ISRAELIS

'Israelis' are citizens of modern Israel.

Contents

Population

Demographics

Culture of Israel

Religion in Israel

Notes

External links

Population

Demographics

Main articles: Demographics of Israel, Languages of Israel

According to Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics, as of May 2006, of Israel's 7 million people, 77% were Jews, 18.5% Arabs, and 4.3% "others".^[1] Among Jews, 68% were Sabras (Israeli-born), mostly second- or third-generation Israelis, and the rest are olim — 22% from Europe and the Americas, and 10% from Asia and Africa, including the Arab countries. ^[2]

Israel has two official languages; Hebrew and Arabic. Hebrew is the major and primary language of the state and is spoken by the majority of the population. Arabic is spoken by the Arab minority and by some members of the Mizrahi Jewish community. English is studied in school and is spoken by the majority of the population as a second language. Other languages spoken in Israel include Russian, Yiddish, Ladino, Amharic, Romanian, Polish and French. American and European popular television shows are commonly presented. Newspapers can be found in all languages listed above as well as others, such as Persian.
As of 2004, 224,200 of Israel's citizens lived in the West Bank in numerous Israeli settlements, (including towns such as Ma'ale Adummim and Ariel, and a handful of communities that were present long before the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and were re-established after the Six-Day War such as Hebron and Gush Etzion). Around 180,000 Israelis lived in East Jerusalem, ^[3] which came under Israeli law following its capture from Jordan during the Six-Day War. About 8,500 Israelis lived in settlements built in the Gaza Strip, prior to their forcible removal by the government in the summer of 2005 as part of Israel's unilateral disengagement plan.
The largest community of Israelis outside of Israel exists in Los Angeles, California.

Culture of Israel

Main articles: Culture of Israel


Haifa, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem are cultural centers, known for art museums, and many towns and kibbutzim have smaller high-quality museums. Israeli music is very versatile and combines elements of both western and eastern music. It tends to be very eclectic and contains a wide variety of influences from the Diaspora and more modern cultural importation: Hassidic songs, Asian and Arab pop, especially by Yemenite singers, and Israeli hip hop or heavy metal. Folk dancing, which draws upon the cultural heritage of many immigrant groups, is popular. There is also flourishing modern dance.

Religion in Israel

Main articles: Religion in Israel


According to Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics, at the end of 2004, 76.2% of Israelis were Jewish by religion (Judaism), 16.1% were Muslims, 2.1% Christian, 1.6% Druze and the remaining 3.9% (including Russian immigrants and some ethnic Jews) were not classified by religion. ^[1]
Roughly 12% of Israeli Jews defined as ''haredim'' (ultra-orthodox religious); an additional 9% are "religious"; 35% consider themselves "traditionalists" (not strictly adhering to Jewish Halakha); and 43% are "secular" (termed "hiloni"). Among the seculars, 53% believe in God. However, 78% of all Israelis participate in a Passover seder. ^[5]
Israelis tend not to align themselves with a movement of Judaism (such as Reform Judaism or Conservative Judaism) but instead tend to define their religious affiliation by degree of their religious practice.
Among Arab Israelis, 82.6% were Muslim, 8.8% were Christian and 8.4% were Druze. ¹
The Bahá'í World Centre, which includes the Universal House of Justice, in Haifa attracts pilgrims from all over the world.^[6] Apart from a few hundred volunteer staff, Bahá'ís do not live in Israel.

Notes

1. Population, by religion and population group
2. Jews and others, by origin, continent of birth and period of immigration
3. East Jerusalem Population and Area, 2000-2002
4. Population, by religion and population group
5. Religion in Israel: A Consensus for Jewish Tradition by Daniel J. Elazar (JCPA)
6. The Bahá'í World Centre: Focal Point for a Global Community

External links

★ BBC News | Israel's modern immigrants

★ BBC News | Israel faces Russian brain drain

★ Kehilot | Secular & Religious Jewish Communities of Israel