State of Israel: Difference between revisions
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The '''State of Israel''' is the modern government of a geographic area of Biblical origins, | The '''State of Israel''' is the modern government of a geographic area of Biblical origins, declaring independence on 14 May 1948, after warfare ensuing after [[United Nations]] General Assembly Resolution 1981 of 29 November 1947, which partitioned the [[1922 British Mandate of Palestine]].<ref name=UNGA181>{{citation | ||
| url = http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/un/res181.htm | | url = http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/un/res181.htm | ||
| title = United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181 | | title = United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181 | ||
| Line 123: | Line 123: | ||
==Security== | ==Security== | ||
Israel contends with [[terrorism]] inside the country and unstable violence in the [[Occupied Territories]]. It has engaged in several major conventional wars beginning with its war of independence in 1948, and the [[Israeli Defense Forces]] are rated as among the most potent militaries in the world. The | Israel contends with [[terrorism]] inside the country and unstable violence in the [[Occupied Territories]]. It has engaged in several major conventional wars beginning with its war of independence in 1948, and the [[Israeli Defense Forces]] are rated as among the most potent militaries in the world. The [[Israeli Security Forces]] also include police and highly regarded intelligence and covert operations organizations. | ||
==Economics== | ==Economics== | ||
Roughly half of the government's external debt is owed to the US, its major source of economic and military aid. Israel's GDP, after contracting slightly in 2001 and 2002 due to the Palestinian conflict and troubles in the high-technology sector, has grown by about 5% per year since 2003. The economy grew an estimated 3.9% in 2008, slowed by the global financial crisis.<ref name=FB>{{citation | Roughly half of the government's external debt is owed to the US, its major source of economic and military aid. Israel was also the largest recipient of U.S. aid before the [[Iraq War]], and remains second overall and highest in military aid.<ref name=CRS>{{citation | ||
| title = Foreign Aid: An Introductory Overview of U.S. Programs and Policy | |||
| date = April 15, 2004 | |||
| author = Curt Tarnoff, Larry Nowels | |||
| publisher = [[Congressional Research Service]] | |||
| url = http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/crs/31987.pdf}}</ref> The military financial relationship is complex; during the [[Cold War]], the U.S. obtained significant intelligence benefits from Israel's wars, in which it captured Soviet equipment that it provided to the U.S. After the Cold War, there are some mutual development programs, such as the [[Arrow (missile)|Arrow anti-ballistic missile]], but more controversy about the strategic relationship. | |||
Israel's GDP, after contracting slightly in 2001 and 2002 due to the Palestinian conflict and troubles in the high-technology sector, has grown by about 5% per year since 2003. The economy grew an estimated 3.9% in 2008, slowed by the global financial crisis.<ref name=FB>{{citation | |||
| contribution = Israel | | contribution = Israel | ||
| title = The World Factbook | | title = The World Factbook | ||
Revision as of 10:38, 31 October 2009
The State of Israel is the modern government of a geographic area of Biblical origins, declaring independence on 14 May 1948, after warfare ensuing after United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1981 of 29 November 1947, which partitioned the 1922 British Mandate of Palestine.[1] It obtained disputed territorial gains in several wars, especially the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It is a Western-oriented parliamentary democracy, identified as a Jewish state under the political philosophy of Zionism.
Its current government is headed by Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu; President of Israel Shimon Peres is head of state. Netanyahu's coalition is centered on his Likud party; its major coalition partner is Yisrael Beiteinu led by Avigdor Lieberman. While Likud is usually called right-wing, Yisrael Beiteineu is much farther in the nationalist direction, although both do not rule out a two-state solution. Centrist Kadima, headed by Tzipi Livni, now leads the Opposition in the Knesset; it drew the next highest number of votes to Likud.
Government
Political parties
| Name | Alternate name | Leader |
|---|---|---|
| Balad Party | Azmi Bishara | |
| HADASH | Democratic Front for Peace and Equality | Muhammad Barakeh |
| Kadima | Tzipi Livni | |
| Labor Party (Israel) | Ehud Barak | |
| Likud | Benjamin Netanyahu | |
| National Union (Israel) | NU | Yaakov Katz |
| The Jewish Home | HaBayit HaYehudi | Daniel Herschkowitz |
| SHAS | Eliyahu Yishai | |
| The New Movement-Meretz | Haim Oron | |
| United Arab List | Ta'al | Ibrahim Sarsur |
| United Torah Judaism | UTJ | Yaakov Litzman |
| Yisrael Beiteinu | YB | Avigdor Lieberman |
Parliament
The unicameral legislature is the Knesset, with 120 members elected by public popular vote; the last general election was on 10 February 2009 and thenext scheduled one is in 2013.
| Party | Percent of vote | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Kadima | 23.2% | 28 |
| Likud | 22.3% | 27 |
| Yisrael Beiteinu | 12.1% | 15 |
| Labor Party (Israel) | 10.2% | 13 |
| SHAS | 8.8% | 11 |
| United Torah Judaism | 4.5% | 5 |
| United Arab List | 3.5% | 4 |
| National Union (Israel) | 3.4% | 4 |
| HADASH | 3.4% | 4 |
| The Jewish Home | 3.0% | 3 |
| The New Movement-Meretz | 3.0% | 3 |
| Balad | 2.6% | 3 |
Security
Israel contends with terrorism inside the country and unstable violence in the Occupied Territories. It has engaged in several major conventional wars beginning with its war of independence in 1948, and the Israeli Defense Forces are rated as among the most potent militaries in the world. The Israeli Security Forces also include police and highly regarded intelligence and covert operations organizations.
Economics
Roughly half of the government's external debt is owed to the US, its major source of economic and military aid. Israel was also the largest recipient of U.S. aid before the Iraq War, and remains second overall and highest in military aid.[2] The military financial relationship is complex; during the Cold War, the U.S. obtained significant intelligence benefits from Israel's wars, in which it captured Soviet equipment that it provided to the U.S. After the Cold War, there are some mutual development programs, such as the Arrow anti-ballistic missile, but more controversy about the strategic relationship.
Israel's GDP, after contracting slightly in 2001 and 2002 due to the Palestinian conflict and troubles in the high-technology sector, has grown by about 5% per year since 2003. The economy grew an estimated 3.9% in 2008, slowed by the global financial crisis.[3]
While there are excellent agricultural products, the core of the economy is high technology. Israel is a major arms manufacturer, and there have been a number of issues involving industrial espionage and export of U.S. controlled technology.
References
- ↑ United Nations General Assembly (29 November 1947), United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181
- ↑ Curt Tarnoff, Larry Nowels (April 15, 2004), Foreign Aid: An Introductory Overview of U.S. Programs and Policy, Congressional Research Service
- ↑ Central Intelligence Agency, Israel, The World Factbook