Eastern Mediterranean.

GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from 31 March 2006 to 1 October 2006 and from 30 March 2007 to 16 September 2007).
According to the Office of the Secretary General of the Ministry of Interior, there is no set rule for Daylight-saving time changes. One thing that is entrenched in law is that there must be at least 150 days of Daylight-Saving Time annually.
Palestine: GMT + 2.

22,145 sq km (8550 sq miles; includes East Jerusalem and the Golan sub-district).

6.7 million (UN, 2005).

302.6 per sq km.

Jerusalem. Population: (including East Jerusalem) 680,400 (2002). The Israeli government has designated Jerusalem as the capital, although this is not recognised by the UN, and most foreign embassies are based in Tel Aviv.

Israel is on the eastern Mediterranean, bordered by Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic to the north, Jordan to the east, and Egypt to the south. The autonomous Palestinian Authority Region lies mostly on the west bank of the River Jordan. Part of the Gaza strip, in the south of the country, is also administered by the Palestinians. The country stretches southwards through the Negev Desert to Eilat, a resort town on the Red Sea. The fertile Plain of Sharon runs along the coast, while inland, parallel to the coast, is a range of hills and uplands with fertile valleys to the west and arid desert to the east. The Great Rift Valley begins beyond the sources of the River Jordan and extends south through the Dead Sea (the lowest point in the world), into the Red Sea, continuing on into Eastern Africa.

Israel has a parliamentary system of government, with a single chamber, the 120-seat Knesset, elected every four years by universal adult suffrage. The Knesset passes legislation and appoints a President as head of state. Executive power rests with the cabinet, led by the Prime Minister – normally the leader of the largest party – which takes office after a vote of confidence from the Knesset.

Republic. The state of Israel was founded in 1948. Head of State: Moshe Qatzav since 2000. Head of Government: Prime Minister Ehud Olmert since March 2006. Former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon became unconscious on 4 January 2006 after having a significant stroke. His powers had been transferred to his Deputy Ehud Olmert. Recent history: Ariel Sharon was elected in the midst of the second Palestinian intifada (uprising) on a pledge to ensure total security for Israel. One of the principal catalysts of the intifada was Mr Sharon's controversial visit to Jewish holy sites on Jerusalem's Temple Mount (or Haram al-Sharif to the Palestinians), an area of the old city considered to be Islam's third holiest site. In 2002, despite international criticism, Mr Sharon's government decided to build a 640 km (440 mile) West Bank barrier to protect Israel from Palestinian suicide bombers. In 2005, Mr Sharon also pursued a plan to evacuate more than 8,000 Israeli settlers from the Gaza Strip despite anger among pro-settlement activists, with a view to reviving an international peace plan.
In November 2005, a new twist in Israeli politics saw Ariel Sharon quitting the Likud party which he had helped found in 1973. Frustrated by the more right-wing Likud MPs' refusal to accept his ministerial nominees and their disapproval of the forced removals of Jewish settlers from the Gaza Strip, Sharon announced he would create a new centre party, bringing with him 14 members of Likud. This party is called Kadima. Sharon asked President Moshe Katsav to dissolve Parliament and call an early election.
Acting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was declared winner of the March 2006 election. His Kadima party, founded by now coma-stricken Ariel Sharon, won but by less than predicted. He has vowed to push ahead with plans to define Israel's final borders.
Palestinian Leader: Former Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas. Palestinian Prime Minister: Ismail Haniya since March 2006. Recent history: Mahmoud Abbas, candidate of the ruling Fatah faction, won the January 2005 poll to replace the late Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat. Regarded as a moderate, he has condemned the armed Palestinian uprising and favours the resumption of negotiations with Israel. But his primary challenge at the moment is to deal with the militant Islamic group, Hamas, who scored a stunning win in January 2006 Parliamentary elections - the first that the group had ever taken part in. This dominance of Hamas has met with worldwide controversy, with many nations, such as the USA and Italy, refusing to negotiate with any party advocating the wipeout of Israel or which condones terrorist activity, and the EU, for example, threatening to sever financial aid. Meanwhile, others have argued that it is hypocritical for countries such as the USA to promote democracy and then refute the outcome of democratic procedure when it does not meet their approval. This is only the beginning of a colossal shift in Palestinian affairs, and only time will tell how the situation changes, and whether Hamas will adapt its policies within a democratic context.

Hebrew is the official language, spoken by about two-thirds of the population. Arabic is spoken by around 15 per cent of the population. English is spoken in most places and other languages, including French, German, Hungarian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Spanish and Yiddish are widely used.

77 per cent Jewish, 15 per cent Muslim, with Christian, Druze and other minorities.

Israelis are usually very informal but in keeping with the European style of hospitality. Visitors should observe normal courtesies when visiting someone’s home and should not be afraid to ask questions about the country as most Israelis are happy to talk about their homeland, religion and politics. Often the expression shalom (‘peace’) is used for hello and goodbye. Dress is casual, but in Christian, Jewish and Muslim holy places, modest attire is worn. For places such as the Wailing Wall, male visitors are given a smart cardboard yarmulke (scull cap) to respect the religious importance of the site. Businesspeople are expected to dress smartly, while plush restaurants, nightclubs and hotel dining rooms may require guests to dress for dinner. Formal evening wear is usually specified on invitations. It is considered a violation of the Shabbat (Saturday) to smoke in certain restaurants and many hotels. There is usually a sign to remind the visitor, and to disregard this warning would be regarded as discourteous to Orthodox Jews.

230 volts AC, 50Hz. Three-pin plugs are standard; if needed, adaptors can be purchased in Israel.