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PreviewAdvancedSpecial charactersHelpHeadingLevel 2Level 3Level 4Level 5FormatInsertLatinLatin extendedIPASymbolsGreekGreek extendedCyrillicArabicArabic extendedHebrewBanglaTamilTeluguSinhalaDevanagariGujaratiThaiLaoKhmerCanadian AboriginalRunesÁáÀàÂâÄäÃãǍǎĀāĂ㥹ÅåĆćĈĉÇçČčĊċĐđĎďÉéÈèÊêËëĚěĒēĔĕĖėĘęĜĝĢģĞğĠġĤĥĦħÍíÌìÎîÏïĨĩǏǐĪīĬĭİıĮįĴĵĶķĹĺĻļĽľŁłŃńÑñŅņŇňÓóÒòÔôÖöÕõǑǒŌōŎŏǪǫŐőŔŕŖŗŘřŚśŜŝŞşŠšȘșȚțŤťÚúÙùÛûÜüŨũŮůǓǔŪūǖǘǚǜŬŭŲųŰűŴŵÝýŶŷŸÿȲȳŹźŽžŻżÆæǢǣØøŒœßÐðÞþƏəFormattingLinksHeadingsListsFilesDiscussionReferencesDescriptionWhat you typeWhat you getItalic''Italic text''Italic textBold'''Bold text'''Bold textBold & italic'''''Bold & italic text'''''Bold & italic textDescriptionWhat you typeWhat you getReferencePage text.<ref>[https://www.example.org/ Link text], additional text.</ref>Page text.[1]Named referencePage text.<ref name="test">[https://www.example.org/ Link text]</ref>Page text.[2]Additional use of the same referencePage text.<ref name="test" />Page text.[2]Display references<references />↑ Link text, additional text.↑ Link text==Economy== {{Main|Economy of Israel}} [[File:Ayalon Highway, Tel Aviv (cropped).jpg|thumb|The [[Diamond Exchange District]] in [[Ramat Gan]]]] [[File:Tel_Aviv_Stock_Exchange_-_New_Building_Lobby_1.jpg|thumb|[[Tel Aviv Stock Exchange]]]] Israel is considered the most advanced country in [[Western Asia]] and the Middle East in economic and industrial development.<ref name="Chua 2003 219–220">{{Cite book|title=World On Fire |last=Chua |first=Amy |publisher=Knopf Doubleday Publishing |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-385-72186-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/worldonfirehowex00chua_0/page/219 219–220] |url= https://archive.org/details/worldonfirehowex00chua_0/page/219}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url={{Google books|Up_7Bh8SbDcC|page=|keywords=%22israel+is+the+most+industrialized%22|text=%22israel+is+the+most+industrialized%22|plainurl=yes}} |title=Northern and Western Asia |isbn=978-0-8225-2915-6 |last1=Bramwell |first1=Martyn |year=2000 |publisher=Lerner Publications Company}}</ref> {{As of|2023|10}}, the IMF estimated Israel's GDP at 521.7 billion dollars and Israel's GDP per capita at 53.2 thousand ([[List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|ranking 13th worldwide]]), a figure comparable to other highly developed and rich countries.<ref>{{Cite web |work=IMF data mapper |title=Israel |date=October 2023 |url=https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/profile/ISR |access-date=2023-11-21 |publisher=International Monetary Fund}}</ref> Israel has the second highest poverty rate amongst the world's developed countries, largely due to the high poverty rate amongst Palestinian citizens of Israel.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Peleg |first1=Bar |title=Israel's poverty rate is among the highest in the developed world, new report shows |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-12-28/ty-article/.premium/israels-poverty-rate-is-among-the-highest-in-the-developed-world-new-report-shows/0000018c-b055-d45c-a98e-bb5d02af0000 |website=Haaretz |language=en |date=28 December 2023}}</ref> It is the third richest country in Asia [[List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|by nominal per capita]] income.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Team |first=FAIR |date=2023-09-06 |title=Top 10 Richest Countries in Asia [2023] |url=https://fairbd.net/top-10-richest-countries-in-asia/ |access-date=2023-11-20 |website=FAIR |language=en-GB}}</ref> Israel has the highest average [[List of countries by wealth per adult|wealth per adult]] in the Middle East.<ref name="CS 2019-1">{{Cite web |title=Global wealth report |url=https://www.credit-suisse.com/about-us/en/reports-research/global-wealth-report.html |access-date=20 September 2022 |website=credit-suisse.com |publisher=[[Credit Suisse]]}}</ref> ''[[The Economist]]'' ranked Israel as the 4th most successful economy among the developed countries for 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Israel ranked 4th-best-performing economy among OECD countries in 2022 |date=26 December 2022 |first=Sharon |last=Wrobel |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-ranked-4th-best-performing-economy-among-oecd-countries-in-2022/amp/ |access-date=8 February 2023 |website=The Times of Israel}}</ref> It has the [[List of countries by number of billionaires|most billionaires]] in the Middle East, and the 18th most in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chang |first=Richard J. |title=The Countries With The Most Billionaires 2022 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/richardjchang/2022/04/05/the-countries-with-the-most-billionaires-2022/ |access-date=29 March 2023 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> In recent years Israel had one of the highest growth rates in the developed world.