Israel Country & Tourist Information

Location
Eastern Mediterranean.

Area
22,145 sq km (8,550 sq miles).

Population
7.28 million  (2008).

Population Density
328.7 per sq km.

Capital
Jerusalem.
Population: (including East Jerusalem) 732,000 (2007). The Israeli government has designated Jerusalem as the capital, although this is not recognized by the UN, and most foreign embassies are based in Tel Aviv.

Government
Republic. The state of Israel was founded in 1948.

Language
Hebrew and Arabic are the official languages. Hebrew is the first language of about two-thirds of the population. Arabic is spoken by around 15%. Other languages, including English, French, German, Hungarian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Spanish and Yiddish are widely spoken. A large proportion of the population speak good English, a compulsory school subject.

Religion
80% Jewish, 18% Muslim, with small Christian, Druze and other minorities.

Time
GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 during summer Daylight Saving Time. Daylight Saving Time in Israel starts on 1 April every year and ends on the Saturday between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.)

Electricity
230 volts AC, 50Hz. Three-pin plugs are standard; if needed, adaptors can be purchased in Israel.

Head of Government
Acting Prime Minister Tzipi Livni since September 2008.

Head of State
President Shimon Peres since 15 July 2007.

Recent History
Following a tumultuous rule that included a failed military offensive in Lebanon and allegations of corruption, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert resigned his post in September 2008. Olmert also gave up his role as the head of the Kadima party and was succeeded by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. Elections took place on 11 February 2009 but the outcome is still undecided with both leaders of the two main parties looking for coalition partners after no clear winner merged.

Whoever emerges victorious in the elections must address urgent issues, not the least of which is the revival of the moribund Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Conflict is heaviest in and around Gaza, which Israel has blockaded since the summer of 2006. The blockade has caused food and fuel shortages in Gaza yet Hamas remains defiant and continues to launch rockets on Israeli towns lying just outside the strip. A rift between Hamas and the secular Fatah, which rules the West Bank, has helped to thwart peace efforts with Israel.

Former Prime Minister Shimon Peres is now the ninth president of Israel. The 83-year-old was elected in June 2007 and will serve a seven-year term. His predecessor, Moshe Katsav, was forced to resign after admitting charges of sexual harassment and abuse of authority.

Telephone
Country code: 972. Local telephone directories are in Hebrew, but there is a special English-language version for tourists.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. There is coverage all over the country, including the Negev Desert. Visitors should note that it is illegal to drive whilst holding a mobile telephone.

Internet
There are many Internet cafes. Wi-Fi is also widely available in hotels, cafes and some public areas such as Ben Yehuda Street in Jerusalem.

Media
Israel has vibrant and exceptionally diverse media, produced in Hebrew, Arabic, English and Russian, expressing all viewpoints and spanning the entire political spectrum. All publications are privately owned, and there is no state interference with editorial. News in English is broadcast on radio and TV several times daily.

Post
Airmail to Europe or the US takes up to one week.

Post office hours: May vary but are generally Sun-Tues and Thurs 0800-1200 and 1530-1830, Wed 0800-1330 and Fri 0800-1200. All post offices are closed on Shabbat (Saturday) and holy days, although central telegraph offices are open throughout the year.

Press
• The main dailies are Ha'aretz (www.haaretzdaily.com), Ma'ariv (www.nrg.co.il) and Yedioth Aharonoth (www.ynetnews.com)
• The main English-language daily is the Jerusalem Post (www.jpost.com).
• The Jerusalem Report is a popular left-of-center monthly magazine in English.

Radio
• There is a huge range of radio stations offering music, news or features in several languages.
• The Israel Broadcasting Authority runs the principal station Kol Israel.
• The popular and authoritative Army Radio broadcasts news and music to a mostly-civilian audience and operates the music and traffic news network Galgalatz.
• There is also a proliferation of unauthorized/ pirate radio stations.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009
10 Mar Purim.
9 Apr* Pesach (Passover).
29 Apr Yom Ha'Atzmaut (Israel Independence Day).
29 May Shavuot (Pentecost).
19-20 Sep Rosh Hashana (New Year).
28 Sep Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).
3-9 Oct* Sukkot (Tabernacles).
10 Oct Simchat Torah.
12-19 Dec Chanukah (Festival of Lights).

2010
28 Feb Purim.
30 Mar Pesach (Passover).
19 Apr Yom Ha'Atzmaut (Israel Independence Day).
19 May Shavuot (Pentecost).
9-10 Sep Rosh Hashana (New Year).
18 Sep Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).
23-29 Oct* Sukkot (Tabernacles).
1 Oct Simchat Torah.
2-9 Dec Chanukah (Festival of Lights).

Note
*Only the first and last days of Passover and Sukkot are national holidays, but there may be some disruption on intermediate dates; many shops and businesses may open but close early. The festival of Chanukah is a holiday period, but it is not a national holiday - businesses remain open. Jewish festivals always commence on the evenings before the dates given above.

The Jewish religious day is Saturday (Shabbat) and begins at nightfall on Friday until nightfall on Saturday. Most public services and shops close early on Friday as a result. Muslim and Christian holidays are also observed by the respective populations. Thus, depending on the district, the day of rest falls on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Contact Information:

Embassy of Israel in the UK
2 Palace Green, London W8 4QB, UK
Tel: (020) 7957 9500.
Website: http://london.mfa.gov.il
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1730.
Consular section: 15a Old Court Palace, London W8 4QB, UK
Tel: (020) 7957 9576/9627/9680.
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 1000-1330, Fri 1000-1230.

Israel Government Tourist Office in the UK
UK House, 180 Oxford Street, London W1D 1NN, UK
Tel: (020) 7299 1100/10/11.
Website: www.thinkisrael.com

Embassy of Israel in the USA
3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 364 5500 or 5527 (consular section).
Website: www.israelemb.org

Israel Government Tourist Office in the USA
800 Second Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10017, USA
Tel: (212) 499 5660 or 1 888 774 7723.
Website: www.goisrael.com


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