Statistical information Israel 2016

Israel in the World

Israel - Introduction 2016

Following World War II Britain withdrew from its mandate of Palestine and the UN proposed partitioning the area into Arab and Jewish states an arrangement rejected by the Arabs. Nonetheless an Israeli state was declared in 1948 and Israel subsequently defeated the Arab armies in a series of wars that did not end deep tensions between the two sides. (The territories Israel has occupied since the 1967 war are not included in the Israel country profile unless otherwise noted.) On 25 April 1982 Israel withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula pursuant to the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty. In keeping with the framework established at the Madrid Conference in October 1991 Israel conducted bilateral negotiations with Palestinian representatives and Syria to achieve a permanent settlement with each. Israel and Palestinian officials on 13 September 1993 signed a Declaration of Principles (also known as the 'Oslo Accords') enshrining the idea of a two-state solution to their conflict and guiding an interim period of Palestinian self-rule. The parties achieved six additional significant interim agreements between 1994 and 1999 aimed at creating the conditions for a two-state solution but most were never fully realized. Outstanding territorial and other disputes with Jordan were resolved in the 26 October 1994 Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty.
Progress toward a final status agreement with the Palestinians was undermined by Israeli-Palestinian violence between 2001 and February 2005. Israel in 2005 unilaterally disengaged from the Gaza Strip evacuating settlers and its military while retaining control over most points of entry into the Gaza Strip. The election of HAMAS to head the Palestinian Legislative Council in 2006 temporarily froze relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA). Israel engaged in a 34-day conflict with Hizballah in Lebanon from July-August 2006 and a 23-day conflict with HAMAS in the Gaza Strip from December 2008-January 2009. In November 2012 Israel engaged in a seven-day conflict with HAMAS in the Gaza Strip. Direct talks with the Palestinians most recently launched in July 2013 but were suspended in April 2014. The talks represented the fourth concerted effort to resolve final status issues between the sides since they were first discussed at Camp David in 2000. Three months later HAMAS and other militant groups launched rockets into Israel which led to a 51-day conflict between Israel and militants in Gaza.

Israel - Geography 2016

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Location: Middle East bordering the Mediterranean Sea between Egypt and Lebanon

Geographic coordinates: 31 30 N 34 45 E

Map reference: Middle East

Area
Total: 20,770 km²
Land: 20,330 km²
Water: 440 km²
Rank: 154
Comparative: slightly larger than New Jersey

Land boundaries
Total: 1068 km
Border countries: (6) Egypt 208 km; Gaza Strip 59 km; Jordan 307 km; Lebanon 81 km; Syria 83 km; West Bank 330 km

Coastline: 273 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Continental shelf: to depth of exploitation

Climate: temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas

Terrain: Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains; Jordan Rift Valley

Elevation
Mean elevation: 508 m
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m: highest point: Har Meron 1208 m

Natural resources: timber potash copper ore natural gas phosphate rock magnesium bromide clays sand

Land use

Land use
Agricultural land: 23.8%

arable land: 13.7%
permanent crops: 3.8%
permanent pasture: 6.3%

Forest: 7.1%
Other: 69.1%

Irrigated land: 2,250 km² (2012)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: sandstorms may occur during spring and summer; droughts; periodic earthquakes

Geography
Note: Lake Tiberias (Sea of Galilee) is an important freshwater source; the Dead Sea is the second saltiest body of water in the world (after Lake Assal in Djibouti); in 2014 there were 423 settlements in the Israeli-occupied territories - 42 settlements in the Golan Heights 381 sites in the occupied Palestinian territories to include 212 settlements and 134 outposts in the West Bank and 35 settlements in East Jerusalem; there are no Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip because all were evacuated in 2005 (2014 est.)

Israel - People 2016

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Population
Distribution: population concentrated in and around Tel-Aviv as well as around the Sea of Galilee; the south remains sparsely populated with the exception of the shore of the Gulf of Aqaba: 8,174,527 (includes populations of the Golan Heights of Golan Sub-District and also East Jerusalem which was annexed by Israel after 1967) (July 2016 est.)
Note: approximately 20,500 Israeli settlers live in the Golan Heights; approximately 211,640 Israeli settlers live in East Jerusalem
Rank: 99
Growth rate: 1.53% (2016 est.)
Growth rate rank: 78
Below poverty line: 22%
Below poverty line note: Israel's poverty line is $7.30 per person per day

Nationality
Noun: Israeli
Adjective: Israeli

Ethnic groups: Jewish 74.8% (of which Israel-born 75.6% Europe/America/Oceania-born 16.6% Africa-born 4.9% Asia-born 2.9%) non-Jewish 25.2% (mostly Arab) (2015 est.)

