Countries and Their Cultures: Jews of Israel

The state of Israel came into formal existence on 14 May 1948. The United States recognized the new state on the same day, and the Soviet Union followed on 18 May. On 15 May 1948 the new state was invaded by the armies of Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. East Jerusalem, the West Bank, the Golan Heights, and the Gaza Strip came under Israeli control. On 11 May 1949 Israel was admitted to the United Nations as a member state. Hebrew is the major official language of Israel and the predominant language of Israel's Jews. Arabic is spoken by Israel's Arab minority, most of whom are bilingual in Hebrew as well. Arabic is also an official language and may be used in courts and the parliament. In 1987, the total population of Israel was 4,389,600, of whom 82 percent (3,601,200) were Jews. About 27 percent of the world's Jewish population lives in Israel.