FACTS ABOUT ISRAEL AND PALESTINE
Part I
Israel
Israel is a middle East country located on the Mediterranean sea. This region is regarded as the Biblical Holy Land by the Jews, Christians and Muslims. Estimated current population of Israel is 91,74,520 which is 0.11% of the world population . The area of the country is 22,145 km², which is less than the Indian state of Kerala (38,863 km²) Hebrew is the prime language of Israel which is spoken almost by the entire population. About 70% of the population constitute Judaism, 18% Muslim, 2% Christian and the remaining 10% are Druze and other unclassified religions. GDP (nominal) of the country is (2023) $564.15 billion and GDP pci (nominal) is $58,273. Another notable poinotnt is that since 1966, 13 people from Israel has won the most prestigious Nobel Prize.
The name Israel first appears in the Bible is in Genesis 32:28, "Your name will be called Jacob, but Israel; ....." Places which are in Israel related with the Holy Bible and Christianity: i)Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem. ii) Judea; a region occupied by the Jews for long. Today it is split between Israel and the West Bank, the latter area being contested by Palestine. iii) Jerusalem; which was the prime city of Judea. It was the place of Jesus' teaching, the last supper, Crucifixion of Jesus non the near by hill, Golgotha and His entombment. iv) Temple Mount; Jesus was brought here as an infant, He was found discussing with the elders at the age of twelve and He threw out the money changers from this temple. v) Via Dolorosa, the way of the cross from the palace of Pilate to the place of execution. vi) Mount Zion; the site of the last supper and the site of the Dormition of St Mary. vii) Mount of Olives facing Jerusalem. viii) Gethesemane; the site of Agony in the Garden and the site of the Tomb of St Mary. ix) Bethany; the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus, the site of the Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem on the Palm Sunday. x) Bethlehem; the birth place of Jesus. xi) Emmaus. xii) Jericho; the place where Jesus restored sight to the blind, where He met with Zacceus and the mount where Jesus was tempted by Satan. The road from Jericho to Jerusalem refers to the parable of the good Samaritan. xiii) The Jordan river starts from the plains of Mount Hermon and flows to the south via northern Israel.
Galilee is partially shared with southern Lebanon. Cana where Jesus turned water into wine, Mount of Tabor where the Transfiguration taken place, the site of the miraculous feeding of the 5000 etc are located in the region.
Samaria is the place inhabited by the Samaritans who are traditionally hostile to the Jews. Now it is part of the West Bank occupied by Israel and contested by Palestine. Jacobs well where Jesus met the Samaritan woman is located here.
To be contd......
K V George
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