Languages: Hebrew (official) Arabic (used officially for Arab minority) English (most commonly used foreign language)

Religions: Jewish 74.8% Muslim 17.6% Christian 2% Druze 1.6% other 4% (2015 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure

Age structure
0-14 years: 27.73%
15-24 years: 15.52%
25-54 years: 37.15%
55-64 years: 8.51%
65 years and over: 11.09% (2016 est.)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 64.1%
Youth dependency ratio: 45.7%
Elderly dependency ratio: 18.4%
Potential support ratio: 5.4%

Median age
Total: 29.7 years
Male: 29.1 years
Female: 30.4 years
Rank: 118

Population growth rate: 1.53% (2016 est.)
Rank: 78

Birth rate: 18.3 births/1000 population (2016 est.)
Rank: 95

Death rate: 5.2 deaths/1000 population (2016 est.)
Rank: 184

Net migration rate: 2.2 migrant(s)/1000 population (2016 est.)
Rank: 45

Population distribution: population concentrated in and around Tel-Aviv as well as around the Sea of Galilee; the south remains sparsely populated with the exception of the shore of the Gulf of Aqaba

Urbanization
Urban population: 92.1% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 1.37% annual rate of change

Major urban areas
Population: Tel Aviv-Yafo 3.608 million; Haifa 1.097 million; JERUSALEM (proclaimed capital) 839,000 (2015)

Environment
Current issues: limited arable land: and natural freshwater resources pose serious constraints; desertification; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; groundwater pollution from industrial and domestic waste chemical fertilizers and pesticides
International agreements party to: Biodiversity Climate Change Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Desertification Endangered Species Hazardous Wastes Ozone Layer Protection Ship Pollution Wetlands Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male/female
15-24 years: 1.05 male/female
25-54 years: 1.05 male/female
55-64 years: 0.96 male/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male/female
Total population: 1.01 male/female

Mothers mean age at first birth: 27.3 (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 3.5 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 3.5 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 3.5 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 204

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 82.4 years
Male: 80.6 years
Female: 84.4 years
Rank: 11

Total fertility rate: 2.66 children born/woman (2016 est.)
Rank: 73

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source:

urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

Current health expenditure

Physicians density: 3.34 physicians/1000 population (2012)

Hospital bed density: 3.3 beds/1000 population (2012)

Sanitation facility access:

urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: NA
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 25.8% (2014)
Rank: 49

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures: 5.9% of GDP (2013)
Rank: 57

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 97.8%
Male: 98.7%
Female: 96.8%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 16 years
Male: 16 years
Female: 16 years

Youth unemployment

Israel - Government 2016

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Country name
Conventional long form: State of Israel
Conventional short form: Israel
Local long form: Medinat Yisra'el
Local short form: Yisra'el
Etymology: named after the ancient Kingdom of Israel; according to Biblical tradition the Jewish patriarch Jacob received the name 'Israel' after he wrestled an entire night with an angel of the Lord; Jacob's 12 sons became the ancestors of the Israelites also known as the Twelve Tribes of Israel who formed the Kingdom of Israel

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital
Name: Jerusalem: note - while Israel proclaimed Jerusalem as its capital in 1950 the international community does not recognize it as such; the US like all other countries maintains its embassy in Tel Aviv-Yafo
Geographic coordinates: 31 46 N 35 14 E
Time difference: UTC+2
Daylight saving time: +1hr Friday before the last Sunday in March; ends the last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions: 6 districts (mehozot singular - mehoz); Central Haifa Jerusalem Northern Southern Tel Aviv

Dependent areas

Independence: 14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)

National holiday: Independence Day 14 May (1948); note - Israel declared independence on 14 May 1948 but the Jewish calendar is lunar and the holiday may occur in April or May

Constitution: no formal constitution; some functions of a constitution are filled mostly by the Declaration of Establishment (1948) the Basic Laws and the Law of Return (as amended); Basic Laws amended several times last in 2014 (2016)

Legal system: mixed legal system of English common law British Mandate regulations and Jewish Christian and Muslim religious laws

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; withdrew acceptance of International Criminal Court jurisdiction in 2002

Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Israel
Dual citizenship recognized: yes but naturalized citizens are not allowed to maintain dual citizenship
Residency requirement for naturalization: 3 out of the 5 years preceding the application for naturalization
Note: Israeli law provides for the granting of citizenship to any Jew - defined as a person being born to a Jewish mother or having converted to Judaism while renouncing any other religion - who immigrates to and expresses a desire to settle in Israel on the basis of the Right of aliyah; the 1970 amendment of this act extended the right to family members including the spouse of a Jew any child or grandchild and the spouses of children and grandchildren

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Reuven RIVLIN
Head of government: Prime Minister Binyamin NETANYAHU
Cabinet: Cabinet selected by prime minister and approved by the Knesset
Electionsappointments: president indirectly elected by the Knesset for a 7-year term ; election last held on 10 June 2014 (next to be held in 2021 but can be called earlier); following legislative elections the president in consultation with party leaders tasks a Knesset member (usually the member of the largest party) with forming a government
Election results: Reuven RIVLIN elected president in second round; Knesset vote - Reuven RIVLIN 63 Meir SHEETRIT (The Movement) 53 other/invalid 4

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Knesset
Elections: last held on 17 March 2015
Election results: percent of vote by party - Likud 23.4% Zionist Camp 18.7% Joint List 10.6% Yesh Atid 8.8% Kulanu 7.5% The Jewish Home 6.7% Shas 5.7% Yisrael Beitenu 5.1% UTJ 5.0% Meretz 3.9% Yachad 3.0% other 1.6%; seats by party - Likud 30 Zionist Camp 24 Joint List 13 Yesh Atid 11 Kulanu 10 The Jewish Home 8 Shas 7 Yisrael Beitenu 6 UTJ 6 Meretz 5

Judicial branch
Highest court: Supreme Court
Judge selection and term of office: judges selected by the Judicial Selection Committee consisting of 3 Supreme Court judges 2 Cabinet members including the Minister of Justice as chairman 2 Knesset members and 2 representatives from the Israel Bar Association; judges can serve up to mandatory retirement at age 70
Subordinate courts: district and magistrate courts; national and regional labor courts; special and religious courts

Political parties and leaders:

The Jewish Home (Habayit Hayehudi) [Naftali BENNETT]
The Movement (Hatnuah) [Tzipora 'Tzipi' LIVNI]
United Arab List-Ta'al [Masud GANAIM]
United Torah Judaism or UTJ [Yaakov LITZMAN] (an alliance of three parties)
Yesh Atid [Yair LAPID]
Yisrael Beiteinu [Avigdor LIEBERMAN]

International organization participation: BIS BSEC (observer) CE (observer) CERN CICA EBRD FAO IADB IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC (national committees) ICRM IDA IFAD IFC IFRCS ILO IMF IMO IMSO Interpol IOC IOM IPU ISO ITSO ITU ITUC (NGOs) MIGA OAS (observer) OECD OPCW (signatory) OSCE (partner) Pacific Alliance (observer) Paris Club PCA SELEC (observer) UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNHCR UNIDO UNWTO UPU WCO WHO WIPO WMO WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Ron DERMER
In the us chancery: 3,514 International Drive NW Washington DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] 364-5,500
In the us FAX: [1] 364-5,607
In the us consulate general: Atlanta Boston Chicago Houston Los Angeles Miami New York Philadelphia San Francisco
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel B. SHAPIRO
From the us embassy: 71 Hayarkon Street Tel Aviv 6,343,229
From the us telephone: [972] 519-7,475
From the us FAX: [972] 516-4,390

Flag description

: white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as the Magen David (Star of David or Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag; the basic design resembles a traditional Jewish prayer shawl (tallit) which is white with blue stripes; the hexagram as a Jewish symbol dates back to medieval times

National symbols: Star of David (Magen David) menorah (seven-branched lampstand); national colors: blue white

National anthem
Name: 'Hatikvah'
Lyrics and music: Naftali Herz IMBER/traditional arranged by Samuel COHEN
Note: adopted 2004 unofficial since 1948; used as the anthem of the Zionist movement since 1897; the 1888 arrangement by Samuel COHEN is thought to be based on the Romanian folk song 'Carul cu boi'

National heritage

Israel - Economy 2016

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Economy overview:

