Israel Travel Guide

Country Facts

Location

Eastern Mediterranean.

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 as it is a compulsory school subject.

Area

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

Time Zone

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.

Population

7.23 million (2009).

Population Density

326.4 per sq km.

Capital City

Jerusalem. Population: (including East Jerusalem) 763,000 (2009). The Israeli government has designated Jerusalem as the capital, although this is not recognised by the UN, and most foreign embassies are based in Tel Aviv.

Government

Republic. The state of Israel was founded in 1948.

Head of Government

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu since 2009.

Head of State

President Shimon Peres since 2007.

Religion

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

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 was succeeded by Binyamin Netanyahu after elections in February 2009.

The most pressing issue facing the Israeli leadership 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 the ninth president of Israel - elected in June 2007 and set to serve a seven-year term. His predecessor, Moshe Katsav, was forced to resign after admitting charges of sexual harassment and abuse of authority.

Communications

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 while holding a mobile telephone.

Internet

There are many internet cafés. Wi-Fi is also widely available in hotels, cafés 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. The main daily newspapers 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).

Most Israeli households subscribe to cable or satellite TV, with a big package of foreign news networks, including Sky, BBC World, CNN and Al-Jazeera. The Israel Broadcasting Authority operates public TV Channel 1, and there are several commercial terrestrial channels.

Post

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

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2011
20 Mar Purim
19 Apr *Pesach (Passover)
10 May Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Israel Independence Day)
8 Jun Shavuot (Pentecost)
29 Sep - 30 Sep Rosh Hashana (New Year)
8 Oct Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)
13 Oct Sukkot (Tabernacles)
21 Oct Simchat Torah
21 Dec - 28 Dec Chanukah (Festival of Lights)

2012
8 Mar Purim
7 Apr Pesach (Passover)
26 Apr Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Israel Independence Day)
27 May Shavuot (Pentecost)
17 Sep Rosh Hashana (New Year)
26 Sep Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)
1 Oct Sukkot (Tabernacles)
9 Oct Simchat Torah
9 Dec Chanukah (Festival of Lights)
*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

British Embassy in Israel

192 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv 63405
Consular Section: 1 Ben Yehuda Street, Migdalor Building, 6^th Floor, Tel Aviv 63801
Tel: 972 (0) 3510 0166
Website: www.ukinisrael.fco.gov.uk/en
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs: 0800-1600
Fri: 0800-1330

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