Israel
Israel
Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia on the southeastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea. It is the only stable parliamentary democracy in the Middle East. The modern State of Israel was founded in 1948. It is bordered by Lebanon in the north, Syria and Jordan in the east, and Egypt in the south-west. It has a population of over seven million people, in an area of around 22,000 square kilometres (8500 square miles). It is the world's only Jewish state, though its population includes citizens from many ethnic and religious backgrounds. Israel has a technologically advanced economy and is ranked 23rd on the 2005 United Nations Human Development Index.
The birthplace of the Jewish people is the Land of Israel. Jews have always maintained physical presence in the region as well as a strong cultural, religious and national bond with the Land. With the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, Jewish independence was renewed in the area.
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