--- title: Israel — English Wikipedia · full text with trees · page 7 description: Wikipedia's «Israel», whole, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics, CC BY-SA 4.0. It begins: Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in the Southern Levant region of West Asia. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Israel/page/7/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [wikipedia](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/) / [en](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/) / Israel # Israel · page 7 From Wikipedia, [«Israel»](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel), revision of the 2026-09-01 dump, [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). The trees and pragmatics of these pages, Mova's parse of that text, are CC BY-SA 4.0 too. [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Israel/) [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Israel/page/2/) [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Israel/page/3/) [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Israel/page/4/) [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Israel/page/5/) [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Israel/page/6/) **7** [8](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Israel/page/8/) Approximately 80% of [Israeli Jews](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_Jews) are [born in Israel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabra_%28person%29), 14% are immigrants from Europe and the Americas, and 6% are immigrants from Asia and Africa.[\[612\]](../../page/8/#ref-612 "note 612")[562](../../562/ "tree and pragmatics") Jews from Europe and the former Soviet Union and their descendants born in Israel, including Ashkenazi Jews, constitute approximately 44% of Jewish Israelis.[563](../../563/ "tree and pragmatics") Jews from Arab and Muslim countries and their descendants, including both Mizrahi and Sephardi Jews,[\[613\]](../../page/8/#ref-613 "note 613") form most of the rest of the Jewish population.[\[614\]](../../page/8/#ref-614 "note 614")[564](../../564/ "tree and pragmatics") Jewish intermarriage rates run at over 35% and recent studies suggest that the percentage of Israelis descended from both Sephardi and Ashkenazi Jews increases by 0.5 per cent yearly, with over 25% of schoolchildren now originating from both.[\[615\]](../../page/8/#ref-615 "note 615")[565](../../565/ "tree and pragmatics") Around 4% of Israelis (300,000), ethnically defined as "others", are Russian descendants of Jewish origin or family who are not Jewish according to rabbinical law, but were eligible for citizenship under the Law of Return.[\[616\]](../../page/8/#ref-616 "note 616")[\[617\]](../../page/8/#ref-617 "note 617")[\[618\]](../../page/8/#ref-618 "note 618")[566](../../566/ "tree and pragmatics") Israeli settlers beyond the Green Line number over 600,000 (≈10% of the Jewish Israeli population).[\[619\]](../../page/8/#ref-619 "note 619") as of 2016, [399,300 Israelis lived](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Population_statistics_for_Israeli_settlements_in_the_West_Bank) in West Bank settlements,[\[356\]](../../page/8/#ref-356 "note 356") including those that predated the establishment of the State of Israel and which were re-established after the Six-Day War.[567](../../567/ "tree and pragmatics") Additionally there were more than 200,000 Jews living in East Jerusalem[\[357\]](../../page/8/#ref-357 "note 357") and 22,000 in the Golan Heights.[\[356\]](../../page/8/#ref-356 "note 356")[568](../../568/ "tree and pragmatics") Approximately 7,800 Israelis [lived in settlements](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Population_statistics_for_Israeli_Gaza_Strip_settlements) in the Gaza Strip, known as [Gush Katif](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gush_Katif), until they were evacuated by the government as part of its 2005 [disengagement plan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel%27s_unilateral_disengagement_plan).[\[620\]](../../page/8/#ref-620 "note 620")[569](../../569/ "tree and pragmatics") Israeli Arabs (including the Arab population of East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights) comprise 21.1% of the population or 1,995,000 people.[\[621\]](../../page/8/#ref-621 "note 621")[570](../../570/ "tree and pragmatics") In a 2017 poll, 40% of Arab citizens of Israel identified as "Arab in Israel" or "Arab citizen of Israel", 15% identified as "Palestinian", 8.9% as "Palestinian in Israel" or "Palestinian citizen of Israel", and 8.7% as "Arab"; the same poll found that 60% of Israeli Arabs have a positive view of the state.[\[622\]](../../page/8/#ref-622 "note 622")[\[623\]](../../page/8/#ref-623 "note 623")[571](../../571/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Major urban areas Israel has four major metropolitan areas: [Gush Dan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gush_Dan) (Tel Aviv metropolitan area; population 3,854,000), [Jerusalem](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem_metropolitan_area) (population 1,253,900), [Haifa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haifa_metropolitan_area) (924,400), and [Beersheba](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beersheba_metropolitan_area) (377,100).[\[624\]](../../page/8/#ref-624 "note 624")[572](../../572/ "tree and pragmatics") The largest municipality, in population and area, is Jerusalem with residents in an area of 125 km2.[573](../../573/ "tree and pragmatics") Statistics on Jerusalem include the population and area of East Jerusalem, the status of which is in international dispute.