Israel has a technologically advanced free market economy. Cut diamonds high-technology equipment and pharmaceuticals are among its leading exports. Its major imports include crude oil grains raw materials and military equipment. Israel usually posts sizable trade deficits which are covered by tourism and other service exports as well as significant foreign investment inflows.
Between 2004 and 2013 growth averaged nearly 5% per year led by exports. The global financial crisis of 2008-09 spurred a brief recession in Israel but the country entered the crisis with solid fundamentals following years of prudent fiscal policy and a resilient banking sector. Israel's economy also weathered the 2011 Arab Spring because strong trade ties outside the Middle East have insulated the economy from spillover effects.
Slowing domestic and international demand and decreased investment resulting from Israel’s uncertain security situation reduced GDP growth to an average of roughly 2.6% per year during 2014-15. Natural gas fields discovered off Israel's coast since 2009 have brightened Israel's energy security outlook. The Tamar and Leviathan fields were some of the world's largest offshore natural gas finds in the last decade. Political and regulatory issues have delayed the development of the massive Leviathan field but production from Tamar provided a 0.8% boost to Israel's GDP in 2013 and a 0.3% boost in 2014. One of the most carbon intense OECD countries Israel generates about 57% of its power from coal and only 2.6% from renewable sources.
Income inequality and high housing and commodity prices continue to be a concern for many Israelis. Israel's income inequality and poverty rates are among the highest of OECD countries and there is a broad perception among the public that a small number of 'tycoons' have a cartel-like grip over the major parts of the economy. Government officials have called for reforms to boost the housing supply and to increase competition in the banking sector to address these public grievances. Despite calls for reforms the restricted housing supply continues to impact the well-being of younger Israelis seeking to purchase homes. Tariffs and non-tariff barriers coupled with guaranteed prices and customs tariffs for farmers have kept food prices high through 2015.
In the long term Israel faces structural issues including low labor participation rates for its fastest growing social segments - the ultraorthodox and Arab-Israeli communities. Also Israel's progressive globally competitive knowledge-based technology sector employs only about 8% of the workforce with the rest mostly employed in manufacturing and services - sectors which face downward wage pressures from global competition. Expenditures on educational institutions remain low compared to most other OECD countries with similar GDP per capita.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:

$281.9 billion (2015 est.)
$274.8 billion (2014 est.)
$268 billion (2013 est.)

Note: data are in 2015 US dollars
Rank: 57

Real gdp growth rate:

2.6% (2015 est.)
2.6% (2014 est.)
3.3% (2013 est.)

Rank: 120

Real gdp per capita:

$33,700 (2015 est.)
$33,500 (2014 est.)
$33,300 (2013 est.)

Note: data are in 2015 US dollars
Rank: 56

Gross national saving:

24.4% of GDP (2015 est.)
23.9% of GDP (2014 est.)
23.5% of GDP (2013 est.)

Rank: 56

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 55.3%
Government consumption: 22.3%
Investment in fixed capital: 18.6%
Investment in inventories: 0.9%
Exports of goods and services: 31.2%
Imports of goods and services: -28.3%

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 2.1%
Industry: 27.2%
Services: 69.1%

Agriculture products: citrus vegetables cotton; beef poultry dairy products

Industries: high-technology products (including aviation communications computer-aided design and manufactures medical electronics fiber optics) wood and paper products potash and phosphates food beverages and tobacco caustic soda cement construction metal products chemical products plastics cut diamonds textiles footwear

Industrial production growth rate: 3.2% (2015 est.)
Rank: 72

Labor force: 3.846 million (2015 est.)
Rank: 95
By occupation agriculture: 1.1%
By occupation industry: 17.3%
By occupation services: 81.6%

Labor force

Unemployment rate:

5.3% (2015 est.)
5.9% (2014 est.)

Rank: 57

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 22%
Note: Israel's poverty line is $7.30 per person per day

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 1.7%
Highest 10: 31.3%

Distribution of family income gini index:

42.8 (2013)
39.2 (2008)

Rank: 50

Budget
Revenues: $77.22 billion
Expenditures: $83.53 billion
Surplus or deficit: -2.1% of GDP (2015 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 90

Taxes and other revenues: 26.1% of GDP (2015 est.)
Rank: 110

Public debt:

63.3% of GDP (2015 est.)
65.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

Rank: 59

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices:

-0.6% (2015 est.)
0.5% (2014 est.)

Rank: 27

Central bank discount rate:

0.1% (15 December 2015)
0.25% (31 December 2014)

Rank: 137

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

3.46% (31 December 2015 est.)
3.91% (31 December 2014 est.)

Rank: 160

Stock of narrow money:

$63.41 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$43.13 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Rank: 45

Stock of broad money:

$246 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$155.6 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Rank: 40

Stock of domestic credit:

$211.6 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$201.2 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Rank: 41

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$183.4 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$148.8 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$122.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Rank: 29

Current account balance:

$12.27 billion (2015 est.)
$11.54 billion (2014 est.)

Rank: 18

Exports:

$56.29 billion (2015 est.)
$63.76 billion (2014 est.)

