Israel – a country located in western Asia, on the southeastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea and on the northern coast of the Red Sea. Its capital is Jerusalem.
The territory of the state covers an area of 21,937 km², of which 21,640 km² is land.
Read our article to find out which countries Israel borders.
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Israel: Who does it border?
In May 1948, the establishment of the State of Israel was proclaimed, but its clear borders were not established at that time.
In June 1967, Israel launched the Six-Day War against Egypt, Jordan and Syria, capturing the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, the Golan Heights and the Sinai Peninsula. Israeli settlements began to appear on the latter.
One of Israel's first officially recognized land borders was established in 1979, when Egypt became the first Arab state to recognize Israel.
As part of the peace agreement, a common border was defined. In 1994, Jordan became the second Arab country to recognize Israel, and at the same time, a common eastern border was legally formalized.
However, a peace agreement with Lebanon has not yet been signed. The actual northern border remains the armistice line established in 1949. The situation with Syria is more complicated – the border issue has not yet been resolved, in particular due to the disputed Golan Heights.
As for the Gaza Strip, since the withdrawal of Israeli troops and settlers in 2005, Israel has a de facto border with the territory, but it is not legally defined. Military conflicts between Gaza and Israel flare up periodically.
The final status of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem must be resolved through direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian side. However, despite decades of diplomatic efforts, no agreement on borders has been reached.
Infographic: ICTV Facts
Who borders Israel:
- Lebanon – in the north;
- Syria – in the northeast;
- Jordan is to the east;
- Egypt is in the southwest.
Also:
- Gaza Strip – in the west (under the control of the Hamas movement);
- The West Bank of the Jordan River is in the east (partially under the control of the Palestinian Authority).
