Claire Throp - Israel

aquifer underground lake of water

cease-fire agreement to stop fighting during a war

concentration camp place in which large numbers of people, often minorities suchas Jews in World War II, are imprisoned. The camps are usually crowded with verybasic facilities.

conservation looking after things such as animals or the environment to prevent themfrom being damaged or destroyed

desalination way of making sea water drinkable by removing the salt from it

economy relating to money and the industry and jobs in a country

endangered when animals or plants are seriously at risk of dying out

evaporate heat a liquid until it becomes a gas

extremist person who holds extreme political or religious views

gas chamber airtight room that can be filled with poisonous gas. Gas chambers wereused by the Nazis in World War II to kill Jewish people.

head of state person who represents a country. Sometimes this person is also theleader of the country.

immigration act of coming to live in a foreign country

Intifada Palestinian uprising against the Israeli occupation of the West Bank andGaza Strip

irrigation way of watering land or crops in areas that do not get much rainfall

Islamist favoring an extreme form of Islam

kibbutz settlementoften a farmin which people work and live together, sharing everything

Kosher set of rules for the way food must be prepared and eaten by Jewish people

League of Nations organization of countries set up to promote peace

mandate official order to do something

migration move from one habitat to another, depending on the season

national service period of time that each person has to spend in the army

nationalist person who wants independence for his or her country

Orthodox conforming strictly to a set of traditions or religious beliefs

parliament ruling body of some countries; laws are made there

parliamentary democracy system of government in which citizens elect representatives,and these representatives, in turn, appoint high-level politicians such as the primeminister

pilgrimage journey to a place of particular interest, usually a religious place

political party group of people who believe in the same things. A political partyis an organization that tries to gain power in the government.

prime minister head of a parliamentary government

refugee person who has been forced to leave his or her country because of war orpersecution

resources means available for a country to develop, such as minerals and energy sources

rift valley steep-sided valley

right-wing holding conservative values and not wanting change

settlement place where people set up a community

species type of animal, bird, or fish

stateless when a person is not recognized as a member of any country, which meanshe or she does not have the rights of a citizen

suicide bomber person who plans a bomb attack on other people or a place and whoexpects to die from the attack himself or herself

terrorist person who uses violence to achieve a political aim

trade buying and selling goods and services

United Nations (UN) organization of countries set up to promote peace. The UnitedNations took over from the League of Nations in 1945.

vocational relating to a particular job

Zionist relating to a movement with the aim to re-establish a Jewish nation

Find Out More

Books

Bowden, Rob. The Middle East and North Africa ( Regions of the World ) . Chicago: HeinemannLibrary, 2008.

Gallagher, Michael. Israel ( Countries in the News ). North Mankato, Minn.: Smart AppleMedia, 2008.

Hodge, Susie. Israel ( Changing World ). North Mankato, Minn.: Smart Apple Media, 2009.

King, John. Israel and Palestine ( The Middle East ) . Chicago: Raintree, 2006.

Steele, Philip. The Atlas of People and Places . Brookfield, Conn.: Copper Beech,2002.

Young, Emma. Israel ( Countries of the World ). Washington, D.C.: National Geographic,2008.

Websites

www.israelemb.org/kids/home_page.html
Find out lots of information about Israel on this site.

www.uri.org/kids/world_juda.htm
This website will help you to learn more about Judaism.

Places to visit

If you go to Israel, these are some of the places you could visit:

The Dead Sea
You can read a book while floating here, or have a mud bath!

Masada National Park
Either take a cable car or walk along the Snake Path to the top of Masada, the
ancient fortress that overlooks the Dead Sea.

The Dome of the Rock
The beautiful decoration of the Dome is well worth seeing.

Tower of David Museum
www.towerofdavid.org.il/English/General/Tower_of_David-Museum_of_the_
History_of_Jerusalem
Visit this museum to learn about the history of Jerusalem.

Sea of Galilee
You can go on a boat ride to see the historic sites around the lake, or visit the
Crusader Castle perched high above the Sea of Galilee.

Haifa
Haifa is built on a hill. You can go for a tram ride down the hillside, have a
picnic in National Park Carmel, or go horseback riding for the day.

Eilat
Eilat has beautiful beaches and lots of water sports. You can also visit Dolphin
Reef to see the dolphins or go on a hike by camel.

Coral Beach Nature Reserve
This is Israels only coral reef. You can see underwater gardens of coral and
some beautifully colored fish.

Topic Tools

You can use these topic tools for your school projects. Trace the map onto a sheetof paper, using the thick black outline to guide you.

Israel's flag was adopted in 1948. The Star of David has long been an important symbolfor Jews. The blue and white colors come from the Jewish prayer shawl. Copy the flagdesign and then color in your picture. Make sure you use the right colors!

Introducing Israel

When you think of Israel, what comes to mind? Famous places, such as the WesternWall, Bethlehem, and the Dead Sea? The countrys food or range of different environmentsand wildlife? Or the conflict with the Palestinians? Israel is famous for these thingsand more.

Israel is in the Middle East, located at the meeting point of three continentsEurope,Africa, and Asia. It is about the same size as New Jersey, with a population of around7.4 million. Israel is among the wealthier countries in the Middle East. This isdue to its large number of high-tech industries and its trade links with the UnitedStates and Europe. Israel is bordered by Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Jordan, and the MediterraneanSea.

Religion

Israel is important for three separate religions, because there are holy sites forJewish, Muslim, and Christian people in the capital city, Jerusalem. This is partof the reason for the ongoing troubles in the region.

A modern state

Israel is a young country, but the Jewish people have been linked to the area forthousands of years. Israel now is a place that Jews call home. Palestinians, however,believe the region is their home, too. Palestinians are the non-Jewish people wholived on this land before Israel was formed. This situation has led to conflict.