orientation guide - Chameleon Associates

BEHIND THE SCENES TOUR OF
ISRAEL’S COUNTER-TERRORISM
AND SECURITY OPERATIONS
October 2006
ORIENTATION GUIDE
This guide has been created to help prepare you for your trip to Israel. It gives a
general overview of subjects that include the region’s history, culture, politics and
geography in addition to helpful hints for tourists and guests.
Links to websites and resources where you can find additional information are also
included along the way.
We wish you a valuable and inspiring adventure!
The Chameleon Associates Team
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ISRAEL TODAY..................................................................................................................3
Geography.........................................................................................................................3
Time .................................................................................................................................3
Climate .............................................................................................................................4
Jewish Calendar ................................................................................................................4
People ...............................................................................................................................4
Flag...................................................................................................................................4
National Anthem...............................................................................................................5
Government ......................................................................................................................5
Legal Institutions...............................................................................................................5
Religion ............................................................................................................................6
Sabbath and Holidays ........................................................................................................7
Education ..........................................................................................................................7
MILITARY...........................................................................................................................8
Combat Security Organizations .........................................................................................9
Non-Combat Security Organizations ...............................................................................10
Counter-Terrorism...........................................................................................................10
Mossad............................................................................................................................11
YAMAM ........................................................................................................................12
ECONOMY ........................................................................................................................13
Stocks and Investment.....................................................................................................14
Business culture ..............................................................................................................15
Technology .....................................................................................................................16
Medicine and Health .......................................................................................................17
Magen David Adom........................................................................................................17
Communications .............................................................................................................17
Space Program ................................................................................................................17
CULTURE..........................................................................................................................17
Languages .......................................................................................................................17
Newspapers, Books and Literature ..................................................................................17
Dance and Theatre...........................................................................................................17
Music ..............................................................................................................................17
Art and Museums ............................................................................................................17
Cuisine............................................................................................................................17
HISTORY...........................................................................................................................17
Flavius Josephus – Jewish Historian................................................................................17
The Kibbutz Movement...................................................................................................17
Israel’s History in Maps ..................................................................................................17
Archaeology....................................................................................................................17
Jerusalem ........................................................................................................................17
TOURIST GUIDE ..............................................................................................................17
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ISRAEL TODAY
The State of Israel was established on
May 14, 1948. The name Israel means
“one who struggles with God” and is
rooted in the Biblical passage 32.:28
where Jacob is renamed Israel after
struggling with an unnamed assailant.
Geography
Israel has a total area of 20,770 sq km approximately the same size as the
U.S. state of New Jersey.
Israel is bordered by Lebanon and
Syria in the north, Jordan and the West
Bank in the east, and Egypt and the
Gaza Strip in the south-west, and has
coastlines on the Mediterranean in the
west and the Gulf of Eilat (also known
as the Gulf of Aqaba) in the south.
The highest point in Israel is Mt.
Meron (3,692 ft/1,125 m) near Safed.
The lowest point (on land) on the earth
is at the Dead Sea, on the border of
Jordan and Israel. The Dead Sea lies at
1,312 feet (400 meters) below sea level.
The most important river in Israel is
the Jordan. Other bodies of water
include the Sea of Galilee and the
Dead Sea (part of which belongs to
neighboring Jordan).
Owing to
interior drainage and a high rate of
evaporation, the waters of the Dead
Sea contain about eight times as much
salt as the ocean.
Time
Standard time: 2 hours ahead of GMT
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Climate
Israel enjoys long, warm summers (April-October) and generally
mild winters (November-March), with cooler weather in hilly
region such as Jerusalem and Safed.
Rainfall is relatively heavy in the north and center of the country
with much less in the northern
Negev desert and negligible
amounts in the southern areas.
DEAD SEA
MOUNT HERMON
Weather extremes range from
occasional winter snowfall in the mountain regions to
periodic oppressively hot dry winds that send temperatures
soaring, particularly in the summer
Jewish Calendar 2005 = 5765-5766
The Hebrew calendar is based on the semi- lunar year; therefore Jewish holidays fall on
different Gregorian dates each year Some say that the Jewish year represents the number
of years since creation, calculated by adding up the ages of people in the Bible back to the
time of creation. However, this doesn’t mean the universe has existed for only 5,700 years as
we understand years. Many Orthodox Jews acknowledge that the first 6 "days" of creation
aren’t necessarily 24-hour days (indeed, a 24-hour day would be meaningless until the
creation of the sun on the 4th "day").
People
Israel is home to a diverse population from many ethnic, religious, cultural and social
backgrounds. Of its more than 6.9 million inhabitants, 76.2 % are Jews (over half are nativeborn and mostly first and second generation) while the rest come from some 80 countries
around the world; about 19.5% are Arabs of whom the majority are Muslim and the
remaining 4.3% are Christians, Druze and Circassian
Flag
The design of the flag of the State of Israel was inspired by the Jewish
prayer shawl (tallit). The Star (or Shield) of David is a common
symbol of the people of Israel dating from Biblical times. The flag was
adopted officially on October 28, 1948.
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National Anthem
?? ??? ???? ?????
??? ????? ?????,
?????????? ?????
??? ????? ????? -
As long as in the heart, within,
A Jewish soul still yearns,
And onward toward the East,
An eye still watches toward Zion.
Kol 'od balevav P'nimah Nefesh Yehudi homiyah
Ulfa'atey mizrach kadimah
Ayin l'tzion tzofiyah.
??? ?? ???? ??????,
????? ?? ? ??? ?????,
????? ?? ???? ? ??????
??? ???? ????? ???.
Our hope has not yet been lost,
The two thousand year old hope,
To be a free nation in our own homeland,
The land of Zion and Jerusalem.
Od lo avdah tikvatenu
Hatikvah bat shnot alpayim:
Li'hyot am chofshi b'artzenu Eretz Tzion Virushalayim.
The title of the national anthem, HATIKVA, means "The Hope." It was written by Naftali
Herz Imber (1856-1909), who moved to Palestine in 1882 from Galicia. The melody was
arranged by Samuel Cohen, an immigrant from Moldavia, from a musical theme in
Smetana's "Moldau" that is partly based on a Scandinavian folk song.
Hatikva expresses the hope of the Jewish people that they would someday return to the
land (Zion) of their forefathers as prophesied in the Hebrew Bible. The Jewish people were
exiled from Israel in 70 C.E. by the Roman army led by Titus who destroyed the Temple in
Jerusalem. During the two thousand years of exile, the Jewish people said special daily
prayers for return to Israel while facing the East in the direction of Jerusalem. Zion is
synonymous with Israel and Jerusalem.
To hear it sung by Barbra Streisand (who knows how to carry a tune), link to:
http://www.yosh.ac.il/inet/music/Hatikva-Streisand.mp3
Government
Israel is a parliamentary democracy based on universal suffrage and proportional
representation. Israel's legislative branch is a 120-member parliament known as the Knesset.
Membership in the Knesset is allocated to parties based on their proportion of the vote.
Elections to the Knesset are normally held every four years, but the Knesset can decide to
dissolve itself ahead of time by a simple majority, known as a vote of no-confidence. As of
this writing, there are 9 Arabs, 18 women and 3 Druze members. For more information,
please visit the official website: http://www.knesset.gov.il/index.html
Legal Institutions
Israel's legal system is a mixed system, influenced by Anglo-American, Continental and
Jewish law principles. As for the Anglo-American influence, the Israeli legal system is
based on the principle of stare-decisis (precedent). It is an adversarial system, not an
inquisitorial one, in the sense that the parties (e.g. plaintiff and defendant) are the ones that
bring the evidence before the court. The court does not conduct any independent
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investigation on the case. There is no jury in Israeli courts, and cases are decided upon by
professional judges.
The Judiciary branch of Israel is made of a 3-tier system of courts: at the lowest level are the
Magistrate Courts, situated in most cities. Above them, serving both as an appellate court
and as a court of first instance are the District Courts (6 of them, situated in the 6 judicial
districts of Jerusalem, South, Tel Aviv, Centre, Haifa and Nazareth). At the top of the
judicial pyramid is the Supreme Court seated in Jerusalem.
Religious tribunals (Jewish, Islamic Sharia'a, Druze and Christian) have exclusive
jurisdiction on annulment of marriages.
Religion
While the Israel Declaration of Independence describes the country as a "Jewish state,"
freedom of religion and the inviolability of the holy places and centers of worship for all
religions are guaranteed by law.
Israeli Arabs and other non-Jews are
generally free to practice their
religions.
The Old City in Jerusalem reflects
this diversity perhaps better than
any other area of Israel, with its four
quarters:
Armenian,
Christian,
Muslim and Jewish.
Communities carried over from the
British Mandate include Eastern
Orthodox, Latin, Greek, Armenian
and Syrian (Catholic), Gregorian,
Chaldean
(Uniate),
Melkite,
Maronite, Syrian Orthodox, and
Jewish. Three
more religious
communities
have
since
been recognized - the Druze, the Evangelical Episcopals, and Baha'i.
The Bah’ai Center in Haifa is world reknown (see right).
