Israel, officially the State of Israel, is located in the Middle East at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea. The country shares borders with Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt, and has a coastline along the Red Sea at Eilat. Jerusalem is the seat of government and the proclaimed capital, though Tel Aviv is the largest metropolitan area and economic hub.

Israel’s population is approximately 9.3 million, mostly Jewish with a significant Arab minority. The official languages are Hebrew and Arabic. Israel has a mixed economy, largely urbanized, with strengths in services, technology, and manufacturing. Modern Israel was established in 1948 and is the only Jewish-majority country in the world. The nation has a complex political history involving conflict, peace treaties with some neighbors, and a vibrant democracy with a multiparty system