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Ok after a bit of thought I am kicking of countries in the middle east with Israel.
Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in Western
Asia. It is situated in the Southern Levant of the Middle East, and shares
borders with Lebanon and Syria to the north, the West Bank and Jordan to the
east, the Gaza Strip and Egypt to the southwest, and the Mediterranean Sea to
the west.
The capital is Jerusalem, the population was 9.7 million in
2023. The official language is Hebrew.
It was called British
Palestine in 1920 because that portion of the Ottoman Empire was given to
the British to manage after World War I.
Both Jews and Arabs have claimed it as theirs alone. From a purely historical perspective, “Israel” predates “Palestine” by more than a millennium. But, with the Jewish people then dispersed from their homeland, “Palestine” became home to a substantial Arab population, again for more than a millennium
It is the homeland of the Jewish people, it is also the
birthplace of Christianity, it also contains Islam's third holiest site - the
Dome of the Rock, and the Baha'i Gardens in Haifa.
Did you know voicemail technology was developed in Israel, or
that there are more than 135 beaches.
An armed conflict between
Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups has been taking place in the
Gaza Strip and Israel since 7 October 2023.
This is the fifth war since
2008 in the Gaza–Israel conflict, and the most significant military engagement
in the region since the Yom Kippur War in 1973.
If like me, you don’t what or
who HAMAS is well here is the answer. The Islamic Resistance Movement,
abbreviated Hamas, is a Palestinian nationalist Sunni Islamist political
organisation with a military wing known as the Al-Qassam Brigades. It has
governed the Israeli-occupied Gaza Strip since 2007.
The Israeli flag is white with a blue Star of David in the
middle and two horizontal blue stripes. The flag was adopted on October
28, 1948, five months after Israel declared independence. The meaning goes beyond its visual elements. The Star of
David at its center is a symbol of Jewish unity and connection to faith. The
blue stripes represent the rivers of Babylon, evoking the longing for the
Jewish homeland as described in the Bible.
The new Israeli shekel is
Israel's official currency. The value of one new shekel is equal to one hundred
agorot. Since the year 1986, the Israeli Shekel has served as the country's
primary unit of currency.
The official religion is Orthodox Judaism, as I am sure most
people would know, however, Israel's laws protect the freedom of religion for
all people, or so they say, how true that is I do not know.
The country’s basic laws define it as a Jewish democratic state.
Judaism has been influential in Israel since the country's
founding. It plays a major role in the country's political and state
institutions.
Each city and area of government has a religious council that
regulates Jewish practices.
Israel has religious courts that regulate personal status
matters.
Naturally everyone knows how dangerous it is to visit this
country right now.
I read every word with interest. Thank you for making the blog about the Country. Many of us know so little. Any time you write of other Countries, it is of great interest to me. I have lived in many, but that doers not mean I knew of them and their beginnings.
ReplyDeleteThe number one reason I enlisted in the Navy was so that I could travel. One of our port calls was Haifa, Israel. What a beautiful country.
DeleteThere is so many countries that we may have heard of but really know nothing about, I want to learn about other places and things and history and share what I am learning with others
DeleteMy wife is Jewish and would very much like to visit Israel. I told her "no way, it's too dangerous." Problem is? I can't foresee a time when it won't be dangerous. And that makes me very sad. So, next month, we visit Argentina for a couple weeks. And next year? Australia.
ReplyDeleteYes it isn't safe now and who knows when it will be
DeleteAs someone who is a Christian, I know I owe all to the Jewish people and their God who chose them. Protecting this nation and preserving its history should be the first priority for all of us. I am so relieved that President Trump was re-elected! He knows how to avoid and prevent wars. Blessings, Jo-Anne!
ReplyDeleteThere are many who blame the Jewish people for stupid stuff and I don't understand why that is
DeleteLovely post Jo-Anne, enjoyed reading it and learnt a little more.
ReplyDeleteThank you
DeleteI lived in Israel for 2.5 years and loved it. But for Australians the best place in this minute country was along the Mediterranean coast - both for the beaches and the weather.
ReplyDeleteIf I was to pick a place to live in the world, I would choose Tel Aviv,... or perhaps London, Vancouver or Paris.
There are so many interesting places in the world that most people will never visit and know nothing about
DeleteEven after having it all explained to me, I still don't understand the fighting. I too hope Trump can bring a stop to it.
ReplyDeleteI also do not understand the fighting
DeleteIsrael is said to be a very beautiful country. Unfortunately it's very difficult there now because of the war.
ReplyDeleteThat's so true
DeleteAccording to the Bible, it's when Israel has PEACE that we'd best be getting to our knees... But that doesn't mean pray for war. The Bible also says, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem."
ReplyDelete