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Israel |website=OECD Data |publisher=OECD |url=http://data.oecd.org/israel.htm |access-date=2023-10-13 |language=en}}</ref> In 2010, it joined the [[OECD]].<ref name="OECD"/><ref>{{cite web |title=List of OECD Member countries — Ratification of the Convention on the OECD |website=oecd.org |url=http://www.oecd.org/general/listofoecdmembercountries-ratificationoftheconventionontheoecd.htm |access-date=12 August 2012 |publisher=OECD}}</ref> The country is ranked 20th in the [[World Economic Forum]]'s ''[[Global Competitiveness Report]]''<ref name="rank 2019">{{cite web |title=The Global Competitiveness Report 2019 |url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_TheGlobalCompetitivenessReport2019.pdf|access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref> and 35th on the [[World Bank]]'s [[Ease of doing business index|''Ease of Doing Business'' index]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Rankings |website=World Bank |language=en |url=http://www.doingbusiness.org/en/rankings |access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref> Israel was also ranked fifth in the world by share of people in high-skilled employment.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://reports.weforum.org/global-human-capital-report-2017/dataexplorer/#economy=ISR |title=Global Human Capital Report 2017 |date=13 September 2017 |publisher=World Economic Forum |access-date=23 April 2018}}</ref> Israeli economic data covers the economic territory of Israel, including the Golan Heights, East Jerusalem and Israeli settlements in the West Bank.{{sfn|OECD|2011}} Despite limited natural resources, intensive development of the [[Agriculture in Israel|agricultural]] and industrial sectors over the past decades has made Israel largely self-sufficient in food production, apart from grains and beef. Imports to Israel, totaling $96.5 billion in 2020, include raw materials, military equipment, investment goods, rough diamonds, fuels, grain, and consumer goods.<ref name="cia"/> Leading exports include machinery and equipment, software, [[Diamond industry in Israel|cut diamonds]], agricultural products, chemicals, and textiles and apparel; in 2020, Israeli exports reached $114 billion.<ref name="cia"/> The [[Bank of Israel]] holds $201 billion of [[foreign-exchange reserves]], the 17th highest in the world.<ref name="cia"/> Since the 1970s, Israel has received [[Israel–United States military relations|military aid]] from the United States, as well as economic assistance in the form of [[loan guarantee]]s, which now account for roughly half of Israel's [[external debt]]. Israel has [[List of countries by external debt|one of the lowest]] external debts in the developed world, and is a lender in terms of net external debt ([[Net international investment position|assets vs. liabilities abroad]]), which {{as of|2015|alt=in 2015}} stood at a surplus of $69 billion.<ref>{{cite press release |date=20 September 2015 |title=Israel's International Investment Position (IIP), June 2015 |url=http://www.boi.org.il/en/NewsAndPublications/PressReleases/Pages/20-09-2015-IIP-Q2.aspx |publisher=Bank of Israel |access-date=29 January 2017 |archive-date=15 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215171824/https://www.boi.org.il/en/NewsAndPublications/PressReleases/Pages/20-09-2015-IIP-Q2.aspx}}</ref> Israel has the second-largest number of [[startup company|startup companies]] after the United States,<ref>{{cite book |title=Intellectual Capital for Communities: Nations, Regions, and Cities |last=Bounfour |first=Ahmed |author2=Edvinsson, Leif |year=2005 |publisher=Butterworth-Heinemann |isbn=978-0-7506-7773-8 |page=47 (368 pages)}}</ref> and the third-largest number of [[List of Israeli companies quoted on the Nasdaq|NASDAQ-listed companies]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/richardbehar/2016/05/11/inside-israels-secret-startup-machine/ |title=Inside Israel's Secret Startup Machine |magazine=Forbes |date=11 May 2016 |access-date=30 October 2016 |author=Richard Behar}}</ref> It is the world leader for number of start-ups per capita.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Israeli technological Eco-system |url=https://www2.deloitte.com/il/en/pages/innovation/article/the_israeli_technological_eco-system.html |access-date=26 February 2023 |website=Deloitte Israel |language=en}}</ref> Israel has been dubbed the "[[Start-up Nation|Start-Up Nation]]".