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Post by C@V on Feb 5, 2007 14:31:00 GMT -1
 The State of Israel has some 6.9 million inhabitants. The most prominent characteristic of Israel’s the population is its high diversity. Besides the main division of the country’s inhabitants into Jews (80%) and Arabs (20%), there are many more subdivisions. The Jews, for example, are divided into religious and secular, while the latter include various immigrant communities who preserve their culture. Likewise, the Arabs are divided into Moslems, Christians and Druze. Alongside these groups, Israel has additional small ethnic religious groups such as the Circassians and the Samaritans, and small Christian communities from Europe such as the German Beit El community in Zikhron Ya'akov. |
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Post by C@V on Feb 5, 2007 14:33:18 GMT -1
Geographic regions
Israel is divided into three main regions lengthwise: the coastal plain, the mountain region, and the Jordan Valley Rift.
Coastal plain: The country's western strip, stretching from Rosh ha-Nikra in the north to the Sinai Peninsula in the south. The plain is 4-7 kilometers wide in the north, expanding as it moves southward to about 50 kilometers.
The soil in the coastal plain is fertile; there are several water sources, and the region includes the country’s major transportation arteries. The coastal plain is densely populated with most of Israel's major cities, including Tel Aviv and Haifa. The plain is divided from north to south into the Galilee Plain, the Acre Plain, the Carmel Plain, the Sharon Plain, the Mediterranean Coastal Plain, and the Southern Coastal Plain. East of the coastal plain are the lowlands – moderate hills that create a transitional region between the coast and the mountains.
Mountain region: The mountainous region stretches from Lebanon in the north to Eilat Bay in the south, between the coastal plain and the Jordan Valley Rift. Its highest peaks are the Galilee's Mt. Meron at 1,208 meters above sea level, Samaria's Mt. Ba’al Hatsor at 1,016 meters and the Negev's Mt. Ramon at 1,037 meters above sea level.
Most of the less densely populated mountainous region is stone or rocky ground. The climate in the northern mountainous regions is Mediterranean and rainy, while the southern sections are a desert. The key stretches of the mountainous region are the Galilee in the north, the Carmel, the hills of Samaria, the Judean hills, and the Negev highlands. The contiguity of the mountainous region is interrupted at two points by major valleys – the Yizre'el Valley separating the Galilee mountains from the hills of Samaria, and the Be'er Sheva-Arad Rift separating the Judean hills from the Negev highlands. The eastern slopes of the Samarian hills and Judean hills are the Samarian and Judean deserts.
Jordan Valley Rift: The rift extends the entire length of Israel from the northern town of Metula to the Red Sea in the south. The rift was caused by seismic activity, and is part of the Afro-Syrian rift which extends from the Syrian-Turkish border to the Zambezi River in Africa. Israel's largest river, the Jordan, flows through the Jordan Valley and includes Israel's two lakes: the Kineret (Sea of Galilee), the largest body of fresh water in Israel, and the salt water Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth. The Jordan Valley is divided from north to south into the Khula Valley, the Kineret Valley, the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea Valley and the Arava.
Golan Heights: The hilly Golan region is east of the Jordan River. The Israeli Golan Heights are the end of a large basalt plain, mostly located in Syria. North of the Golan Heights is Mt. Hermon, Israel's highest peak at 2,224 meters above sea level.
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Post by C@V on Feb 5, 2007 14:35:27 GMT -1
Currency - New Israeli Sheqel
Official languages - Hebrew, Arabic
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Post by Neko Bazu on Feb 5, 2007 14:37:17 GMT -1
"Spare a sheqel for an ex-leper?"
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Post by fcredblue on Feb 5, 2007 14:41:09 GMT -1
TERRORIST POST!!!!
*includes a ton of magic dust and trows water on them*
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Post by C@V on Feb 5, 2007 14:41:30 GMT -1
SOME INTERESTING PLACES TO VISIT.
HAIFA
Israel’s largest port city, built on Mt. Carmel.
ISRAEL MUSEUM (Jerusalem)
Complex of interconnected buildings and pavilions, housing the Shrine of the Book and others. Collects and displays archaeological material and art.
KURSI
Ruins of Byzantine monastery at the traditional site of the Miracle of the Swine.
