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Middle East :: Israel (also see separate Gaza Strip and West Bank entries)

- ## Introduction :: ISRAEL

- Background:
  Following World War II, the British withdrew from their mandate of Palestine, and the UN proposed partitioning the area into Arab and Jewish states, an arrangement rejected by the Arabs. Nonetheless, an Israeli state was declared in 1948 and the Israelis subsequently defeated the Arabs in a series of wars without ending the deep tensions between the two sides. (The territories Israel occupied since the 1967 war are not included in the Israel country profile, unless otherwise noted.) On 25 April 1982, Israel withdrew from the Sinai pursuant to the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty. In keeping with the framework established at the Madrid Conference in October 1991, bilateral negotiations were conducted between Israel and Palestinian representatives and Syria to achieve a permanent settlement. Israel and Palestinian officials signed on 13 September 1993 a Declaration of Principles (also known as the "Oslo Accords"), enshrining the idea of a two-state solution to their conflict and guiding an interim period of Palestinian self-rule. Outstanding territorial and other disputes with Jordan were resolved in the 26 October 1994 Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace.
  Progress toward a permanent status agreement with the Palestinians was undermined by Israeli-Palestinian violence between 2001 and February 2005. Israel in 2005 unilaterally disengaged from the Gaza Strip, evacuating settlers and its military while retaining control over most points of entry into the Gaza Strip. The election of HAMAS to head the Palestinian Legislative Council in 2006 froze relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA). Israel engaged in a 34-day conflict with Hizballah in Lebanon in June-August 2006 and a 23-day conflict with HAMAS in the Gaza Strip during December 2008 and January 2009. Direct talks with the Palestinians launched in September 2010 collapsed following the expiration of Israel's 10-month partial settlement construction moratorium in the West Bank. In November 2012, Israel engaged in a seven-day conflict with HAMAS in the Gaza Strip. Direct talks with the Palestinians resumed in July 2013 but were suspended in April 2014. Three months later HAMAS and other militant groups launched rockets into Israel, which led to a 51-day conflict between Israel and militants in Gaza.

- ## Geography :: ISRAEL

- Location:
  Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon
  Geographic coordinates:
  31 30 N, 34 45 E
  Map references:
  Middle East
  Area:
  total: 20,770 sq km
  land: 20,330 sq km
  water: 440 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 154
  Area - comparative:
  slightly larger than New Jersey
  Area comparison map:
  Land boundaries:
  total: 1,068 km
  border countries (6): Egypt 208 km, Gaza Strip 59 km, Jordan 307 km, Lebanon 81 km, Syria 83 km, West Bank 330 km
  Coastline:
  273 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
  Climate:
  temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
  Terrain:
  Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains; Jordan Rift Valley
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
  highest point: Har Meron 1,208 m
  Natural resources:
  timber, potash, copper ore, natural gas, phosphate rock, magnesium bromide, clays, sand
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 23.8%
  arable land 13.7%; permanent crops 3.8%; permanent pasture 6.3%
  forest: 7.1%
  other: 69.1% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  2,250 sq km (2004)
  Total renewable water resources:
  1.78 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 1.95 cu km/yr (39%/6%/55%)
  per capita: 282.4 cu m/yr (2009)
  Natural hazards:
  sandstorms may occur during spring and summer; droughts; periodic earthquakes
  Environment - current issues:
  limited arable land and natural freshwater resources pose serious constraints; desertification; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; groundwater pollution from industrial and domestic waste, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides
  Environment - international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
  Geography - note:
  Lake Tiberias (Sea of Galilee) is an important freshwater source; the Dead Sea is the second saltiest body of water in the world (after Lake Assal in Djibouti); in 2014, there were 423 settlements in the Israeli-occupied territories - 42 settlements in the Golan Heights, 381 sites in the occupied Palestinian territories to include 212 settlements and 134 outposts in the West Bank, and 35 settlements in East Jerusalem; there are no Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip – all were evacuated in 2005 (2014 est.)