Relations among different religious groups--between Jews and nonJews, between Christians and Muslims, and among the different
streams of Judaism--often are strained. Many Jewish citizens object to
the exclusive control the Orthodox Jewish authorities have over
Jewish marriages, divorces, and most burials. This has been, at times, a source of serious
controversy in society. Tensions between Jews and non-Jews are the result of historical
grievances, cultural and religious differences, and are compounded by governmental and
societal discrimination against Israeli-Arabs. They have been heightened by the Arab-Israeli
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conflict, and increased significantly during the period covered by this report, due primarily
to Palestinian terrorist attacks, mostly in the form of suicide bombings, and IDF actions in
the occupied territories, all of which resulted in some impediments to religious practice. For
example, in 2002 a suicide bomber attacked a Passover holiday Seder, killing 20 persons and
injuring over 100.
(Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Released February 28, 2005)
Sabbath and Holidays
Israel's day of rest is Saturday, (in Hebrew Shabbat). All Jewish holidays commence at
sundown on the evening before the holiday and end the following night at sunset. Banks,
businesses and public institutions are closed at these times. In the major cities, many
restaurants, cinemas nightclubs and discotheques remain open to say nothing of the beach
in summer which is generally packed.
The government recognizes Rosh Hashana (New Years), Pesach (Passover), Yom Kippur (Day
of Atonement) and Succot as official national holidays.
Passover
observes
the
Exodus from Egypt after
generations
of
Jewish
slavery, a story told in
Exodus, Ch. 1-15. Leonardo
Da Vinci’s The Last Supper,
depicts a Passover meal.
The name Pesach comes
from a Hebrew root
meaning to pass through or
over or to spare and refers
to God’s having “passed
over” the houses of the Jews when he was slaying the firstborn of Egypt.
Like Passover, Sukkot has a dual significance: historical and agricultural. Historically, it
commemorates the forty-year period during which the children of Israel were wandering in
the desert, living in temporary shelters. Agriculturally, Sukkot is a harvest festival.
Islamic holidays are celebrated in areas of significant Muslim population. Al-Hijra marks
the beginning of Muslim New Year. Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. Other
holidays include Muharram, Aashurah and Eid ul fitr.
Education
Education is a priority in Israel. Twenty-four percent of Israel's workforce holds university
degrees - ranking third in the industrialized world, after the United States and Holland and 12 percent hold advanced degrees. Israel has the highest ratio of university degrees to
the population in the world.
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The multicultural nature of Israel's society is accommodated within the framework of the
education system. Accordingly, schools are divided into four groups: state schools, attended
by the majority of pupils; state religious schools, which emphasize Jewish studies, tradition
and observance; Arab and Druze schools, with instruction in Arabic and special focus on
Arab and Druze history, religion and culture and private schools, which operate under
various religious and international auspices.
Education is compulsory from age 6 to 16 and is free up to the age 18. The Israeli school
system is organized into kindergartens, 6-year primary schools, 3-year junior secondary
schools, and 3-year senior secondary schools, after which a comprehensive examination is
offered for university admissions. There are seven university-level institutions in Israel, a
number of regional colleges, and an Open University program.
University Students by Field of Study (2005)
(Total 120,552 students in 7 universities)
Humanities
25.9%
Social Sciences
29.2%
Science and mathematics
17.1%
Engineering
14.2%
Medicine
8.4%
Law
4.0%
Business & Administration
6.9%
Agriculture
1.2%
MILITARY
Israel's military consists of a unified Israel Defense Forces (IDF), known in Hebrew by the
acronym Tzahal. Historically, there have been no separate Israeli military services; the
Navy and Air Force are subordinate to the Army. There are other paramilitary government
agencies which deal with different aspects of Israel's security
(such as MAGAV and the Shin Bet).
The IDF is considered one of the strongest military forces in the
Middle East and ranks among the most battle-trained armed
forces in the world, having had to defend the country in five
major wars. The IDF's main resource is the training quality of its
soldiers, but it also relies heavily on high-tech weapons systems
(both developed and manufactured in Israel for its specific
needs, and also largely imported from the United States), and expert manpower, rather than
possession of overwhelming manpower.
With an aerial arsenal of over 250 F-16s, Israel has the largest fleet of the aircraft outside of
the US. http://www.iaf.org.il
Most Israelis, males and females, are drafted into the military at the age of 18. Exceptions
are Israeli Arabs, confirmed pacifists, and women who declare themselves religiously
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observant. Compulsory service is three years for men, and 20 months for women.
Circassians and Bedouin actively enlist in the IDF. Since 1956, Druze men have been
conscripted in the same way as Jewish men, at the request of the Druze community.
Following compulsory service, Israeli men become part of the IDF reserve forces, and are
usually required to serve several weeks every year as reservists, until their 40's.
http://www.idf.il/
Recommended Viewing: Claude Lanzman directed a documentary called “Tzahal”,
number 3 in a trilogy. He was provided extraordinary access to facilities and personnel
making for a very interesting film.
Combat Security Organizations
The IDF operates air, ground and naval forces in order to protect Israel against foreign
armies and terrorists. The IDF elite units are called Sayeret. The most famous Sayeret units
are Sayeret Matkal and Shayetet-13.
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THE INTELLIGENCE BRANCH (AMAN)
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INFANTRY BRIGADES (Paratroopers, Golani, Givati,
Nahal, Mechanics Infantry)
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ARMORED CORPS AND ARTILLERY CORPS
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ENGINEERING CORPS
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AIR FORCE
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NAVY
ISRAELI POLICE: a civilian force. As most other police forces in the world, their duties
include crime fighting, traffic control and maintaining public safety.
BORDER POLICE ("MAGAV"): the combat arm of the Israeli Police. Border Police troops
are trained by the IDF in high infantry level but serve under the police. They are deployed
in the disputed territories and in the countryside. They are also deployed on the borders of
Israel.
YAMAM is the elite civilian counter terrorism unit of Israel.
MASHAZ (Civilian Guard): a volunteer organization of citizens which assists in daily police
work. Members are trained to provide the initial response to a security situation until the
police arrive. MASHAZ volunteers are armed with M1 Carbine and personal handguns. The
MASHAZ also have special units, but their members require additional training and a
higher level of commitment.
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SHABAS - Prison service: the SHABAS is responsible for guarding Israeli prisons and
making sure that the prisoners do not escape. The SHABAS elite unit is called "Metzada"
and is specialized for hostage situations inside prisons.
SHIN BET/SHABAK (Israel Internal Security Service): Shin-Bet's duties are to protect
ministers and high public officials (such as the president or the head of police), to prevent
the violent insurrection, to gather intelligence, to pinpoint terrorist cells and prevent them
from causing damage. Shin-Bet activities are classified.
MOSSAD (Hebrew: "Institute for Intelligence and Special Tasks"): the Mossad is an Israeli
intelligence agency. It is responsible for intelligence collection, covert action (including
paramilitary activities and assassinations) and counter-terrorism. Its focus is on Arab
nations and organizations throughout the world.
LOTAR Eilat: a special reserve unit for counter-terror which based in Eilat.
KABATs (Security Officers): public officials trained in combat and able to handle terrorist
threats. The KABATs, besides supplying an initial response to threats, are experts in
security issues. When they are deployed in a small town or village, they are responsible for
that town or village's defense.
Non-Combat Security Organizations
MAGEN DAVID ADOM: Israeli first aid organization responsible for emergency medical,
disaster, ambulance and blood bank services. The name means "Red Star of David" (see
page 18 below).
MECHABEY ESH (Fire department): Israeli firefighters. They are responsible for
extinguishing fires and extracting people trapped in structures (ranging from stuck
elevators to collapsed buildings).
PIKUD HAOREF RESCUE TEAM: a military rescue team which handles large-scale civilian
disasters such as earthquakes, collapsing buildings and missile attacks on cities.
ZAKA - Hessed Shel Emet ("True Grace"): a volunteer organization mostly comprised of
Haredi Jews who assume the duty of collecting human remains following a disaster, to
provide those remains a proper Jewish burial. ZAKA has gained much positive publicity
for its efforts in handling remains of victims of suicide bombings.
Local Rescue teams: A rescue team on each of the Galil, the Golan Heights and the Negev
rescues lost travelers and tourists. (We hope you don’t require their assistance on the Tour!)
Counter-Terrorism
The Israeli strategy, its expertise in counter-terrorism is naturally at the heart of the
Chameleon Security Tour. Boaz Ganor of the Institute for Counter Terrorism writes that,
“since its establishment, the state of Israel has had to cope with waves of terrorism and
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terrorist activity at its borders, inside Israel itself and in the Territories. These terror attacks
have necessitated the swift and consistent development of technological means, military
doctrines, and general policy for counter terrorism. Many years of experience in dealing
with terror and terrorist activity has crystallized into accepted Israeli strategy.”
Recently, a team of professors, commanders and former judges, led by Tel Aviv University
head of Ethics cathedra, Professor Assa Kasher, developed a code of conduct which
emphasizes the right behavior in low intensity warfare against terrorists, where soldiers
must operate within a civilian population. Reserve units and regular units alike are taught
the following eleven rules of conduct, which are an addition to the more general IDF Spirit:
§
§
§
§
§
§
§
§
§
§
§
Military action can only be taken against military targets.
The use of force must be proportional.
Soldiers may only use weaponry they were issued by the IDF.
Anyone who surrenders cannot be attacked.
Only those who are properly trained can interrogate prisoners.
Soldiers must accord dignity and respect to the Palestinian population and those
arrested.
