ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a brief historical background and a description of major events in Israel. It also provides basic political, economic, and social data arranged in the following categories: polity, economy, population, purchasing power parities, life expectancy, ethnic groups, capital, political rights, civil liberties, and status. The chapter discusses the progress and decline of political rights and civil liberties in Israel. Israel was formed in 1948 from less than one-fifth of the original British Palestine Mandate. Israelis experienced a pronounced decline in personal security in 2001. Over 100 Israelis were killed in Palestinian terrorist attacks. Israeli citizens can change their government democratically. Although Israel has no formal constitution, a series of basic laws has the force of constitutional principles. Publishing the praise of violence is prohibited under the Counter-terrorism Ordinance. Israeli authorities prohibit expressions of support for Hamas and other groups that call for the destruction of Israel.