- ## People and Society :: ISRAEL

- Nationality:
  noun: Israeli(s)
  adjective: Israeli
  Ethnic groups:
  Jewish 75% (of which Israel-born 74.4%, Europe/America/Oceania-born 17.4%, Africa-born 5.1%, Asia-born 3.1%), non-Jewish 25% (mostly Arab) (2013 est.)
  Languages:
  Hebrew (official), Arabic (used officially for Arab minority), English (most commonly used foreign language)
  Religions:
  Jewish 75%, Muslim 17.5%, Christian 2%, Druze 1.6%, other 3.9% (2013 est.)
  Population:
  8,049,314 (includes populations of the Golan Heights of Golan Sub-District and East Jerusalem, which was annexed by Israel after 1967) (July 2014 est.)
  note: approximately 19,400 Israeli settlers live in the Golan Heights; approximately 200,000 Israeli settlers live in East Jerusalem (2013) (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 99
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 27.95% (male 1,151,247/female 1,098,632)
  15-24 years: 15.5% (male 637,758/female 609,597)
  25-54 years: 37.13% (male 1,528,271/female 1,460,772)
  55-64 years: 8.57% (male 336,662/female 353,352)
  65 years and over: 10.85% (male 389,401/female 483,622) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 64.1%
  youth dependency ratio: 45.7%
  elderly dependency ratio: 18.4%
  potential support ratio: 5.4% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 39.6 years
  male: 28.9 years
  female: 30.2 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  1.56% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 78
  Birth rate:
  18.48 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 96
  Death rate:
  5.15 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 183
  Net migration rate:
  2.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 46
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 92.1% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 1.37% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  Tel Aviv-Yafo 3.608 million; Haifa 1.097 million; JERUSALEM (capital) 839,000 (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 3.55 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 3.51 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 3.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 204
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 82.27 years
  male: 80.43 years
  female: 84.21 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 11
  Total fertility rate:
  2.68 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 72
  Health expenditures:
  7.2% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 68
  Physicians density:
  3.34 physicians/1,000 population (2012)
  Hospital bed density:
  3.3 beds/1,000 population (2012)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 100% of population
  rural: 100% of population
  total: 100% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 0% of population
  rural: 0% of population
  total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 100% of population
  rural: 100% of population
  total: 100% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 0% of population
  rural: 0% of population
  total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  25.8% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 49
  Education expenditures:
  5.6% of GDP (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 57
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 97.8%
  male: 98.7%
  female: 96.8% (2011 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 16 years
  male: 15 years
  female: 16 years (2012)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 12.1%
  male: 11.6%
  female: 12.7% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 90

