Israel (IL)
Start-Up Nation with world-class tech ecosystem, rich ancient history, stunning Mediterranean beaches, and a vibrant expat and immigrant community.
Country Profile
Everything you need to know before you arrive.
Start-Up Nation with world-class tech ecosystem, rich ancient history, stunning Mediterranean beaches, and a vibrant expat and immigrant community. Israel combines ultra-modern innovation with millennia of civilisation, offering a uniquely intense and rewarding lifestyle for those who embrace its pace, warmth, and complexity.
Climate
March–May: 18–26°C. Warm and pleasant. Dry. Ideal for sightseeing. Jerusalem can still be cool at night (10–15°C).
June–September: 28–35°C on the coast; 35–42°C inland. Hot and dry. Very little rain. High UV — sunscreen essential. Eilat can reach 45°C.
October–November: 20–28°C. Cooling pleasantly. First rains (geshem rishon) arrive in November, celebrated culturally.
December–February: 10–18°C on the coast; Jerusalem can drop to 2–6°C with occasional snow. Rainy season — most annual rainfall falls in these months. Tel Aviv winters are mild but grey.
Demographics
Religion
Social Culture & Etiquette
Shalom (שלום) for hello/goodbye. Ma nishmah? (מה נשמע?) — "What is heard?" — means "How are you?" and is the most common informal greeting. Handshake for professional meetings; among friends, cheek-kiss (once or twice) is common across genders. First-name basis is almost universal — Israelis are informal very quickly.
Israelis are famously relaxed about time. "Israeli time" means 15–30 minutes late is normal for social events. Work meetings start closer to schedule but still flexible. Do not be offended — it is not disrespect, it is culture.
Casual and relaxed in most contexts. Business attire is smart-casual in tech; more formal in law, finance, and government. Religious sites require modest dress — cover shoulders and knees. Beach and swimwear are absolutely fine on the coast.
- ✕ Never eat non-kosher food in a kosher restaurant or bring outside food — deeply offensive to religious communities.
- ✕ Do not photograph soldiers or military installations without permission.
- ✕ Avoid discussing the political situation (West Bank, settlements, Gaza) unless you genuinely know the person — opinions are fierce.
- ✕ Do not drive or use public transport on Yom Kippur — the single most sacred day; the entire country stops.
- ✕ Do not assume someone's background — Jewish Israelis come from over 100 countries of origin; Arab Israelis are citizens; both communities are diverse.
- ✓ Dugri communication: Israelis speak directly and bluntly — this is a compliment, not rudeness.
- ✓ Haggling is acceptable in markets (shuk) and some shops but not in supermarkets or malls.
- ✓ Friday night Shabbat dinner (Shabbat shel mishpacha) is a sacred family time — if invited, bring wine or flowers.
- ✓ Hospitality (hakhnassat orchim) is central: expect to be fed generously when visiting an Israeli home.
- ✓ Military service (Tzava) is universal for Jewish Israelis — reserve duty (Miluim) can call colleagues away for weeks; understand and respect this.
🍽️ Traditional Food & Drink
Creamy chickpea paste with tahini, olive oil, and lemon. The national obsession — debated endlessly. Abu Hassan in Jaffa and Hakosem in Tel Aviv are legendary.
Deep-fried chickpea balls in pita with salads and tahini. Cheap, fast, and ubiquitous. The quintessential Israeli street food.
Eggs poached in spiced tomato sauce. A North African-Israeli classic, eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Pita filled with fried eggplant, hard-boiled egg, hummus, tahini, Israeli salad, and amba (mango pickle sauce). Iraqi-Israeli origin.
Arab dessert of shredded pastry soaked in sweet syrup layered with white cheese. Magnificent from Jaffa bakeries.
Finely diced tomatoes, cucumbers, onion, parsley, lemon, and olive oil. Appears at virtually every Israeli meal.
Strong, unfiltered coffee served in small cups with the grounds. Often with cardamom (hel). A cornerstone of Israeli café culture.
Fresh-squeezed lemonade with mint (nana). The summer drink of Israel. Found everywhere from beach kiosks to fine restaurants.
Anise-flavoured spirit diluted with water and ice (turns white/milky). The traditional Israeli aperitif, particularly beloved in Arab and Jewish communities alike.
Israeli wine industry has surged in quality. Golan Heights Winery, Yarden, Domaine du Castel, and Margalit are internationally recognised. Kosher wines widely available.
📍 Tourist Highlights
UNESCO World Heritage Site containing the Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock — sacred to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam simultaneously.
UNESCO-listed White City of Bauhaus architecture meets ancient Jaffa port. World-class beaches, restaurants, nightlife, and the Carmel Market (Shuk HaCarmel).
Earth's lowest point at −430m. Float effortlessly in hyper-saline water. Famous mineral-rich mud. Ein Gedi resort nearby.
UNESCO World Heritage fortress of King Herod perched atop a desert plateau. Scene of the famous first-century Jewish revolt against Rome. Cable car or Snake Path hike.
Spectacular Roman-era port city with amphitheatre, aqueduct, crusader fortifications, and world-class diving on the ancient harbour ruins.
Lush northern region with Nazareth, Capernaum, Tiberias, and the Jordan River. Significant for Christian pilgrims and hikers alike.
📖 Brief History
Israel's modern history began with the Zionist movement in the late 19th century, culminating in the declaration of independence in 1948 and the subsequent War of Independence. The country absorbed waves of Jewish immigration (Aliyah) from Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, the Soviet Union, Ethiopia, and beyond. It fought major wars in 1956, 1967, 1973, 1982, and multiple Gaza conflicts. Israel signed peace treaties with Egypt (1979) and Jordan (1994) and the Abraham Accords (2020) with UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. The October 7, 2023 Hamas attack and subsequent war reshaped the security landscape. Despite ongoing conflicts, Israel has built one of the world's most innovative economies — known as the Start-Up Nation — with more NASDAQ-listed companies per capita than any country outside the USA.