Rank: 46
Commodities: machinery and equipment software cut diamonds agricultural products chemicals textiles and apparel
Partners: US 27.5% Hong Kong 8% UK 6.1% China 4.9% (2015)

Imports:

$59.49 billion (2015 est.)
$70.36 billion (2014 est.)

Rank: 43
Commodities: raw materials military equipment investment goods rough diamonds fuels grain consumer goods
Partners: US 13% China 9.3% Switzerland 7.1% Germany 6.1% Belgium 5.3% Italy 4% (2015)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$90.58 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$86.1 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Rank: 27

Debt external:

$89.36 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$96.13 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Rank: 52

Stock of direct foreign investment at home:

$104.1 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$93.28 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Rank: 44

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad:

$89.39 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$79.69 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Rank: 34

Exchange rates:

new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar -
3.8869 (2015 est.)
3.5779 (2014 est.)
3.5779 (2013 est.)
3.86 (2012 est.)
3.5781 (2011 est.)

Israel - Energy 2016

Israel - Communication 2016

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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 3.412 million
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 42
Fixed lines rank: 50
Mobile cellular total: 10.57 million
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 131
Mobile cellular rank: 88

Telephone system
General assessment: most highly developed system in the Middle East
Domestic: good system of coaxial cable and microwave radio relay; all systems are digital; competition among both fixed-line and mobile cellular providers results in good coverage countrywide
International: country code - 972; submarine cables provide links to Europe Cyprus and parts of the Middle East; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2015)

Broadcast media: state broadcasting network operated by the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA) broadcasts on 2 channels one in Hebrew and the other in Arabic; 5 commercial channels including a channel broadcasting in Russian a channel broadcasting Knesset proceedings and a music channel supervised by a public body; multi-channel satellite and cable TV packages provide access to foreign channels; IBA broadcasts on 8 radio networks with multiple repeaters and Israel Defense Forces Radio broadcasts over multiple stations; about 15 privately owned radio stations; overall more than 100 stations and repeater stations (2008)

Internet
Country code: .il
Users total: 6.35 million
Users percent of population: 78.9%
Users rank: 58

Broadband fixed subscriptions

Israel - Military 2016

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Military expenditures:

5.58% of GDP (2014)
5.53% of GDP (2013)
5.69% of GDP (2012)
5.87% of GDP (2011)
5.69% of GDP (2010)

Rank: 5

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory (Jews Druze) military service; 17 years of age for voluntary (Christians Muslims Circassians) military service; both sexes are obligated to military service; conscript service obligation - 32 months for enlisted men and 24 months for enlisted women (varies based on military occupation) 48 months for officers; pilots commit to 9 years service; reserve obligation to age 41-51 (men) age 24 (women) (2015)

Space program

Terrorist groups

Israel - Transportation 2016

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National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 6
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 60
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 6,064,478
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 758,633,996 mt-km

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 4X (2016)

Airports: 47 (2013)
Rank: 94
With paved runways total: 29
With paved runways over 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 5
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 6
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 11
With paved runways under 914 m: 5
With unpaved runways total: 18
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 3
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 14

Heliports: 3 (2013)

Pipelines: gas 763 km; oil 442 km; refined products 261 km (2013)

Railways
Total: 1250 km
Standard gauge: 1250 km 1.435-m gauge
Rank: 82

Roadways
Total: 18,566 km
Paved: 18,566 km (2011)
Rank: 115

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 8
By type: cargo 1 container 7
Registered in other countries: 48 (2010)
Rank: 120

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Ashdod Elat Hadera Haifa
Container port TEUs): Ashdod : /span>span class=category_data>Ashdod (1,176,000) Haifa (1,238,000)

Israel - Transnational issues 2016

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Disputes international: West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation; Israel continues construction of a 'seam line' separation barrier along parts of the Green Line and within the West Bank; Israel withdrew its settlers and military from the Gaza Strip and from four settlements in the West Bank in August 2005; Golan Heights is Israeli-occupied (Lebanon claims the Shab'a Farms area of Golan Heights); since 1948 about 350 peacekeepers from the UN Truce Supervision Organization headquartered in Jerusalem monitor ceasefires supervise armistice agreements prevent isolated incidents from escalating and assist other UN personnel in the region

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Refugees: 31,708 (Eritrea); 6,333 (Sudan) (2015)
Stateless persons: 15

Illicit drugs: increasingly concerned about ecstasy cocaine and heroin abuse; drugs arrive in country from Lebanon and increasingly from Jordan; money-laundering center