Israel is on the eastern Mediterranean, bordered by Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt. The Great Rift Valley begins beyond the source of the River Jordan and extends south through the Dead Sea, into the Red Sea. For many, Israel is the Holy Land. Attractions include the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem (the Holy City, the capital and cradle of Judaism, Christianity and Islam). Tel Aviv is an exciting city offering culture and sandy beaches. The Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra draws audiences from all over the world. Haifa is Israel's leading seaport - as an industrial town and ancient fortress, it is a starting point for visits to Galilee to see the Sea of Galilee, Nazareth and the Mount of Beatitudes. The Dead Sea is an inland lake lying in the lower Jordan Valley, flanked by the Judean and Moab Mountains. Its minerals and high salt content are renowned for their health-giving properties. Israeli cuisine is essentially a combination of Oriental and Western cuisine. Folklore and dance shows are performed for visitors everywhere.

Area
22,145 sq km (8550 sq miles; includes East Jerusalem and the Golan sub-district).

Population
6,631,000 (official estimate 2002).

Population Density
306.0 per sq km.

Capital
Jerusalem. Population: (including East Jerusalem) 680,400 (2002). 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.

Geography
Israel is on the eastern Mediterranean, bordered by Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic to the north, Jordan to the east, and Egypt to the south. The autonomous Palestinian Authority Region lies mostly on the west bank of the River Jordan. Part of the Gaza strip, in the south of the country, is also administered by the Palestinians. The country stretches southwards through the Negev Desert to Eilat, a resort town on the Red Sea. The fertile Plain of Sharon runs along the coast, while inland, parallel to the coast, is a range of hills and uplands with fertile valleys to the west and arid desert to the east. The Great Rift Valley begins beyond the sources of the River Jordan and extends south through the Dead Sea (the lowest point in the world), into the Red Sea, continuing on into Eastern Africa.

Language
Hebrew is the official language, spoken by about two-thirds of the population. Arabic is spoken by around 15 per cent of the population. English is spoken in most places and other languages, including French, German, Hungarian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Spanish and Yiddish are widely used.