Topic outline of Israel

For an alphabetical index of this subject, see the List of Israel-related articles.

Israel, officially known as the State of Israel, is a country in the Middle East and Southwest Asia located on the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Lebanon in the north, Syria in the northeast, Jordan in the east, and Egypt on the southwest, and contains geographically diverse features within its relatively small area. The West Bank and Gaza Strip, which are partially administrated by the Palestinian National Authority, are also adjacent. With a population of about 7.2 million, the majority of whom are Jews, Israel is the world's only Jewish state. It is also home to Arab Muslims, Christians, Druze, and Samaritan, as well as other religious and ethnic minority groups.

The modern state of Israel has its roots in the Land of Israel, a concept central to Judaism for over three thousand years. After World War I, the League of Nations approved the British Mandate of Palestine with the intent of creating a "national home for the Jewish people." In 1947, the United Nations approved the partition of the Mandate of Palestine into two states, one Jewish and one Arab. The Arab League rejected the plan, but on May 14, 1948, Israel declared its independence. The new country's victory in the subsequent Arab-Israeli War expanded the borders of the Jewish state beyond those in the UN Partition Plan. Since then, Israel has been in conflict with many of the neighboring Arab countries, resulting in several major wars and decades of violence until this day. Since its foundation, Israel's boundaries and even the State's very right to exist have been subject to dispute, although Israel has signed peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan, and efforts are being made to reach a permanent accord with the Palestinians.

Israel is a representative democracy with a parliamentary system and universal suffrage. The Prime Minister serves as head of government and the Knesset serves as Israel's legislative body. In terms of nominal gross domestic product, the nation's economy is estimated as being the 44th-largest in the world; Israel ranks the highiest among Middle Eastern countries on the basis of human development, freedom of the press, and economy. Jerusalem is the country's capital, seat of government, and largest city, and Israel's main financial center encompasses Tel Aviv.

The following topic outline is provided as an overview of and introduction to Israel:

Pronunciation:

International rankings of Israel

* 151st largest country

* 96th most populous country

Geography of Israel

Main article: Geography of Israel

Israel is: a country

Location:

* Northern Hemisphere and Eastern Hemisphere

* Eurasia

** Asia

*** Southwest Asia

* Middle East

** The Levant

* Extreme points of Israel

Population of Israel: (May 2008) Total: 7,282,000 people [*] note: includes over 200,000 people in East Jerusalem, about 270,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank, and about 20,000 in the Golan Heights (July 2007 estimate) - 96th most populous country

Area of Israel: (Including the Golan Heights and East Jerusalem) - 151st largest country

[[:commons:Atlas of Israel|Atlas of Israel]]

Environment of Israel

Climate of Israel

Ecology of Israel

* Ecoregions in Israel

* Renewable energy in Israel

Geology of Israel

National parks of Israel

Protected areas of Israel

Wildlife of Israel

* Flora of Israel

* Fauna of Israel

** Birds of Israel

** Mammals of Israel

Natural geographic features of Israel

Fjords of Israel: None

Glaciers of Israel: None

Islands of Israel

Lakes of Israel

Mountains of Israel

* Volcanoes in Israel

Rivers of Israel

* Waterfalls of Israel

Valleys of Israel

World Heritage Sites in Israel

Regions of Israel

Main article: Regions of Israel

Ecoregions of Israel

Main article: Ecoregions of Israel

Administrative divisions of Israel

Main article: Administrative divisions of Israel

Districts of Israel (6)

* Subdistricts of Israel (15)

** Natural regions of Israel (50)

*** Municipalities of Israel

Districts of Israel

Subdistricts of Israel

Natural regions of Israel

Municipalities of Israel

Capital of Israel

Cities of Israel

Demography of Israel

Main article: Demographics of Israel

Government and politics of Israel

Main article: Government of Israel and Politics of Israel

Form of government: parliamentary representative democratic republic

Capital of Israel: Capital of Israel

Elections in Israel

* (specific elections)

Political parties in Israel

Political scandals of Israel

Taxation in Israel

Branches of the government of Israel

Executive branch of the government of Israel

Head of state: President of Israel, Shimon Peres

Head of government: Prime Minister of Israel, Ehud Olmert

Cabinet of Israel

Legislative branch of the government of Israel

Knesset (unicameral parliament)

Judicial branch of the government of Israel

Supreme Court of Israel

District Courts serves as the appellate courts and also serve as the court of first instance for some cases;

Magistrate Courts serves as the court of first instance

Foreign relations of Israel

Diplomatic missions of Israel

United States-Israel relations

International organization membership

Israel is a member of:

United Nations

Law and order in Israel

Main article: Law of Israel

Capital punishment in Israel

Constitution of Israel

Crime in Israel

Human rights in Israel

* LGBT rights in Israel

* Freedom of religion in Israel

Law enforcement in Israel

Military of Israel

Main article: Military of Israel

Command

* Commander-in-chief:

** Ministry of Defence of Israel

Forces

* Army of Israel

* Navy of Israel

* Air Force of Israel

* Special forces of Israel

Military history of Israel

Military ranks of Israel

Local government in Israel

History of Israel

Main article: History of Israel, Timeline of the history of Israel, and

Military history of Israel

Culture of Israel

Main article: Culture of Israel

Architecture of Israel

Cuisine of Israel

Ethnic minorities in Israel

Festivals in Israel

Humor in Israel

Languages of Israel

Media in Israel

National symbols of Israel

* Coat of arms of Israel

* Flag of Israel

* National anthem of Israel

People of Israel

Prostitution in Israel

Public holidays in Israel

Records of Israel

Religion in Israel

* Buddhism in Israel

* Christianity in Israel

* Hinduism in Israel

* Islam in Israel

* Judaism in Israel

* Sikhism in Israel

World Heritage Sites in Israel

The Arts in Israel

Art in Israel

Cinema of Israel

Literature of Israel

Music of Israel

Television in Israel

Theatre in Israel

Sports in Israel

Main article: Sports in Israel

Football in Israel

Economy of Israel

Main article: Economy of Israel

Economic rank (by nominal GDP):

Agriculture in Israel

Banking in Israel

* National Bank of Israel

Communications in Israel

Companies of Israel

Currency of Israel: Israeli new sheqel

Economic history of Israel

Energy policy of Israel

Mining in Israel

Oil industry in Israel

Tourism in Israel

Transport in Israel

Israel Stock Exchange

Education in Israel

Main article: Education in Israel''