- ## Government :: ISRAEL

- Country name:
  conventional long form: State of Israel
  conventional short form: Israel
  local long form: Medinat Yisra'el
  local short form: Yisra'el
  Government type:
  parliamentary democracy
  Capital:
  name: Jerusalem: note - Israel proclaimed Jerusalem as its capital in 1950, but the US, like all other countries, maintains its embassy in Tel Aviv
  geographic coordinates: 31 46 N, 35 14 E
  time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  daylight saving time: +1hr, begins Friday before the last Sunday in March; ends the last Sunday in October
  Administrative divisions:
  6 districts (mehozot, singular - mehoz); Central, Haifa, Jerusalem, Northern, Southern, Tel Aviv
  Independence:
  14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
  National holiday:
  Independence Day, 14 May (1948); note - Israel declared independence on 14 May 1948, but the Jewish calendar is lunar and the holiday may occur in April or May
  Constitution:
  no formal constitution; the Declaration of Establishment (1948), the Basic Laws of Israel enacted by the Knesset beginning in 1958, the Nationality Law (1952), and the Law of Return (1950) have constitutional law status; note - several of the Basic Laws and the latter two laws have been amended (2015)
  Legal system:
  mixed legal system of English common law, British Mandate regulations, and Jewish, Christian, and Muslim religious laws
  International law organization participation:
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; withdrew acceptance of ICCt jurisdiction in 2002
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Reuven RIVLIN (since 27 July 2014)
  head of government: Prime Minister Binyamin NETANYAHU (since 31 March 2009)
  cabinet: Cabinet selected by prime minister and approved by the Knesset
  elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the Knesset for a 7-year term (limited to 1 term); election last held on 10 June 2014 (next to be held in 2021 but can be called earlier); following legislative elections, the president, in consultation with party leaders, selects a Knesset member as prime minister most likely to form a new government
  election results: Reuven RIVLIN elected president in second round; Knesset vote - Reuven RIVLIN (Likud) 63, Meir SHEETRIT (The Movement) 53 , other/invalid 4
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral Knesset (120 seats; members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)
  elections: last held on 17 March 2015 (next to be held in 2019, but can be called earlier)
  election results: percent of vote by party - Likud 23.4%, Zionist Camp 18.7%, Joint List 10.5%, Yesh Atid 8.8%, Kukanu 7.5%, Bayit Yehudi 6.7%, Shas, 5.7%, Israel Beitenu 5.1%, United Torah Judaism 5%, Meretz 3.9%, Yachad 3%, other 1.7%; seats by party - Likud 30, Zionist Camp 24, Joint List 13, Yesh Atid 11, Kulanu 10, Bayit Yehudi 8, Shas 7, Yisrael Beitenu 6, , United Torah Judaism 6, Meretz 5
  Judicial branch:
  highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 14 judges)
  judge selection and term of office: judges selected by the Judicial Selection Committee, made up of all 3 branches of the government and chaired by the Minister of Justice; judges can serve up to mandatory retirement at age 70
  subordinate courts: district and magistrate courts; national and regional labor courts; special and religious courts
  Political parties and leaders:
  Balad [Jamal ZAHALKA]
  Democratic Front for Peace and Equality (HADASH) [Muhammad BARAKEH]
  Kadima [Shaul MOFAZ]
  Kulanu [Moshe KAHLON]
  Labor Party [Isaac HERZOG]
  Likud [Binyamin NETANYAHU]
  National Union [Uri ARIEL]
  SHAS [Eliyahu YISHAI]
  The Jewish Home (Bayit Yehudi) [Naftali BENNETT]
  The Movement (Hatnuah) [Tzipora "Tzipi" LIVNI]
  The New Movement-Meretz [Haim ORON]
  The Zionist Camp (established for March 2015 election purposes)
  United Arab List-Ta'al [Ibrahim SARSUR]
  United Torah Judaism or UTJ [Yaakov LITZMAN] (an alliance of three parties)
  Yesh Atid [Yair LAPID]
  Yisrael Beiteinu or YB [Avigdor LIEBERMAN]
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  Breaking the Silence [Yehuda SHAUL, Executive Director] collects testimonies from soldiers who served in the West Bank and Gaza Strip
  B'Tselem [Jessica MONTELL, Executive Director] monitors human rights abuses
  Peace Now [Yariv OPPENHEIMER, Secretary General] supports territorial concessions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip
  YESHA Council [Danny DAYAN, Chairman] promotes settler interests and opposes territorial compromise
  International organization participation:
  BIS, BSEC (observer), CE (observer), CERN, CICA, EBRD, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW (signatory), OSCE (partner), Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Ron DERMER (since 3 December 2013)
  chancery: 3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 364-5500
  FAX: [1] (202) 364-5607
  consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel B. SHAPIRO (since 29 September 2011)
  embassy: 71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv 6343229
  telephone: [972] (3) 519-7475
  FAX: [972] (3) 516-4390
  consulate(s) general:
  Flag description:
  white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as the Magen David (Star of David or Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag; the basic design resembles a traditional Jewish prayer shawl (tallit), which is white with blue stripes; the hexagram as a Jewish symbol dates back to medieval times
  National symbol(s):
  Star of David (Magen David), menorah (seven-branched lampstand); national colors: blue, white
  National anthem:
  name: "Hatikvah" (The Hope)
  lyrics/music: Naftali Herz IMBER/traditional, arranged by Samuel COHEN
  note: adopted 2004, unofficial since 1948; used as the anthem of the Zionist movement since 1897; the 1888 arrangement by Samuel COHEN is thought to be based on the Romanian folk song "Carul cu boi" (The Ox Driven Cart)

