Modern Israel

The mandatory conscription of women, and a structure that sees very close relations between the army, navy, and air force, where the same rank names are used for all corps, including the air force, and navy, are the most marked differences

Although elected by an absolute (or simple vote, should no candidate receive a majority after three rounds) majority in the Knesset (Israel parliament) following a secret ballot, the presidency is very much an apolitical ceremonial figurehead role. The presidential office falls vacant following completion of a term, a resignation, or the decision by three-quarters of the Knesset to remove the president on grounds of misconduct or incapacity. It is not dependent on political control, or affected by change of government, and there is no vice president, the Speaker of the House in parliament taking the role of acting president should the need arises

This is the judicial division of the Israeli government and passes all laws, elects the president and prime minister (although the prime minister usually is ceremonially appointed by the President), approves the cabinet membership and administers the work of the government through its committees. It also has the power, if necessary, to relinquish the immunity of its members, remove the President and the State Comptroller from office, to dissolve itself and to call new elections

Israel is actually the only country in the world that entered the 21st century with a net GAIN in its number of trees, a fact made all the more remarkable because this was achieved in an arid country considered to be mainly desert

Tel Aviv has more than 100 sushi restaurants. Tel Aviv is certainly famous for its wide variety of world-class restaurants, offering a huge diversity of international cuisine as well as traditional Israeli dishes

Non-Jewish religions, particularly Christianity and Islam, are fully recognised by Israel and receive funding from the Israeli government. The Christian community makes up some 2.1 percent of the Israeli population, while the Muslim community makes up approximately 15 percent of the population. Israeli law allows for total and unhindered freedom of religious expression and these - and other - communities can worship freely and are protected by Human Rights, with repression of minority religions punishable under Israeli Law

It was during the 1880s when the first Zionist immigrants came to Palestine, which was then under Ottoman rule, to join the small existing Jewish community. As a result of the First World War, Palestine came under the control of Great Britain, whose Balfour Declaration called for a Jewish National Home in Palestine

Despite its size and relatively small population, Israel has been responsible for some major inventions and discoveries in the world of computing, chemistry, physics, optics, agriculture and medicine

The area of Israel is just 27,000 km² (England is 130,395 km²) which includes 445 km² of inland water, 424 km (the distance from York to Southampton) from north to south and a width ranging from 114 km (the distance from Halifax to Hull) to 15 km at its narrowest point. It would actually be dwarfed by being placed in the state California, its length fitting in that state’s width, and it comfortably fits in Lake Michigan or England

Meir Kahane founded both the militant group, the Jewish Defense League (JDL), in the USA and the Israeli Kach ("This is the Way") Party. In 1984 he became a member of the Knesset (the Israeli parliament) when he obtained a seat in parliamentary elections. However, in 1988, the Israeli government banned him as "racist" and "anti-democratic" under the terms of an ad hoc law