Israel is located at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea, bounded by Lebanon to the north, Syria to the northeast, Jordan to the east, and Egypt to the southwest. The sovereign territory of Israel, excluding all territories captured by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War, is approximately 20, 770 square kilometers (8, 019 sq mi) in area, of which two percent is water.The total area under Israeli law, including East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, is 22, 072 square kilometers (8, 522 sq mi).

The city of Jerusalem is of special importance to Jews, Muslims and Christians as it is the home of sites that are pivotal to their religious beliefs, such as the Israeli-controlled Old City that incorporates the Western Wall and the Temple Mount, the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Other landmarks of religious importance are located in the West Bank, among them the birthplace of Jesus and Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem, and the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron.

Israel's diverse culture stems from the diversity of the population: Jews from around the world have brought their cultural and religious traditions with them, creating a melting pot of Jewish customs and beliefs.Israel is the only country in the world where life revolves around the Hebrew calendar.

Israeli music contains musical influences from all over the world; Yemenite music, Hasidic melodies, Arabic music, Greek music, jazz, and pop rock are all part of the music scene.The nation's canonical folk songs, known as "Songs of the Land of Israel," deal with the experiences of the pioneers in building the Jewish homeland.Among Israel's world-renowned orchestras is the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, which has been in operation for over seventy years and today performs more than two hundred concerts each year.

Tourism in Israel includes a rich variety of historical and religious sites in the Holy Land, as well as modern beach resorts, archaeological tourism, heritage tourism and ecotourism. Israel has the highest number of museums per capita in the world. In 2008, Israel welcomed over 3 million foreign tourists with the most popular paid site being Masada.The largest groups of tourists visit from the United States, Russia, France, the United Kingdom and Germany.

Israel has emerged as a medical tourism destination due to the many advantages it offers, including first rate quality of care. Israel’s facilities are recognized throughout the world, with regular contacts maintained on a reciprocal basis with major medical and scientific research centers abroad. Israel is frequently the host venue for international conferences on a wide variety of medical topics.

In recent years, thousands of visitors have come to Israel to undergo medical procedures. In 2006, 15,000 foreigners traveled to Israel for procedures, bringing in $40 million in revenue for the country. This includes money spent on the procedures themselves, as well as on accommodations, sightseeing and shopping.

Patients from all over the world are going to Israel for procedures, from countries such as France and Germany in Europe, and Middle Eastern countries such as Jordan, Pakistan, Iran and Iraq.

Israel's high standards of health services, top-quality medical resources and research, modern hospital facilities and an impressive ratio of physicians and specialists to population are reflected in the country's low infant mortality rate (4 per 1,000 live births) and long life expectancy (81.8 years for women, 77.6 for men).

Patients come to Israel for procedures such as bone marrow transplants, heart surgery and catheterization, oncological and neurological treatments, car accident rehabilitation and more.

History

Palestine, considered a holy land by Jews, Muslims, and Christians, and homeland of the modern state of Israel, was known as Canaan to the ancient Hebrews. Palestine's name derives from the Philistines, a people who occupied the southern coastal part of the country in the 12th century B.C.

A Hebrew kingdom established in 1000 B.C. was later split into the kingdoms of Judah and Israel; they were subsequently invaded by Assyrians, Babylonians, Egyptians, Persians, Romans, and Alexander the Great of Macedonia. By A.D. 135, few Jews were left in Palestine; most lived in the scattered and tenacious communities of the Diaspora, communities formed outside Palestine after the Babylonian exile. Palestine became a center of Christian pilgrimage after the emperor Constantine converted to that faith. The Arabs took Palestine from the Byzantine empire in 634–640. Interrupted only by Christian Crusaders, Muslims ruled Palestine until the 20th century. During World War I, British forces defeated the Turks in Palestine and governed the area under a League of Nations mandate from 1923.

Culture

The culture of Israel developed long before the foundation of the State of Israel in 1948 and combines secular life and religious heritage. Much of the diversity of Israel's culture comes from the diversity of the Jews who make up Israel. Originating from around the world, immigrants bring individual cultural elements from their countries and contribute to a continuing development of Israeli culture that follows cultural changes throughout the world. The culture is also largely based on the history of the Jewish people which developed in different ways over the hundreds of years of Jewish diaspora. The ideology of the Zionist movement beginning in the late nineteenth century is crucial to understanding modern Israeli culture.

Accomodation

Israel offers an opportunity for a dream vacation during which you can combine fun and entertainment with exciting experiences. A visit to Israel includes not only the nature reserves, tourist sites, museums, and exhibitions, but also offers exciting opportunities for lodging. The selection of accommodations in Israel is so varied that you can spend each night of your vacation in a different style of accommodation.

Hotels, the most common option, are located throughout the country and offer convenient and comfortable accommodations. Many of them are close to urban tourist centers, while others are located in rural areas adjacent to nature and hiking sites. There are also boutique hotels that are meticulously designed to the smallest detail to make your vacation even more festive and special. Spa hotels offer guests additional luxuries such as massages and treatments in a romantic atmosphere amidst beautiful scenery.

If you prefer to lodge in natural surroundings, you can choose one of the thousands of guestrooms (usually called tsimmers by Israelis who picked up the German name), or bed and breakfast accommodations in the mountains or the countryside. Tsimmers offer attractive, well equipped accommodations where you can enjoy a quiet, pastoral atmosphere and a beautiful panorama.

Places of Interest

Haifa:
Is the largest city in Northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 264,900. Haifa has a mixed population of Jews and Arabs.

Dead Sea:
The Dead Sea is a salt lake between the West Bank and Israel to the west, and Jordan to the east. At 420 meters (1,378 ft) below sea level, its shores are the lowest point on the surface of the Earth.

Qumran:
The site was most likely constructed sometime during or before the reign of John Hyrcanus, 134-104 BC and saw various phases of occupation until, probably after the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD, Titus and his X Fretensis Legion destroyed it.

Ein Gedi Spring nature reserve:
Is an oasis located west of the Dead Sea, close to Masada and the caves of Qumran. It is known for its caves, springs, and its rich diversity of flora and fauna.

Ben-Gurion’s Grave:
Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion and his wife, Paula, are buried on the edge of a cliff overlooking the stunning landscape of the Zin Valley and the Avdat Plain. The paths from the parking area to the gravesites lead through a landscaped garden with plants which successfully adapted to the dry and saline desert conditions.

The Jerusalem Archaeological Park:
Israel’s most important antiquity site, reaches the Temple Mount on the north, the slope of the Mount of Olives and the Kidron Valley on the east, and the Valley of Hinnom on the west and the south.

Mount of Olives:
The Mount of Olives is a mountain ridge east of Jerusalem. It is named for the olive groves on its slopes and is associated with many religious traditions.

Transportation

By plane

Israel's main international airport is Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion International Airport which is located approximately 40km from Jerusalem and 12 km from central Tel Aviv, and serves both cities. Ben Gurion acts as a hub for Israel's three main international airlines, El Al Israel's largest airline and flag carrier offering flights across the globe, Arkia Israel Airlines, Israel's largest domestic airline who also serve a number of European destinations, and Israir who also serve many European destinations as well as New York City. Around 50 international airlines fly to Ben Gurion airport from around the world.

By road

There are land routes from both Egypt and Jordan to Israel. There are no land routes to either Syria or Lebanon owing to the continuing state of hostilities with these countries. The border crossings have security measures similar to the airports.

By bus

Daily direct buses are available from Amman to Tel Aviv, Haifa and Nazareth, via the King Hussein bridge.