Israel
         n 1: Jewish republic in southwestern Asia at eastern end of
               Mediterranean; formerly part of Palestine [syn: {Israel},
               {State of Israel}, {Yisrael}, {Zion}, {Sion}]
         2: an ancient kingdom of the Hebrew tribes at the southeastern
            end of the Mediterranean Sea; founded by Saul around 1025 BC
            and destroyed by the Assyrians in 721 BC

English Dictionary: Israel Strassberg	by the DICT Development Group
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
Israel Baline n United States songwriter (born in Russia) who wrote more than 1500 songs and several musical comedies (1888-1989) Synonym(s): Berlin, Irving Berlin, Israel Baline
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
Israel Strassberg n United States actor and film director (born in Austria) who was a leader in developing method acting in the United States (1901-1982) Synonym(s): Strasberg, Lee Strasberg, Israel Strassberg
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
Israel Zangwill n English writer (1864-1926) [syn: Zangwill, {Israel Zangwill}]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
Israeli adj of or relating to or characteristic of Israel or its people n a native or inhabitant of Israel
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
Israeli Defense Force n the ground and air and naval forces of Israel [syn: Israeli Defense Force, IDF]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
Israeli monetary unit n monetary unit in Israel
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
Israelite n a native or inhabitant of the ancient kingdom of Israel a person belonging to the worldwide group claiming descent from Jacob (or converted to it) and connected by cultural or religious ties Synonym(s): Jew, Hebrew, Israelite
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
Israelites n the ethnic group claiming descent from Abraham and Isaac (especially from Isaac's son Jacob); the nation whom God chose to receive his revelation and with whom God chose to make a covenant (Exodus 19) Synonym(s): Hebrews, Israelites
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Jacob \Ja"cob\, n. [Cf. F. Jacob. See 2d {Jack}.]       A Hebrew patriarch (son of Isaac, and ancestor of the Jews),       who in a vision saw a ladder reaching up to heaven (--Gen.       xxviii. 12); -- also called {Israel}.                   And Jacob said . . . with my staff I passed over this                Jordan, and now I am become two bands.   --Gen. xxxii.                                                                               9, 10.                   Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel.                                                                               --Gen. xxxii.                                                                               28.          {Jacob's ladder}.       (a) (Bot.) A perennial herb of the genus {Polemonium} ({P.             c[d2]ruleum), having corymbs of drooping flowers, usually             blue. Gray}.       (b) (Naut.) A rope ladder, with wooden steps, for going             aloft. --R. H. Dana, Jr.       (c) (Naut.) A succession of short cracks in a defective spar.                      {Jacob's membrane}. See {Retina}.          {Jacob's staff}.       (a) A name given to many forms of staff or weapon, especially             in the Middle Ages; a pilgrim's staff. [Obs.] --Spenser.       (b) (Surveying) See under {Staff}.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Israelite \Is"ra*el*ite\, n. [L. Isra[89]lites, Gr. [?], fr.       [?], [?], Israel, Heb. Yisr[be][?]l, i. e., champion of God;       s[be]r[be]h to fight + [?]l God.]       A descendant of Israel, or Jacob; a Hebrew; a Jew.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Israelitic \Is`ra*el*it"ic\, Israelitish \Is"ra*el*i`tish\, a.       Of or pertaining to Israel, or to the Israelites; Jewish;       Hebrew.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Israelitic \Is`ra*el*it"ic\, Israelitish \Is"ra*el*i`tish\, a.       Of or pertaining to Israel, or to the Israelites; Jewish;       Hebrew.