[\[625\]](../../page/8/#ref-625 "note 625")[574](../../574/ "tree and pragmatics") Tel Aviv and Haifa rank as Israel's next most populous cities, with populations of and, respectively.[575](../../575/ "tree and pragmatics") The (mainly [Haredi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haredi)) city of [Bnei Brak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bnei_Brak) is the most densely populated city in Israel and one of the [10 most densely populated cities](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_proper_by_population_density) in the world.[\[626\]](../../page/8/#ref-626 "note 626")[576](../../576/ "tree and pragmatics") Israel has 16 cities with populations over 100,000. as of 2018 there are 77 localities granted ["municipalities" (or "city") status](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_council_%28Israel%29) by the Ministry of the Interior,[\[627\]](../../page/8/#ref-627 "note 627") [four of which are in the West Bank](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Israeli_settlements_with_city_status_in_the_West_Bank).[\[628\]](../../page/8/#ref-628 "note 628")[577](../../577/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Language Main article: [Languages of Israel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Israel) The official language is [Hebrew](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_language).[578](../../578/ "tree and pragmatics") Hebrew is the primary language of the state and is spoken daily by the majority of the population.[579](../../579/ "tree and pragmatics") Prior to 1948, [opposition](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Yiddish_sentiment) to [Yiddish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yiddish), the historical language of the Ashkenazi Jews, was common among supporters of the Zionist movement, including the Yishuv, who sought to promote [Hebrew's revival](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revival_of_the_Hebrew_language) as a unifying national language.[\[629\]](../../page/8/#ref-629 "note 629")[580](../../580/ "tree and pragmatics") These sentiments were reflected in the early policies of the Israeli government, which largely banned [Yiddish theatre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yiddish_theatre) and publications.[\[630\]](../../page/8/#ref-630 "note 630")[581](../../581/ "tree and pragmatics") Until 2018, [Arabic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic_language_in_Israel) was also an official language;[\[14\]](../../page/8/#ref-14 "note 14") in 2018 it was downgraded to having a "special status in the state".[\[12\]](../../page/8/#ref-12 "note 12")[\[13\]](../../page/8/#ref-13 "note 13")[582](../../582/ "tree and pragmatics") Arabic is spoken by the Arab minority and is the main medium of teaching in Arab schools where Hebrew is studied as a subject.[\[631\]](../../page/8/#ref-631 "note 631")[583](../../583/ "tree and pragmatics") Arabic is studied in most Jewish schools and is often used on signage and in transport announcements.[\[632\]](../../page/8/#ref-632 "note 632")[584](../../584/ "tree and pragmatics") Due to mass immigration from the former Soviet Union and [Ethiopia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aliyah_from_Ethiopia) (some 130,000 [Ethiopian Jews live in Israel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopian_Jews_in_Israel)),[\[633\]](../../page/8/#ref-633 "note 633")[\[634\]](../../page/8/#ref-634 "note 634") [Russian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_language_in_Israel) and [Amharic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amharic) are widely spoken.[\[635\]](../../page/8/#ref-635 "note 635")[585](../../585/ "tree and pragmatics") Over one million Russian-speaking immigrants arrived in Israel between 1990 and 2004.[\[636\]](../../page/8/#ref-636 "note 636")[586](../../586/ "tree and pragmatics") French is spoken by around 700,000 Israelis,[\[637\]](../../page/8/#ref-637 "note 637") mostly originating [from France](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Jews_in_Israel) and North Africa (see [Maghrebi Jews](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maghrebi_Jews)).[587](../../587/ "tree and pragmatics") English was an official language during the Mandate period;[\[638\]](../../page/8/#ref-638 "note 638") it lost this status after the establishment of Israel, but retains a role comparable to that of an official language.[\[639\]](../../page/8/#ref-639 "note 639")[\[640\]](../../page/8/#ref-640 "note 640")[588](../../588/ "tree and pragmatics") Many Israelis communicate reasonably well in English, as many television programmes are broadcast in English with subtitles and the language is taught in elementary school.[589](../../589/ "tree and pragmatics") The primary medium of teaching in Israeli universities is Hebrew, but some courses are offered in English.[\[641\]](../../page/8/#ref-641 "note 641")[590](../../590/ "tree and pragmatics") The main language of the [Circassians in Israel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circassians_in_Israel) is [Adyghe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adyghe_language), and most of them also know Hebrew and Arabic.[591](../../591/ "tree and pragmatics") The deaf community in Israel primarily uses the [Israeli Sign Language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_Sign_Language).