State of Israel

Location:
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon
Area:
20,770 sq km
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
Population:
5,842,454
Religions:
Jewish 80.1%, Muslim 14.6% (mostly Sunni Muslim), Christian 2.1%, other 3.2% (1996 est.)
Languages:
Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab minority, English most commonly used foreign language