Israel

Israel also known as the State of Israel is a parliamentary republic in Western Asia, located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Lebanon in the north, Syria in the northeast, Jordan and the West Bank in the east, Egypt and the Gaza Strip on the southwest. It is the world's only Jewish-majority state, and is defined as a Jewish and democratic state in its Basic Laws. Capital and largest city is Jerusalem. Climate is between Continental around Jerusalim and Mediterranean around coastal cities, such as Tel Aviv and Haifa. Tourism, especially religious tourism, is an important industry in Israel, with the country's temperate climate, beaches, archaeological and historical sites, and unique geography also drawing tourists. Israel's famous sights and landmarks are Kfar Bar'am an ancient synagogue, the Knesset building, home of the Israeli parliament, the Western Wall and the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, Church of Transfiguration in Mount Tabor, International Bahá'í Archives building at Bahá'í World Centre, the Israel Museum in Jerusalem is one of Israel's most important cultural institutions and houses the Dead Sea scrolls, Israel's national Holocaust museum, Yad Vashem, Beth Hatefutsoth (the Diaspora Museum), the Rockefeller Museum and the Museum for Islamic Art both in Jerusalem, Habima Theatre in Tel Aviv, The city of Jerusalem is of special importance to Jews, Muslims and Christians as it is the home of sites that are important to their religious beliefs, such as the Israeli-controlled Old City that incorporates the Western Wall and the Temple Mount, the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.