Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia located on the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea in the Southern Levant. It is bordered by Lebanon to the north, Syria to the northeast, Jordan to the east, and Egypt to the southwest. The Mediterranean Sea and the Gaza Strip form its western border, and it has a small coastline on the Red Sea to the south. Jerusalem is the proclaimed capital, though this status has limited international recognition. Tel Aviv is the largest urban area and economic center.

Israel's geography is diverse, featuring desert conditions in the south and snow-capped mountains in the north. The country has four main physiographic regions:

• The Mediterranean coastal plain in the west.
• The hill regions of northern and central Israel.
• The Jordan Rift Valley in the east.
• The Negev Desert in the south.

Israel is a small, narrow country, approximately 290 miles (470 km) long and 85 miles (135 km) across at its widest point. Its total area is about 8,522 square miles (22,072 sq km). It lies north of the equator at around 31°30' north latitude and 34°45' east longitude.

The northern half of Israel has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. The southern half has semi-arid and desert climates. Rainfall is concentrated between November and March.

Israel has limited natural resources, including copper, phosphates, bromide, potash, clay, sand, sulfur, asphalt, and manganese. Natural gas reserves have been discovered off its coast.

Environmental concerns include water scarcity, desertification, air and groundwater pollution, and the effects of fertilizers and pesticides.

As of December 2023, Israel's population was approximately 9,842,000.

• 73.2% are Jews.
• 21.1% are Arabs.
• 5.7% are classified as "others."

Most of the population lives on the coastal plain. The Tel Aviv metropolitan area (Gush Dan) accounts for a significant portion of the population.

The official language is Hebrew, with Arabic holding a special status.

Israel is a unitary parliamentary republic with a president as head of state and a prime minister as head of government. The Knesset, a parliament elected by proportional representation, is the legislative body.

Israeli politics is characterized by a multi-party system dominated by Zionist parties. Elections are governed by Basic Law: The Knesset.

Major political issues include the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, the relationship between religious movements, and the nature of the state.

Israel has a highly developed free-market economy, marked by high-technology and industrial manufacturing.

• High-technology goods and services.
• Diamond industry.
• Industrial manufacturing.
• Agriculture.

Israel depends on imports for petroleum, raw materials, wheat, and other goods. Key exports include cut diamonds, refined petroleum, and pharmaceuticals.

Challenges include a high dependency ratio and the need to foster growth in diverse industries.

The region has a rich history dating back to prebiblical times, including the kingdoms of Israel and Judah.

The British Mandate for Palestine, increased Jewish immigration, and conflict with Arabs led to the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. Subsequent wars and peace treaties have shaped its borders and relationships with neighboring countries.