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yerman |first=Jordan |date=2019-05-22 |title=A Startup Nation: Why Israel Has Become The New Silicon Valley |url=https://apex.aero/articles/startup-nation-israel-become-silicon-valley/ |access-date=2023-10-22 |website=APEX |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Israel's economy is a study in contrasts |newspaper=The Economist |url=https://www.economist.com/special-report/2017/05/18/israels-economy-is-a-study-in-contrasts |access-date=2023-10-22 |issn=0013-0613}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ioniță |first=Antoanela |date=2023-02-03 |title=Lessons from Tel Aviv: What Has Fueled Israel's Startup Ecosystem's Growth |url=https://therecursive.com/lessons-from-tel-aviv-what-has-fueled-israel-s-startup-ecosystem-s-growth/ |access-date=2023-10-22 |website=TheRecursive.com |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-01-06 |title=Israel: Start-up nation comes of age |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/a5c2ad5a-b471-11e5-b147-e5e5bba42e51 |access-date=2023-10-22}}</ref> [[Intel]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.jpost.com/Business/BusinessNews/Article.aspx?id=52876 |newspaper=The Jerusalem Post |date=27 February 2007 |access-date=20 March 2012 |title=Intel to expand Jerusalem R&D |last=Krawitz |first=Avi}}</ref> and [[Microsoft]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.microsoftrnd.co.il/about/leadership |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=19 March 2012 |title=Microsoft Israel R&D center: Leadership |quote=Avi returned to Israel in 1991, and established the first Microsoft R&D Center outside the US ... |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313223906/http://www.microsoftrnd.co.il/about/leadership |archive-date=13 March 2012 }}</ref> built their first overseas [[research and development]] facilities in Israel, and other high-tech multinational corporations have opened [[List of multinational companies with research and development centres in Israel|research and development centres in the country]]. The days which are allocated to working times in Israel are Sunday through Thursday (for a five-day [[workweek]]), or Friday (for a six-day workweek). In observance of ''[[Shabbat]]'', in places where Friday is a work day and the majority of population is Jewish, Friday is a "short day". Several proposals have been raised to adjust the work week with the majority of the world.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.themarker.com/career/1.1739743 |newspaper=The Marker |title=Instead of 4 work days: 6 optional days to be considered half day-outs |last=Koren |first=Orah |date=26 June 2012 |access-date=26 June 2012}} (in Hebrew)</ref> ===Science and technology=== {{Main|Science and technology in Israel|List of Israeli inventions and discoveries}} [[File:Matam hi-tech park (Haifa).jpg|thumb|[[Matam, Haifa|Matam]] high-tech park in Haifa]] Israel's development of cutting-edge technologies in software, communications and the life sciences have [[Silicon Wadi|evoked comparisons]] with [[Silicon Valley]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Israel keen on IT tie-ups |date=10 January 2001 |newspaper=Business Line |url=http://www.hindu.com/businessline/2001/01/11/stories/151139ue.htm |access-date=19 March 2012 |archive-date=2013-01-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116074212/http://www.hindu.com/businessline/2001/01/11/stories/151139ue.htm}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Israel's technology industry: Punching above its weight |date=10 November 2005 |newspaper=The Economist |url=http://www.economist.com/node/5149411 |access-date=20 March 2012}}</ref> Israel is first in the world in [[List of countries by research and development spending|expenditure on research and development]] as a percentage of GDP.<ref name=OECD_R&D>{{cite web |url=https://data.oecd.org/rd/gross-domestic-spending-on-r-d.htm|title=Research and development (R&D) – Gross domestic spending on R&D |website=OECD Data |publisher=OECD |access-date=10 February 2016}}</ref> It is ranked 14th in the [[Global Innovation Index]] in 2023,<ref>{{Cite report |editor1=Soumitra Dutta |editor2=Bruno Lanvin |editor3=Lorena Rivera León |editor4=Sacha Wunsch-Vincent |title=Global Innovation Index 2023 |edition=16th |page=22 |website=wipo.int |url=https://www.wipo.int/edocs/pubdocs/en/wipo-pub-2000-2023-en-main-report-global-innovation-index-2023-16th-edition.pdf |access-date=2023-10-17 |language=en |isbn=978-92-805-3321-7}} [https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2023/index.html Overview].</ref> and fifth in the 2019 [[Bloomberg Innovation Index]].