Israel Facts for Kids

Israel also known as the state of Israel, it is a Middle Eastern country and it is located on the shore of the south east Mediterranean sea and the red sea northern shore, it is bordered by the West Bank and Gaza Strip to the east and west on the territories of the Palestinian, northeast of Syria, north of Lebanon, east of Jordan and southwest of Egypt.

The country’s total land area is 20,770 sq km (8,019 sq miles)
The capital city of the country is Jerusalem which is also the largest city.
The official languages of the country are Hebrew and Arabic.
The total population of the country is 8,299,706 (est. in July 2017).

The country gained its independence on 14 may 1948 from the British administration.
The national anthem is called “Hatikvah” which means “The Hope”.
The national symbol is the Magen David (Star of David) and Menorah (Seven-branched lampstand).
The people of Israel are Israeli with the country having a diversity of religions like Muslim Christian, Jewish, Druze and others.
The currency used is called Israeli new shekel (ILS).
The national resources of the country include Magnesium bromide, Copper ore, phosphate rock, sand, clays, potash, timber and natural gas.
The major industries are wood and paper products, plastic, tobacco, cement, caustic soda, footwear, beverages, textiles, metal products, high technology products (medical electronics, computer-aided design and manufactures, communications, fiber optics and aviation), chemical products and cut diamonds.
The country makes $60.6 billion (est. in 2017) on software, agricultural products, textiles and apparel, machinery and equipment, chemicals and cut diamonds.
The country’s importation spends $66.76 billion (est. in 2017) on consumer goods, military equipment, raw materials, grains, investment good and rough diamonds.
More than 50 million birds of 200 different species around each spring and fall fly the airspace above the Israel heading to and from Europe, Africa and Asia. It is considered a bird superhighway.
Two countries in the 21st century recorded a net gain in their number of trees and Israel is one of the two.
Braille markings are on the Israeli banknotes so as the blind can read and know each bill well.

According to the torah, the kosher diet involves eating food prescribed in the biblical code and the connection between what we eat and how we act in the world
Depending on the holiday and celebration. Different foods are eaten. Like matza (crispy flat bread) are eaten for Passover dinner. Challah is the bread made for Sabbath dinner.
The giraffe meat and milk are considered “kosher” (acceptation in the Jewish religion) by Israeli scientist.
The first jellyfish repellent in the world has been developed by a company in Israel
The famous scientist Albert Einstein politely turned down the position of president of Israel in 1952.
There is a mandatory military service requirement for women and Israel is the only country that does it in the world.
Women in Israel enjoy full rights no matter the ethic be it Israel, Arabs or Jews. All the citizens enjoy full political rights and it is the only place to have such comfort in the whole of the Middle East.
Israel is the only country in the world with the same culture as it did 3000 years ago. It has the same land and the same name as it did and they also speak the same language as before and the reason is because when the Romans forced the Jews out of the land after king solomon’s temple destruction in Jerusalem in 70 C.E not all of them left.
Tiberius and Jerusalem communities were reestablished in the 9th century and in the 11th century, five more communities grew but in the 12th century, there was a lot of death by the Jews and the communities still recovered and continued to grow for three more centuries. From then to now, the Jews have continued to keep their connection with their homeland.
The only Jewish state in the world is Israel and the Jewish people have maintained a relationship with the land for over 3000 years. Even the Koran calls the Jews “children of Israel” and central to Judaism as “the land God gave to them” is the land of Israel.
Israel is one of the most environmentally clean nations on earth with the country’s wastewater being recycled as 50% of its irrigated water comes from it.