Israel and Frio County, Texas: Difference between pages

Revision as of 09:43, 28 September 2004

Revision as of 03:45, 11 July 2007

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{{Infobox U.S. County|

{{alternateuses}}{{NPOV}}

county = Frio County|

state = Texas |

seal = |

map = Map of Texas highlighting Frio County.svg |

map size = 250|

founded = 1871|

seat = [[Pearsall, Texas|Pearsall]] |

area = 2,938 [[square kilometre|km²]] (1,134 [[square mile|mi²]]) |

area land = 2,935 km² (1,133 mi²) |

area water = 3 km² (1 mi²) |

area percentage = 0.11% |

census yr = 2000|

pop = 16,252|

density = 6|

web = |

|}}

'''Frio County''' is a [[county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Texas]]. As of [[2000]], the population is 16,252. Its [[county seat]] is [[Pearsall, Texas|Pearsall]][[Geographic references|⁶]]. Frio County is named for the [[Frio River]].

The '''State of Israel''' is a country in the [[Middle East]] on the eastern edge of the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. It is a [[parliamentary democracy]] with a predominantly [[Jew|Jewish]] population and a large non-Jewish minority, mostly comprised of Muslim and Christian [[Arab]]s. Israel borders (clockwise from north to south) the states of [[Lebanon]], [[Syria]], [[Jordan]], and [[Egypt]]. Israel currently occupies disputed territories on the [[Jordan River|Jordan River's]] [[West Bank]], the [[Golan Heights]], and the [[Gaza Strip]] on the Mediterranean coast; of these, it has annexed the Golan Heights (which was originally a part of the [[British Mandate of Palestine]], having been part of the region of Palestine for some centuries before being ceded by Britain to the [[French Mandate of Syria]] in [[1923]]) and areas surrounding [[Jerusalem]]. Israel shares the coastlines of the Mediterranean, the [[Gulf of Aqaba|Gulf of Eilat / Aqaba]], and the [[Dead Sea]].

<div style="float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em">

{| border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"

|-

| align="center" colspan="2" | <font size="+1">'''State of Israel'''</font>

|-

| align="right" | <small>[[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]:</small>

| align="left" | <font size="+1">'''&#1502;&#1491;&#1497;&#1504;&#1514; &#1497;&#1513;&#1512;&#1488;&#1500;'''</font> <small>(Medinat Yisra'el)</small>

|-

| align="right" | <small>[[Arabic language|Arabic]]:</small>

| align="left" | <font size="+1">'''&#1583;&#1608;&#1604;&#1577; &#1575;&#1587;&#1585;&#1575;&#1574;&#1610;&#1604;'''</font> <small>(Daulat Isra'il)</small>

|}

{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font-size:small;"

|-

| align="center" style="background:#efefef;" colspan="2" |

{| border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="100%"

|-

| align="center" | [[Image:Israel_flag_large.png|125px]] || align="center" | [[Image:Israel-coa-medium.png]]

|-

| align="center" | [[Flag of Israel]] || align="center" | (Full size)

|}

|-

| align=center colspan=2 | [[image:LocationIsrael.png]]

|-

| [[Official language]]s || [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], [[Arabic language|Arabic]]

|-

| [[Capital]] || [[Jerusalem]],

(disputed^{[[#Footnotes|1]]})

|-

| Largest City || [[Jerusalem]]

|-

| [[President of Israel|President]] || [[Moshe Katsav]]

|-

| [[Prime Minister of Israel|Prime Minister]] || [[Ariel Sharon]]

|-

| [[Area]]<br/>&nbsp;- Total<br/>&nbsp;- % water

| [[List of countries by area|Ranked 149th]]<br/>20,770 [[square kilometre|km&sup2;]]<br/>~2%

|-

| [[Population]]<br/>&nbsp;- Total ([[2003]])<br/>&nbsp;- [[Population density|Density]]

| [[List of countries by population|Ranked 99th]]<br/>6,116,533<br/>~295/km&sup2;

|-

| [[Independence]] || [[May 14]], [[1948]] <br/> [[Iyar]] 5, 5708

|-

| [[Currency]] || 1 [[New Israeli sheqel|New sheqel]] (NIS)<br/>= 100 Agorot

|-

| [[Time zone]] || [[UTC]] +2/[[Daylight saving time|+3]]

|-

| [[National anthem]] || [[Hatikvah]]

|-

| [[Top-level ___domain|Internet TLD]] || .IL

|-

| [[List_of_country_calling_codes|Calling Code]] || 972

|}

</div>

== History ==

''Main article [[History of Israel]]''

Many Jews consider Israel to be their spiritual home (see [[Holy Land]]). A series of Jewish kingdoms and states existed intermittently in the region for over a millennium until the failure of [[Great Jewish Revolt]] against the [[Roman Empire]] ended up with widescale expulsion of Jews from their homeland (about 25% of the Jewish population,see [[Fall of Jerusalem, AD 70]]and in "Propyläen der Weltgeschichte", ed. Golo Mann). After crushing [[Bar Kokhba's revolt]] in [[135]], Emperor [[Hadrian]] wiped the name ''Provincia [[Judea|Judaea]]'' off the map and renamed the land ''Provincia [[Syria Palaestina]]'', a Greek name derived from ''[[Philistine]]'' ([[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] &#1508;&#1500;&#1513;&#1514; ''P&#601;lé&#X161;e&#7791;''). [http://www.palestinefacts.org/pf_early_palestine_name_origin.php] See also [[Names of the Levant]].

