Israel was carved out of Palestine; it is recognised as the historical homeland of the Jews. After the Second World War, the British withdrew from the British mandate of Palestine, disturbing the delicate balance between the Arabs and Jews in the region. As tensions flared, the United Nations General Assembly proposed the partition of Palestine into Arab and Jewish states; a proposal that was rejected vehemently by the Arab nations. On 14 May 1948, as the British forces withdrew from Palestine, Jewish leaders announced the creation of the State of Israel, triggering the 1948 Arab–Israel war.
Israel’s culture is an intoxicating blend of Western ideas, a Jewish value system and Middle Eastern mystic. Its diverse culture can be attributed to the diverse origins of the Jews who migrate to Israel; each migrant adds another nuance to Israel’s cultural fabric.
Situated in the volatile Middle East, Israel lies on the south-eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea; it borders Lebanon to the north, Egypt to the south and Syria and Jordan to the east. The Negev desert spreads across the southern region, the Great Rift Valley, lies to the east and the Judean Hills in the central region.
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