artist colony|artist colonies]] in [[Safed]], [[Jaffa, Israel|Jaffa]], and [[Ein Hod]], as well as three major repertory companies, the most famous being [[Habima Theater]] which was founded in 1917. |
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As regards [[Gay rights in Israel|gay rights]], Israel remains the most <!--vague: advanced and-- |
As regards [[Gay rights in Israel|gay rights]], Israel remains the most <!--vague: advanced and--tolerant country in the Middle East. |
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{{seealso|Archaeology of Israel|Israel Antiquities Authority|Jewish cuisine|Israeli wine|Kibbutz}} |
{{seealso|Archaeology of Israel|Israel Antiquities Authority|Jewish cuisine|Israeli wine|Kibbutz}} |
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[[Image:Galfridman.jpg|thumb|[[Gal Fridman]] won Israel's first Olympic [[gold medal]] at the [[2004 Summer Olympics]].]] |
[[Image:Galfridman.jpg|thumb|[[Gal Fridman]] won Israel's first Olympic [[gold medal]] at the [[2004 Summer Olympics]].]] |
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{{main|Sports in Israel}} |
{{main|Sports in Israel}} |
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Sports in Israel, as in other countries, are an important part of the national culture. The Israeli sporting culture is much like that of European countries. Israeli athletics go back as far as before the establishment of the state of Israel. While [[Soccer|football]] (soccer) and [[basketball]] are considered the most popular sports in Israel, the nation has attained achievements in other sports, such as [[American Football]],[[handball]] and [[Athletics (track and field)|athletics]]. Israelis are also involved in [[hockey]], [[Rugby football|rugby]] and<!--??:even-- |
Sports in Israel, as in other countries, are an important part of the national culture. The Israeli sporting culture is much like that of European countries. Israeli athletics go back as far as before the establishment of the state of Israel. While [[Soccer|football]] (soccer) and [[basketball]] are considered the most popular sports in Israel, the nation has attained achievements in other sports, such as [[American Football]],[[handball]] and [[Athletics (track and field)|athletics]]. Israelis are also involved in [[hockey]], [[Rugby football|rugby]] and<!--??:even-- [[chess]]. |
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To date, Israel has won six [[Olympic Games|Olympic medals]]. |
To date, Israel has won six [[Olympic Games|Olympic medals]]. |
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According to the [[Israel Central Bureau of Statistics]], 76.1% of Israelis are [[Judaism|Jewish]]; 16.2% are [[Islam|Muslim]]; 2.1% are [[Christianity|Christian]]; 1.6% are [[Druze]]; and 3.9% unclassified.<ref name="Religion">{{cite web |url=http://www1.cbs.gov.il/shnaton57/st02_01.pdf |title=Population, by religion and population group |accessdate=2007-02-26 |first=Government of Israel |last=Israel Central Bureau of Statistics}}</ref> |
According to the [[Israel Central Bureau of Statistics]], 76.1% of Israelis are [[Judaism|Jewish]]; 16.2% are [[Islam|Muslim]]; 2.1% are [[Christianity|Christian]]; 1.6% are [[Druze]]; and 3.9% unclassified.<ref name="Religion">{{cite web |url=http://www1.cbs.gov.il/shnaton57/st02_01.pdf |title=Population, by religion and population group |accessdate=2007-02-26 |first=Government of Israel |last=Israel Central Bureau of Statistics}}</ref> |
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Judaism|''haredim'']] (ultra-orthodox religious); an additional 9% are "religious"; 35% consider themselves "traditionalists" (not strictly adhering to Jewish [[Halakha]]); and 43% are "secular" (termed "hiloni"). Among the seculars, 53% believe in God. However, 78% of all Israelis participate in a [[Pesach|Passover]] seder.<ref>[http://www.jcpa.org/dje/articles2/relinisr-consensus.htm Religion in Israel: A Consensus for Jewish Tradition] by Daniel J. Elazar (JCPA).</ref> Israelis tend not to align themselves with a movement of [[Judaism]] (such as [[Reform Judaism]] or [[Conservative Judaism]]) but instead tend to define their religious affiliation by degree of their religious practice. |
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Among [[Arab citizens of Israel|Arab Israelis]], 82.6% were Muslim, 8.8% were [[Christian]] and 8.4% were [[Druze]].<!--<ref name="pdf2">{{cite web| url=http://www1.cbs.gov.il/shnaton56/st02_01.pdf |title=Population, by religion and population group |accessdate=2006-04-08 |first=Government of Israel |last=Central Bureau of Statistics |format=PDF}}</ref>-- |
Among [[Arab citizens of Israel|Arab Israelis]], 82.6% were Muslim, 8.8% were [[Christian]] and 8.4% were [[Druze]].<!--<ref name="pdf2">{{cite web| url=http://www1.cbs.gov.il/shnaton56/st02_01.pdf |title=Population, by religion and population group |accessdate=2006-04-08 |first=Government of Israel |last=Central Bureau of Statistics |format=PDF}}</ref>-- There is also a small community of [[Ahmadiyya|Ahmadi]] Muslims in the country.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://alhafeez.org/rashid/kababeer.htm |title=Ahmadis in Israel |date=[[1999-06-05]]}}</ref> Tiny communities of [[Ismaili]] Muslims, [[Hindu]]s, and [[Sikh]]s also live in Israel, but to date they are not sizable enough for any [[Mandir]]s, [[Gurudwara]]s, or Ismaili Mosques to have yet built. |
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There are<!--?:up to-- |
There are<!--?:up to-- fourteen diverse [[Buddhist]] groups are presently active in Israel, catering to Israeli [[Jubu]]s as well as a tiny number of [[Vietnam]]ese Buddhists who came to Israel as [[Boat people#Vietnam war boat people|refugees from the crisis in their homeland]] and were granted citizenship.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.buddhanet.net/africame/m_eastdir.htm#israel |title=BuddhaNet Middle East Directory |publisher=BuddhaNet|accessdate=2006-11-24}}</ref> The [[Bahá'í]] world centre, which includes the [[Universal House of Justice]], is situated in Haifa and attracts [[Bahá'í pilgrimage|pilgrimage]] from all over the world.<ref>http://info.bahai.org/article-1-6-0-5.html</ref> Apart from a few hundred staff, Bahá'ís do not live in Israel. |
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{{seealso|Holidays and events in Israel}} |
{{seealso|Holidays and events in Israel}} |
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'''Arabic-language periodicals''' |
'''Arabic-language periodicals''' |
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* ''Al-Ittihad'' Arabic-language daily newspaper |
* ''Al-Ittihad'' Arabic-language daily newspaper |
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<!--'''Russian-language periodicals:'''-- |
<!--'''Russian-language periodicals:'''-- |
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'''Israeli broadcast media''' |
'''Israeli broadcast media''' |
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{{Semitic-speaking}} |
{{Semitic-speaking}} |
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<!--Other languages-- |
<!--Other languages-- |
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<!--Categories-- |
<!--Categories-- |
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[[Category:Israel| ]] |
[[Category:Israel| ]] |
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[[Category:Levant]] |
[[Category:Levant]] |
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{{Link FA|he}} |
{{Link FA|he}} |
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<!--Interwiki-- |
<!--Interwiki-- |
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[[af:Israel]] |
[[af:Israel]] |
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[[ang:Israhēl]] |
[[ang:Israhēl]] |
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[[zh-yue:以色列]] |
[[zh-yue:以色列]] |
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[[zh:以色列]] |
[[zh:以色列]] |
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Revision as of 15:51, 20 March 2007
hinomaru!