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Get to know Israel

Middle Eastern innovation hub with automatic citizenship for Jews.

Israel occupies a small strip of land on the eastern Mediterranean, between Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, and the sea. The main cities are Tel Aviv (the economic capital, on the coast), Jerusalem (the political and religious capital), Haifa (port and technology), and Beersheba (south). The country is divided among regions with very different climates and cultures, from the Mediterranean coast to the Negev Desert.

Everyday life is intense. Tel Aviv has a vibrant urban culture, with restaurants, nightlife, beaches, and a strong tech sector. Jerusalem is more religious and traditional, with the strong presence of the three Abrahamic religions. The cost of living in the major cities is high, comparable to New York or London. The workweek runs from Sunday to Thursday, and Shabbat (Friday night to Saturday night) pauses much of the country.

For those thinking of moving, the main pathway is the Law of Return: Jews, children and grandchildren of Jews, and their spouses have the right to automatic citizenship (Aliyah). For non-Jews, there are pathways through work (B/1 visa), family reunification, study, or entrepreneurship via the Innovation Visa.

31.4700°, 35.1300°

Demographics of Israel: around 9 million people, a mix of origins and religions

More than 90% of the population lives in urban areas. A Jewish majority, with a significant Arab minority (around 20%) and Christian and Druze communities.

Israel has around 9 million inhabitants. Most live along the Mediterranean coastal strip, with heavy concentration in greater Tel Aviv (Gush Dan). Jerusalem is the most populous city in absolute terms, followed by Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Haifa, Rishon LeZion, Petah Tikva, and Ashdod.

The population is predominantly Jewish (around 74%), with great internal diversity: Ashkenazi (European origin), Sephardic (Iberian and North African origin), Mizrahi (Middle Eastern origin), Ethiopian, and descendants of immigrants from more than 100 countries. The Arab Israeli minority represents around 21% (Muslim and Christian). Druze, Bedouin, and Circassians complete the mosaic.

The official languages are Hebrew and Arabic. English is widely spoken, especially in Tel Aviv, the technology sector, and tourism. Russian is common due to large-scale immigration in the 1990s, with around 1 million speakers. Spanish, French, Amharic (Ethiopian community), and Yiddish (ultra-Orthodox community) are used in specific communities, and more recently Portuguese and Italian appear in small immigrant networks in Tel Aviv, Ra'anana, Netanya, and Jerusalem.

Languages spoken

Hebrew (official)
Arabic (official)
English (widely spoken in business and tourism)
Russian (former Soviet community)
Yiddish (ultra-Orthodox community)

Main religions

Jewish (about 74%)
Muslim (about 18%)
Christian (about 2%)
Druze (about 1.6%)
Other

Cost of living in Israel: expensive, with Tel Aviv among the world's most costly cities

Very high rent in Tel Aviv. Imported food weighs due to geographic near-isolation. Public healthcare is accessible via contributions. Smaller cities ease the budget.

Tel Aviv consistently ranks among the world's most expensive cities, with rent alongside New York and Singapore. A one-bedroom apartment in central neighbourhoods (Florentin, Rothschild, Neve Tzedek, Ramat Aviv) costs between ILS 6,500 and ILS 11,000 monthly (about USD 1,800 to USD 3,100). In Jerusalem, more accessible, it runs between ILS 4,500 and ILS 7,500. Haifa, Beersheba, Netanya, and Petah Tikva are considerably cheaper.

Markets such as Shufersal, Rami Levy, Yochananof, and Tiv Ta'am have moderate to high prices. Imported food (meat, imported kosher dairy, international food) weighs due to geographic position. Eating out is expensive: a mid-range restaurant meal costs ILS 80 to ILS 150 per person. Street falafel and shawarma remain accessible (ILS 30 to 40). Coffee at a café runs ILS 14 to 20.

Energy, water, and municipal tax (arnona) add up: monthly bills in an apartment can reach ILS 600 to ILS 1,200 in summer (air conditioning) or winter (heating). Residential internet costs ILS 100 to ILS 200. Public transport with a Rav-Kav card is accessible (monthly pass around ILS 225). Healthcare via Kupat Holim covers almost everything with a salary deduction (around 4% to 5%).

88Cost index (NYC = 100)12% below NYC

Category	Single	Couple	Family (2 + 2)
iHousing	$2,076	$2,690	$3,589
iFood	$382	$765	$1,402
iTransport	$255	$468	$552
iHealthcare	$130	$247	$416
iChildcare	—	—	$800
iOther	$308	$528	$704
Monthly total	$3,151	$4,698	$7,463

Job market in Israel: technology, cybersecurity, defence, biotech, and diamonds

Tel Aviv is a global tech and cybersecurity hub. Defence, pharmaceuticals, biotech, and life sciences pay well. Minimum wage applies from a work visa.