Soldiers must give appropriate medical care, when conditions allow, to oneself and one's
enemy.
Pillaging is absolutely and totally illegal.
Soldiers must show proper respect for religious and cultural sites and artifacts.
Soldiers must protect international aid workers, including their property and vehicles.
Soldiers must report all violations of this code.
“We can forgive you for killing our sons. But we will never
forgive you for making us kill yours. Peace will come when
the Arabs will love their children more than they hate us.”
Golda Meir
Mossad
The Mossad is one of the world's most well-known intelligence agencies, and is often
viewed in the same regard as the CIA and MI6. It is known for its efficiency, and many
believe it has made a large contribution to the stability and security of Israel.
Mossad was formed in December 1949 as the "Central Institute for Coordination", at the
recommendation of Reuven Shiloah to Prime Minister David Ben Gurion. Shiloah desired a
central body to coordinate and improve cooperation between the existing security services the Army's Intelligence Department (AMAN), the General Security Service (GSS or
"Shabak") and the Foreign Office's "political department". In March 1951 it was reorganized,
and made a part of the Prime Minister's Office, reporting directly to the Prime Minister. Its
current staff is estimated at approximately 1,200.
The Mossad is headquartered in Tel Aviv and has eight departments:
§
Collections Department is the largest, with responsibility for espionage operations.
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§
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§
§
Political Action and Liaison Department conducts political activities and liaison with
friendly foreign intelligence services and with nations with which Israel does not have
normal diplomatic relations.
Special Operations Division (Metsada) conducts assassination, sabotage, and
paramilitary projects.
LAP (Lohamah Psichlogit) Department is responsible for psychological warfare,
propaganda and deception operations.
Research Department is responsible for intelligence synthesis.
Technology Department is responsible for development of technologies to support
Mossad operations.
Mossad is a civilian service, and does not use military ranks, although most of the Mossad's
staff have served in the Israeli Defense Force.
http://www.mossad.gov.il/Mohr/MohrTopNav/MohrEnglish/MohrAboutUs
YAMAM
The YAMAM is self-dependent, training its own operators in all fields, such as sniping,
recon, dog operating, bomb disposal, etc. As a result, the YAMAM has a very rapid
deployment time and high coordination between various squads (sniping squad, entry
team, engagement force, etc.). The YAMAM's primary duties are:
§
§
§
§
§
§
Hostage rescue (terrorist events).
Hostage rescue (criminal events).
Counter terrorism (preventative operations).
SWAT duties - handling dangerous criminials.
Undercover police operations.
VIP security.
Most of the YAMAM's activity is classified, and published YAMAM operations are often
credited to other units. Nevertheless, the YAMAM enjoys a high reputation among SF
professionals and the Israeli public.
The YAMAM was established after the Maalot massacre, where a failed operation by
military special forces units ended with 21 children murdered before the terrorists were
killed. Since hostage rescue in friendly territory is different from counter-terrorism in hostile
areas, it was decided to establish an elite civilian force, which develops and practices a
special CQB (Close Quarters Battles) doctrine for counter-terrorism operations in friendly
territory and hostage rescue. In late 1974 the YAMAM was established and falls under the
direct jurisidiction of a special forces counter-terrorism unit of the MAGAV — the combat
arm of the police.
Operational record 1974 - September 2000
The YAMAM has carried out many counter-terror operations. Some of the missions known
to the public prior to the al-Aqsa Intifada are listed below:
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In March, 1988, the YAMAM was called into action after a group of three Palestinian
terrorists hijacked a bus full of women near Dimona, in an incident known as the "Mothers
Bus". The YAMAM performed a rescue operation, killing all three terrorists, but didn't
manage to prevent three Israeli passengers from being killed.
On March 3, 2000, the YAMAM captured a terrorist group hidden in the Israeli-Arab town
of Taibe with the aid of Sayeret Duvdevan and an IDF Caterpillar D9 bulldozer. In the end
of the raid, one terrorist was arrested and four were killed.
Operational record during the al-Aqsa Intifada (since October 2000)
The YAMAM has carried out many counter-terror operations during the Al-Aqsa Intifada
within the last few years. The vast majority of them are classified. Some of the most notable
are listed below:
April 7, 2002: A combination of SHABAK, the YAMAM and the IDF leads to the capture of
Case Aduwan, a Hamas terrorist who planned the Passover massacre in Netanya. Aduwan
fortified himself in a house along with four armed terrorists. During the raid, YAMAM
snipers killed two terrorists and IDF forces detonated a car bomb meant to be sent into an
Israeli city. After 12 hours of heavy fire exchanges, an armoured IDF Caterpillar D9
demolished the house. Aduwan's body was found under the rubble.
YAMAM and Sayeret Matkal rescued Israeli cab driver Eliyaho Goral, after he was
kidnapped by Palestinian militants.
June 23, 2003: YAMAM forces killed Hamas's head in Hebron, Abbedullah Qawasameh.
December 3, 2003: YAMAM forces foiled an attempted massacre in Yokne'am school by
Palestinian terrorists.
YAMAM forces killed Sirhan Sirhan, a Palestinian terrorist who was responsible for the
slaughter of a mother and her two children in Kibbutz Metzer.
YAMAM forces, together with IDF elite units, arrested 12 al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades terrorists,
which used the shelter of a mental institute in Bethlehem to prepare a huge suicide bombing
against Israel during Passover.
Jurly 25, 2004: YAMAM forces kill 6 Tanzim terrorists in Tul-Karem, including the local
head and a linkman to Hezbollah.
November 21, 2004: Three Fatah militants were killed in a gunfight with the YAMAM. One
of the dead was Mohammed Rassan Sheikh, a senior Fatah militant who hid in Arafat's
compound for a long time.
ECONOMY
Israel's economy is larger than all of its immediate neighbors combined. Israel is a
technologically advanced market economy with a highly skilled and well-educated
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workforce. Cultural life is vibrant, restaurants and beaches are crowded, and there is a lot of
business being conducted. The United States is Israel's largest trading partner, and there are
opportunities for U.S. exporters. A recognized leader in high-tech industries, Israel's
investment in research and development is higher than any single OECD country.
Despite the collapse of the PA economy from the last five years of war, Palestinian Arabs are
still better off than many of their neighbors. The most recent Human Development Report
from the United Nations ranks the PA 102nd in terms of life expectancy, educational
attainment and adjusted real income out of the 177 countries and territories in the world,
placing it in the “medium human development” category along with most of the other
Middle Eastern states (only the Gulf sheikdoms are ranked “high”). The PA is ranked just 12
places below Jordan and one behind Iran; it is rated ahead of Syria (#105), Algeria (#108),
Egypt (#120), and Morocco (#125) (“Human Development Report 2004,” United Nations
Development Programme, 2005).
State Budget, 2005: NIS 264.5 billion
1980
1990
2003
Gross Domestic Product (US$ billions)
23.2
59.2
107.8
Net exports of goods (US$ billions)
5,291.9
11,603.1
29,375.3
7,696.8
657.2
19,449.7
714.7
thereof:
Industrial
products
Agricultural products
(excl.
diamonds) 3,340.4
555.7
Net imports of goods (US$ billions)
7,845.7
15,107.1
34,026.5
Tourists arriving
1,065,800
1,131,700
1,063,400
Air passengers
2,847,000
3,720,000
6,842,000
Freight shipped by air (in tons)
105,800
194,160
307,351
Production of electricity (millions of kilowatt/hours)
12,400
20,900
45,608
Private cars
410,000
803,000
1,520,571
Stocks and Investment
Securities trading in Israel dates back to 1935, when the Anglo-Palestine Bank Ltd., together
with pre-state Israel's leading banks and brokerage firms, founded the Exchange Bureau for
Securities, which acted as an unofficial stock exchange. Trading and listings increased over
the next decade, and when Israel was founded in 1948, the authorities made an effort to
establish an official bourse. The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange was incorporated and began
operations in 1953. A decade later, a group of bourse members established the TASE
Clearing House Ltd. In 1968, the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, enacted the Securities Law,
which created a solid regulatory framework for the TASE operations. In 1983, the Exchange
moved to its current location at Ahad Ha'Am Street in Tel Aviv.
Among the members of the TASE are 12 Israeli banks and 14 brokerage firms. The Bank of
Israel is also an Exchange member and nominates one of its senior officials as a member of
the TASE's board of directors.
The TASE trades shares of more than 650 listed companies in a range of industries, offering
a broad opportunity for international investors. More than 20 TASE-listed companies are
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also listed on bourses in other countries, mostly on the Nasdaq and the New York Stock
Exchange. Dual listing raise the international profile of Israeli companies, helping widen
their investor bases and boost trading volumes.
Tips for the Business Traveler
(taken from http://www.israelmarketing.com/doingbusiness.html)
Israelis, Americans, Europeans and Asians all view space, time and values from a different
place. If we are all to expect the Israeli, or the Japanese or the French to act, to behave in the
exact manner - then we will be greatly disappointed! Many businesspeople from the States come
to Israel expecting to do business as if they were still in New York, California or Texas. The
smiles and handshakes look the same, even the suits and ties, but after a few minutes have
passed, both sides, which have come together with great respect and mutual admiration - feel
something is not right! The Israeli, who is often perceived as being arrogant, aggressive and
pushy, is actually being direct and honest. And the American, European and Asian, who are
seen by the Israeli as being artificial, phony and weak - are actually displaying politeness and
respect. If both sides are to go into a commercial venture, without taking the time to understand
each others cultural traits - they are heading for disaster!
