ABOUT ISRAEL

History

The traveler to Israel walks through history: from windswept crusader castles to ports where seamen, pilgrims and famous travelers spent some time and then moved on; from desert landscapes that were home to traveling tribes, half forgotten armies and merchants in camel caravans, to sheikhs’ tombs with whitened domes, silent monasteries and ancient synagogues decorated with colorful mosaics. The State of Israel was created in the Land of Israel which was promised to the People of Israel according to Jewish tradition. It was where Jesus, the Christian Messiah, was born and the place where Mohammed, the Moslem Prophet, ascended to heaven. The meeting place of three continents and two seas, the country is a skein of cultures, customs and traditions, a country that was home to many people, cultures and changing religions. On the crossroads of ancient routes of commerce, the land also saw waves of conquering armies: the Canaanites, Hebrews, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Crusaders, Ottoman Turks and the British, made this much-desired small country into a battlefield where they strove for eminence, built fortifications, castles and royal palaces.

Facts & Figures

Official Name	The State of Israel
Form of Rule	Parliamentary Democracy
Capital	Jerusalem
Territory	22,072 square kilometers
Population	7.4 million people
Distribution by Religion	75.6% Jews, 16.6% Muslim, 1.6% Christian and 1.6% Druze, 0.40% non-Arab Christians and 3.9% unclassified by religion.
Official Languages	Hebrew, Arabic
Currency	New Israeli Shekel
GDP per Person	$28,365 (calculated according to purchasing power)
Quality of Life Classification	24th place in the world
Time Zone	GMT+2
International Dialing Code	972
Internet Suffix	IL

Technology Hub Israel has become known worldwide as the “Silicon Wadi”, having more hi-tech start ups than any country other than the USA; dozens of companies traded on the NASDAQ; research and development facilities of tech giants such as Intel, Microsoft, IBM, Google, HP, Philips, Cisco, Oracle, SAP and CA; and industry leaders such as Teva (pharmaceuticals), Amdocs (software), Comverse (telecom) and Checkpoint (data security). Israeli companies routinely win international contests in the start up industry; the venture capital industry is vibrant; and the per capita patent rate is the highest in the world. During the conference, you will be able to have a taste of Israel’s tech industry through the conference exhibition.

Touring Israel Israel is located in the Middle East, on the narrow region connecting Africa and Asia. The country's geographical borders are the Mediterranean to the West, the Jordan Valley Rift to the East, Lebanon mountains to the North and Eilat Bay marking the country's southern tip. Although small in territory, Israel's landscape and climate are varied. There are snow-capped mountains in the north alongside dry wildernesses in the south, and desolate areas alongside modern lively cities. Israel’s ethnic and religious mosaic is rich and fascinating, and it has numerous cultural institutions and entertainment centers. Thanks to its rich history and sanctity for the three monotheistic religions, it has many ancient and holy sites. Israel’s dense population does not interfere with a wealth of plants and wildlife, as well as many historical and natural attractions.

Israel offers travelers: • A wealth of touring opportunities, including pilgrimage journeys, resort holidays, cultural   tours, water sports adventures and desert safaris. • Luxury hotels, glamorous spas and unique restaurants. In addition to world-class Israeli   hotels, almost every international hotel chain is represented in Israel. • A central location, where Europe, Asia and Africa meet. • Numerous connecting flights to and from all major world centers. • Countless reasons to bring a loved one and stay a few more days. Discover Israel Before, during and after the conference, participants and accompanying guests can enjoy a diverse choice of sightseeing tours and excursions specially tailored to highlight the magic and spectacle of Israel.

Jerusalem
Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, a city of overwhelming emotions, which promises a religious and spiritual experience, excitement and pleasure, interesting tours and entertaining adventures. Alongside Jerusalem’s fascinating historic and archeological sites, there are amazingly modern tourist attractions for all lovers of culture, arts, theater and music, architecture and gastronomic delights. At Jerusalem’s heart is the Old City, which is surrounded by a wall and divided into four quarters - Jewish, Armenian, Christian, and Muslim. Apart from the holy places throughout the Old City, there are several charming sites that are well worth visiting.
Jerusalem is also overflowing with places of recreation and special appeal, coffee shops and restaurants.
Jerusalem has an ambiance of a city unlike any other.



For further Information on Israel and Jerusalem click below:
Israel Ministry of Tourism
City of Jerusalem


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