The Israeli market is strongly based on technology and innovation. Tel Aviv, Herzliya, Ra'anana, and Haifa concentrate cybersecurity companies (Check Point, CyberArk, Wiz, Palo Alto Networks Israel), fintech, AI, SaaS, and medical devices. Multinationals such as Microsoft, Google, Intel, Meta, Apple, IBM, and Nvidia maintain important research centres. Unit 8200 of the military produces many entrepreneurs.

Other sectors in high demand are defence and aerospace (Elbit Systems, Rafael, Israel Aerospace Industries), biotechnology and medical devices (Teva, Insightec, Mazor), agritech (drip irrigation, sensors), diamonds (cutting and trading, with Israel among the largest global hubs), and energy (Leviathan and Tamar offshore gas). Healthcare, education, and the public sector (including defence) employ a large share.

The legal minimum wage is ILS 5,880 monthly (around USD 1,600). The average wage in Tel Aviv runs around ILS 14,000 gross. Senior tech professionals earn ILS 25,000 to ILS 60,000 monthly. Income tax is progressive, and Olim Hadashim have tax benefits for 10 years. English is common in tech environments, although Hebrew helps with long-term integration.

$1,600

Minimum wage

per month

Top national employers

Teva Pharmaceutical
Check Point Software
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)
Elbit Systems
Intel Israel
+3 more

Education in Israel: free public schooling and world-class universities

Strong public system from kindergarten to university. Strong emphasis on research and technology. Excellent universities in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Haifa.

Basic education in Israel is free and compulsory from age 3 to 18. There are several parallel systems: state public (in Hebrew), religious public, ultra-Orthodox (Haredi), Arab (in Arabic), and private/international schools. For immigrant children there are absorption programs with intensive Hebrew classes (Ulpan).

Higher education is partially subsidized. Tuition at public universities is around 11,000 shekels per year (about 3,000 dollars) for residents. Foreign students and new immigrants have their own rates and often receive scholarships. The best-known universities are the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Technion (Haifa, considered Israel's MIT), Tel Aviv University, Weizmann Institute (research), and Bar-Ilan.

International programs in English exist in several fields (business, engineering, computer science, medicine). Israel is a popular destination for gap year programs (Masa Israel Journey) and for young Jewish people from other countries to do an exchange or complete a full degree.

Notable universities

Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Technion (Haifa)
Tel Aviv University
Weizmann Institute of Science (Rehovot)
Bar-Ilan University
University of Haifa
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (Beersheba)
Reichman University (Herzliya)

Healthcare in Israel: universal public system among the best in the world

Universal coverage through four health funds (Kupot Holim). High quality, with accessible pharmacies and cutting-edge hospital technology.

Israel has a universal public healthcare system considered one of the best in the world. Every legal resident chooses one of four Kupot Holim (health funds): Clalit, Maccabi, Meuhedet, and Leumit. Contributions are deducted from the paycheck or paid directly by the self-employed, and cover consultations, specialists, tests, hospitalizations, and medications with a symbolic co-payment.

Public hospitals like Hadassah (Jerusalem), Sheba (Tel Hashomer), Ichilov (Tel Aviv), and Rambam (Haifa) are world references in various specialties, including oncology, cardiology, fertility, and robotic surgery. Israeli medical technology (medtech) is exported globally.

New immigrants (Olim Hadashim) have immediate coverage through Bituach Leumi (national insurance) after registration. Non-resident foreigners take out a private plan or pay per procedure. Emergency care via Mada (ambulances) charges a fee but is covered for residents. In Tel Aviv there are doctors who easily see patients in English, Russian, and French.

Public systemoverall quality rating
Excellent

Safety in Israel: peaceful daily urban life, with periodic geopolitical tensions

Common crime is low. The main concern is periods of military and regional tension, which periodically affect tourism and daily routines.

Day-to-day, Israel has low rates of ordinary crime. Theft, robbery, and violent crimes are uncommon in cities like Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, and Netanya. Walking at night in central areas is generally safe. Security at public transport, malls, and events is part of the routine.

The main concern involves national security. Periods of tension with Gaza, Lebanon, or the West Bank can bring missile alerts in some regions. Apartments have shelters (mamad) or buildings have safe rooms (miklat) for these moments. The Home Front Command (Pikud HaOref) issues clear guidelines and most of the population adjusts without panic.

Areas near Gaza (Sderot, Ashkelon) and Lebanon (northern Galilee) have more sensitivity depending on the current situation. Tel Aviv, West Jerusalem, and coastal areas are generally where recent immigrants settle, with daily life flowing normally outside periods of acute crisis.

