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 Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, is located in the heart of the country, nestled among the Judean Hills. The city's ancient stones, imbued with millennia of history, and its numerous historical sites, shrines and places of worship attest to its meaning for Jews, Christians and Muslims. Its modern architecture, well-tended parks, contemporary malls, outlying industrial zones, and ever-expanding suburbs proclaim its hopes for the future.
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Israel's area within boundaries and cease-fire lines, including the areas under Palestinian self-government, is 10,840 square miles (27,800 sq.km.). Long and narrow in shape, it is some 290 miles (470 km.) in length and about 85 miles (135 km.) across at the widest point. The country is bordered by Lebanon to the north, Syria to the northeast, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the southwest and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Mountains and plains, fertile fields and desert are often minutes apart. The width of the country, from the Mediterranean Sea in the west to the Dead Sea in the east, can be crossed by car in about 90 minutes; and the trip from Metulla, in the far north, to Eilat at the country's southern tip takes about six hours.
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 A positive upsurge in Israel's economic activity - led by a remarkable 6.4% growth rate of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) - was last registered in the year 2000. Deteriorating security circumstances have since been the chief cause of a distinct slow-down in almost all branches of economic activity. For the first time in close to five decades, the GDP actually decreased in 2001: its real growth being -0.6% took the country far away from its heyday (in the first half of the 1990s), when it was listed as enjoying the fastest GDP-growth-rate among world economies. Israel's per capita GDP ($US18,400 in 2000 which placed it 22nd in the world) has fallen to $US17,300 in 2001.
With a population of only 6.5 million, Israel has been internationally acclaimed throughout the years, in particular for its extraordinary achievements in agriculture, irrigation, and various high-tech industries and electronic start-ups. Free trade agreements with Europe (EU and EFTA) and the United States during the past two decades facilitated Israel's expanding exports of goods and services (which exceeded $45 billion in 2000), as well as its participation in international business enterprises (which contributed to the country's accelerated growth during most of the 1990s).
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Israel is an old-new country, small in size, but with a culturally active, heterogeneous population. Four thousand years of Jewish heritage, over a century of Zionism, and more than half a century of modern statehood have contributed to a culture which has already created an identity of its own, while preserving the uniqueness of 70 different communities.
A largely immigrant society, Israel's creative expression has absorbed many different cultural and social influences, as it blends tradition and innovation, and strives to steer a course between Israeli particularism and universalism.
The constant search for cultural identity is expressed through creativity in a broad range of art forms, appreciated and enjoyed by a great many people as part of daily life.
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Education in Israel is a precious legacy. Following the tradition of past generations, education continues to be a fundamental value and is recognized as the key to the future. The educational system aims to prepare children to become responsible members of a democratic, pluralistic society in which people from different ethnic, religious, cultural and political backgrounds coexist. It is based on Jewish values, love of the land and the principles of liberty and tolerance. It seeks to impart a high level of knowledge, with an emphasis on scientific and technological skills essential for the country's continued development.
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Scientific research and its achievements are no longer merely an abstract intellectual pursuit... but a central factor... in the life of every civilized people... (David Ben-Gurion, 1962)
Like many other small countries, Israel has sharply defined scientific and technological policies aimed at enhancing its competitive position. In science, it encourages the establishment of centers of excellence around outstanding scientists, while maintaining a level of quality across the broad spectrum of scientific fields. In technology, Israel strives for high performance through concentration on a limited number of areas.The percentage of Israelis engaged in scientific and technological inquiry, and the amount spent on research and development (R&D), in relation to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), are among the highest in the world.
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