The [[Muslim]] [[Caliphate]] conquered the land from the [[Eastern Roman Empire]] ([[Byzantine]]s) in the [[seventh century]] and attracted Arab settlers. The local language, [[Aramaic]], gradually disappeared. Throughout the centuries the size of Jewish population in the land fluctuated. Before the birth of modern [[Zionism]], by the early 19th century, more than 10,000 Jews lived in the area that is today's Israel. (Dan Bahat, ''Twenty Centuries of Jewish Life in the Holy Land'', 1976, pp. 61-63)

Following centuries of [[Diaspora]], the [[nineteenth century]] saw the rise of [[Zionism]], the [[Jewish Nationalist Movement]]. a desire to see the creation of a Jewish State in Palestine and significant [[Immigration to Israel|immigration]]. Zionism remained a minority movement until the rise of [[Nazism]] in [[1933]] and the subsequent attempted extermination of the Jewish people in the [[Shoah]], or [[Holocaust]]. In the late 1800's large numbers of Jews began moving to the Turkish and later British-controlled region (the [[British Mandate of Palestine]]), resulting in an increase in the Jewish population from 11% of the population in [[1922]] to 30% by [[1940]].

In [[1947]], following increasing levels of violence and unsuccessful efforts to reconcile the Jewish and Arab populations, the British government withdrew from the Palestine Mandate. Fulfillment of the [[1947 UN Partition Plan]] would have divided the mandated territory into two states, Jewish and Arab, giving about half the land area to each state. This plan, as well as an earlier [[1937]] partition proposed by the [[Peel Commission]], was rejected by Arab leaders. Immediately following the adoption of the Partition Plan by the United Nations General Assembly, the Palestinian Arab leadership vowed to crush the as yet un-named Jewish State and launched a guerilla war.

On [[May 14]], [[1948]], the State of Israel was proclaimed. Hoping to annihilate the new Jewish state, the armies of five Arab nations intervened in the ongoing war between Jews and Arabs in the former Mandate of Palestine (see: [[Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel, May 14, 1948]], [[1948 Arab-Israeli War]]). Israel captured an additional 26% of the Mandate territory west of the Jordan river and annexed it to the new state. The [[West Bank]] (including [[East Jerusalem]]) was captured by Jordan, and annexed by it in 1950, but this annexation was recognized only by the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Pakistan]]. The [[Gaza Strip]] was captured by Egypt, and came under its control.

After the war, only 14-25% (depending on the estimate) of the Arab population remained in Israel, the rest having fled prior to and during the war. When Israel refused their reentry, they became refugees; see [[Palestinian Exodus]] for a discussion of the circumstances. Over the following decade, many Jews came to Israel as refugees from the surrounding Arab nations, as well as Iran and Europe, doubling Israel's population within one year of independence. Israel's Jewish population continued to grow at a very high rate for some years, fed by waves of Jewish [[Immigration to Israel|immigration]] from around the world, most notably recently following the collapse of the USSR.

On May 23rd, 1967, Egypt cut off the Straits of Tiran (Israel's main shipping route to Asia and other major places of trade) to Israeli shipping, and also blockaded the port of Eilat. Egypt ordered United Nations peacekeeping forces to leave the Sinai, and in their place, Egyptian tanks and troops were concentrated on the border with Israel. In accordance with international law, Israel considered the blockade of its port an act of war, and launched an attack on Egypt, especially the Egyptian Air Force. Hostilities came to include Jordan (after Jordan reluctantly chose to dismiss Israeli appeals for neutrality and undertook shelling of [[Tel Aviv]] - in adherence with the its defence treaty with Egypt), Syria, and the Iraqi air force. This was the [[Six-Day War]] ([[June 5]] - [[June 10|10]], [[1967]]), during which Israel captured [[East Jerusalem]], the [[West Bank]], the [[Gaza Strip]], the [[Golan Heights]], and the [[Sinai Peninsula]]. In the years following the war Israel annexed the Golan Heights and East Jerusalem, and returned the Sinai to Egypt under the [[1978]] [[Camp David Accords]]. The status of the West Bank and Gaza Strip is the subject of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations (see ''[[#Geography|Geography]]'' below for more).

