Israel, the only true democracy in the middle east, while a young nation of less than 60 years, has quickly grown to be a world player in the fields of technology, culture, industry, politics and regard for human rights.
Approximately 7 million people populate this small country about the size of New Jersey. While known as the Jewish State, Israel respects all religions, and there are large populations of Christians and Muslims as well as Jews and other religions from around the globe.
Israel features coasts of several bodies of water, mountains and deep valleys, farmland and desert, urban cities and rural areas. The climate ranges from temperate to tropical.
Israel is a vibrant democracy featuring vigorous dissent from minority parties and from a strong free media. Israel features media who argue from the left to the right and in between, and also has a vibrant arab press. All people are given the right to free speech and freedom of the press, contributing to the open discourse.
While Jews lived continuously in the area we call today Israel since biblical times, the modern state of Israel was founded by Declaration on May 14, 1948, after the Jewish State won approval in the United Nations. Israel was quickly recognized by the United States and a few days later, the USSR. Today, Israel maintains strong relationships politically and
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