Key Facts
Location
Eastern Mediterranean.
Time
GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 during summer Daylight Saving Time. Daylight Saving Time in Israel starts on 1 April every year and ends on the Saturday between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.)
Area
22,145 sq km (8,550 sq miles).
Population
7.04 million (Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, 2006).
Electricity
230 volts AC, 50Hz. Three-pin plugs are standard; if needed, adaptors can be purchased in Israel
Money
Currency
New Shekel (ILS) = 100 agorot (singular, agora). Notes are in denominations of ILS200, 100, 50, and 20. Coins are in denominations of ILS100, 50, 10, 5 and 1, and 50 and 10 agorot.
Public Holidays
Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2008-December 2009 period.
2008
21 Mar Purim.
20-26 Apr* Pesach (Passover).
8 May Yom Ha'Atzmaut (Israel Independence Day).
9 Jun Shavuot (Pentecost).
30 Sep-1 Oct Rosh Hashana (New Year).
9 Oct Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).
14-20 Oct* Sukkot (Tabernacles).
21 Oct Simchat Torah.
22-29 Dec Chanukah (Festival of Lights).
2009
21 Mar Purim.
9-15 Apr* Pesach (Passover).
8 May Yom Ha'Atzmaut (Israel Independence Day).
29 May Shavuot (Pentecost).
19-20 Sep Rosh Hashana (New Year).
28 Sep Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).
3-9 Oct* Sukkot (Tabernacles).
10 Oct Simchat Torah.
12-19 Dec Chanukah (Festival of Lights).
Climate
Mediterranean, with a pleasant spring and autumn. Winters in the north can be cool. Occasional light rain in winter is possible, particularly in Jerusalem, though recent years have seen insufficient rain. Snow is rare. Summers can be very hot, especially in the south. The Red Sea resort of Eilat has a good climate for beach holidays all year round.