<ref name=Bloomberg_innovation>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-22/germany-nearly-catches-korea-as-innovation-champ-u-s-rebounds|title=These Are the World's Most Innovative Countries|website=Bloomberg.com |date=22 January 2019|access-date=24 January 2019}}</ref> Israel has 140 scientists, technicians, and engineers per 10,000 employees, the highest number in the world.<ref>{{cite web |last=Shteinbuk |first=Eduard |date=22 July 2011 |url=http://sun.inc.hse.ru/sites/default/files/Shteinbuk.pdf |title=R&D and Innovation as a Growth Engine |publisher=National Research University – Higher School of Economics |access-date=11 May 2013 |archive-date=8 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808102137/http://sun.inc.hse.ru/sites/default/files/Shteinbuk.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{Cite report |author1=Augusto Lopez-Claros |author2=Irene Mia |date=2006 |url=http://www.investinisrael.gov.il/NR/rdonlyres/61BD95A0-898B-4F48-A795-5886B1C4F08C/0/israelcompleteweb.pdf |title=Israel: Factors in the Emergence of an ICT Powerhouse |publisher=Foreign Direct Investment Database |place=Geneva |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712025800/http://www.investinisrael.gov.il/NR/rdonlyres/61BD95A0-898B-4F48-A795-5886B1C4F08C/0/israelcompleteweb.pdf |archive-date=2015-07-12 |via=InvestinIsrael.gov}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nyjtimes.com/Heritage/News/2003/Aug/InvestinginIsrael.htm|url-status=live|title=Investing in Israel|first=Yoram|last=Ettinger|publisher=New York Jewish Times|year=2003|archive-date=22 August 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040822112811/http://nyjtimes.com/Heritage/News/2003/Aug/InvestinginIsrael.htm}}</ref> Israel has produced six [[List of Israeli Nobel laureates|Nobel Prize-winning]] scientists since 2004<ref name="nobel">{{cite news |author=Haviv Rettig Gur |date=9 October 2013 |title=Tiny Israel a Nobel heavyweight, especially in chemistry |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/tiny-israel-a-nobel-heavyweight-especially-in-chemistry/ |website=The Times of Israel |access-date=30 January 2017}}</ref> and has been frequently ranked as one of the countries with the highest ratios of [[scientific papers]] per capita.<ref>{{cite news |last=Heylin |first=Michael |date=27 November 2006 |title=Globalization of Science Rolls On |work=Chemical & Engineering News |pages=29–31 |url=http://www.achem.univ.kiev.ua/news/pdf/globalization_of_science_rolls_on.pdf |access-date=5 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Op-EdContributors/Article.aspx?id=32635 |newspaper=The Jerusalem Post |last=Gordon |first=Evelyn |title=Kicking the global oil habit |access-date=20 March 2012 |date=24 August 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Israel's scientific fall from grace: Study shows drastic decline in publications per capita |author=Yarden Skop |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/.premium-1.544767 |newspaper=Haaretz |date=2 September 2013}}</ref> [[List of Israeli universities and colleges|Israeli universities]] are ranked among the top 50 world universities in computer science ([[Technion]] and [[Tel Aviv University]]), mathematics ([[Hebrew University of Jerusalem]]) and chemistry ([[Weizmann Institute of Science]]).<ref name="ARWU"/> In 2012, Israel was ranked ninth in the world by the Futron's [[Space Competitiveness Index]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Futron Releases 2012 Space Competitiveness Index|url=http://spaceref.biz/2012/08/futron-releases-2012-space-competitiveness-index.html|access-date=21 December 2013|archive-date=24 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224114215/http://spaceref.biz/2012/08/futron-releases-2012-space-competitiveness-index.html}}</ref> The [[Israel Space Agency]] coordinates all Israeli space research programmes with scientific and commercial goals, and have indigenously designed and built at least 13 commercial, research and spy satellites.<ref>{{cite news |title=Israel's domestic satellite industry saved |first=Arieh |last=O'Sullivan |url=http://www.jpost.com/Features/InThespotlight/Article.aspx?id=276757 |newspaper=The Jerusalem Post |date=9 July 2012 |access-date=9 December 2012 |quote=The Amos 6 will be IAI's 14th satellite}}</ref> Some of Israel's satellites are ranked among the world's most advanced space systems.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/jan/21/iran.marktran |title=Israel launches new satellite to spy on Iran |access-date=20 March 2012 |date=21 January 2008 |newspaper=The Guardian |first=Mark |last=Tran}}</ref> [[Shavit 2|Shavit]] is a space [[launch vehicle]] produced by Israel to launch small [[satellite]]s into [[low Earth orbit]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Space launch systems – Shavit|publisher=Deagel |url=http://www.deagel.com/Space-Launch-Systems/Shavit_a001901001.aspx|access-date=19 November 2013}}</ref> It was first launched in 1988, making Israel the [[Timeline of first orbital launches by country|eighth nation]] to have a space launch capability. In 2003, [[Ilan Ramon]] became Israel's first astronaut, serving on the [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|fatal mission]] of [[Space Shuttle Columbia|Space Shuttle ''Columbia'']].