From Wikipedia - The State of Israel (Hebrew: מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, Medinat Yisra'el; Arabic: دَوْلَةْ إِسْرَائِيل, Dawlat Isrā'īl) is a country in the Western Asian Levant, on the southeastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Lebanon on the north, Syria and Jordan on the east, and Egypt on the south-west.
The State of Israel was created in 1948. With a diverse population currently exceeding seven million citizens of primarily Jewish background and religion, it is the world's only Jewish state. Jerusalem is the capital city and seat of government. Israel is the only country in the Middle East considered to be a liberal democracy, having a broad array of political rights and civil liberties present. In addition, Israel is considered the most advanced in the region in terms of freedom of the press, business regulations, economic competition, economic freedom, and overall human development.
The ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to be a source of tension within and outside of Israel. In particular, this has caused tension with Israel's Arab neighbors, some of whom Israel has also come into conflict with. Groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have been critical of Israeli policies, while other organizations such as Freedom House and the United States government are generally supportive of Israel.