Don't be fooled by the modern office furniture, mobile telephones, new shopping malls, the one
million McDonald restaurant outlets and the 100 dollar ties. The Israeli is a different animal - and
to be successful in business with him you must understand how they see you and where they
come from. Israeli society is what is referred to as a polychronic culture (relationship-oriented), in
contrast to American, British or German culture which is monochronic (rule-oriented). In the
relationship oriented Israeli culture feelings and emotions are primary, while intuition and
objective facts are secondary! Israeli culture can be viewed as witnessing one large family. In a
family, one can dismiss formality and act in a direct, immediate and honest fashion. What can be
excused in a "family" as being direct - is often interrupted outside of the family or Israel's borders
as being rude or impolite.
Foreign entities invested more than $3 billion in the TASE, over 5% of the total market value
of stocks traded on the TASE. In absolute terms, Israel has the largest number of startup
companies than any other country in the world, except the US (3,500 companies mostly in
hi-tech). And Israel is ranked #2 in the world for venture capital funds right behind the US.
Outside the United States and Canada, Israel has the largest number of NASDAQ listed
companies. The credit rating assigned to Israel by Moody's for 2005 is A-2, and its shortterm credit rating is P1, their highest rating available for short-term credit
Business culture
The business environment and style in Israel will seem familiar to American businesses, but
personal relationships can play a relatively larger role within Israel's tight-knit population
than in the United States (see article below). Appointments can be made on fairly short
notice, but punctuality is desired. Usually, Israelis arrive well prepared for meetings and
are very direct.
Israelis are familiar with the fact that most U.S. businesspeople dress formally for meetings.
However, this does not mean they will be dressed formally, especially in the summer
months when short shirts and no ties are the norm. Business suits are appropriate for
meetings with VIPs, some private sector companies, and senior government officials.
Most businesses and government offices are open 40-45 hours/week, Sunday thru
Thursday. It may be possible to schedule business appointments for Friday morning, but no
Page 15 of 37
appointments or business are done on Saturdays. Common office hours are from 8:00 a.m.
to 5:00 p.m.
http://www.mof.gov.il/mainpage_eng.asp
www.buyusa.gov
http://www.export.gov/comm_svc/press_room/marketofthemonth/Israel/israel.html
http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/
Primary Industries
Aviation & Aerospace
Agrotechnology
Biotechnology
Fashion & Textiles
Electronics
Medical Device and Supplies
Software
Packaging
Telecommunications
High-Tech Start Ups
Automotive
Cosmetics & Toiletries
Film Industry
Environmental Technology
Office Supplies
Hardware & D.I.Y
Safety & Security
Optics
Subcontracting
The Israel Export Institute http://www.export.gov.il/Eng/
On December 10, 2005 Robert J. Aumann of the Hebrew
University of Jerusalem received the Nobel Prize in Economics
for 2005 with Thomas C. Schelling of the University of Maryland
"for having enhanced our understanding of conflict and
cooperation through game-theory analysis." Professor Aumann is
the eighth Israeli to win a Nobel Prize.
Technology
ISRAEL21c is a not-for-profit corporation organized under the laws of California that works
with existing institutions and the media to inform Americans about 21st century Israel, its
people, its institutions and its contributions to global society. http://www.israel21c.org
Israel leads the world in the number of scientists and technicians in the workforce, with 145
per 10,000, as opposed to 85 in the U.S., over 70 in Japan, and less than 60 in Germany. With
over 25% of its work force employed in technical professions. Israel places first in this
category as well. Israel produces more scientific papers per capita than any other nation by
a large margin -109 per 10,000 people - as well as one of the highest per capita rates of
patents filed.
§
§
The first PC anti-virus was developed in Israel in 1979 by the same company that
developed the Melissa anti-virus program.
The world's most predominant company in internet firewall safety systems is Check
Point, an Israeli company that controls 40% of the world's market.
Page 16 of 37
§
§
§
§
§
AOL's instant message program was designed by an Israeli software company.
Both Microsoft and Cisco built their only R&D facilities outside the US in Israel.
Motorola built its largest development center worldwide in Israel.
Windows NT software was developed by Microsoft-Israel.
The Pentium MMX Chip technology was designed in Israel at Intel.
Medicine and Health
There are five major medical centers in Israel, in addition to numerous local hospitals,
laboratories and clinics. The best known centers are Sourasky Medical Centre/Tel Aviv,
Hadassah/Jerusalem, Rambam/Haifa and Shaare Zedek/Jerusalem. These centers serve
the entire population, regardless of religion or ethnicity. Some say that the Israeli ER is the
great equalizer…
http://www.hadassah.org.il/English
http://www.szmc.org.il
http://www.rambam.org.il/english/under.asp
http://www.tasmc.org.il/main/siteNew/index.php?langId=1
There are joint committees between the Israel Ministry of Health (IMOH) and the
Palestinian Health Authority (PHA) with an aim of cooperation on the various issues in the
fields of health. These include issues of public health, preventive medicine, exchange of
medical statistics; drug and pharmaceutical as regards quality and safety of drugs produced
in Israel and in the Palestinian authority, regulations for transportation of drugs between
Gaza, Judea-Samaria and Israel, regulations regarding donations and import of drugs;
training programs for health and medical personnel and referral of Palestinian patients to
Israeli hospitals for hospitalization and ambulatory care. Such complementary medical
service in Israel is needed because of the lack of certain facilities in areas of the Palestinian
autonomy. About 4,000 patients from Judea-Samaria and Gaza are referred yearly for
hospitalization and about 8,600 patients from both areas are referred yearly for ambulatory
procedures and therapeutic care.
Cooperation between Magen David Adam of Israel and the Palestinian Red Crescent.
Palestinian ambulance drivers get their training in first aid and emergency medicine from
Magen David Adam instructors.
Magen David Adom
Magen David Adom (MDA) was organized in 1930 in Tel Aviv
as a volunteer, "shoestring" operation by a group of seven
Israeli doctors, as a one-room emergency medical service. In
July of 1950, the Knesset (Israel's Parliament) ratified the
Magen David Adom Law, which charged MDA with
responsibility for:
§
Providing auxiliary service to Israel's Army Medical Corps
in wartime, including providing emergency medical care
for the wounded and war refugees
Page 17 of 37
§
§
Providing civilian emergency, medical, and first-aid services and temporary shelter in
emergency situations
Maintaining a blood bank for civilian use
Highlights of International Aid over the last Ten Years
2004 - 2005
S.E. Asia Tsunami Medical relief team, medical supplies, and food supplies
Kenya Terrorist attack Blood units 7 Paramedics
Congo Volcanic eruption Distribution of medical supplies; Two tons donated by Israel
United Kibbutz Movement
2001 USA Terrorist Attack Blood Units; India Earthquake Paramedic Crew
2000 Ethiopia Starvation Donated food (including baby food and flour), water, and
medication. A bank account for donations setup. Eritrea Refugee Relief Food and basic
medical equipment
1999 Indonesia/Bali Blood Bank Fire
Disaster 2400 Empty Single Blood Bags
55 Bottles of Anti-AB Sera (Ortho and Gamma)
A serum detecting Hepatitis C and B Kosovo Refugee Relief Paramedics, Mobile Field
Hospitals, Blood Units, Clothing Donations Turkey Earthquake 12 paramedics sent for
Search and Rescue efforts Kosovo Aid Rebuilding
Blood Services MDA Blood Bank Supervisor sent to provide technical assistance Greece
Earthquake Paramedics and blood supplies
1998 Nairobi, Kenya US Embassy Explosion Blood units, paramedics
1995 Egio-Greece Earthquake Sheets and blankets
1994 December Djibouti Floods Medical aid, medical corps, complete field hospital July
Rwanda Medical aid, medical corps, complete field hospital
http://www.magendavidadom.org/
§
Israeli scientists developed the first fully computerized, no-radiation, diagnostic
instrumentation for breast cancer.
§
An Israeli company developed a computerized system for ensuring proper
administration of medications, thus minimizing human error from medical treatment.
Every year in U.S. hospitals 7,000 patients die from treatment mistakes.
§
Israel's Givun imaging developed the first ingestible video camera, so small it fits inside
a pill. Used to view the small intestine from the inside, the camera helps doctors
diagnose cancer and digestive disorders.
§
Researchers in Israel developed a new device that directly helps the heart pump blood,
an innovation with the potential to save lives among those with congestive heart failure.
The new device is synchronized with the heart's mechanical operations through a
sophisticated system of sensors.
Page 18 of 37
Communications
Historically, the Ministry of Communications was a division within the Ministry of
Transportationin charge of postal delivery as well as oversight of the telephone and
telegraph facilities that had existed since the British Mandate period (1922-1948). This
division became the Ministry of Posts in 1952, and the Ministry of Communications was
established in 1971. The Postal Authority began to operate outside of the Ministry in 1987;
and Bezeq, the Israeli Telecommunications Company, was founded in 1982.
Telephones: 3.006 million (2002);
mobile cellular: 6.334 million
(2002)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 23, FM - 15, shortwave 2 (1998)
Television broadcast stations: 17
(plus 36 low-power repeaters)
(1995)
Internet users: 2 million (2002)
Israel has the highest percentage
in the world of home computers
per capita.