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://m.jpost.com/PromoContent/Learning-Hebrew-Online-Colonel-Ilan-Ramon#article=0OTBDN0ZDNEMyQTAzMDUyNTZCQTAxQzhERUM4OTczMkQ= |title=Learning Hebrew Online – Colonel Ilan Ramon |author=e-Teacher |newspaper=[[The Jerusalem Post]] |date=9 February 2010 |access-date=1 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208124754/http://m.jpost.com/PromoContent/Learning-Hebrew-Online-Colonel-Ilan-Ramon |archive-date=8 December 2015 }}</ref> The ongoing [[Water supply and sanitation in Israel|water shortage]] has spurred innovation in [[water conservation]] techniques, and a substantial [[Agricultural research in Israel|agricultural modernization]], [[drip irrigation]], was [[List of Israeli inventions and discoveries|invented in Israel]]. Israel is also at the technological forefront of [[desalination]] and [[water recycling]]. The [[Sorek desalination plant]] is the largest seawater [[reverse osmosis]] desalination facility in the world.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.technologyreview.com/s/534996/megascale-desalination/ |title=Megascale Desalination |last=Talbot |first=David |date=2015 |magazine=MIT Technology Review |access-date=13 February 2017}}</ref> By 2014, Israel's desalination programmes provided roughly 35% of Israel's drinking water and it is expected to supply 70% by 2050.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.yahoo.com/israel-solves-water-woes-desalination-053359192.html |title=Israel solves water woes with desalination |author=Federman, Josef |agency=Associated Press |date=30 May 2014 |access-date=30 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140602041312/http://news.yahoo.com/israel-solves-water-woes-desalination-053359192.html |archive-date=2 June 2014 }}</ref> {{as of|2015}}, more than 50 percent of the water for Israeli households, agriculture and industry is artificially produced.<ref name="Kershner">{{Cite news|title = Aided by the Sea, Israel Overcomes an Old Foe: Drought|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/30/world/middleeast/water-revolution-in-israel-overcomes-any-threat-of-drought.html|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 29 May 2015|access-date = 31 May 2015|first = Isabel|last = Kershner}}</ref> In 2011, Israel's [[Water industry|water technology industry]] was worth around $2 billion a year with annual exports of products and services in the tens of millions of dollars. As a result of innovations in reverse osmosis technology, Israel is set to become a net [[Water export|exporter of water]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-desalination-idUSTRE7B50V520111206 |title=Desalination plant could make Israel water exporter |newspaper=Reuters |date=6 December 2011 |first=Ari |last=Rabinovitch}}</ref> [[File:Solar dish at Ben-Gurion National Solar Energy Center in Israel.jpg|thumb|alt=A horizontal parabolic dish, with a triangular structure on its top.|The world's largest [[Parabolic reflector|solar parabolic dish]] at the [[Ben-Gurion National Solar Energy Center]]<ref name=Register>{{cite news |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/25/faiman_negev_solar_plan/ |title=Giant solar plants in Negev could power Israel's future |first=John |last=Lettice |newspaper=The Register |date=25 January 2008}}</ref>]] Israel has embraced [[Solar power in Israel|solar energy]]; its engineers are on the cutting edge of solar energy technology<ref name=NPR>{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15503716 |title=Israel Pushes Solar Energy Technology |publisher=NPR |first=Linda |last=Gradstein |author-link=Linda Gradstein |date=22 October 2007}}</ref> and its solar companies work on projects around the world.<ref name=CBC>{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/reportsfromabroad/parry/20070815.html |title=Looking to the sun |first=Tom |last=Parry |date=15 August 2007 |newspaper=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924093635/http://www.cbc.ca/news/reportsfromabroad/parry/20070815.html |archive-date=24 September 2008 }}</ref><ref name=BW>{{cite news |title=At the Zenith of Solar Energy |first=Neal |last=Sandler |url=http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2008-03-26/at-the-zenith-of-solar-energybusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105185413/http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2008-03-26/at-the-zenith-of-solar-energybusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice |archive-date=5 November 2012 |newspaper=Bloomberg Businessweek |date=26 March 2008 |access-date=12 August 2012}}</ref> Over 90% of Israeli homes use solar energy for hot water, the highest per capita.