Israel
Israel facts & history
in brief
The State of Israel, a republic
was declared 1948 and occupies more
or less the Promised Land, the Bible
Lands, the Holy Land and many other
names to many people.
Bordered by Lebanon, Syria, Jordan,
the Red Sea, Egypt the Mediterranean
Sea.
Now includes East Jerusalem, part
of the West Bank, the Golan Heights
and the Gaza Strip, since Israel
captured them in the Six-Day War
in 1967.
Israel also captured the Sinai Peninsula
from Egypt, but returned it since
in 1982, and granted Palestinian
self-rule in the Gaza Strip and
parts of the West Bank in 1994,
after a peace agreement between
Israel and Palestinian Liberation
Organisation.
Geographically it can be divided
into the areas of the hills of Galilee,
the Plain of Esdraelon, the Judaean
and Samarian hills, the coastal
plains, and the Negev.
Israel has a population of over
5 million.
The capital is Jerusalem.
The history, tradition and the struggle
of the land and its people is the
Bible for many people.
The "Promised Land" "of milk and
honey", was more recently discovered
to be barren and infertile, that
has many mineral, agricultural and
human resources.
As in the Bible and in the middle
ages during the crusades the 'Land
of Peace' is in a bit of a turmoil.
Hui Chin, Endre and I crossed
over from Jordan by the Allenby
Bridge.
We begin our explorations with Jericho
before we visited Jerusalem, New
Jerusalem, the Mount of Olives,
Bethlehem, Tiberias, Nazareth, Tabigha,
Qumran, Masada, Beit Haarava and
Eilat.
Eilat
because of it's Red Sea location
and hot climate the Israelis have
developed Eilat into their southern
seaside resort this former desert
outpost.
Eilat is dedicated to sun-worshipping,
water sports and nightlife instead
of synagogues, mosques and churches.
It is also a busy port.
Called Elath or Eloth in the Old
Testament when the Israelites stopped
here on their way from Egypt to
the Promised Land.
King Solomon used it as his gateway
to the Far East.
King Jehoshophat built his navy
here and King Huzzah rebuilt the
town before it felt to the Syrians.
Eilat changed hands many times.
In 1116, the Crusaders taken the
town, 50 years later fell to Aladdin's
hand.
Queen of ChB landed here on her
way to Jerusalem. Soon lost its
importance to Aqaba.
The Israelis captured it on 10 March
1949 and became a vital port, with
its strategic location on the Red
Sea.
Eilat is the Israelis' Red Sea playground
and holiday resort.
The beaches and shores and cities,
stretches over three countries,
Jordan, Israel and Egypt.
You can click on these photos for an enlargement.
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