[592](../../592/ "tree and pragmatics") Several [village sign languages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Village_sign_language) are used in Israel, most notably the [Al-Sayyid Bedouin Sign Language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Sayyid_Bedouin_Sign_Language) and the [Kafr Qasem Sign Language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kafr_Qasem_Sign_Language).[593](../../593/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Religion Main article: [Religion in Israel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Israel) See also: [Abrahamic religions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrahamic_religions) The estimated religious affiliation as of 2022 was 73.5% Jewish, 18.1% [Muslim](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslims), 1.9% [Christian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christians), 1.6% [Druze](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Druze), and 4.9% other.[\[642\]](../../page/8/#ref-642 "note 642")[594](../../594/ "tree and pragmatics") The [religious affiliation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_religious_movements) of [Israeli Jews](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_Jews) varies widely: a 2016 survey by [Pew Research](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pew_Research) indicates that 49% self-identify as [Hiloni](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiloni) (secular), 29% as [Masorti](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masortim) (traditional), 13% as [Dati](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dati) (religious) and 9% as [Haredi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haredi_Judaism) (ultra-Orthodox).[\[643\]](../../page/8/#ref-643 "note 643")[595](../../595/ "tree and pragmatics") Haredi Jews are expected to represent over 20% of the Jewish population by 2028.[\[644\]](../../page/8/#ref-644 "note 644")[596](../../596/ "tree and pragmatics") [Muslims](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Israel) constitute the largest religious minority, making up about 18.1% of the population.[597](../../597/ "tree and pragmatics") About 1.9% of the population is [Christian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Israel), and 1.6% is [Druze](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Druze_in_Israel).[\[642\]](../../page/8/#ref-642 "note 642")[598](../../598/ "tree and pragmatics") The Christian population comprises primarily [Arab Christians](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_Christians) and [Aramean Christians](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arameans_in_Israel) but also includes post-Soviet immigrants, foreign labourers, [Armenian Christians](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenians_in_Israel_and_Palestine), and followers of [Messianic Judaism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messianic_Judaism), considered by most Christians and Jews to be a form of Christianity.[\[645\]](../../page/8/#ref-645 "note 645")[599](../../599/ "tree and pragmatics") Members of many other religious groups, including [Buddhists](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism) and [Hindus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism_in_Israel), maintain a presence in Israel, albeit in small numbers.[\[646\]](../../page/8/#ref-646 "note 646")[600](../../600/ "tree and pragmatics") Out of over one million immigrants from the former Soviet Union, about 300,000 are considered not Jewish by the [Chief Rabbinate of Israel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Rabbinate_of_Israel).[\[647\]](../../page/8/#ref-647 "note 647")[601](../../601/ "tree and pragmatics") Israel comprises a major part of the [Holy Land](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Land), a region of significant importance to all [Abrahamic religions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrahamic_religions).[602](../../602/ "tree and pragmatics") Jerusalem is of [special importance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_significance_of_Jerusalem) to Jews, Muslims, and Christians, as it is the home of [sites](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_places_in_Jerusalem) that are pivotal to their religious beliefs, such as the [Old City](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_City_%28Jerusalem%29) that incorporates the [Western Wall](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Wall) and the [Temple Mount](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_Mount) (Al-Aqsa Mosque compound) and the [Church of the Holy Sepulchre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_Holy_Sepulchre).[\[648\]](../../page/8/#ref-648 "note 648")[603](../../603/ "tree and pragmatics") Other locations of religious importance are [Nazareth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazareth) (site of the [Annunciation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annunciation) of [Mary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_%28mother_of_Jesus%29)), [Tiberias](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberias) and [Safed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safed) (two of the [Four Holy Cities](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Holy_Cities) in Judaism), the [White Mosque](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Mosque,_Ramla) in [Ramla](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramla) (shrine of the prophet [Saleh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salih)), and the [Church of Saint George and Mosque of Al-Khadr, Lod](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Saint_George_and_Mosque_of_Al-Khadr,_Lod) (tomb of [Saint George](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_George) or [Al Khidr](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Khidr)).