ISRAEL

KEY FACTS
Full name: State of Israel
Population: 7.7 million (UN, 2012)
Seat of government: Jerusalem, though most

foreign embassies are in Tel Aviv

Area: Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics cites

22,072 sq km (8,522 sq miles), including

Jerusalem and Golan
Major languages: Hebrew, Arabic, English
Major religions: Judaism, Islam, Christianity
Life expectancy: 80 years (men), 84 years

(women) (UN)
Main exports: Computer software, military

equipment, chemicals, agricultural products

KEY FACTS
FLAG

The colors blue and white were chosen according to

the colors of the Tallit the Jewish prayer shawl.
The Star of David appearing in the center of the flag
has been a Jewish symbol for hundreds of years.
STATE EMBLEM

The official emblem of the State of Israel is the

Menorah a candelabrum, whose shape is derived
from the sage plant (Moria). In certain species of the
plant, the leaves branch out in a way that resembles
the candelabrum that stood in the Holy Temple in
ancient Jerusalem. The Menorah appearing in the
state emblem is similar to the one carved on the
Arch of Titus in Rome. It is flanked by two olive
branches that symbolize Israels longing for peace.

KEY FACTS
Governing Branches

GOVERNING SYSTEM

Democratic unicameral
parliamentary.
CONSTITUTION

None; however, the Declaration

of Establishment (1948), the
Basic Laws of the parliament (the
Knesset), and the Israeli
citizenship law fill many of the
functions of a constitution.
GOVERNING BRANCHES

Executive, Legislative, and

Judicial.

Executive Branch
Includes the President,
Prime Minister and
government ministries

The President is the titular head

of state and is elected by the
Knesset every seven years, and
his main duties are largely
symbolic. The current president,
President Reuven Rivlin, was
sworn into office on July 24,
2014.
The Prime Minister: The current
Prime Minister, Benjamin
Netanyahu, has been in office
since March 31, 2009.

Legislative
branch
The Knesset

The Judiciary
Includes the Supreme Court,
the District Court, Magistrates
Court, Court for Local Affairs,
Religious Court, Traffic Court,
Labor Court, Juvenile Court, etc.

The Knesset is the parliament of

the State of Israel. It is located in
Jerusalem, and has 120 members.
Under current law, members of
the Knesset are elected for a term
of four years. The present
Knesset is the 20th, and the
elections for this Knesset were
held on March 17, 2015. The
Knesset has parliamentary
sovereignty, and enacts
legislation on every issue.

KEY FACTS
43% of the worlds Jews live in Israel (2014).
There are approximately 193,000 Holocaust survivors living in Israel. (2014)
The Mount of Olives in Israel is the oldest, continually used cemetery in the world.
The cell phone was developed in Israel by Israelis working in the Israeli branch of Motorola
Relative to its overall population, Israel is the largest immigrant-absorbing nation on earth.
Israel leads the world in the per capita number of scientists and technicians in the workforce,

with 145 per 10,000 workers.

Israel has more in-vitro fertilization per capita than anywhere in the world, and its free.
Israel has more museums per capita than any other country in the world.
In recent years, Tel-Aviv has been consistently ranked as a top international tourist destination

for its culture, cuisine, nightlife, architecture and large LGBT community.

ARGENTINA ISRAEL RELATIONS

Carlos Menemwas the first head of state of Argentina to make a diplomatic visit to Israel, in 1991. He proposed

to mediate between Israel and Syria in their negotiations over theGolan Heights.However, the relations were
further tested whenHezbollahwas blamed for bombing theIsraeli embassyand aJewish community centrein
1992 and 1994, respectively. Since 2013, roughly 100 Jewish organizations across Argentina have called for the
government to repeal its pact with theIslamic Republic of Iranover the AMIA terrorist attacks.
In 2010, Argentina and Uruguay announced that they intend to join Brazil in recognizing an independent

Palestinian state, provoking sharp criticism from Israel.

In 2012, Argentine presidentCristina Fernandez de Kirchnermet an Israeli-Palestinian delegation and

announced that Argentina would spearhead the Latin American role in reinvigorating the peace process in
theIsraeliPalestinian conflict.
Netanyahu telephoned Macri to congratulate him on his success and invited him to visit Israel after he take

over countrys presidency on December 10, 2015. Later, Netanyahu told the press that from now on relations
between Israel and Argentina will be back to the presidency of Nestor Kirchner, a Zionist poodle. He also
boasted that Marci has promised he would revise Argentinas relation with Venezuelaand Iran.

toh-DAH rah-BAH
(thank you!)