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:
Israel       the name conferred on Jacob after the great prayer-struggle at       Peniel (Gen. 32:28), because "as a prince he had power with God       and prevailed." (See {JACOB}.) This is the common name       given to Jacob's descendants. The whole people of the twelve       tribes are called "Israelites," the "children of Israel" (Josh.       3:17; 7:25; Judg. 8:27; Jer. 3:21), and the "house of Israel"       (Ex. 16:31; 40:38).                This name Israel is sometimes used emphatically for the true       Israel (Ps. 73:1: Isa. 45:17; 49:3; John 1:47; Rom. 9:6; 11:26).                After the death of Saul the ten tribes arrogated to themselves       this name, as if they were the whole nation (2 Sam. 2:9, 10, 17,       28; 3:10, 17; 19:40-43), and the kings of the ten tribes were       called "kings of Israel," while the kings of the two tribes were       called "kings of Judah."                After the Exile the name Israel was assumed as designating the       entire nation.
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:
Israel, Kingdom of       (B.C. 975-B.C. 722). Soon after the death of Solomon, Ahijah's       prophecy (1 Kings 11:31-35) was fulfilled, and the kingdom was       rent in twain. Rehoboam, the son and successor of Solomon, was       scarcely seated on his throne when the old jealousies between       Judah and the other tribes broke out anew, and Jeroboam was sent       for from Egypt by the malcontents (12:2,3). Rehoboam insolently       refused to lighten the burdensome taxation and services which       his father had imposed on his subjects (12:4), and the rebellion       became complete. Ephraim and all Israel raised the old cry,       "Every man to his tents, O Israel" (2 Sam. 20:1). Rehoboam fled       to Jerusalem (1 Kings 12:1-18; 2 Chr. 10), and Jeroboam was       proclaimed king over all Israel at Shechem, Judah and Benjamin       remaining faithful to Solomon's son. War, with varying success,       was carried on between the two kingdoms for about sixty years,       till Jehoshaphat entered into an alliance with the house of       Ahab.                Extent of the kingdom. In the time of Solomon the area of       Palestine, excluding the Phoenician territories on the shore of       the Mediterranean, did not much exceed 13,000 square miles. The       kingdom of Israel comprehended about 9,375 square miles. Shechem       was the first capital of this kingdom (1 Kings 12:25),       afterwards Tirza (14:17). Samaria was subsequently chosen as the       capital (16:24), and continued to be so till the destruction of       the kingdom by the Assyrians (2 Kings 17:5). During the siege of       Samaria (which lasted for three years) by the Assyrians,       Shalmaneser died and was succeeded by Sargon, who himself thus       records the capture of that city: "Samaria I looked at, I       captured; 27,280 men who dwelt in it I carried away" (2 Kings       17:6) into Assyria. Thus after a duration of two hundred and       fifty-three years the kingdom of the ten tribes came to an end.       They were scattered throughout the East. (See {CAPTIVITY}.)                "Judah held its ground against Assyria for yet one hundred and       twenty-three years, and became the rallying-point of the       dispersed of every tribe, and eventually gave its name to the       whole race. Those of the people who in the last struggle escaped       into the territories of Judah or other neighbouring countries       naturally looked to Judah as the head and home of their race.       And when Judah itself was carried off to Babylon, many of the       exiled Israelites joined them from Assyria, and swelled that       immense population which made Babylonia a second Palestine."                After the deportation of the ten tribes, the deserted land was       colonized by various eastern tribes, whom the king of Assyria       sent thither (Ezra 4:2, 10; 2 Kings 17:24-29). (See {KINGS}.)                In contrast with the kingdom of Judah is that of Israel. (1.)       "There was no fixed capital and no religious centre. (2.) The       army was often insubordinate. (3.) The succession was constantly       interrupted, so that out of nineteen kings there were no less       than nine dynasties, each ushered in by a revolution. (4.) The       authorized priests left the kingdom in a body, and the       priesthood established by Jeroboam had no divine sanction and no       promise; it was corrupt at its very source." (Maclean's O. T.       Hist.)
From Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's) [hitchcock]:
Israel, who prevails with God
From The CIA World Factbook (1995) [world95]:
Israel       (also see separate Gaza Strip and West Bank entries) Note: The    territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 war are not included in    the data below. In keeping with the framework established at the    Madrid Conference in October 1991, bilateral negotiations are being    conducted between Israel and Palestinian representatives, Syria, and    Jordan to determine the final status of the occupied territories. On    25 April 1982, Israel withdrew from the Sinai pursuant to the 1979    Israel-Egypt Peace treaty. Outstanding territorial and other disputes    with Jordan were resolved in the 26 October 1994 Israel-Jordan Treaty    of Peace.       Israel:Geography       Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt    and Lebanon       Map references: Middle East       Area:    total area: 20,770 sq km    land area: 20,330 sq km    comparative area: slightly larger than New Jersey       Land boundaries: total 1,006 km, Egypt 255 km, Gaza Strip 51 km,    Jordan 238 km, Lebanon 79 km, Syria 76 km, West Bank 307 km       Coastline: 273 km       Maritime claims:    continental shelf: to depth of exploitation    territorial sea: 12 nm       International disputes: separated from Lebanon, Syria, and the West    Bank by the 1949 Armistice Line; the Gaza Strip and Jericho area,    formerly occupied by Israel, are now administered largely by the    Palestinian Authority; other areas of the West Bank outside Jericho    are administered jointly by Israel and the Palestinian Authority;    Golan Heights is Israeli occupied; Israeli troops in southern Lebanon    since June 1982       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       Natural resources: copper, phosphates, bromide, potash, clay, sand,    sulfur, asphalt, manganese, small amounts of natural gas and crude oil       Land use:    arable land: 17%    permanent crops: 5%    meadows and pastures: 40%    forest and woodland: 6%    other: 32%       Irrigated land: 2,140 sq km (1989)       Environment:    current issues: limited arable land and natural fresh water resources    pose serious constraints; desertification; air pollution from    industrial and vehicle emissions; groundwater pollution from    industrial and domestic waste, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides    natural hazards: sandstorms may occur during spring and summer    international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Endangered Species,    Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship    Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change, Desertification,    Marine Life Conservation       Note: there are 199 Jewish settlements and civilian land use sites in    the West Bank, 42 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 24 in the    Gaza Strip, and 25 in East Jerusalem (August 1994 est.)       Israel:People       Population: 5,433,134 (July 1995 est.)    note: includes 122,000 Jewish settlers in the West Bank, 14,500 in the    Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 4,800 in the Gaza Strip, and 149,000    in East Jerusalem (August 1994 est.)       Age structure:    0-14 years: 29%    15-64 years: 61%    65 years and over: 10%       Population growth rate: 1.4% (1995 est.)       Birth rate: 20.39 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)       Death rate: 6.38 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)       Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)       Infant mortality rate: 8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)       Life expectancy at birth:    total population: 78.14 years    male: 76 years    female: 80.39 years (1995 est.)       Total fertility rate: 2.81 children born/woman (1995 est.)       Nationality:    noun: Israeli(s)    adjective: Israeli       Ethnic divisions: Jewish 82% (Israel born 50%, Europe/Americas/Oceania    born 20%, Africa born 7%, Asia born 5%), non-Jewish 18% (mostly Arab)    (1993 est.)       Religions: Judaism 82%, Islam 14% (mostly Sunni Muslim), Christian 2%,    Druze and other 2%       Languages: Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab    minority, English most commonly used foreign language       Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1992)    total population: 95%    male: 97%    female: 93%       Labor force: 1.9 million (1992)    by occupation: public services 29.3%, industry 22.1%, commerce 13.9%,    finance and business 10.4%, personal and other services 7.4%,    construction 6.5%, transport, storage, and communications 6.3%,    agriculture, forestry, and fishing 3.5%, other 0.6% (1992)       Israel:Government       Names:    conventional long form: State of Israel    conventional short form: Israel    local long form: Medinat Yisra'el    local short form: Yisra'el       Digraph: IS       Type: republic       Capital: Jerusalem    note: Israel proclaimed Jerusalem its capital