[604](../../604/ "tree and pragmatics") A number of other religious landmarks are located in the [West Bank](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Bank), including [Joseph's Tomb](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph%27s_Tomb), the [birthplace of Jesus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_Nativity), [Rachel's Tomb](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel%27s_Tomb), and the [Cave of the Patriarchs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_of_the_Patriarchs).[605](../../605/ "tree and pragmatics") The [administrative center](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arc_%28Baháʼí%29) of the [Baháʼí Faith](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baháʼí_Faith) and the [Shrine of the Báb](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrine_of_the_Báb) are located at the [Baháʼí World Centre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baháʼí_World_Centre) in [Haifa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haifa); the leader of the faith is [buried](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrine_of_Bahá%27u%27lláh) in [Acre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acre,_Israel).[\[649\]](../../page/8/#ref-649 "note 649")[\[650\]](../../page/8/#ref-650 "note 650")[\[651\]](../../page/8/#ref-651 "note 651")[606](../../606/ "tree and pragmatics") The [Mahmood Mosque](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahmood_Mosque,_Haifa) is affiliated with the reformist [Ahmadiyya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmadiyya_in_Israel) movement.[607](../../607/ "tree and pragmatics") [Kababir](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kababir), Haifa's mixed neighbourhood of Jews and Ahmadi Arabs, is one of a few of its kind in the country.[\[652\]](../../page/8/#ref-652 "note 652")[\[653\]](../../page/8/#ref-653 "note 653")[608](../../608/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Education Main article: [Education in Israel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Israel) In 2015, Israel [ranked](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_tertiary_education_attainment) third among OECD members for the percentage of 25–64-year-olds that have attained tertiary education with 49% compared with the OECD average of 35%.[\[654\]](../../page/8/#ref-654 "note 654")[609](../../609/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2012, the country ranked third in the number of academic degrees per capita (20 per cent of the population).[\[655\]](../../page/8/#ref-655 "note 655")[610](../../610/ "tree and pragmatics") Israel has a [school life expectancy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_life_expectancy) of 16 years and a [literacy rate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_literacy_rate) of 97.8%.[\[315\]](../../page/8/#ref-315 "note 315")[611](../../611/ "tree and pragmatics") The State Education Law (1953) established five types of schools: state secular, state religious, ultra orthodox, communal settlement schools, and Arab schools.[612](../../612/ "tree and pragmatics") The public secular is the largest school group and is attended by the majority of Jewish and non-Arab pupils.[613](../../613/ "tree and pragmatics") Most Arabs send their children to Arabic-language schools.[\[631\]](../../page/8/#ref-631 "note 631")[614](../../614/ "tree and pragmatics") Education is compulsory between the ages of three and eighteen.[\[656\]](../../page/8/#ref-656 "note 656")[615](../../615/ "tree and pragmatics") Schooling is divided into three tiers—primary school (grades 1–6), middle school (grades 7–9), and high school (grades 10–12)—culminating with [Bagrut](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagrut) matriculation exams.[616](../../616/ "tree and pragmatics") Proficiency in core subjects such as mathematics, the Hebrew language, Hebrew and general literature, the English language, history, Biblical scripture and civics is necessary to receive a Bagrut certificate.[\[657\]](../../page/8/#ref-657 "note 657")[617](../../617/ "tree and pragmatics") The Jewish population maintains a relatively high level of educational attainment where just under half of all Israeli Jews (46%) hold post-secondary degrees.[\[658\]](../../page/8/#ref-658 "note 658")[\[659\]](../../page/8/#ref-659 "note 659")[618](../../618/ "tree and pragmatics") Israeli Jews 25 and older have an average 11.6 years of schooling, making them one of the most highly educated of all major religious groups in the world.[\[660\]](../../page/8/#ref-660 "note 660")[\[661\]](../../page/8/#ref-661 "note 661")[619](../../619/ "tree and pragmatics") In Arab, Christian and Druze schools, the exam on Biblical studies is replaced by an exam on Muslim, Christian or Druze heritage, respectively.[\[662\]](../../page/8/#ref-662 "note 662")[620](../../620/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2020, 68.7% of 12th graders earned a matriculation certificate.[\[663\]](../../page/8/#ref-663 "note 663")[621](../../621/ "tree and pragmatics") Israel has a tradition of higher education where its university education has been largely responsible in spurring modern economic development.[\[664\]](../../page/8/#ref-664 "note 664")[622](../../622/ "tree and pragmatics") Israel has [nine public universities subsidised by the state and 49 private colleges](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Israeli_universities_and_colleges).