<ref name="Solar energy">{{cite web |url=http://www.neaman.org.il/Neaman2011/Templates/ShowPage.asp?DBID=1&TMID=581&LNGID=1&FID=646&IID=7974 |title=Solar energy for the production of heat Summary and recommendations of the 4th assembly of the energy forum at SNI |last1=Grossman |first1=Gershon |last2=Ayalon |first2=Ofira |last3=Baron |first3=Yifaat |last4=Kauffman |first4=Debby |publisher=Samuel Neaman Institute for Advanced Studies in Science and Technology |access-date=12 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116083312/http://www.neaman.org.il/Neaman2011/Templates/ShowPage.asp?DBID=1&TMID=581&LNGID=1&FID=646&IID=7974 |archive-date=16 January 2013 }}</ref><ref name="Environment California SWH">{{cite web |last1=Del Chiaro |first1=Bernadette |last2=Telleen-Lawton |first2=Timothy |title=Solar Water Heating: How California Can Reduce Its Dependence on Natural Gas |publisher=Environment California |url=http://www.environmentcalifornia.org/reports/cae/solar-water-heating-how-california-can-reduce-its-dependence-natural-gas |access-date=20 March 2012 |format=PDF}}</ref> According to government figures, the country saves 8% of its electricity consumption per year because of its solar energy use in heating.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://roma.mfa.gov.il/mfm/Data/156237.pdf |title=Solar, what else?! |last=Berner |first=Joachim |date=January 2008 |website=Sun & Wind Energy |publisher=Israel Special |page=88 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721141348/http://roma.mfa.gov.il/mfm/Data/156237.pdf |archive-date=21 July 2011 |access-date=15 May 2010}}</ref> The high annual incident [[irradiance|solar irradiance]] at its geographic [[latitude]] creates ideal conditions for what is an internationally renowned solar research and development industry in the [[Negev Desert]].<ref name=NPR/><ref name=CBC/><ref name=BW/> Israel had a modern [[Electric vehicle network|electric car infrastructure]] involving a countrywide network of [[charging station]]s.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2066975,00.html |title=Will Israel's Electric Cars Change the World? |magazine=Time |access-date=11 April 2012 |date=26 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415081103/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0%2C8599%2C2066975%2C00.html |archive-date=15 April 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/c0ef35cc-c06a-11df-8a81-00144feab49a.html | title=Electric cars are all the rage in Israel |newspaper=Financial Times | date=17 September 2010 | access-date=11 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.haaretz.com/business/israel-to-keep-electric-car-recharging-fees-low-1.418128 | title=Israel to keep electric car recharging fees low | newspaper=Haaretz | access-date=11 April 2012| date=13 March 2012 }}</ref> However, Israel's electric car company [[Better Place (company)|Better Place]] shut down in 2013.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.businessinsider.com/better-place-folds-2013-5 |title=Electric Car Company Folds After Taking $850 Million From GE And Others |work=Business Insider |date=26 May 2013}}</ref> ===Energy=== {{Main|Energy in Israel}} Israel began producing natural gas from its own offshore gas fields in 2004. In 2009, a [[Natural gas in Israel|natural gas]] reserve, [[Tamar gas field|Tamar]], was found near the coast of Israel. A second reserve, [[Leviathan gas field|Leviathan]], was discovered in 2010.<ref>{{cite news|title=Israel Billionaire Tshuva Strikes Gas, Fueling Expansion in Energy, Hotels |first1=David |last1=Wainer |first2=Calev |last2=Ben-David |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-04-21/israel-billionaire-tshuva-strikes-gas-fueling-expansion-in-energy-hotels.html |publisher=Bloomberg News |date=22 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110112194937/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-04-21/israel-billionaire-tshuva-strikes-gas-fueling-expansion-in-energy-hotels.html |archive-date=12 January 2011 }}</ref> The natural gas reserves in these two fields could make Israel energy-secure for more than 50 years. In 2013, Israel began commercial production of natural gas from the Tamar field. {{as of|2014}}, Israel produced over 7.5 billion cubic meters (bcm) of [[natural gas]] a