Safer neighborhoods

Tel Aviv (central areas, Ramat Aviv)
Ra'anana
Herzliya
Netanya
Modi'in
West Jerusalem (Rehavia, Talbiya)
Haifa (Carmel)

Climate in Israel: Mediterranean in the center, desert in the south, rare snow in the north

Hot, dry summers and mild winters with rainfall. The south is desert. Snow is possible in Jerusalem and the northern mountains.

Israel has significant climatic variation for a small country. The coastal strip (Tel Aviv, Haifa, Netanya) has a Mediterranean climate: hot, dry summers (June to September, with temperatures around 82 to 91°F) and mild, rainy winters (December to February, around 50 to 64°F).

Jerusalem, situated at elevation (around 2,600 feet), has a cooler climate than the coast. Snow can fall in winter, though it is an occasional event. The south (Eilat, the Negev, the Dead Sea region) is desert, with extreme heat in summer (up to 113°F) and mild, dry winters. The north (Galilee, the Golan Heights) has cold winters and occasional snow on Mount Hermon, the only place in the country with a ski slope.

Outdoor life is part of the daily routine year-round, especially from March through November. Beaches in Tel Aviv, Herzliya, and Netanya are busy nearly all year. In July and August, the heat and humidity can be uncomfortable for those coming from temperate climates.

Israeli culture: a blend of Jewish, Arab, and global influences

Modern cities coexist with religion and tradition. Food, music, and festivals blend Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Eastern European influences.

Israeli culture blends Jewish, Arab, and influences from immigrants from around the world. Shabbat (from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset) is observed to varying degrees: a family dinner is common, and in Jerusalem much of the commerce closes. In Tel Aviv, nightlife continues.

Food is one of the great attractions. Hummus, falafel, shawarma, sabich, malabi, bourekas, and shakshuka are part of daily life. Tel Aviv has an internationally recognized food scene, with chefs like Eyal Shani, Assaf Granit, and Erez Komarovsky. Markets like Carmel (Tel Aviv) and Mahane Yehuda (Jerusalem) are tourist spots and everyday social hubs.

Religious holidays mark the calendar: Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year, September), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), Sukkot, Hanukkah (Festival of Lights, December), Purim, Passover (Jewish Easter). Cultural festivals like Tel Aviv Pride, the Jerusalem Festival, and Red Sea Jazz in Eilat attract visitors from around the world.

Notable dishes

Hummus
Falafel
Shawarma
Sabich (sandwich with eggplant and egg)
Shakshuka (eggs in tomato sauce)
+4 more

Annual events

Rosh Hashanah (New Year, September)
Yom Kippur (October)
Sukkot
Hanukkah (December)
Purim (February/March)
+3 more

UNESCO sites

Old City of Jerusalem and its walls
Masada
White City of Tel Aviv (Bauhaus architecture)
Biblical sites of Megiddo, Hazor, and Beer Sheba
Necropolis of Beit She'arim
+2 more

Israeli economy: technology, defense, life sciences, and diamonds

Known as 'Startup Nation'. Tel Aviv is one of the world's largest tech hubs per capita. Defense, biotech, and medtech carry significant weight.

Israel is known as Startup Nation. It has more startups per capita than any other country in the world. Tel Aviv, Herzliya, and Ra'anana concentrate companies in cybersecurity (Check Point, CyberArk), fintech, artificial intelligence, and SaaS. Multinationals like Microsoft, Google, Intel, Meta, Apple, IBM, and Nvidia have major research centers in the country.

The defense industry is large, with companies like Elbit Systems, Rafael, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), and products exported to more than 100 countries. Cybersecurity is a globally recognized specialty, partly linked to the history of the military's Unit 8200, which has produced many entrepreneurs.

Other important sectors: biotechnology and medical devices (Teva, Insightec, Mazor Robotics), diamonds (Israel is one of the world's largest hubs), agritech (drip irrigation), religious tourism, and pharmaceuticals. The tech sector attracts qualified foreigners from Europe, Latin America, and the United States.

Top sectors

Technology (cybersecurity, fintech, AI)
Defense and aerospace
Biotechnology and medical devices
Pharmaceuticals (Teva)
Diamonds (cutting and trade)
+3 more

Geography of Israel: a small country on the eastern Mediterranean, with coast, mountains, and desert

Around 22,000 km² between the Mediterranean, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt. Flat coastal plain to the west, mountains in the centre and north, Negev desert to the south, Dead Sea to the east.

Israel occupies around 22,000 km² on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Lebanon (north), Syria (northeast), Jordan (east), and Egypt (southwest), with the Mediterranean coast to the west and the Gulf of Aqaba to the south. Despite its small size, it has impressive geographic variation: from snow on Mount Hermon to the extreme desert of Eilat, only 9 driving hours apart.