[\[657\]](../../page/8/#ref-657 "note 657")[\[665\]](../../page/8/#ref-665 "note 665")[\[666\]](../../page/8/#ref-666 "note 666")[623](../../623/ "tree and pragmatics") The [Hebrew University of Jerusalem](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_University_of_Jerusalem) houses the [National Library of Israel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Library_of_Israel), the world's largest repository of Judaica and Hebraica.[\[667\]](../../page/8/#ref-667 "note 667")[624](../../624/ "tree and pragmatics") The [Technion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technion) and the Hebrew University consistently ranked among world's 100 top universities by [ARWU](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_Ranking_of_World_Universities) ranking.[\[555\]](../../page/8/#ref-555 "note 555")[625](../../625/ "tree and pragmatics") Other major universities include the [Weizmann Institute of Science](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weizmann_Institute_of_Science), [Tel Aviv University](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tel_Aviv_University), [Ben-Gurion University of the Negev](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben-Gurion_University_of_the_Negev), [Bar-Ilan University](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bar-Ilan_University), the [University of Haifa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Haifa), and the [Open University of Israel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_University_of_Israel).[626](../../626/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Health Main article: [Health in Israel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_in_Israel) [Health in Israel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_in_Israel) is advanced and efficient compared to other developed countries; Israel spends 7.3% of their gross domestic product on health compared to 9.3% in the OECD and 18% in the US.[627](../../627/ "tree and pragmatics") With the passing of the 1995 National Healthcare Law, there is mandated universal healthcare for 100% of the population funded by a health tax which is a fixed percentage of income.[\[668\]](../../page/8/#ref-668 "note 668")[\[669\]](../../page/8/#ref-669 "note 669")[628](../../628/ "tree and pragmatics") This health care 'basket' includes a list of services mandated by the Ministry of health.[629](../../629/ "tree and pragmatics") Individuals can purchase coverage for additional services for an extra charge.[\[670\]](../../page/8/#ref-670 "note 670")[630](../../630/ "tree and pragmatics") Despite the cost savings in healthcare, the health status in Israel is satisfactory compared to other countries.[\[668\]](../../page/8/#ref-668 "note 668")[\[671\]](../../page/8/#ref-671 "note 671")[631](../../631/ "tree and pragmatics") The life expectancy in Israel is 83.8 years, above the [OECD](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OECD) average by 2.7 years.[632](../../632/ "tree and pragmatics") Preventable mortality is 78 per 100,000, which is less than the OECD average of 145, whereas treatable mortality is 56 per 100,000, also less than the OECD average of 77.[633](../../633/ "tree and pragmatics") The suicide rate is 4 per 100,000, which is lower than the OECD average of 11.[634](../../634/ "tree and pragmatics") However, 9.1% of Israelis consider their health status bad or very bad, which is higher than the OECD average of 8.0%.[\[672\]](../../page/8/#ref-672 "note 672")[635](../../635/ "tree and pragmatics") Major risk factors include, smoking by 17.0 percent of the population, above the OECD average of 14.8 percent.[636](../../636/ "tree and pragmatics") Alcohol use is less at 2.7 liters per person compared to 8.5 liters.[637](../../637/ "tree and pragmatics") Twenty-eight percent of adults do not get exercise, a little below the 30 percent average.[638](../../638/ "tree and pragmatics") Obesity in Israel is 18 percent, near the OECDs 19 percent.[\[672\]](../../page/8/#ref-672 "note 672")[639](../../639/ "tree and pragmatics") ## Culture Main article: [Culture of Israel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Israel) Cultural diversity stems from its diverse population: Jews from various diaspora communities brought their cultural and religious traditions with them.[\[673\]](../../page/8/#ref-673 "note 673")[640](../../640/ "tree and pragmatics") [Arab influences](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_citizens_of_Israel#Culture) are found in [architecture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture_of_Israel),[\[674\]](../../page/8/#ref-674 "note 674") [music](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Israel),[\[675\]](../../page/8/#ref-675 "note 675") and [cuisine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_cuisine),[\[676\]](../../page/8/#ref-676 "note 676") among others.[\[677\]](../../page/8/#ref-677 "note 677")[641](../../641/ "tree and pragmatics") Israel is the only country where life revolves around the [Hebrew calendar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_calendar), which is aligned to the seasons in the Levant.[642](../../642/ "tree and pragmatics") [Public holidays](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_holidays_in_Israel) are determined by the [Jewish holidays](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_holidays), and except for [Yom HaAtzma'ut](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yom_HaAtzma%27ut) (Independence Day) there are no annual civil holidays.