Israel and its 66 important Details for UPSC, PSC and Other Competitive Exams

Israel and its Details Like , Capital, GDP, Currency, Geography, Economy, Defence, Culture, Natural resources, Habitat, Sports and all you want to know for UPSC, PSC and Other Competitive Exams.

Israel and its Basic Details :

Category	Details
Name of the Country	Israel
Capital	Jerusalem
Independence Day	May 14, 1948
Major Religions	Judaism, Islam, Christianity
Currency	Israeli New Shekel (ILS)
Continent	Asia (Middle East)
Top 5 Famous Cities	Tel Aviv, Haifa, Beersheba, Eilat, Nazareth
Top 10 Famous Persons	David Ben-Gurion, Golda Meir, Shimon Peres, Yitzhak Rabin, Menachem Begin, Ariel Sharon, Theodor Herzl, Yitzhak Shamir, Chaim Weizmann, Moshe Dayan
Type of Government	Parliamentary Democracy
Main Wars Fought	Arab-Israeli War (1948), Six-Day War (1967), Yom Kippur War (1973)
GDP	$521.7 billion (2021)
5 Popular Tourist Places	Jerusalem (Old City), Tel Aviv (Beachfront), Dead Sea, Masada, Eilat (Red Sea)

Geography of Israel :

Category	Details	Description
Geography	Middle East	Location in the Middle East region.
Area (Square Kilometers)	20,770	Total land area in square kilometers.
Population	Approximately 9.4 million (as of 2021)	Total population estimate.
5 Main Mountain Ranges	Carmel Range, Galilee Mountains, Judean Mountains, Negev Highlands, Golan Heights	Prominent mountain ranges in this country.
5 Main Mountain Peaks	Mount Hermon, Mount Meron, Mount Tabor, Mount Carmel, Mount Gilboa	Notable mountain peaks in this country.
5 Main Rivers	Jordan River, Yarkon River, Kishon River, Nahal Taninim, Sorek Stream	Major rivers and streams in this country.
Main Lakes	Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret), Dead Sea, Hula Lake, Tiberias Reservoir	Prominent lakes and reservoirs in this country.
Deserts, Plateaus, Volcanoes	Negev Desert, Arava Desert, Judean Desert, Hula Valley, Beit She’an Valley	Key arid regions and valleys in this country.
5 Main Crops and Vegetation	Wheat, barley, citrus fruits, olives, grapes	Important agricultural products in this country.
Main Beaches	Tel Aviv Beach, Herzliya Beach, Eilat Beach, Haifa Beach, Netanya Beach	Popular beaches along Israel’s coastline.
Neighboring Countries	Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Palestine	Countries sharing land borders with this country.
Nearby Seas and Oceans	Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea	Significant bodies of water near this country.
Length of Coastline	Approximately 273 kilometers (170 miles)	Total coastline length along the Mediterranean Sea.
Top 5 Natural Resources	Potash, phosphates, bromine, natural gas, copper	Valuable natural resources in this Country.

Economy of Israel :

Category	Details
Economy	High-income economy, advanced technology sector
Major Industries	Technology, agriculture, manufacturing, defense, pharmaceuticals
Major Revenue Sources	Technology exports, tourism, agriculture exports, defense exports, diamond industry
Top 10 Companies	Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Intel, Check Point Software Technologies, Amdocs, Mobileye, …
Per Capita Income	Approximately $46,800 (as of 2021)
Top 5 Imports	Crude oil, diamonds, machinery, chemicals, transportation equipment
Top 5 Exports	Pharmaceuticals, machinery, diamonds, electronic equipment, medical instruments
Total Gold Reserves	Approximately 84.6 tons (as of 2022)

Defence Power of Israel :

Category	Details	Description
Defense	Robust defense system and a strong military	Overview of Israel’s defense capabilities and military.
Defense Budget	Approximately $23.1 billion (2023)	The annual budget allocated for defense expenditures.
Total Army Personnel	Approximately 176,500 active personnel	The total number of active army personnel.
Total Air Force Personnel	Approximately 34,000 active personnel	The total number of active air force personnel.
Total Navy Personnel	Approximately 9,500 active personnel	The total number of active navy personnel.
Total Defense Imports	Approximately $3.6 billion (2021)	The value of defense-related imports.
Total Defense Exports	Approximately $7.5 billion (2021)	The value of defense-related exports.