Israel Ministry of Communication
Minister for Communications Dalia Itzik states
“The field of Communications has a leading role in
Israel’s economy, and it is one of the market’s
driving forces. In my role as Minister of
Communication, I see great opportunity for acting
towards the promotion of market competition and
public welfare.
The quality of our everyday life is highly influenced
by rapid technological developments and
considerable competition. Israel has one of the
world’s highest internet penetration rates, 3rd
generation cellular telephony is progressing, multichannel TV is offering new technologies such as
VOD (Video on demand), fixed telephony
competition is currently on its way and Bezeq is on
the verge of privatization. “
http://www.moc.gov.il/new/english/
Space Program
While aboard the Columbia space shuttle
Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon’s wife
requested Mission Control broadcast the
Hebrew song entitled “Can You Hear My
Voice,” up to her husband in space. Little
did the poet Rachel Bluwstein, ever
imagine that her powerfully prophetic
words would one day become a song that
would be beamed up into the heavens to
an Israeli astronaut.
Will you hear my voice, my distant one?
Will you hear my voice, wherever you may be?
A voice calling aloud, a voice weeping in silence and
imposing, beyond time, benediction.
This cosmos is so vast and so many paths cross
for a moment, diverge for eternity.
Man seeks, but his legs fail him, he will not be able
to find what is lost.
My last day perhaps is already near, already near
is the day of farewell tears. I shall wait for you till my
life is extinguished like Rachel awaiting her beloved.”
Page 19 of 37
CULTURE
Languages
Israel has two official languages: Hebrew and Arabic.
English is very widely spoken as a second language, and
with a recent influx of immigrants from Eastern Europe,
Russian has also become commonplace. Three dozen
languages are spoken in Israel …
including Bulgarian, Czech, Egyptian Spoken Arabic (25,000), French (40,000), Italian
(7,249), Levantine Bedawi Spoken Arabic (50,000), Malayalam (8,000), Marathi (8,000), North
Levantine Spoken Arabic (100,000), Northern Uzbek, Samaritan, Samaritan Aramaic,
Spanish (60,000), Standard German (200,000), Turkish (30,000), Western Farsi, Western
Yiddish, many other languages
Hebrew is a linguistic cousin to Arabic, written from right to left in printed and cursive
forms. It is not at all the same as Yiddish, which like English, is a Germanic language in the
Indo-European language family.
The most famous work
originally written in Hebrew
is the Tanakh, though the
time at which it was written
is a matter of dispute (see
dating the Bible for details).
The earliest extant copies
were found among the Dead
Sea Scrolls, written between
the 2nd century BCE and the
1st century CE.
After the depletion of the
Jewish population of parts of Roman occupied Judea, it is believed that Hebrew gradually
ceased to be a spoken language roughly around 200 CE, but has stayed as the major written
language throughout the centuries. Not only religious, but texts for a large variety of
purposes: letters and contracts, science, philosophy, medicine, poetry, protocols of courts—
all resorted to Hebrew, which thus adapted itself to various new fields and terminologies by
borrowings and new inventions.
The revival of Hebrew as a mother tongue was initiated by the efforts of Eliezer Ben-Yehuda
(1858-1922).
He joined the Jewish national movement and in 1881 emigrated
to Eretz Israel, then a province of the Ottoman Empire. Motivated by the surrounding ideals
of renovation and rejection of the diaspora "shtetl" lifestyle, Ben-Yehuda set out to develop
tools for making the literary and liturgical language into everyday spoken language.
Page 20 of 37
Newspapers, Books and Literature
The literacy rate in Israel is 95% (2003) and it boasts the world’s second highest per capita of
new books published. Israelis are avid newspaper readers, with more than 90% of Israeli
adults reading a newspaper at least once a week. Major daily papers are in Hebrew; others
are in Arabic, English, French, Polish, Yiddish, Russian, Hungarian, and German.
www.haaretz.com
www.jerusalempost.com
Dance and Theatre
Israel has several professional ballet and modern dance companies, and folk dancing, which
draws upon the cultural heritage of many immigrant groups, continues to be very popular.
There is great public interest in the theater; the repertoire covers the entire range of classical
and contemporary drama in translation as well as plays by Israeli authors. Of the three
major repertory companies, the most famous, Habimah, was founded in 1917.
Music
The arts are actively encouraged and supported by the government. The Israeli
Philharmonic Orchestra performs throughout the country and frequently tours abroad. The
Jerusalem Symphony and the New Israel Opera also tour frequently, as do other musical
ensembles. Almost every municipality has a chamber orchestra or ensemble, many boasting
the talents of gifted performers from the countries of the former Soviet Union.
The origins of the Philharmonic are interesting. In 1935, all Jewish musicians in Germany
were dismissed from their jobs by the Nazi government. Bronislaw Huberman a Polishborn, German-educated concert violinist from Vienna, recruited 75 instrumentalists from
throughout Europe to immigrate to Palestine with him to form a new Jewish orchestra.
Arturo Toscanini conducted the Palestine Symphony's first concert, in Tel Aviv on Dec. 26,
1936. The Italian maestro refused any payment, declaring, "I am doing this for humanity."
One memorable performance in Jerusalem occurred in
1991, during the Gulf War, with Master Violinist Isaac
Stern. As air-raid sirens signaled an incoming Iraqi SCUD
missile attack, people in the audience donned their
gasmasks. Stern walked calmly to center stage and played
the Sarabande from Bach's D minor Partita for solo violin.
Art and Museums
With its 120 museums, Israel has more museums per capita than any other country. These
include the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls along with an
extensive collection of regional archaeological artifacts, art, and Jewish religious and folk
exhibits. Israel's museums are relatively new, innovative, and interactive. They display the
discoveries of the past, of the self, and of nationhood that are happening so intensively
every day in Israeli society.
Israel Museum (Jerusalem): Although it only opened in 1965, in 3 decades the Israel
Museum has made its place on the world museum map. Its greatest treasures, beautifully
exhibited, include a number of the Dead Sea Scrolls; a dazzling, all-encompassing collection
of archaeological finds from Israel; a vast treasury of world Judaica and costumes, including
Page 21 of 37
reconstructions of the interiors of
synagogues brought to Israel from
Italy, Germany, and Cochin, India;
and
excellent
collections
of
primitive,
pre-Colombian,
European, and modern art.
L. A. Mayer Memorial Museum of Islamic Art (Jerusalem): The
Museum was founded by the late Mrs. Vera Bryce Salomons, realizing
her long-standing idea of giving expression to the impressive artistic
achievements of Israel's Muslim neighbors. Many scholars of
international renown took part in the establishment of the Museum,
attracted to both its research activities and to the challenge of
bridging the gap between the two cultures.
Yad VaShem Memorial (Jerusalem): This large complex is a memorial to the six million
Jews killed by the Nazis during World War II. Part of the museum is a teaching experience,
with films, photographs, and documents pertaining to the Holocaust; part is an archive in
which information about each individual victim will be gathered and kept. A third part of
the complex consists of memorial structures, gardens, and installations such as the Avenue
of the Righteous, in memory of those who risked their lives to shelter Jews.
Bet Hatfutzot, The Diaspora Museum (Tel Aviv): Not a museum in terms of displaying
actual genuine artifacts, Bet Hatfutzot is rather a state-of-the-art multimedia exhibit that
illustrates the histories of Jewish communities throughout the world.
Eretz Israel Museum (Tel Aviv): This museum covers many aspects of the land of Israel,
including its natural history, flora and fauna, archaeology, folklore, and traditional crafts.
Highlights include a bazaar filled with craftspeople demonstrating such skills from
antiquity as glass blowing, olive pressing, weaving, and pottery making; an extraordinary
collection of ancient glass; and excavations of a tell (an ancient mound) located on the
grounds of the museum.
Tel Aviv Museum of Art: Notable for strong collections
of Israeli and contemporary European art, the museum
has just begun to exhibit its newest gift: the Jaglom
Collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Art.
http://www.ilmuseums.com
Active artist colonies thrive in Safed, Jaffa, and Ein Hod,
and Israeli painters and sculptors exhibit works
worldwide.
Page 22 of 37
Cuisine
Culinary Influences
The most pervasive culinary influences in Israel are the cooking styles of the Middle-East,
North Africa, the Mediterranean basin, and Central and Eastern Europe. So devoted are
many to the food of their origins that there has been little cross-fertilization between these
varied styles. Of all these styles, probably the best-known throughout Israel is that of the
Middle-East. Because most Middle-Eastern inhabitants are Moslems and are, like Jews,
forbidden to eat pork, Israelis have been readily able to adopt these culinary styles to their
own tables. In addition to the indigenous cookery of Israeli Arabs (themselves influenced by
the sophisticated cookery of Lebanon and Syria as well as the country-style cuisine of the
Palestinians), Jews from Iran, Iraq, Kurdistan, Syria, Egypt, Libya and Yemen have each
made unique contributions to the national table.
A major influence on Israeli cuisine comes from
the peoples of the Maghreb, the North African
nations of Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. Among
the most renowned dishes of these countries is
couscous. Originally devised by wandering
Berber tribesmen some 4,000 years ago, couscous
is a stew based on hard wheat semolina, topped
with simple-to-prepare meats and a variety of
vegetables and accompanied by side dishes. As
with nearly any stew, couscous comes in an
infinite number of varieties. Algerian versions
invariably include tomatoes; Moroccan offerings
rely on saffron; and Tunisian couscous is highly spiced.
