The State of Israel is a country in southwestern Asia on the eastern side of the Mediterranean Sea. Israel became an independent country in 1948.^[21] Israel is the only Jewish country, and Jews all over the world think of Israel as their spiritual home. Israel’s population was 8.1 million people in 2013 and 6.04 million are Jewish. Almost all the other citizens of Israel are Arab (1.6 million) and include Muslims, Christians, Druze, and Samaritans.^[22][23][24] Israel’s largest city is Jerusalem. Israel’s capital city is Jerusalem (limited recognition). Most countries keep embassies in Tel Aviv.

Israel is a small country, but it has mountains, deserts, shores, valleys and plains. The climate is hot and rainless in the summers with high humidity in the coastal plain and lower elevations, and cool and rainy in the winters, rarely going below freezing temperatures.

Israel has few natural resources and imports more goods than it exports. It has a relatively high standard of living and life expectancy. Almost all of its people can read and write.

According to the Democratic Index, Israel is the only democratic republic in the Middle East. According to Freedom House, both Israel and Tunisia are the only full democracies in the Greater Middle East.^[25][26][27] It has a long history of conflict with Palestine.

Wikipedia

View of Haifa from Mount Carmel

Reception hall at the Ben Gurion Airport.

Người Việt tại Do Thái

Người nữ binh Do Thái gốc Việt (gốc thuyền nhân trốn chạy CS được Tàu Do Thái vớt)

Năm 1977, một chiếc tàu chở hàng của Do Thái Israel đã tìm thấy một chiếc thuyền 66 người tị nạn ngoài khơi bờ biển Nhật Bản. Trong cuộc hành trình trốn chạy Cộng Sản đầy gian nan, 66 người tị nạn đã không còn thức ăn và nước uống và họ đã may mắn được tàu Do Thái cứu vớt

(còn tiếp/to be continued/ à suivre)