75 things you didn’t know about Israel

April 26, 2023

1. Israel is fondly known as a "Startup Nation".
2. Tel Aviv is the vegan capital of the Middle East
3. The Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth.
4. The Sea of Galilea is the second lowest lake on earth (after the dead sea)
5. Tel Aviv has the largest Pride parade in the middle east and rivals Pride parades around the world.
6. Israel has boutique distilleries that have won multiple awards on the world stage.
7. Israel may not be the first place that comes to mind when people think about sourcing the world’s finest caviar. Which only makes the story behind Karat Caviar all the more incredible. https://karatcaviar.com/
8. Israeli Whisky Wins World’s Best Single Malt At The 2023 World Whiskies Awards. https://www.forbes.com/sites/felipeschrieberg/2023/04/01/israeli-whisky-wins-worlds-best-single-malt-at-the-2023-world-whiskies-awards/
9. Israel has more museums per capita than any other country in the world.
10. Israel is the result of over 150 ethnic groups each of which has brought its own culinary tradition;
11. Tel Aviv: named entertainment capital of the world by the New York Times:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEmvshdB1ao
12. Israel has the highest percentage of high-tech companies by population: 5,000 out of 8 million people: https://www.centodieci.it/innovability/israele-e-la-startup-nation-per-eccellenza-ecco-le-7-lezioni-che-tutti-dovremmo-imparare/
13. Israel has unearthed the greatest archaeological discovery of the 20th century: the Dead Sea Scrolls
14. Israel is the only country in the world that has more trees today than it did a century ago: https://roma.repubblica.it/dossier-adv/eccellenze-lazio/2022/06/28/news/kkl_italia_onlus_alberi_in_israele_per_salvare_il_pianeta-355637230/
15. Since 1973 took part in the Eurovision Song Contest. Competing for the title of Best Song in 37 different countries, Israel had won already 4 times!
16. Israel is the only country in the world that managed to revive a dead language and transfer it as its official language.
17. Its national flower is the Anemone which covers the south in the early spring, creating a magnificent scenery that attracts many called the “Red South”
18. Roads along the length of the country from North to South are marked with an even number, and roads the cross horizontally West-East have an odd number
19. Israeli Cuscus was invented during the Austerity times in Israel, fulfilling Ben Gurion's request to invent a low-cost carbohydrate
20. About half a Billion bird pass though Israel as they migrate from a cold place to a warmer and back, making it a top destination for bird lovers
21. Astronaut Ilan Ramon – First Israeli to space. 
22. Shabbat elevators in hotels: Regardless of the number of floors a hotel has, during Shabbat or any other Jewish holiday, the elevator is programmed to go up and down stopping on each floor without pressing any button and thus respect Jewish laws. 
23. Kibbutz Ginosar boat from the time of Christ.  – Appeared in 1986. 
24. The postal service of Israel has a special department of Letters to God for all those that arrive from all over the world to Jerusalem and that are addressed to God, one million a year. They are opened and placed in the cracks of the Western Wall.
25. Since the eighteenth century, in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre there is an old wooden ladder leaning against a window. It is believed that it was an oblivion of a worker. 
26. While in Jerusalem there are snowstorms every few years, even the Negev Desert receives occasional snowfall, Tel Aviv has only had one snowfall in its history, in 1950 when they fell between 12 and 18 centimeters. Many of the residents had never seen snow.
27. In Israel, 90 percent of wastewater is recycled. That makes the country the world's leading nation in water recycling. It is also a world leader in water desalination.
28. Members of the volunteer organization Trail Angels open their homes to hikers on the 1,025 km Israel National Trail that runs from one end of the country to the other and offer free beds, showers and other services.
29. Israel has more museums per capita than any other country in the world. It currently has 230.
30. The Mount of Olives in Jerusalem is the oldest continuously used cemetery in the world.
31. When the State of Israel was created in 1948, there were only 806,000 residents. Ten years later, the population reached two million. Now, it is about to reach 10 million.
32. The population of Israel is very young. In 2020, 28% of the Israeli population was under the age of 14 and only 12% over the age of 65.
33. In Israel, a meal without salad is not a meal. Even breakfast comes served with vegetables.
34. Tel Aviv has more than 4,000 Bauhaus buildings, which makes it the largest concentration of buildings of this architectural style of any city in the world.
35. The Knesset, Israel's parliament, has 120 seats because it is modeled after the Knesset HaGdolah (the Great Assembly) of the Second Temple era, a body led by 120 scholars, prophets and scribes.
36. 85% of households in Israel have hot water thanks to solar heaters on the roofs of their buildings.
37. Israel has more than 300 wineries, 70 of which harvest at least 50 tons of grapes per year. 60 million bottles per year. 5 wine regions
38. First country in the Middle East to recognize the equality of women. In fact, Israeli Golda Meir is the third woman in history to be prime minister of a country.
39. It is a small country, you can cross by car from north to south in just 6 hours, and from the Mediterranean coast to the Dead Sea in just 90 minutes.
40. In Israel there is a tree that was extinct for more than 1,000 years. It is the Date Palm of Judea, very famous in ancient Israel. It disappeared in 70 B.C. In 1960 seeds were found. One of these was planted in 2005 and brought to life a Judean Date Palm, centuries after it was extinct.
41. This country is one of the few in the world that has Braille marks on its banknotes.
42. Jerusalem is the first city in the world to have Wi-Fi in every corner
43. Israel is on the list of the first 10 countries that launched a satellite into space, Ofeq 1 in 1988.
44. In Israel one day a year the streets and highways are literally free of (car) traffic. On Yom Kippur all families go for walks and bike rides.
45. Israel is not a country with natural forests. All its forests have been planted.
46. The ancient land of Israel has thousands and thousands of archaeological sites; 2000 of them are in Jerusalem
47. Per square kilometer, Israel has one of the highest levels of bird trafficking in the world. 500 million migratory birds cross its airspace every year.
48. The Mayumana dance and percussion group was born in Israel.
49. Falafel is the most popular food in the country, followed by hummus and shawarma. In Jaffa you can even find an ice cream shop where you can buy hummus-flavored ice cream.
50. Cherry tomatoes, hair removal machines and USB sticks were also invented here.
51. In Israel you will find the lowest valley on earth (the Jordan) and the lowest place on Earth (Dead Sea which is almost 9 times saltier than the Mediterranean Sea).
52. On Rosh Hashana and Passover the Western Wall is cleansed by burying itself on the Mount of Olives. 
53. Since 2017, the Negev desert was declared International Dark Sky Park, the first in the Middle East.
54. 60% of Israel is desert. It is for this reason that it has long, hot and dry summers (from April to October) and generally mild winters (from November to March). Conditions vary considerably from region to region.
55. The Dead Sea has more than 20 minerals in solution. Between 350-370 gr of salt per litre. 
56. The week does NOT begin on Monday but on Sunday.
57. From 1948 to the present, the wooded area has risen from 2% to 8.5%. Tourists have contributed by planting a tree. 
58. Israel holds the record for most people on a single flight. It is a journey that was carried out by an Israeli national line, in Operation Solomon. In this were 1,088 people and in the course of it two babies were born.
59. Israel rises to one of the first positions in terms of life expectancy. And it is that its inhabitants live more than 82 years on average.
60. If you are a chess lover, you will be pleased to know that Israel has the largest number of masters in this art. These are concentrated, above all, in the city of Beer Sheba.
61. Generally, the subway systems are quite wide, however, Israel has a very small one. Its name is Carmelit of Haifa, it has only 4 wagons and covers a single track of 1.8 kilometres.
62. Throughout history the Israelites have been awarded several Nobel Prizes. The first of them was awarded to Shai Agnon in 1966, in favour of literature; after that they have won 13 more prizes, in the areas of economics, chemistry and peace. 
63. Israel loves children: with an average of three children per woman, the country has the highest fertility rate among the 37 countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) where the average is 1.7. 
64. 1986: Year in which Spain-Israel diplomatic relations were established
65. Israeli students won an international award for producing real honey without bees. They used a programmed bacterium to "learn" how to make the sweet food.
66. Amazon's Kindle device was largely developed at Israel's hi-tech centre in Herzliya.
67. The first anti-virus software was developed in Israel in 1979.
68. Motorola designed and developed the prototypes of the first mobile phone
69. Israel is the only country that has legislation prohibiting advertising with very thin models, with a BMI less than 18.5. This standard is part of efforts to combat anorexia and set a good example about health and beauty to young generations.
70. Israel has more in vitro fertilization per capita than any other country and is free for the first two babies.
71. Caesarea, the first underwater archaeological park in 1980 in the world. 
72. The number 75 that marks this anniversary adds up to 3.  According to the Kabbalah, this number means "peace and integration" just like the meaning of the word Shalom. 
73. Coffee and coffee shops are so good in Israel that a giant like Starbucks failed in its attempt to penetrate the local market.
74. Israel has more than 135 beaches. The most popular beach sport in Israel is matkot. Tel Aviv has 12 beaches in a row and is themed. 
75. Jerusalem has more than 1,500 public parks and gardens.  The design of Israel's flag was inspired by  the Talit, the Jewish prayer shawl  that is also white with blue stripes. 

