Maps

Knowing the geography of Israel is enlightening to your study of the Savior's ministry. You will see where he would have walked and how long it might have been to travel from city to city. In Judges, it speaks of going "from Dan to Beersheba". Why is that important?

Become acquainted with the area in and around Israel. A map will be in your guidebook to use there.

Israel is bordered by Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and the Palestinian territories (West Bank and the Gaza Strip;) it shares maritime borders with Cyprus. The borders with Syria (Golan Heights), Lebanon (Shebaa farms) and the Palestinian territories (declared as the State of Palestine) are still disputed.

With an area of 22,072 km², the country is slightly larger than half the size of Denmark, or somewhat larger than the US state of New Jersey.

Israel has a population of 8.95 million people (Nov 2018), spoken languages are Hebrew and Arabic. Designated capital is Jerusalem, the country's largest and most populous city. However, Israel's sovereignty over Jerusalem is internationally disputed. The country's second largest city is Tel Aviv; it is Israel's economic capital; the city is host to almost all foreign diplomatic missions, embassies, and consulates in the country.

Ben Gurion International Airport (IATA code: TLV) near Tel Aviv is the largest and busiest international airport in Israel, Ovda Airport (IATA code: VDA) in the southern Negev desert is Israel's second international airport.

Israel is divided into six main administrative districts (in parentheses: District Capital):

1. Northern District (Nazareth), includes the Israeli-occupied territory of the Golan Heights; 2. Haifa district (Haifa); 3. Central district (Ramla); 4. Tel Aviv district (Tel Aviv);

5. Jerusalem District (Jerusalem), includes East Jerusalem; 6. Southern district (Beersheba.)