[643](../../643/ "tree and pragmatics") The official day of rest is Saturday, the [Jewish Sabbath](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shabbat).[\[678\]](../../page/8/#ref-678 "note 678")[644](../../644/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Literature [Israeli literature](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_literature) is primarily [poetry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_Hebrew_poetry) and prose written in Hebrew, as part of the [renaissance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revival_of_the_Hebrew_language) of Hebrew as a spoken language since the mid-19th century, although a small body of literature is published in other languages.[645](../../645/ "tree and pragmatics") By law, two copies of all works published in Israel must be deposited in the [National Library](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Library_of_Israel).[\[679\]](../../page/8/#ref-679 "note 679")[646](../../646/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2016, 89 per cent of the 7,300 books transferred to the library were in Hebrew.[\[680\]](../../page/8/#ref-680 "note 680")[647](../../647/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1966, [Shmuel Yosef Agnon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shmuel_Yosef_Agnon) shared the [Nobel Prize in Literature](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_Prize_in_Literature) with German Jewish author [Nelly Sachs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelly_Sachs).[\[681\]](../../page/8/#ref-681 "note 681")[648](../../648/ "tree and pragmatics") Leading poets include [Yehuda Amichai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yehuda_Amichai), [Nathan Alterman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Alterman), [Leah Goldberg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leah_Goldberg), and [Rachel Bluwstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Bluwstein).[\[682\]](../../page/8/#ref-682 "note 682")[649](../../649/ "tree and pragmatics") Internationally famous contemporary novelists include [Amos Oz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amos_Oz), [Etgar Keret](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etgar_Keret) and [David Grossman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Grossman).[\[683\]](../../page/8/#ref-683 "note 683")[\[684\]](../../page/8/#ref-684 "note 684")[650](../../650/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Music and dance Further information: [Music of Israel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Israel), [Dance in Israel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_in_Israel) [Israeli music](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Israel) includes [Mizrahi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mizrahi_music) and [Sephardic music](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sephardic_music), [Hasidic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasidic_Judaism) melodies, [Greek music](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_music_in_Israel), [jazz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz), and [pop rock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_rock).[\[685\]](../../page/8/#ref-685 "note 685")[\[686\]](../../page/8/#ref-686 "note 686")[651](../../651/ "tree and pragmatics") The [Israel Philharmonic Orchestra](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Philharmonic_Orchestra)[\[687\]](../../page/8/#ref-687 "note 687")[\[688\]](../../page/8/#ref-688 "note 688") has been in operation for over seventy years and performs more than two hundred concerts each year.[\[689\]](../../page/8/#ref-689 "note 689")[652](../../652/ "tree and pragmatics") [Itzhak Perlman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itzhak_Perlman), [Pinchas Zukerman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinchas_Zukerman) and [Ofra Haza](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ofra_Haza) are among the internationally acclaimed musicians born in Israel.[653](../../653/ "tree and pragmatics") The country in the [Eurovision Song Contest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurovision_Song_Contest) nearly every year since 1973, winning it four times and hosting three times.[\[690\]](../../page/8/#ref-690 "note 690")[654](../../654/ "tree and pragmatics") [Eilat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eilat) has hosted its own international music festival, the [Red Sea Jazz Festival](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Sea_Jazz_Festival), every summer since 1987.[\[691\]](../../page/8/#ref-691 "note 691")[655](../../655/ "tree and pragmatics") The nation's canonical [folk songs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folk_music) are known as "Songs of the Land of Israel".[\[692\]](../../page/8/#ref-692 "note 692")[656](../../656/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Israel/) [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Israel/page/2/) [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Israel/page/3/) [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Israel/page/4/) [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Israel/page/5/) [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Israel/page/6/) **7** [8](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Israel/page/8/) - ← previous: [page 6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Israel/page/6/) - next →: [page 8](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Israel/page/8/) - ↑ back to [English Wikipedia](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/)