year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2249rank.html|title=The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency |website=cia.gov|access-date=11 May 2018|archive-date=15 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315051210/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2249rank.html}}</ref> Israel had 199 billion bcm of proven reserves of natural gas as of 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2253rank.html#is|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615230151/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2253rank.html#is|archive-date=15 June 2013|title=The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency|website=cia.gov}}</ref> The Leviathan gas field started production in 2019.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-natgas-leviathan/israel-gets-first-gas-from-leviathan-with-exports-to-follow-idUSKBN1YZ0H9 |publisher=Reuters |title=Israel gets first gas from Leviathan with exports to follow |last1=Cohen |first1=Tova |last2=Ari |first2=Rabinovitch |date=31 December 2019 |access-date=26 June 2022}}</ref> [[Ketura Sun]] is Israel's first commercial solar field. Built in 2011 by the [[Arava Power Company]], the field consists of 18,500 [[Photovoltaics|photovoltaic]] panels made by [[Suntech Power|Suntech]], which will produce about 9 [[gigawatt-hour]]s (GWh) of electricity per year.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.aravapower.com/Technical%20Figures |title= Ketura Sun Technical Figures |access-date= 26 June 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120309003501/http://www.aravapower.com/Technical%20Figures |archive-date= 9 March 2012}}</ref> In the next twenty years, the field will spare the production of some 125,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aravapower.com/Environmental%20Figures |title=Ketura Sun Environmental Figures|access-date= 26 June 2011}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=Triggerhippie4 |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> ===Transport=== {{Main|Transport in Israel}} [[File:4X-ECC LLBG 09-05-2014b.jpg|thumb|[[Ben Gurion International Airport]]]] Israel has {{convert|19224|km|mi}} of paved [[Roads in Israel|roads]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbs.gov.il/reader/shnaton/templ_shnaton_e.html?num_tab=st24_10&CYear=2016 |title=Roads, by Length and Area |date=1 September 2016 |publisher=Israel Central Bureau of Statistics |access-date=15 February 2017}}</ref> and 3 million motor vehicles.<ref name="vehicles">{{cite web |url=http://www.cbs.gov.il/reader/newhodaot/hodaa_template.html?hodaa=201627085 |title=3.09 Million Motor Vehicles in Israel in 2015 |date=30 March 2016 |publisher=Israel Central Bureau of Statistics |access-date=15 February 2017}}</ref> The [[List of countries by vehicles per capita|number of motor vehicles per 1,000 persons]] is 365, relatively low among developed countries.<ref name="vehicles"/> Israel has 5,715 buses on scheduled routes,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbs.gov.il/shnaton60/st24_04.pdf |title=Bus Services on Scheduled Routes |year=2009 |publisher=Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics |access-date=5 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610053142/http://www.cbs.gov.il/shnaton60/st24_04.pdf |archive-date=10 June 2011 }}</ref> operated by several carriers, the largest and oldest of which is [[Egged (company)|Egged]], serving most of the country.<ref>{{cite news|last=Stub|first=Zev|title=Egged's monopoly ends, Superbus taking over Jerusalem lines in late 2021|url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/eggeds-monopoly-ending-superbus-to-take-over-j-m-bus-lines-in-late-2021-657673|access-date=1 December 2021|work=The Jerusalem Post}}</ref> [[Rail transport in Israel|Railways]] stretch across {{convert|1277|km|mi}} and are operated by government-owned [[Israel Railways]].<ref name="cbs_rails">{{cite web |url=http://www.cbs.gov.il/reader/shnaton/templ_shnaton_e.html?num_tab=st24_03&CYear=2016 |title=Railway Services |date=1 September 2016 |publisher=Israel Central Bureau of Statistics |access-date=15 February 2017}}</ref> Following major investments beginning in the early to mid-1990s, the number of train passengers per year has grown from 2.5 million in 1990, to 53 million in 2015; railways transport 7.5 million tons of cargo, per year.