- ## Economy :: ISRAEL

- Economy - overview:
  Israel has a technologically advanced market economy. Cut diamonds, high-technology equipment, and pharmaceuticals are among the leading exports. Its major imports include crude oil, grains, raw materials, and military equipment. Israel usually posts sizable trade deficits, which are covered by tourism and other service exports, as well as significant foreign investment inflows. Between 2004 and 2013, growth averaged nearly 5% per year, led by exports. The global financial crisis of 2008-09 spurred a brief recession in Israel, but the country entered the crisis with solid fundamentals, following years of prudent fiscal policy and a resilient banking sector. Israel's economy also has weathered the Arab Spring because strong trade ties outside the Middle East have insulated the economy from spillover effects. Slowing demand domestically and internationally and reduced investment due to uncertainties caused by the Gaza conflict in summer 2014 have reduced GDP growth to about 2% during 2014. Natural gas fields discovered off Israel's coast since 2009 have brightened Israel's energy security outlook. The Tamar and Leviathan fields were some of the world's largest offshore natural gas finds this past decade. The massive Leviathan field is expected to come online no sooner than 2017, but production from Tamar provided a one percentage point boost to Israel's GDP in 2013 and a 0.5% boost in 2014. In mid-2011, public protests arose around income inequality and rising housing and commodity prices. Israel's income inequality and poverty rates are among the highest of OECD countries and there is a broad perception among the public that a small number of "tycoons" have a cartel-like grip over the major parts of the economy. The government formed committees and has started splitting up the oligopolies to address some of the grievances but has maintained that it will not engage in deficit spending to satisfy populist demands. Over the long term, Israel faces structural issues, including low labor participation rates for its fastest growing social segments - the ultra-orthodox and Arab-Israeli communities. Also, Israel's progressive, globally competitive, knowledge-based technology sector employs only 9% of the workforce, with the rest employed in manufacturing and services - sectors which face downward wage pressures from global competition.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $268.5 billion (2014 est.)
  $261.3 billion (2013 est.)
  $253 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 56
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $303.8 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  2.8% (2014 est.)
  3.2% (2013 est.)
  3% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 130
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $32,700 (2014 est.)
  $31,800 (2013 est.)
  $30,800 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 50
  Gross national saving:
  21.9% of GDP (2014 est.)
  22% of GDP (2013 est.)
  21.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 66
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 57%
  government consumption: 22.6%
  investment in fixed capital: 18.9%
  investment in inventories: 0.5%
  exports of goods and services: 31.8%
  imports of goods and services: -30.7%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 2.4%
  industry: 25.7%
  services: 71.9% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  citrus, vegetables, cotton; beef, poultry, dairy products
  Industries:
  high-technology products (including aviation, communications, computer-aided design and manufactures, medical electronics, fiber optics), wood and paper products, potash and phosphates, food, beverages, and tobacco, caustic soda, cement, construction, metal products, chemical products, plastics, cut diamonds, textiles, footwear
  Industrial production growth rate:
  -4.6% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 191
  Labor force:
  3.784 million (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 95
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 1.6%
  industry: 18.1%
  services: 80.3% (2012)
  Unemployment rate:
  6% (2014 est.)
  6.2% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 69
  Population below poverty line:
  21%
  note: Israel's poverty line is $7.30 per person per day (2012 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 2.5%
  highest 10%: 24.3% (2008)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  37.6 (2012)
  39.2 (2008)
  country comparison to the world: 74
  Budget:
  revenues: $73.44 billion
  expenditures: $81.82 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  24.1% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 128
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -2.7% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 103
  Public debt:
  67.4% of GDP (2014 est.)
  66.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 43
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  0.5% (2014 est.)
  1.5% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 44
  Central bank discount rate:
  0.25% (31 December 2014)
  1% (31 December 2013)
  country comparison to the world: 148
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  3.3% (31 December 2014 est.)
  4.54% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 170
  Stock of narrow money:
  $45.46 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $35.05 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 52
  Stock of broad money:
  $153.5 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $155.6 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 47
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $204 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $193.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 42
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $148.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
  $145 billion (31 December 2011)
  $218.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 39
  Current account balance:
  $11.49 billion (2014 est.)
  $6.893 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 25
  Exports:
  $63.21 billion (2014 est.)
  $61.96 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 53
  Exports - commodities:
  machinery and equipment, software, cut diamonds, agricultural products, chemicals, textiles and apparel
  Exports - partners:
  US 26.9%, Hong Kong 8.9%, UK 5.8%, Belgium 4.8%, China 4%, Turkey 4% (2014)
  Imports:
  $69.73 billion (2014 est.)
  $71.29 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 44
  Imports - commodities:
  raw materials, military equipment, investment goods, rough diamonds, fuels, grain, consumer goods
  Imports - partners:
  US 11.8%, China 8.3%, Switzerland 7.2%, Germany 6.4%, Belgium 5.3% (2014)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $88.01 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $81.79 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 26
  Debt - external:
  $99.75 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $95.53 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 48
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $97.05 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $86.95 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 44
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $83.62 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $78.92 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 33
  Exchange rates:
  new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar -
  3.908 (2014 est.)
  3.6108 (2013 est.)
  3.86 (2012 est.)
  3.5781 (2011 est.)
  3.739 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: ISRAEL