According to Sammy Yahia, "As Israel is celebrating 75 years of independence, let us remember the unique cultural and historical ties that bind our two nations together. Israel and India share a deep respect for tradition, innovation, and diversity, which make our countries a natural fit for travellers seeking authentic and transformative experiences. As we look towards the future, let us continue to nurture this special relationship and work towards a more peaceful and prosperous world for all."

Sammy Yahia director of tourism India and Philippines

“Israel is a country with a rich cultural, historical, and religious heritage, and is home to a variety of attractions that offer something for everyone. Whether you are interested in history, culture, nature, or just looking for a unique experience, Israel is a destination that is sure to deliver”.

About Israel:

Whether road trips, city trips, swimming, wellness, active and cultural trips, rental car tours or family vacations, the Israeli State Tourist Office provides information about the various regions, cities, and sights in the Holy Land. Located in the eastern Mediterranean, Israel is no more than a seven-hour flight from India. The country offers a sunny climate, a wide variety of historical, archaeological, and religious sites, including houses several UNESCO World Heritage sites across the country, displaying an intriguing contrast between the ancient and modern periods.

Experience the dynamic vibe of Israel.

For information about the different tourism offerings, visit www.goisrael.in

For the most up to date information on the guidelines and requirements for entering Israel, visit https://israelsafe.com