<ref name="cbs_rails"/> Israel is served by three international [[List of airports in Israel|airports]]: [[Ben Gurion Airport]], the country's main hub for international air travel; [[Ramon Airport]]; and [[Haifa Airport]]. Ben Gurion, Israel's largest airport, handled over 15 million passengers in 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iaa.gov.il/en-US/airports/bengurion/Pages/Statistics.aspx |title=Statistics |publisher=Israel Airports Authority |access-date=15 February 2017}}</ref> The country has three main ports: the [[Port of Haifa]], the country's oldest and largest, on the [[Mediterranean]] coast, [[Ashdod Port]]; and the smaller [[Port of Eilat]] on the [[Red Sea]]. ===Tourism=== {{Main|Tourism in Israel}} {{see also|List of archaeological sites in Israel and Palestine}} [[File:Ein Bokek - Dead Sea2.jpg|thumb|[[Ein Bokek]] resort on the shore of the [[Dead Sea]]]] Tourism, especially [[religious tourism]], is an important industry in Israel, with the country's [[List of beaches in Israel|beaches]], [[Archaeology of Israel|archaeological]], other [[List of World Heritage Sites in Israel|historical]] and [[List of biblical places|biblical]] sites, and unique geography also drawing tourists. Israel's security problems have taken their toll on the industry, but the number of tourists is on the rebound.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArticle.aspx?id=71992 |newspaper=The Jerusalem Post |title=Tourist visits above pre-war level |last=Burstein |first=Nathan |date=14 August 2007 |access-date=20 March 2012}}</ref> In 2017, a record 3.6 million tourists visited Israel, yielding a 25 percent growth since 2016 and contributed NIS 20 billion to the Israeli economy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-01/03/c_136867704.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124195618/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-01/03/c_136867704.htm |archive-date=24 January 2018 |title=Israel sees record 3.6 mln inbound tourists in 2017 |last=Yan |date=3 January 2018 |website=Xinhua}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.israel21c.org/israel-sets-new-record-with-3-6-million-tourists-in-2017/ |title=Israel sets new record with 3.6 million tourists in 2017 |last=Amir |first=Rebecca Stadlen |date=3 January 2018 |website=ISRAEL21c}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-record-36m-tourists-visit-israel-in-2017-1001217309 |title=Record 3.6m tourists visit Israel in 2017 |last=Raz-Chaimovich |first=Michal |date=27 December 2017 |newspaper=Globes}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.atlantajewishtimes.timesofisrael.com/israel-sees-record-3-6-million-tourists-in-2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111022050/http://atlantajewishtimes.timesofisrael.com/israel-sees-record-3-6-million-tourists-in-2017/ |archive-date=11 January 2018 |title=Israel Sees Record 3.6 Million Tourists in 2017 |date=4 January 2018 |website=Atlanta Jewish Times}}</ref> ===Real estate=== {{main|Housing in Israel}} Housing prices in Israel are listed in the top third of all countries,<ref>{{cite web |title=Housing prices |website=OECD Data |publisher=OECD |language=en |url=https://data.oecd.org/price/housing-prices.htm}}</ref> with an average of 150 salaries required to buy an apartment.<ref>{{cite web |title=Average salary in Israel |url=https://www.cbs.gov.il/he/mediarelease/DocLib/2022/002/26_22_002b.pdf |website=Central Bureau of Statistics of Israel |access-date=4 January 2022}}</ref> As of 2022, there are about 2.7 million properties in Israel, with an annual increase of more than 50,000.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dwellings and Buildings in Israel |website=Central Bureau of Statistics of Israel |url=https://www.cbs.gov.il/he/mediarelease/DocLib/2021/030/04_21_030b.pdf |access-date=26 January 2022}}</ref> However, the demand for housing exceeds supply, with a shortage of about 200,000 apartments as of 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tsion |first1=Hila |date=23 June 2021 |title=Housing crisis: about 200,000 apartments are missing |work=Ynet |language=he |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/economy/article/S1KYZ9kh00}}</ref> As a result, by 2021 housing prices rose by 5.6%.<ref>{{cite web|title=Israeli housing prices show largest increase in the world |url=https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-housing-prices-show-largest-increase-in-the-world/ |website=ISRAEL21c |author=Brian Blum|date=15 September 2021|access-date=28 January 2022 |language=en}}</ref> In 2021, Israelis took a record of NIS 116.1 billion in mortgages, an increase of 50% from 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=Report on housing loans |website=Bank of Israel |url=https://www.boi.org.il/he/BankingSupervision/Data/Pages/HousingLoan.aspx |access-date=26 January 2022 |archive-date=26 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126140617/https://www.boi.org.il/he/BankingSupervision/Data/Pages/HousingLoan.aspx}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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