Also important to Middle-Eastern cookery is the lavish use of herbs, spices and various
members of the onion family, including garlic. In addition to the herbs and spices ordinarily
found on most Western tables, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, coriander, cumin, and mint
make their way into many dishes. Salads served without parsley are considered barbaric,
and olives are considered such essential fare that they are deemed equally appropriate at
breakfast or lunch as at dinner.
The cooking style of Central and Eastern Europe that has made itself most evident in the
Israeli kitchen is that of the Yiddish kitchen. Diverse but rarely subtle, these are the foods
that most Americans and Europeans consider to be typically "Jewish". Much in evidence are
dishes like gefilte fish (fish balls made of finely minced carp, pike or a mixture of both,
generally served in their own jelly and often accompanied by horseradish).
From Hungary, whose cookery is marked by the liberal use of dozens of types of paprika,
have come goulash soup and stew. Polish cooking, from which Israelis have adopted freely,
features the heavy use of sour cream and dill as main cooking ingredients. Dishes from
Poland include czarnina (duck soup); cold fruit soups; krupnik (barley, potato and sour
cream soup); and a variety of stuffed cabbage rolls. From Russia has come borscht, the
famous beet based soup that can be red or clear, cold or hot and may contain meats,
vegetables and sour cream. From the Caucasian republics of Armenia, Georgia and
Page 23 of 37
Azerbaijan have come barbecue specialties such as skewered lamb shishlik and tabaka,
pressed fried whole chicken served with a walnut-based sauce. From Greece and Turkey
have come such popular dishes as moussaka (a baked eggplant, cheese and meat pie);
dolmas (stuffed grape leaves similar to the Kurdish yaprah) and the incredibly light, honeysoaked baklava pastries.
Fast Food
If any group of people have raised stand-up dining to an art form it is the Israelis. It is not so
much that people are in too much of a rush to sit down as that it is that wherever one
wanders, a feast of Middle-Eastern treats are being hawked from street-side stands, and
moveable carts. The two most popular foods for stand-up dining are felafel and shawarma.
Felafel, deep-fried balls of
chickpeas and seasonings, may
be of dubious nutritional value
but when well made they are
delicious and fun to eat.
Shawarma, which is made from
small, thin pieces of lamb (not
all that different than Turkish
donner-kebab) , beef or turkey
meat that are built up on a
skewer in cylindrical form to a
height of about two feet (50
centimeters) and then cooked on
vertically rotating grills, is no
less a pleasure.
The felafel or shawarma are
then placed in a pita bread
(nearly everythng considered
edible in Israel eventually makes
its way into a pita) and seasoned with tchina, humous, a variety of salads and seasonings.
One of the "tricks" to master is managing to put as much as is possible into the pita and then
to avoid having the contents of your sandwich drip on your clothing. This sounds easy
enough until one realizes that the number of condiments available includes such diverse
treats as sauerkraut, red cabbage, marinated sweet and hot peppers, an assortment of olives,
pickles made out of cucumbers, onions, tomatoes and carrots and at least five different
preparations of eggplant. Some purists will put only tchina and one salad on their felafel or
shawarma. http://www.stratsplace.com/rogov/israel/
Is There an "Israeli Cuisine"
Although several food writers .. have praised what they call "Israeli cuisine", the
truth is that the country has not developed a unique cuisine. What those visitors
are praising are the varied styles of Mediterranean cookery, many of which have
reached high points within Israel but none of which have come together to form
what one might call a "true" cuisine.
This is not a point of shame … The more important point is that whether at
private homes or at restaurants ranging in price from the ridiculously inexpensive
to the outrageously dear, those who live in or visit Israel can dine very well
indeed. That they may be dining on French, Moroccan, Algerian, Polish, Italian,
Ethiopian, American or Turkish cuisine merely adds to the marvelous flavors of
the country ... (Source: Daniel Rogov)
Page 24 of 37
HISTORY
How did this unique country come about, what with its falafel and F-16s, an island of
democracy, its natives a motley mix who under such challenging conditions find
prominence and infamy in so many arenas? The story began thousands of years ago and is
full of twists and turns of biblical proportion. Here goes:
17th-6th C.
BIBLICAL TIMES
BCE
(BCE - Before the Common Era)
The Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob - patriarchs of the Jewish people and
c.17th century bearers of a belief in one God - settle in the Land of Israel.
Famine forces Israelites to migrate to Egypt.
Exodus from Egypt: Moses leads Israelites from Egypt, followed by 40 years of
c.13th century wandering in the desert.
Torah, including the Ten Commandments, received at Mount Sinai.
13th-12th
Israelites settle in the Land of Israel
centuries
c.1020
Jewish Monarchy established; Saul, first king.
c.1000
Jerusalem made capital of David's kingdom.
First Temple, the national and spiritual center of the Jewish people, built in
c.960
Jerusalem by King Solomon.
c. 930
Divided kingdom: Judah and Israel
722-720
Israel crushed by Assyrians; 10 tribes exiled (Ten Lost Tribes).
Judah conquered by Babylonia; Jerusalem and First Temple destroyed; most Jews
586
exiled to Babylonia.
536-142
538-515
332
166-160
142-129
129-63
63
PERSIAN AND HELLENISTIC PERIODS
Many Jews return from Babylonia; Temple rebuilt.
Land conquered by Alexander the Great; Hellenistic rule.
Maccabean (Hasmonean) revolt against restrictions on practice of Judaism and
desecration of the Temple
Jewish autonomy under Hasmoneans.
Jewish independence under Hasmonean monarchy.
Jerusalem captured by Roman general, Pompey.
Flavius Josephus – Jewish Historian
In the war between the Jews and the Romans of 66-70, the Jewish general Joseph son of
Matthias defended Galilee against the Roman legions. After he
had been defeated, he defected to his enemies, and advised the
Roman general Vespasian. When the latter became emperor, his
adviser started a career as a historian who tried to explain
Judaism to the Greeks and Romans. His most important works are
the Jewish War, the Jewish Antiquities, an Autobiography and an
apology of Judaism called Against the Greeks. As Roman citizen,
he accepted a new name: Flavius Josephus. He must have died
about 100, more than sixty years old.
Page 25 of 37
63 BCE-313
ROMAN RULE
CE
(CE - The Common Era)
Herod, Roman vassal king, rules the Land of Israel;
63 BCE - 4 CE
Temple in Jerusalem refurbished
c. 20-33
Ministry of Jesus of Nazareth
66
Jewish revolt against the Romans
70
Destruction of Jerusalem and Second Temple.
73
Last stand of Jews at Masada.
132-135
Bar Kokhba uprising against Rome.
Codification of Jewish oral law (Mishnah) completed.
c. 210
313-636
c. 390
614
BYZANTINE RULE
Commentary on the Mishnah (Jerusalem Talmud) completed.
Persian invasion
636-1099
ARAB RULE
On site of First and Second Temples in Jerusalem, Dome of the Rock built by
Caliph Abd el-Malik.
691
1099-1291
CRUSADER DOMINATION
(Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem)
1291-1516
MAMLUK RULE
1517-1917
OTTOMAN RULE
Code of Jewish law (Shulhan Arukh) published.
First neighborhood, Mishkenot Sha'ananim, built outside Jerusalem's walls.
First Aliyah (large-scale immigration), mainly from Russia.
First Zionist Congress convened by Theodor Herzl in Basel, Switzerland; Zionist
Organization founded.
1564
1860
1882-1903
1897
The Kibbutz Movement
The first aliyah: Biluim
agricultural settlements in the
1880s were the forerunners of
the kibbutz movement
A
kibbutz (Hebrew: "gathering"
or "together") is an Israeli
collective
community.
Although other countries have
had communal enterprises, in
no
other
country
have
voluntary
collective
communities
played
as
important a role as the kibbutzim have played in Israel; indeed, kibbutzim played an
essential role in the creation of Israel.
Combining socialism and Zionism in a form of practical Labor Zionism, the kibbutzim are a
unique Israeli experiment, and part of one of the largest communal movements in history.
The kibbutzim were founded in a time when independent farming was not practical. Forced
Page 26 of 37
by necessity into communal life, and inspired by their own socialist ideology, the kibbutz
members developed a pure communal mode of living that attracted interest from the entire
world. While the kibbutzim lasted for several generations as utopian communities, today
kibbutzim are scarcely different from the capitalist enterprises and regular towns to which
the kibbutzim were originally supposed to be alternatives.
The kibbutzim have given Israel a wildly disproportionate share of its military leaders,
intellectuals, and politicians. Though the kibbutz movement never accounted for more than
7 percent of the Israeli population, it did more to shape the image Israelis have of their
country, and the image that foreigners have of Israel, than any other Israeli institution.
1904-14
1909
1917
1918-48
1919-23
1920
1921
1922
Second Aliyah, mainly from Russia and Poland.
First kibbutz, Degania, and first modern all-Jewish city, Tel Aviv, founded.
400 years of Ottoman rule ended by British conquest;
British Foreign Minister Balfour pledges support for establishment of a "Jewish
national home in Palestine".
