Israel

Israel is a country in the Levant region of the Middle East, in Western Asia by the Mediterranean Sea. It is bordered by Lebanon and Syria to the north, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south and the Mediterranean to the west. Israel was established as a state in 1948, becoming the first and only predominantly Jewish state in the modern era. Israel has a population of nearly 9 million (2018). Of these 9 million, approximately 75% are Jewish, 20% are Arab, and 5% belong to other ethnic minorities. The most widely spoken languages in the country are Hebrew and Arabic, though Russian, French, and English are widely spoken as well. Israel is quite small geographically - its territory covers about 21,000 square kilometers (8,100 square miles). Despite its size, its topography is varied, ranging from a dry desert climate to mountains and forests. Israel has four distinct geographic regions: the Negev Desert, the Great Rift Valley, the Mediterranean coastal valley, and the mountainous regions in the north. The Dead Sea, the lowest dry-land point on Earth, is on the border between Israel and Jordan. Jerusalem, Israel’s declared though internationally-disputed capital, houses the country’s government buildings. Israel is a democratic republic with a 120-seat parliament (called the Knesset), a prime minister who is head of government and a president whose job is largely ceremonial. Upon its establishment Israel declared itself both Jewish and Democratic. Israel was established in order to be a “safe haven” for the Jewish people. In the years subsequent to its establishment it received an influx of Jewish immigrants and refugees from war-torn Europe and various countries throughout the Middle East and North Africa. Though originally established as a state with socialist values, the right-winged Likud party has now been in power for over forty years, since former prime minister Menahem Begin took office in 1977. The judicial system in Israel is three-tiered, with the Supreme Court being the top-standing authority on most cases. Religious courts have complete jurisdiction over annulment of marriages. Israel started off as an isolated entity in the predominantly Arab-Muslim Middle East. In 1979, Israel signed a peace treaty with Egypt, and in 1994 it signed one with Jordan. Though ties between Israel and much of the Arab world remain hostile, its relationships with countries such as Saudi Arabia have been improving in recent years as the common Iranian threat improves cooperation between the countries. The United States is Israel’s strongest ally. Relations between the two countries have remained relatively constant since Israel’s establishment, with both countries prioritizing the relationship regardless of which administrations are in office. Israel has been in an ongoing conflict with its Palestinian neighbors for decades. It spends a large proportion of its budget on security and defense, and the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) is the largest and strongest military in the Middle East. Israel has a mandatory military draft for most 18-year-old Israeli men and women. Israel has earned itself the nickname “Startup nation” due to the multitude of high-tech companies and scientific startups within its borders.`

The dictator in the terminal: Idi Amin and the Entebbe hostage crisis, 50 years on

DIPLOMATIC AFFAIRS: Half a century after one of the most daring Israeli rescue operations, what were Ugandan President Idi Amin's movements and thoughts?

JULY 2, 2026|ByALEX WINSTON

UGANDAN PRESIDENT Idi Amin wanted the world to see a mediator. The Israeli archive records the week when that mask began to slip.

Can Israel remain Jewish and democratic without Arab parties in government? - opinion

When Jews living in the Diaspora are discriminated against there is immediate criticism, but when Arabs are discriminated against in Israel, there is a nonchalant acceptance by Jewish Israeli society

JULY 2, 2026|ByMICHAEL M. COHEN

A boy holds a yellow Hezbollah flag while walking among a crowd during a mourning ceremony in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, June 26, 2026

Why Israeli officials fear Iran-backed Hezbollah could still rearm despite Lebanon deal - exclusive

The Post assesses Hezbollah's remaining capabilities, Iran's role in rebuilding the group, and whether Israel could have reached the Lebanon deal three months earlier.

JULY 2, 2026|ByYONAH JEREMY BOB

IDF troops operating in the Wadi Saluki area of southern Lebanon.

Israeli military nearing breaking point without more manpower, IDF warns Knesset committee

The reported gap in platoon commanders comes as the military continues to warn of broader manpower shortages across combat formations.

JULY 2, 2026|ByAMIR BOHBOT

Man seriously injured after being struck by train at Ra'anana South Station

MDA personnel responded to the scene of the incident and provided first aid before transferring the man to Meir Medical Center in Kfar Saba, where he is being treated for multiple internal injuries.

JUNE 30, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

View of Savidor train station in Tel Aviv, May 21, 2026; Illustrative.

Israel launches NIS 1.6b. package to support exporters, hi-tech

Finance officials said the plan offers immediate relief, but warned companies must also improve efficiency and adapt to the stronger shekel.

JUNE 30, 2026ByANNA AHRONHEIM

View of the Nvidia Corporation offices at the Yokneam High-Tech Park, September 8, 2024.

Israel detains American citizen over alleged paid missions for Iranian intelligence

Police say suspect photographed sensitive sites in Israel, received tens to hundreds of dollars per assignment; prosecutor’s statement filed.

JUNE 30, 2026BySARAH BEN-NUN

An Iranian man walks past an anti-US and anti-Israel mural painted on a wall, in the capital Tehran on May 10, 2026.

US House to vote on amendment to block $3.3 billion in annual military aid for Israel

Rep. Thomas Massie’s amendment would bar funds in the appropriations bill from being used for Israel and cut annual military financing.

JUNE 30, 2026ByMATHILDA HELLER

A view of the dome of the US Capitol building, during a vote in the US House of Representatives on a stopgap spending bill to avert a partial government shutdown that would otherwise begin October 1, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, US, September 19, 2025.

Israeli gov't recognition of Armenian Genocide fulfills 'moral duty,' senior bishop says

“It means a lot for the State of Israel, for the Jewish people," Baghdasaryan said. "It was really the moral duty for the State of Israel to recognize the Armenian genocide.”

JUNE 30, 2026BySAM HALPERN

Anti-Hamas protests go unanswered, leaders defend IDF Chief of Staff from haredi protest incitement

The Jerusalem Post's must-listen news roundup with Shifra Jacobs—the top stories, clear and concise.

JUNE 30, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST PODCASTS

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir attends a Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem, May 10, 2026.

Not the usual itinerary: Diaspora Jews seek West Bank encounters on Israel trips

Some Diaspora Jews are rethinking the traditional Israel trip, seeking deeper engagement with Palestinians and the conflict

JUNE 30, 2026ByRACHEL FINK

Jewish American volunteers plant trees in the Palestinian village of Husan in the West Bank.

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