62% of the believing population of Israel profess Judaism, over 13% – Islam, 5% – Christianity.
Transport in Israel
The best way to get to Israel is by plane, with international airports in Tel Aviv and Eilat. From European countries can also be reached by sea. Israel
has a well-developed domestic airline network, especially between Tel Aviv and Eilat. In addition, air-conditioned buses run between cities, or fixed-route taxis, which will cost you less. The main railway lines are laid between Haifa and Nahariya, Haifa and Tel Aviv and between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem
. Trains in the country correspond to European class 2, and the fare is less than in buses.
Inside cities, transport is mainly represented by buses, tickets for which are bought from drivers. Tickets are for one trip, for one day or for a week. A ticket for 1 day costs a little more than 2 one-time tickets, but the number of trips that day on city buses is not limited. Haifa has a subway, which is a funicular that travels underground. Traffic in all cities of Israel ends on Friday evening and resumes on Saturday evening. These days it is best to use taxi services, but you will have to pay 25% more than on ordinary days. All taxis are equipped with meters; when traveling between cities, prices are fixed – the driver must have a price list.
To rent a car, you must have a driver’s license, a credit card and be over 21 years old.
Plant and Animal World in Israel
On the Mediterranean coast, forests of pine, oak grow, and European olive is found. Maquis is widespread – impenetrable thickets of thorny evergreen shrubs, where Calypri and gall oak grow along with hawthorn, Palestinian, Atlantic and mastic pistachio and carob. Oaks, noble laurel, strawberry and Judas wood, oriental sycamore and Syrian maple predominate in the wettest areas. Tavor oak and sycamore are found in the coastal strip. Annuals bloom in dry steppes – wormwood and noea. In the lower reaches of the Jordan, unabi bushes grow in abundance.
Of the large mammals in Israel, there are leopards, cheetahs, caracal, lynx, jungle cat, wolf, jackal, striped hyena, Mediterranean fox, badger, one-humped camel, gazelles, fallow deer, maned sheep, antelopes, Nubian mountain goat, oryx, wild boar. There are many rodents in the country. Of the birds of prey, the griffon vulture, hawk eagle, greater spotted eagle, bearded vulture, black vulture, kite, buzzard, several species of falcons, vulture, sparrowhawk, owl, owl, barn owl, eagle owl, and tawny owl are common. In addition, there are storks, herons, pelicans, hoopoe, jay, gulls, crows, stone partridges and quails. Dolphins and dugong are found in the seas. A wide variety of reptiles – the Palestinian viper, efa, horned and stone vipers, black cobra, boa, lizard snake, water snake, black and Syrian snake, chameleons, yellow-bellied lizard, monitor lizard, lizards, skinks,
Minerals in Israel
In the Negev there is a large deposit of phosphorites, clay and quartz sand are also mined here. Salts of potassium, bromine and magnesium are extracted from the waters of the Dead Sea. There are small reserves of oil and natural gas.
Banks in Israel
Banks are open from Monday to Wednesday from 8:30 to 12:00, on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday from 16:00 to 18:00.
Money in Israel
The national currency of Israel is the Israeli new shekel, which is equal to 100 hagarots. In circulation there are banknotes of 20, 50, 100 and 200 shekels, coins of 5, 10, 50 agarot and 1, 5 and 10 shekels.
Currency is best changed at banks and exchange offices. Credit cards are accepted throughout.
Rate: 10 Israeli New Shekel (ILS) = 2.56 USD
Political State in Israel
According to politicsezine, Israel is a parliamentary republic. The head of state is the president. The legislature is the Knesset (unicameral parliament), which elects the president. The main executive body is the Government headed by the Prime Minister.
Population in Israel
Most of the population is Jewish (81%), the rest are Arabs.
Language:
The official languages of Israel are Hebrew and Arabic. English is widely used in tourist areas, many people know Russian.
Cuisine in Israel
Local residents eat mainly kosher food, that is, foods that comply with Jewish nutritional laws. Pork, lobster, squid, shrimp and crabs are prohibited. Dairy and meat products should never be mixed, some restaurants are even divided into meat and dairy.
For the first in Israel, a variety of broths and homemade noodles are served. The most popular meat dishes are roast “meorav jerushalmi” from four types of meat, Jewish meat, as well as all kinds of meatballs. For seafood, you should try grilled stuffed fish or marinated tuna. In Jewish cuisine, vegetable dishes are very common – vinaigrette, pancakes “latkes”, potato pancakes “bulbelatkes”, mashed yellow peas, onions, spices and garlic “hummus” and pea-bean balls “falafel” fried in oil. The meal ends with tea or black coffee, which is served with sweet spring rolls, hamantash poppy seed pies and lekakh gingerbread with almonds.