HAMAT GADER (Roman Baths)
Thermal springs in a natural setting on the border between Israel and Jordan. Excavations of pool complex.
LITHOSTRATOS
Pilate’s judgment hall where the cross was laid upon Jesus.
LOHAMEI HAGETAOT
Ghetto Fighters Kibbutz: Large archive and museum of the Holocaust, north of Acco.
HATZOR
Archaeological work revealed 22 levels of cities going back from Solomon’s reign to at least 2000 BCE.
MARY’S TOMB
Traditional site of Mary’s Tomb.
MASSADA
Mountain-top upon which Herod built magnificent palaces and fortifications. The last stronghold of 967 Jewish Zealots rebelling against Rome, who chose to commit suicide rather than surrender.
HEBRON
One of the four holy cities of Israel, especially associated with King David, Tomb of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs (Machpela Cave).
JAFFA
Southern part of Tel Aviv, Ancient city associated with Jonah and St. Peter.
HERODIAN QUARTER
Excavation of a number of houses built during the reign of Herod the Great and destroyed in 70 AD. Some of the mosaic pavements have been excellently preserved.
JERICHO
The first settlement conquered by Joshua, located near the entry of the river Jordan into the Dead Sea. Caliph Hisham’s winter palace with splendid mosaics from the 8th Century.
JERUSALEM
Capital of Israel since the days of King David. Scene of the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus. Site of the 1st and 2nd Temples.
JORDAN RIVER
Flows from Mt. Hermon to the Dead Sea, via the Sea of Galilee. Scene of Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist.
MEGIDDO
Ancient Canaanite-Israelite fortress city. The Armageddon of the Book of Revelations.
KARANTAL
Monastery of Temptation, a high mountain where Jesus spent 40 days tempted by Satan.
MITZPE RAMON RESERVE
The Ramon crater is the largest in the world and forms the heart of Israel’s largest nature reserve.
KIDRON VALLEY
Absalom’s monument. Basilica of the Agony. Gethsemane Grotto, Hezekiah’s Tunnel, Mount of Olives.
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Post by jh1980 on Feb 5, 2007 14:43:25 GMT -1
Just give the Palestinians a bit of land... be a lot easier...  |
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Post by C@V on Feb 5, 2007 14:48:11 GMT -1
They have no claim!
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Post by spurrsgirl on Feb 5, 2007 14:48:28 GMT -1
Always knew you were a closet Yid Cav !!
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Post by Mrs H on Feb 5, 2007 14:48:47 GMT -1
Didn't Dana International come from Israel?
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Post by jh1980 on Feb 5, 2007 14:49:59 GMT -1
Thought you might say that! I don't know, just shit-stirring tbh... *whistles* |
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Post by jh1980 on Feb 5, 2007 14:50:25 GMT -1
Didn't Dana International come from Israel? yeah "she" did! |
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Post by fcredblue on Feb 5, 2007 14:51:13 GMT -1
where theres a blame theres a claim! |
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Post by C@V on Feb 5, 2007 14:51:45 GMT -1
Always knew you were a closet Yid Cav !! Racist! |
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Post by Mrs H on Feb 5, 2007 14:52:15 GMT -1
The Israeli's are merely puppets for the Americans......
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Post by C@V on Feb 5, 2007 14:54:03 GMT -1
The Israeli's are merely puppets for the Americans...... How dare you! If anything the Jews run America. More land in NY is ownwd by Jews than anyone else! The Jews use America for their own needs not the other way round! Now go to your room! |
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Post by Dr LuKas on Feb 5, 2007 14:54:11 GMT -1
Can I see some pictures CAV, of your country?
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Post by spurrsgirl on Feb 5, 2007 14:54:22 GMT -1
Always knew you were a closet Yid Cav !! Racist! I think we had this conversation before .......  COYS  |
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Post by C@V on Feb 5, 2007 14:55:22 GMT -1
Can I see some pictures CAV, of your country? Of course what would you like to see? |
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Post by jh1980 on Feb 5, 2007 14:55:34 GMT -1
The Israeli's are merely puppets for the Americans...... Not merely. They do have a right to a state... well... it is arguable actually. This can be a huge can of worms so... |
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Forever without exception. x