- Electricity - production:
  64.44 billion kWh (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 43
  Electricity - consumption:
  59.83 billion kWh (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 41
  Electricity - exports:
  4.2 billion kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 32
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 159
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  16.25 million kW (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 46
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  97.4% of total installed capacity (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 60
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 111
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  0% of total installed capacity (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 177
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  2.6% of total installed capacity (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 55
  Crude oil - production:
  490 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 106
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 132
  Crude oil - imports:
  268,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 28
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  11.5 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 91
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  275,600 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 46
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  238,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 53
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  83,700 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 47
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  143,500 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 37
  Natural gas - production:
  6.35 billion cu m (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 49
  Natural gas - consumption:
  7.538 billion cu m (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 54
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 117
  Natural gas - imports:
  510 million cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 66
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  285 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 38
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  62.5 million Mt (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 56

- ## Communications :: ISRAEL

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 2.9 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 50
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 9.5 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 120 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 88
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: most highly developed system in the Middle East
  domestic: good system of coaxial cable and microwave radio relay; all systems are digital; four privately owned mobile-cellular service providers with countrywide coverage
  international: country code - 972; submarine cables provide links to Europe, Cyprus, and parts of the Middle East; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) (2011)
  Broadcast media:
  state broadcasting network, operated by the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA), broadcasts on 2 channels, one in Hebrew and the other in Arabic; 5 commercial channels including a channel broadcasting in Russian, a channel broadcasting Knesset proceedings, and a music channel supervised by a public body; multi-channel satellite and cable TV packages provide access to foreign channels; IBA broadcasts on 8 radio networks with multiple repeaters and Israel Defense Forces Radio broadcasts over multiple stations; about 15 privately owned radio stations; overall more than 100 stations and repeater stations (2008)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 23, FM 15, shortwave 0 (2010)
  Television broadcast stations:
  7 (2009)
  Internet country code:
  .il
  Internet users:
  total: 6 million
  percent of population: 75.8% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 58

- ## Transportation :: ISRAEL

- Airports:
  47 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 94
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 29
  over 3,047 m: 2
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
  914 to 1,523 m: 11
  under 914 m: 5 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 18
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 3
  under 914 m:
  14 (2013)
  Heliports:
  3 (2013)
  Pipelines:
  gas 763 km; oil 442 km; refined products 261 km (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 1,250 km
  standard gauge: 1,250 km 1.435-m gauge (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 89
  Roadways:
  total: 18,566 km
  paved: 18,566 km (includes 449 km of expressways) (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 115
  Merchant marine:
  total: 8
  by type: cargo 1, container 7
  registered in other countries: 48 (Bermuda 3, Georgia 1, Honduras 1, Liberia 34, Malta 3, Moldova 2, Panama 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3) (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 120
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Ashdod, Elat (Eilat), Hadera, Haifa
  container port(s) TEUs): Ashdod (1,176,000), Haifa (1,238,000)

- ## Military :: ISRAEL

- Military branches:
  Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Israel Naval Force (IN), Israel Air Force (IAF) (2010)
  Military service age and obligation:
  18 years of age for compulsory (Jews, Druzes) military service; 17 years of age for voluntary (Christians, Muslims, Circassians) military service; both sexes are obligated to military service; conscript service obligation - 36 months for enlisted men, 21 months for enlisted women, 48 months for officers; pilots commit to 9 years service; reserve obligation to age 41-51 (men), 24 (women) (2013)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 1,797,960
  females age 16-49: 1,713,230 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 1,517,510
  females age 16-49: 1,446,132 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 62,304
  female: 59,418 (2010 est.)
  Military expenditures:
  5.69% of GDP (2012)
  5.87% of GDP (2011)
  5.69% of GDP (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 5

- ## Transnational Issues :: ISRAEL

- Disputes - international:
  West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation; Israel continues construction of a "seam line" separation barrier along parts of the Green Line and within the West Bank; Israel withdrew its settlers and military from the Gaza Strip and from four settlements in the West Bank in August 2005; Golan Heights is Israeli-occupied (Lebanon claims the Shab'a Farms area of Golan Heights); since 1948, about 350 peacekeepers from the UN Truce Supervision Organization headquartered in Jerusalem monitor ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements, prevent isolated incidents from escalating, and assist other UN personnel in the region
  Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  refugees (country of origin): 32,668 (Eritrea); 6,588 (Sudan) (2014)
  stateless persons: 10 (2014)
  Illicit drugs:
  increasingly concerned about ecstasy, cocaine, and heroin abuse; drugs arrive in country from Lebanon and, increasingly, from Jordan; money-laundering center

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