in 1950, but the US,    like nearly all other countries, does not recognize this status, and    maintains its Embassy in Tel Aviv       Administrative divisions: 6 districts (mehozot, singular - mehoz);    Central, Haifa, Jerusalem, Northern, Southern, Tel Aviv       Independence: 14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under    British administration)       National holiday: Independence Day, 14 May 1948 (Israel declared    independence on 14 May 1948, but the Jewish calendar is lunar and the    holiday may occur in April or May)       Constitution: no formal constitution; some of the functions of a    constitution are filled by the Declaration of Establishment (1948),    the basic laws of the parliament (Knesset), and the Israeli    citizenship law       Legal system: mixture of English common law, British Mandate    regulations, and, in personal matters, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim    legal systems; in December 1985, Israel informed the UN Secretariat    that it would no longer accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction       Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal       Executive branch:    chief of state: President Ezer WEIZMAN (since 13 May 1993) election    last held 24 March 1993 (next to be held NA March 1999); results -    Ezer WEIZMAN elected by Knesset    head of government: Prime Minister Yitzhak RABIN (since NA July 1992)    cabinet: Cabinet; selected from and approved by the Knesset       Legislative branch: unicameral    parliament (Knesset): elections last held NA June 1992 (next to be    held by NA 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (120    total) Labor 44, Likud 32, MERETZ 12, Tzomet 8, National Religious    Party 6, SHAS 6, United Torah Jewry 4, Democratic Front for Peace and    Equality (Hadash) 3, Moledet 3, Arab Democratic Party 2; note - in    1994 four legislators broke party ranks, resulting in the following    new distribution of seats - Labor Party 44, Likud bloc 32, MERETZ 12,    National Religious Party 6, SHAS 6, Tzomet 5, United Torah Jewry 4,    Democratic Front for Peace and Equality (Hadash) 3, Moledet 2, Arab    Democratic Party 2, independents 4 (1 in coalition, 3 voting with    opposition)       Judicial branch: Supreme Court       Political parties and leaders:    members of the government: Labor Party, Prime Minister Yitzhak RABIN;    MERETZ, Minister of Communications Shulamit ALONI; independent, Gonen    SEGEV    not in coalition, but voting with the government: Democratic Front for    Peace and Equality (Hadash), Hashim MAHAMID; Arab Democratic Party,    Abd al Wahab DARAWSHAH    opposition parties: Likud Party, Binyamin NETANYAHU; Tzomet, Rafael    EITAN; National Religious Party, Zevulun HAMMER; United Torah Jewry,    Avraham SHAPIRA; Moledet, Rehavam ZEEVI; Peace Guard (independent),    Shaul GUTMAN; SHAS, Arieh DERI    note: Israel currently has a coalition government comprising 2 parties    and an independent that hold 57 seats of the Knesset's 120 seats       Other political or pressure groups: Gush Emunim, Israeli nationalists    advocating Jewish settlement on the West Bank and Gaza Strip; Peace    Now supports territorial concessions in the West Bank and is critical    of government's Lebanon policy       Member of: AG (observer), CCC, CE (observer), CERN (observer), EBRD,    ECE, FAO, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC,    ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, OAS    (observer), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO,    WMO, WTO       Diplomatic representation in US:    chief of mission: Ambassador Itamar RABINOVICH    chancery: 3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008    telephone: [1] (202) 364-5500    FAX: [1] (202) 364-5610    consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles,    Miami, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco       US diplomatic representation:    chief of mission: Ambassador Martin INDYK    embassy: 71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv    mailing address: PSC 98, Box 100, Tel Aviv; APO AE 09830    telephone: [972] (3) 517-4338    FAX: [972] (3) 663-449    consulate(s) general: Jerusalem       Flag: white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as    the Magen David (Shield of David) centered between two equal    horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag       Economy       Overview: Israel has a market economy with substantial government    participation. It depends on imports of crude oil, grains, raw    materials, and military equipment. Despite limited natural resources,    Israel has intensively developed its agricultural and industrial    sectors over the past 20 years. Industry employs about 22% of Israeli    workers, construction 6.5%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 3.5%,    and services most of the rest. Israel is largely self-sufficient in    food production except for grains. Diamonds, high-technology    equipment, and agricultural products (fruits and vegetables) are    leading exports. Israel usually posts current account deficits, which    are covered by large transfer payments from abroad and by foreign    loans. Roughly half of the government's external debt is owed to the    United States, which is its major source of economic and military aid.    