Israel

Israel, officially State of Israel, Hebrew Medinat Yisraʾel, Arabic Isrāʾīl,  country in the Middle East, located at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea. It is bounded to the north by Lebanon, to the northeast by Syria, to the east and southeast by Jordan, to the southwest by Egypt, and to the west by the Mediterranean Sea. Jerusalem is the seat of government and the proclaimed capital, although the latter status has not received wide international recognition.

Israel is a small country with a relatively diverse topography, consisting of a lengthy coastal plain, highlands in the north and central regions, and the Negev desert in the south. Running the length of the country from north to south along its eastern border is the northern terminus of the Great Rift Valley.

The State of Israel is the only Jewish nation in the modern period, and the region that now falls within its borders has a lengthy and rich history that dates from prebiblical times. The area was a part of the Roman Empire and, later, the Byzantine Empire before falling under the control of the fledgling Islamic caliphate in the 7th century ce. Although the object of dispute during the Crusades, the region, then generally known as Palestine, remained under the sway of successive Islamic dynasties until the collapse of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I, when it was placed under British mandate from the League of Nations.

Even before the mandate, the desire for a Jewish homeland prompted a small number of Jews to immigrate to Palestine, a migration that grew dramatically during the second quarter of the 20th century with the increased persecution of Jews worldwide and subsequent Holocaust perpetrated by Nazi Germany. This vast influx of Jewish immigrants into the region, however, caused tension with the native Palestinian Arabs, and violence flared between the two groups leading up to the United Nations plan to partition Palestine into Jewish and Palestinian sectors and Israel’s ensuing declaration of statehood on May 14, 1948.

Israel fought a series of wars against neighbouring Arab states during the next 35 years, which have resulted in ongoing disputes over territory and the status of refugees. Despite continuing tensions, however, Israel concluded peace treaties with several neighbouring Arab states during the final quarter of the 20th century.

Aspects of the topic Israel are discussed in the following places at Britannica.

Articles from Britannica encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

Israel - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)

The country of Israel, located in the Middle East, was founded in 1948. It was the first homeland for the Jewish people in nearly 2,000 years. Because Israel lies in territory claimed by Arabs, it has faced conflict with neighboring Arab countries. Israel has also experienced violence between Jews and Arabs (known as Palestinians) living within its borders. Israel claims Jerusalem as its capital.

Israel - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

The State of Israel lies at the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea, within the region known as the Middle East. The state was established in 1948 as a homeland for the Jewish people. Israel has had to forge a nation from the diverse Jewish people who immigrated from all parts of the world, while trying to integrate a large Arab minority. While striving to perpetuate the religious and cultural traditions that contributed to the Zionist rebirth, the tiny country was also forced to become a first-rate military power. The state was created from part of Palestine, a region also claimed by Palestinian Arabs. Israel fought five wars with neighboring Arab states in the period from 1948 to 1982 and has been involved in ongoing conflict with the Palestinians. Israel claims Jerusalem as its capital. Area 8,357 square miles (21,643 square kilometers). Population (2013 est.) 7,686,000.