BRITISH RULE
Third Aliyah, mainly from Russia
Histadrut (Jewish labor federation) and Haganah (Jewish defense organization)
founded.
Vaad Leumi (National Council) set up by Jewish community (yishuv)to conduct its
affairs.
First moshav (cooperative village), Nahalal, founded.
Britain granted Mandate for Palestine (Land of Israel) by League of Nations;
Transjordan set up on three-fourths of the area, leaving one-fourth for the Jewish
national home
Jewish Agency representing Jewish community vis-a-vis Mandate authorities set
up.
1924
1924-32
1925
1929
1931
1933-39
1936-39
1939
1939-45
1941
1944
1947
Technion, first institute of technology, founded in Haifa.
Fourth Aliyah, mainly from Poland.
Hebrew University of Jerusalem opened on Mt. Scopus.
Hebron Jews massacred by Arab militants.
Etzel, Jewish underground organization, founded.
Fifth Aliyah, mainly from Germany.
Anti-Jewish riots instigated by Arab militants.
Jewish immigration severely limited by British White Paper.
World War II; Holocaust in Europe.
Lehi underground movement formed; Palmach, strike force of Haganah, set up.
Jewish Brigade formed as part of British forces.
UN proposes the establishment of Arab and Jewish states in the Land.
1948
STATE OF ISRAEL
End of British Mandate (14 May)
State of Israel proclaimed (14 May).
Israel invaded by five Arab states (15 May)
War of Independence (May 1948-July 1949)
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) established
Armistice agreements signed with Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon.
Jerusalem divided under Israeli and Jordanian rule.
First Knesset (parliament) elected.
Israel admitted to United Nations as 59th member.
Mass immigration from Europe and Arab countries.
1948
1949
1948-52
Page 27 of 37
1956
1962
1964
1967
1968-70
1973
1975
1977
Sinai Campaign
Adolf Eichmann tried and executed in Israel for his part in the Holocaust.
National Water Carrier completed, bringing water from Lake Kinneret in the north
to the semi-arid south.
Six-Day War, Jerusalem reunited.
Egypt's War of Attrition against Israel
Yom Kippur War
Israel becomes an associate member of the European Common Market.
Likud forms government after Knesset elections, end of 30 years of Labor rule.
Visit of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat to Jerusalem.
Camp David Accords include framework for comprehensive peace in the Middle
East and proposal for Palestinian self-government.
1978
1979
1981
1982
1984
1985
1987
1988
1989
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty signed.
Prime Minister Menachem Begin and President Anwar Sadat awarded Nobel
Peace Prize.
Israel Air Force destroys Iraqi nuclear reactor just before it is to become operative.
Israel's three-stage withdrawal from Sinai completed.
Operation Peace for Galilee removes PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization)
terrorists from Lebanon.
National unity government (Likud and Labor) formed after elections.
Operation Moses, immigration of Jews from Ethiopia.
Free Trade Agreement signed with United States.
Widespread violence (intifada) starts in Israeli-administered areas.
Likud government in power following elections.
Four-point peace initiative proposed by Israel.
Start of mass immigration of Jews from former Soviet Union.
Israel attacked by Iraqi Scud missiles during Gulf war.
Middle East peace conference convened in Madrid;
Operation Solomon, airlift of Jews from Ethiopia.
Diplomatic relations established with China and India.
New government headed by Yitzhak Rabin of Labor party.
Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements for the
Palestinians signed by Israel and PLO, as representative of the Palestinian
people.
Implementation of Palestinian self-government in Gaza Strip and Jericho area.
Full diplomatic relations with the Holy See.
Morocco and Tunisia interest offices set up.
Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty signed.
Rabin, Peres, Arafat awarded Nobel Peace Prize.
Broadened Palestinian self-government implemented in West Bank and Gaza
Strip; Palestinian Council elected.
Page 28 of 37
1996
1997
1998
1999
Prime Minister Rabin assassinated at peace rally.
Shimon Peres becomes prime minister.
Fundamentalist Arab terrorism against Israel escalates.
Operation Grapes of Wrath, retaliation for Hizbullah terrorists' attacks on northern
Israel.
Trade representation offices set up in Oman and Qatar.
Likud forms government after Knesset elections.
Benjamin Netanyahu becomes prime minister.
Omani trade representation office opened in Tel Aviv.
Hebron Protocol signed by Israel and the PA.
Israel celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Israel and the PLO sign the Wye River Memorandum to facilitate implementation
of the Interim Agreement.
Ehud Barak (left-wing One Israel party) elected Prime Minister; forms coalition
government.
Israel and the PLO sign the Sharm-el-Sheikh Memorandum.
2000
2001
2002
2003
Visit of Pope Paul II.
Israel withdraws from the Security Zone in southern Lebanon.
Israel admitted to UN Western European and Others Group.
Al-Aqsa intifada (renewed violence) breaks out.
Prime Minister Barak resigns.
Ariel Sharon (Likud) elected Prime Minister and forms broad-based unity
government.
The Sharm-el-Sheikh Fact-Finding Committee issues a report (the Mitchell
Report).
Palestinian-Israeli Security Implementation Work Plan (Tenet ceasefire plan).
Rechavam Ze'evy, Minister of Tourism, assassinated by Palestinian terrorists.
Israel launches Operation Defensive Shield in response to massive Palestinian
terrorist attacks.
Prime Minister Sharon disperses the Knesset, calling for new elections on Jan 28,
2003.
Right-of-center coalition government formed by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
Israel accepts the Roadmap
Page 29 of 37
Israel’s History in Maps
(Israel Ministry Foreign Affairs)
The Kingdoms of David and Solomon
1077 - 997 BCE
King David ruled Israel from 990 BCE to 968
BCE; and his son Solomon ruled after him
until 928 BCE. David enlarged his kingdom
and brought it to the peak of political and
military power. Solomon "ruled over all the
kingdoms west of the Euphrates River from
Tiphsah to Gaza; he was at peace with all his
neighbors" (I Kings, 4:24).
Kingdom of Herod
30 BCE to 70 CE
King Herod, of Edomite extraction, was king of
Israel from 40 BCE to 4 BCE. He was appointed
by Rome and conquered the kingdom from the
Hasmoneans. When Augustus became the
Roman Caesar in the year 30 BCE, Herod
convinced him of his loyalty, and Augustus
rewarded him by adding Jericho, the coastal
region south of Dor and the region east of the
Sea of Galilee. In 23 BCE, he was given the
Bashan, Horen, and Tarchon regions, and three
years later, the Golan Heights.
Jewish Communities in the Land of Israel
(7th - 11th Centuries)
After the death of Emperor Julian II, in 363 CE,
most of the Jewish settlements in the south were
destroyed. The Jews remained mainly in the Galilee
and in the larger cities.
Page 30 of 37
1947 UN Partition Plan
In 1947, Great Britain relinquished to the UN
the power to make decisions relating to the
status of the Land of Israel. The General
Assembly appointed a special committee that
collected evidence and decided unanimously
that Israel should be granted independence.
Most of the committee members favored
partitioning the land into two states, a Jewish
state and an Arab state, with Jerusalem under
international supervision. On November 29,
1947, the UN General Assembly accepted the
partition resolution, 33 to 13.
1949-1967 Armistice Lines
In the spring and summer of 1949, agreements
were signed between Israel and its neighbors
establishing Israel's armistice lines. To some
extent, these lines overlapped the borderline of
Palestine during the British Mandate period, or
they were close to it, with the exception of the
Judea and Samaria region, and the surrounding
area of the Gaza Strip. These lines were drawn
up, on the assumption that they would be
temporary, and would be replaced within a few
years by permanent borders.
Much of the international border between
Mandatory Palestine and Egypt became the
armistice line between Israel and Egypt. The armistice line with Lebanon was close to the
international border that existed during the British Mandate period, and overlapped it.
These two lines did not correspond to the battle frontlines as they existed during the
cessation of hostilities, and Israel withdrew in both cases to the mandatory borderline,
which became the armistice line. The armistice lines with Syria and Jordan closely
corresponded to the frontlines.
Page 31 of 37
June 10, 1967
Israel After the Six Day War
Once it became clear that the diplomatic
campaign had failed, and following Jordan's
participation in the Egyptian-Syrian alliance,
Israel launched action in self-defense against
the massing threat from Egypt on June 5,
1967.
Once Jordan and Syria initiated the fighting
against Israel, the war also included those
countries. In the course of the war, the Israeli
forces reached the Suez Canal, and captured
the territories of Judea and Samaria as well
as the Golan Heights - from which the
Syrians had shelled Israel.
Peace
Treaty
with
Egypt
and
Sinai
Redeployment: 1980-1982
The Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty was signed on
March 26, 1979, following the Camp David
Accords of September 18, 1978, which
determined a framework for a peace treaty
between both countries. The framework also set a
timetable for establishing diplomatic relations
and normalization between Israel and Egypt, as
well as a timetable for IDF withdrawal from the
line beginning east of El-Arish and extending to
Ras Mohamed. The peace treaty "tied up loose
threads" and included further Israeli withdrawal
to the international border between the two
states.
Page 32 of 37
Archaeology
Ancient Beit She'an, an
ancient
RomanByzatine city located in
the Jordan Valley some
30 km. south of Lake
Kinneret
(Sea
of
Galilee),
was
of
strategic
importance
because here the road
from
Jerusalem
northwards met the
road from the northern
coast
eastwards
to
Transjordan.
