Facts

Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon

Area (only Total) total: 20,770 sq km

Climate: temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas

Terrain: Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains; Jordan Rift Valley

Population: 7,112,359

Main Language (only first): Hebrew

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital (Name): Jerusalem

Capital (Time Difference): UTC+2

Independence: 14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)

National holiday: Independence Day, 14 May (1948); note - Israel declared independence on 14 May 1948, but the Jewish calendar is lunar and the holiday may occur in April or May

HOLIDAYS

March 21 Purim Feast of Lots

March 4 Shushan Purim

April 26 Last Day of Pesach Passover1

May 5 Independence Day

June 9 Shavu'ot Giving of the Torah**

July 10 Tisha B'Av Fast of 9 Av*

September 29 - October 1 Rosh Hashana New Year**

October 9 Yom Kippur Atonement Day**

October 14 Sukkot Feast of Tabernacles1

October 21 Shemini Atzeret and Simkhat Torah

1 The 1st and last days of Sukkot and Pesach are national holidays

*Most stores and restaurants close

**National holiday, everything closes

You should know:

All holidays are according to the Jewish calendar and consequently move relative to the Gregorian (Western) calendar. The Jewish day begins at sundown (6 p.m.) but the dates given here are for the day during which shops etc. will be closed. The feast itself begins at sundown on the day preceding the date shown and ends at sundown on the date shown.

Banks and most businesses are closed during all major Jewish holidays. There is no public transportation except for taxis.

Weekend – Saturday