Cultural of Israel :

Category	Details
Culture	Diverse and rich cultural heritage
Main Festivals	Passover, Hanukkah, Purim, Independence Day, Sukkot
Main Religious Places	Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Al-Aqsa Mosque, Baha’i Gardens, Mount of Beatitudes
Main Arts and Dances	Israeli folk dance, Hebrew literature, contemporary art, theater, Israeli music
Main Languages	Hebrew, Arabic, English
Famous Food and Cuisines	Hummus, Falafel, Shawarma, Israeli salad, Shakshuka
UNESCO Protected Buildings	Old City of Jerusalem, Masada, Bahá’í Holy Places, White City of Tel Aviv, Incense Route – Desert Cities in the Negev

Sports in Israel :

Category	Details
Sports	Variety of sports, with a focus on football, basketball, and tennis
National Game	Association football (Soccer)
Main Sports	Football, basketball, tennis, judo, and athletics
Top Athletes	Shahar Pe’er (tennis), Gal Fridman (windsurfing), Ori Sasson (judo), Oded Kadosh (swimming), and Sagi Muki (judo)
Top Sports Achievements	Olympic medals, Paralympic medals, and international championships

Natural Habitat and wild life of Israel :

Category	Details
Natural Habitat and Wildlife	Diverse ecosystems, including forests, deserts, wetlands, and coastal areas, supporting a rich variety of flora and fauna.
National Animal	Israeli gazelle (Gazella gazella)
National Bird	Hoopoe (Upupa epops)
Main Forests	Carmel Forest, Yatir Forest, Jerusalem Forest, Galilee Forest, and Upper Galilee Forest
Main Recognized Natural Habitats for Wild Animals	Hula Valley Nature Reserve, Ein Afek Nature Reserve, Carmel Hai-Bar Nature Reserve, and Ramat Hanadiv

Biggest in the Israel :

Category	Description
Biggest city in Israel	Jerusalem
Richest Man	Eyal Ofer
Biggest Company	Teva Pharmaceutical Industries
Tallest Building	Azrieli Sarona Tower
Tallest Statue	Menorah Monument
Biggest Dam	Hula Dam
Tallest Mountain	Mount Hermon
Longest River	Yarkon River
Biggest Forest	Yatir Forest
Biggest Lake	Sea of Galilee

Brief History Of Israel :

This nation in the Middle East, has a rich and complex history that spans thousands of years. Here’s an overview of its history, including key periods:

Ancient Israel:

• This country’s history traces back to ancient times when it was inhabited by various tribes and kingdoms, including the Canaanites and Israelites.
• The biblical figure Abraham is considered the patriarch of the Israelite people, and Moses led them out of Egypt in the Exodus.
• The Israelites established the Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Judah in the 12th century BCE.
• These kingdoms were ruled by famous figures like King David and King Solomon and are central to Jewish history and tradition.
• In 586 BCE, the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the First Temple, leading to the Babylonian Captivity.

Medieval Period:

• Over the centuries, various empires, including the Persians, Greeks, and Romans, controlled the region.
• The Roman destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE marked a significant event in Jewish history and resulted in the Jewish Diaspora.
• In the 7th century CE, Muslim Arab armies conquered the area and introduced Islam.
• Control of the region shifted between various Islamic dynasties and the Crusaders during the medieval period.

Modern Era:

• During the 19th century, the Zionist movement emerged, seeking to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine, then under Ottoman rule.
• After World War I, the League of Nations granted Britain the mandate to govern Palestine.
• Jewish immigration increased during the British Mandate, leading to tensions between Jews and Arabs.
• Following World War II and the Holocaust, international support for a Jewish state grew.
• In 1947, the United Nations approved a plan to partition Palestine into Jewish and Arab states, leading to the establishment of the State of Israel on May 14, 1948.
• Israel’s founding was followed by a war with neighboring Arab states.

Recent History:

• This country has faced conflicts with its Arab neighbors, including the Six-Day War (1967) and the Yom Kippur War (1973).
• Peace agreements have been signed with Egypt (1979) and Jordan (1994).
• The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been a central issue, leading to multiple peace efforts and ongoing tensions.
• This country has developed a thriving economy and is known for its technological innovation.
• Jerusalem remains a contentious issue, with both Israelis and Palestinians claiming it as their capital.

This country’s history reflects a complex tapestry of ancient civilizations, religious significance, and modern geopolitical challenges, making it a region of historical and contemporary importance.

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