The terrain includes the Mediterranean coastal plain (where Tel Aviv, Haifa, Netanya, and Ashdod are located), central mountains (Jerusalem at 800 m elevation, Galilee to the north, Samaria and Judea to the south), the Jordan Valley (the lowest depression on Earth, with the Dead Sea at 430 m below sea level), the Negev Desert (south, around 60% of the territory), and the Arava (arid valley to Eilat). The Mediterranean coastline has around 273 km of beaches.

The dominant biomes are Mediterranean forest (oaks, pines, olives), maquis and garrigue (drought-resistant shrubs), hot desert (Negev), oases (Ein Gedi, Arava), coastal zones (dunes, salt flats), and residual wetlands (Hula, in the north, after partial drainage). Population density is high for the region, around 410 people per km², heavily concentrated along the coastal strip.

410/km²

Population density

Main biomes

Mediterranean forest
Maquis and garrigue
Hot desert (Negev)
Oases and arid zones
Mediterranean coast and dunes

Terrain

Mediterranean coastal plain to the west, central mountains with Jerusalem at elevation, Jordan Valley to the east with the Dead Sea, and the Negev Desert in the south.

Immigrant communities in Israel: Russia, Ukraine, Ethiopia, the United States, and France

Aliyah is the central driver. The largest waves came from the former USSR (1990s), Ethiopia, the US, France, Latin America, and more recently Ukraine.

Israel has a unique migration profile, based on the Law of Return: most immigrants are Jews and descendants of Jews making Aliyah, receiving automatic citizenship. The largest waves came from the former Soviet Union (1990s, around 1 million people), Ethiopia (Operations Moses and Solomon, 1980s and 1990s), the United States, France (especially after 2014, with around 50,000 French arrivals), the United Kingdom, Argentina, Brazil, Morocco, and Ukraine (after 2022).

Immigrant life is concentrated in certain cities. Tel Aviv attracts qualified professionals in tech, finance, and media. Jerusalem draws religious immigrants. Netanya has a large French community. Ra'anana is a hub for Anglo-Saxon Americans and Canadians. Ashdod and Beersheba concentrate Ethiopian and Russian Jews. Smaller cities such as Nahariya and Tiberias also absorb new Olim.

For non-Jews, the path is more restricted. The B/1 visa (work) covers technology and elderly caregivers. The Innovation Visa attracts tech entrepreneurs. Family reunification takes up to 4 years before citizenship. Integration for Olim Hadashim includes Ulpan (subsidised Hebrew course), tax exemptions for 10 years, and financial assistance in the first years via Sal Klita.

Top countries of origin

Russia
Ukraine
Ethiopia
United States
France

Main immigrant hubs

Tel Aviv
Jerusalem
Netanya
Ra'anana
Beersheba

Integration & naturalization

Aliyah under the Law of Return grants automatic citizenship to Jews and descendants up to the third generation. For non-Jews, B/1 visa or family reunification (4 years to citizenship). Israel has an E-1/E-2 treaty with the US, with Israeli citizens eligible for the E-2 visa since 2019.

Pathways to living in Israel: Law of Return, work, Innovation Visa

Jews, children, and grandchildren have automatic citizenship via Aliyah. For non-Jews, there are skilled work, family reunification, and the Innovation Visa.

The main pathway to living in Israel is Aliyah, based on the Law of Return. Jews, children of Jews, grandchildren of Jews, and their spouses have the right to automatic Israeli citizenship. The process is handled by the Jewish Agency and requires documentation proving the Jewish connection (certificates, rabbi declarations, community records). After approval, the person enters as an Oleh Hadash and receives an absorption package with financial support, a Hebrew course (ulpan), and tax exemptions.

For non-Jews, the pathways are more limited. The B/1 (work) visa requires sponsorship from an Israeli company, common in tech. The Innovation Visa attracts tech entrepreneurs to Tel Aviv. Family reunification works for spouses of Israeli citizens (with a process of up to 4 years before citizenship). The A/2 student visa is for those enrolled in universities.

Israel has an E-1/E-2 treaty with the United States, allowing Israeli citizens to operate in the US as investors or traders via E-2. Similarly, Americans can use the treaty to open businesses in Israel, though the most common route is a local subsidiary structure.

Typical pathways from Israel to the US include the E-2 treaty (investor), H-1B for qualified professionals in tech and defense (a major source of startup founders), L-1 for intracompany transfer, O-1 for exceptional talent, EB-1 and EB-2 for permanent residency, EB-5 for investors (USD 800k in TEA), and F-1 for students. Israel is in the Visa Waiver Program: ESTA covers short visits up to 90 days.