This
strategic position in the fertile Beit She'an valley made it one of the major cities in the Land
of Israel.
Archeology in Israel has provided a valuable link between the country's past and present,
with thousands of years of history unearthed at some 3,500 sites. Many finds attest to the
long connection of the Jewish people with the Land of Israel, including Solomon's stables at
Megiddo (Jezreel Valley), houses of the Israelite period in the City of David (Jerusalem),
ritual baths at Masada, numerous synagogues and the Dead Sea scrolls, containing the
earliest extant copy of the Book of Isaiah in still-legible Hebrew script. Excavations have also
revealed vestiges of other civilizations which left their imprint on the Land over the
centuries. All finds are recorded, and historical sites are carefully preserved and marked, for
scholar and visitor alike. Ministry of Foreign Affairs site:
http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Facts+About+Israel/Culture/CULTURE-+Archeology.htm
Jerusalem
When it first appears in historical records, Jerusalem was inhabited by a Canaanite tribe.
The Bible specifies them as the Jebusites, and says they ruled it until its conquest by King
David. After taking control of it from the Canaanites, Jews formed the majority of the
population of Jerusalem until its destruction by Rome in the second century. Following
that, the city's historical demographics were uncertain, although it probably became a
majority Muslim city by the time of the Crusades, and an official 16th century survey shows
that the city was largely Muslim. By 1844, Jews formed the largest single group in the city,
and a majority by the late 19th century.
The Source is an historical novel by James A. Michener, first published in 1964. The Source
is a fascinating retelling of the history of the Jewish people and the land of Israel from premonotheistic days to the travails of the modern State of Israel. The Source uses for its
central metaphor a tel in northern Israel called "Makor," or, "the Source." The novel begins
with a Stone Age family whose daughter begins to realize that there is a supernatural
source, it then goes into the beginnings of monotheism, the Davidic kingdom, Hellenistic
times, Roman times, etc. It follows the story of the Family of Ur from the age of cave men,
who has progeny that live in the Gaililee until modern times. People have existed in the
birthplace of modern religion, Israel, throughout the course of history. The way the novel
describes each period of history and its religion in this region really connects the reader to
that era. Master storyteller Michener tells the long and tragic history of the Jewish people
and their triumphs when encountering hardships.
Page 33 of 37
TOURIST GUIDE
MONEY
The currency is the New Israel Shekel (NIS). One Shekel consists of 100 Agourot.
CURRENCY CONVERTER
http://finance.yahoo.com/currency
There are ATM machines all over Israel, compatible with most cards you use at home. The
ATM dispenses Israeli Shekels which are debited to your account at the best possible rate to
dollars. You can exchange money and travelers' checks at banks, post offices or at your
hotel.
VISAS
U.S. and Canadian citizens do not need a visa to visit Israel - just a valid passport (valid for
at least 6 months). Visitors to Israel holding passports with less than six months validity
may be turned away by airlines and ferries at ports of embarkation, and can be refused
entry at the Israeli border. Visitors from most European countries, Mexico, Latin America,
Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and many other countries also do not need visas. To
check the requirements for other nationalities click on
http://www.newyork.israel.org/consulate/co.frame.htm
The American Embassy in Tel Aviv is open 8-4:30 Monday-Friday.
LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS
Foreigners are required to show some form of identification if requested by the local
authorities. When traveling within Israel it is permissible to carry photocopies of the date
and entry stamp pages of passports to avoid losing the original. Modest Dress is advised
for areas of Jerusalem West Bank and especially for Gaza
VACCINATIONS
No vaccinations or shots are required for U.S. or Canadian visitors to Israel. (If you've
visited a country prior to coming to Israel where cholera, typhoid or yellow fever is
endemic, you will need a vaccination certificate.)
TELEPHONE and INTERNET
To call Israel from North America, dial 011 plus the country code 972 and then the number
in Israel (omitting the initial zero). Public phones in Israel operate with calling cards
purchasable from your hotel, post office, kiosks and newsstands. AT&T, MCI and Sprint all
have toll-free access numbers in Israel. It is easy to rent a cell-phone anywhere in Israel.
Most convenient is to rent a phone when you arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport and
return it upon departure (advance reservations are not necessary). If your cellphone is a TriBand model, it will work in Israel. You can get online from your hotel room, business
center or one of many internet cafes located throughout the country.
WATER AND FRESH PRODUCE
The water is safe to drink throughout Israel, and Israel's fresh fruits and vegetables are
world-class. Bottled water is available everywhere, too.
Page 34 of 37
TEL AVIV
Stretched along the beautiful beach strip of the
Mediterranean, Tel-Aviv is Israel's largest city and
biggest commercial center. It is a busy metropolis,
which inspires its visitors with a unique energetic
atmosphere of excitement and fun. Visible from a
distance with its seafront skyscrapers and exclusive
hotels,
Tel-Aviv
presents a lively
combination
of
entertainment venues, shopping malls, exotic markets,
nonstop active nightlife, gorgeous golden beaches and
wonderful restaurants of all kinds. It is also the country's
greatest cultural center, a home for a variety of museums,
galleries, theatres and concert halls.
By contrast, the ancient port
city of JAFFA, is medieval in
appearance.
Easy access to all points of interest within the country is provided by rail connections to
Jerusalem, Haifa, and Beersheba and by an extensive bus network operating out of the city.
The location of about 50 percent of Israel's industrial plants in Tel Aviv makes it the
country's principal manufacturing center. Industries include textiles, chemicals, metals and
engineering products, vehicles, electric and electronic equipment, high tech, furniture and
wood products, food and tobacco processing, diamond polishing, and publishing.
JERUSALEM
Situated high in the Judean Hills, Jerusalem is one of
the most extraordinary cities in the world, presenting
a unique combination of ancient history, spiritual
sanctity and colorful cultures. Established 3,000 years
ago by King David, Jerusalem is a city of many
contrasts.
Jerusalem is divided into three sections: the Old City,
New City (West Jerusalem), and East Jerusalem. The
walled Old City, in the center, contains Muslim, Jewish, Christian, and Armenian quarters.
Most of the narrow streets of the Old City are lined with shops where merchants sell
foodstuffs and traditional handicrafts; homes are clustered around courtyards surrounded
by high walls. The largest of Jerusalem's many parks encircles the walls of the Old City.
Page 35 of 37
Many of Jerusalem's religious landmarks are located in the Old City. The Western Wall is a
remnant of the supporting wall of the Second Temple. After the Jews were banished from
the Temple Mount, the Western Wall became the most sacred place of Judaism. Atop the
Temple Mount are the gold-domed Dome of the Rock and the silver-domed al-Aqsa
mosques.
The street called the Via Dolorosa is believed to be the site of the
original Stations of the Cross. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher was
begun in the 4th century AD and was rebuilt by the Crusaders
beginning in 1099.
Tourism is the major industry of the city, along with the governmentrelated functions. The Knesset and Court are located here. Industries
include diamond cutting and polishing, home appliances, furniture,
pharmaceuticals, chemicals, shoes, plastics, textiles and clothing,
printing and publishing, and jewelry. The city is connected by rail and
bus to Tel Aviv and is served by Mediterranean ports.
HAIFA
Haifa - Israel's third largest city and
northern capital situated in a broad
natural bay between the Mediterranean
Sea and the Carmel Mountain, the city's
terraced landscape offers beautiful
panoramas. To the northeast, across the
harbor sits the medieval walled fortress city of Acre.
Directly north, are the heights of Rosh Hanikra, the white cliffs and checkpoint on the Israel
- Lebanon border. Further to the east towers the snow capped peak of Mount Hermon.
Yes, you can ski in Israel!
CAESAREA
This ancient port city was established 2000 years ago by Herod
the Great as a tribute to the Roman Emperor, Augustus
Caesar. Its rich archaeological heritage includes the remains of
Roman architecture notably an aqueduct, theatre, and palaces.
For diving enthusiasts, the ruins of Herod's city provides an
extraordinary experience. Modern day Caesarea has become
well known for its fine homes, 18-hole golf course, luxury
hotels, galleries and boutiques.
Just outside Caesarea, about a hundred feet from
the sea, there's a reasonably intact Roman
aqueduct. The aqueduct is actually quite long,
extending beyond Haifa.
Page 36 of 37
REFERENCES AND WEBSITES
CIA
www.cia.gov
Government of Israel
http://www.science.co.il/
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Facts+About+Israel/Education/Higher+Education.htm
List of Archaeological Sites in Israel
http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/history/early%20history%20%20archaeology/cumulative%20table%20of%20contents%20-%20archeological%20sites
Wikipedia Hebrew Language
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_language
MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base
http://www.tkb.org/
Jewish Virtual Library
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Society_&_Culture/israel57.html
Institute for Counter Terrorism
http://www.ict.org.il/
Israel Ministry of Tourism
http://www.tourism.gov.il
Israel Central Bureau of Statistics
http://www1.cbs.gov.il/reader/cw_usr_view_Folder?ID=141
Internet Ancient History Sourcebook
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/asbook06.html
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
http://jewishhistory.huji.ac.il/links/maps.htm
Frommers Best Museums of Israel
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/print-narrative.cfm?destID=227&catID=0227020809
Wikpedia
www.wikpedia.com
Page 37 of 37