Israel — country of 9 million inhabitants, 3 world religions, youngest Middle Eastern state (1948).
- Israel has 3 holy cities Jerusalem (Judaism + Christianity + Islam), Bethlehem, Nazareth. 30% of global religious tourism.
- Dead Sea — Earth's lowest point (-430 m below sea level). 33% salt (vs Ocean 3.5%). You can't drown. Recedes 1 m/year due to evaporation.
- Israel has the most startups per capita (after USA). 'Silicon Wadi' — Tel Aviv. Google, Intel, IBM, Microsoft have largest R&D centres here outside USA.
- Hebrew — the only revived language Eliezer Ben-Yehuda (1858-1922). Dead for 2000 years → today language of 9 million. Only language in the world with such history.
- Masada — Herodian fortress 73 AD 967 Jews committed mass suicide rather than surrender to Rome. UNESCO. National symbol of resistance.
- Israel has 2 mandatory years of military service (men and women). Advanced military technology → Iron Dome, Mossad, cybersecurity.
- Negev Desert — 60% of Israel's territory Ben-Gurion planned agriculture here from desalinated seawater. 95% of water today from desalination.
- Israel is only 30% desert today From a billion planted trees (Yatir Forest, JNF Forest). One of 2 countries in the world with more forest than 100 years ago.
- Tel Aviv — Bauhaus capital of the world 4000 Bauhaus buildings (1930s). UNESCO 2003. Largest Bauhaus collection in the world.
- Baha'i Gardens in Haifa — UNESCO 19 terraces of gardens surrounding the temple. Centre of world's Baha'i religion. Area: 200,000 m².
Sources: Central Bureau of Statistics Israel, Israel Ministry of Tourism, UNESCO.