To earn needed foreign exchange, Israel has been targeting    high-technology niches in international markets, such as medical    scanning equipment. The influx of Jewish immigrants from the former    USSR, which topped 450,000 during the period 1990-94, increased    unemployment, intensified housing problems, and strained the    government budget. At the same time, the immigrants bring to the    economy valuable scientific and professional expertise.       National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $70.1 billion (1994    est.)       National product real growth rate: 6.8% (1994 est.)       National product per capita: $13,880 (1994 est.)       Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14.5% (1994)       Unemployment rate: 7.5% (1994 est.)       Budget:    revenues: $42.3 billion    expenditures: $45.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $11.1    billion (FY92/93)       Exports: $16.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)    commodities: machinery and equipment, cut diamonds, chemicals,    textiles and apparel, agricultural products, metals    partners: US, EU, Japan       Imports: $22.5 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)    commodities: military equipment, investment goods, rough diamonds,    oil, other productive inputs, consumer goods    partners: EU, US, Japan       External debt: $25.9 billion (November 1994 est.)       Industrial production: growth rate 8% (1994 est.); accounts for about    30% of GDP       Electricity:    capacity: 4,140,000 kW    production: 23 billion kWh    consumption per capita: 4,290 kWh (1993)       Industries: food processing, diamond cutting and polishing, textiles    and apparel, chemicals, metal products, military equipment, transport    equipment, electrical equipment, miscellaneous machinery, potash    mining, high-technology electronics, tourism       Agriculture: citrus and other fruits, vegetables, cotton; beef,    poultry, dairy products       Illicit drugs: increasingly concerned about cocaine and heroin abuse    and trafficking       Economic aid:    recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $18.2 billion;    Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments    (1970-89), $2.8 billion       Currency: 1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot       Exchange rates: new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1 - 3.070 (December    1994), 3.0111 (1994), 2.8301 (1993), 2.4591 (1992), 2.2791 (1991),    2.0162 (1990), 1.9164 (1989)       Fiscal year: calendar year (since 1 January 1992)       Israel:Transportation       Railroads:    total: 520 km (diesel operated; single track)    standard gauge: 520 km 1.435-m gauge       Highways:    total: 13,461 km    paved: 13,461 km       Pipelines: crude oil 708 km; petroleum products 290 km; natural gas 89    km       Ports: Ashdod, Ashqelon, Elat, Hadera, Haifa, Tel Aviv-Yafo       Merchant marine:    total: 32 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 624,861 GRT/720,765 DWT    ships by type: cargo 7, container 22, refrigerated cargo 2,    roll-on/roll-off cargo 1       Airports:    total: 57    with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2    with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6    with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8    with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 7    with paved runways under 914 m: 31    with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3       Israel:Communications       Telephone system: 1,800,000 telephones; most highly developed in the    Middle East although not the largest    local: NA    intercity: good system of coaxial cable and microwave radio relay    international: 3 submarine cables; 3 INTELSAT (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1    Indian Ocean) earth stations       Radio:    broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 45, shortwave 0    radios: NA       Television:    broadcast stations: 20    televisions: NA       Israel:Defense Forces       Branches: Israel Defense Forces (includes ground, naval, and air    components), Pioneer Fighting Youth (Nahal), Frontier Guard, Chen    (women); note - historically there have been no separate Israeli    military services       Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,309,502; females age 15-49    1,283,923; males fit for military service 1,072,501; females fit for    military service 1,047,575; males reach military age (18) annually    47,950; females reach military age (18) annually 45,839 (1995 est.)    note: military service mandatory for men and women       Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $6.5 billion, about    10% of GDP (1995)