In the years since 1948, [[Israel and the United Nations]] have often suffered an adversarial relationship. [[UN General Assembly Resolution 194|Resolution 194]] (passed in [[December]] [[1948]]) (note: General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding), granting a conditional "[[right of return]]" to [[Palestinian refugee]]s; [[UN Security Council Resolution 242|Resolution 242]] ([[November]] [[1967]]), calls for "withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict" (Six-Day war); and [[UN Security Council Resolution 446|Resolution 446]] ([[March]] [[1979]]), declaring [[Israeli_settlements|settlements]] on the West Bank and Gaza Strip to be illegal. While most of the 65 security council and general assembly resolutions passed against Israeli actions, and the 41 security council resolutions vetoed by the United States, have had near universal support in the UN (often with the United States and Israel near alone among the dissenting), supporters of Israel claim that the resolutions often misconstrue International Law, that their supporters selectively apply them, and that the assemblies themselves are biased.

Israel is the only state that is barred from joining any of the five geographical groupings that would make it eligible for Security Council membership according to accepted practice. It has indefinite temporary membership of the "Western Europe and Others" group but agreed to not seek UNSC membership on that basis. More than half of the UN's emergency meetings have been to condemn Israel.

See also:

* [[Anti-Semitism]]

* [[Jewish refugees]]

* [[Balfour Declaration 1917]]

* [[1922 Text: League of Nations Palestine Mandate]]

* [[1978 Camp David Peace Accords between Egypt and Israel]]

* [[1993 Oslo Peace Accords between Palestinians and Israel]]

* [[Camp David 2000 Summit between Palestinians and Israel]]

* [[Proposals for a Palestinian state]]

* [[Arab-Israeli conflict]]

* [[Middle East conflict]]

* [[Israeli Security Forces]]

* [[Land of Israel]]

* [[Kingdom of Israel|Ancient kingdom of Israel]]

===Wars===

The establishment of the State of Israel in [[1948]] and its continued existence has been a source of repeated [[war]]s and other conflicts with [[Arab]] countries, such as [[Syria]], [[Lebanon]], [[Jordan]], [[Egypt]], [[Iraq]] and [[Saudi Arabia]]. The state of war between Egypt and Israel ended with the signing of the [[Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty]] on [[March 26]], [[1979]]. The state of war with [[Jordan]] officially ended with the signing of the [[Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace]] on [[October 26]], [[1994]]. Sporadic negotiations with [[Lebanon]] and [[Syria]], Israel's remaining belligerent neighbours, have not as yet resulted in peace treaties. Israel is currently also embroiled in an [[Israeli-Palestinian conflict|ongoing conflict]] with [[Palestinians]] in the territories [[belligerent occupation|controlled]] since the [[Six Day War]] in [[1967]], despite the signing of the [[Oslo Accords]] on [[September 13]], [[1993]], and the ongoing efforts of Israeli, Palestinian and global peacemakers.

See also:

* [[1948 Arab-Israeli War]] "The Independence War" (see also: [[1949 Armistice Agreements]]) &#1502;&#1500;&#1495;&#1502;&#1514; &#1492;&#1506;&#1510;&#1502;&#1488;&#1493;&#1514; (&#1490;&#1501; &#1502;&#1500;&#1495;&#1502;&#1514; &#1492;&#1511;&#1493;&#1502;&#1502;&#1497;&#1493;&#1514; &#1488;&#1493; &#1502;&#1500;&#1495;&#1502;&#1514; &#1492;&#1513;&#1495;&#1512;&#1493;&#1512;) &#1497;

* [[1956 Suez War]] "Operation Kadesh" &#1502;&#1489;&#1510;&#1506; &#1511;&#1491;&#1513; &#1488;&#1493; &#1502;&#1500;&#1495;&#1502;&#1514; &#1505;&#1497;&#1504;&#1497;

* [[1967 Six Day War]] &#1502;&#1500;&#1495;&#1502;&#1514; &#1513;&#1513;&#1514; &#1492;&#1497;&#1502;&#1497;&#1501;

* [[1970 War of Attrition]] &#1502;&#1500;&#1495;&#1502;&#1514; &#1492;&#1492;&#1514;&#1513;&#1492;

* [[1973 Yom Kippur War]] &#1502;&#1500;&#1495;&#1502;&#1514; &#1497;&#1493;&#1501; &#1499;&#1497;&#1508;&#1493;&#1512;

* [[1982 Lebanon War]] "Operation Peace For Galilee" &#1502;&#1489;&#1510;&#1506; &#1513;&#1500;&#1493;&#1501; &#1492;&#1490;&#1500;&#1497;&#1500;

* [[1990/1 Gulf War]] &#1502;&#1500;&#1495;&#1502;&#1514; &#1492;&#1502;&#1508;&#1512;&#1509;

* [[al-Aqsa Intifada]] &#1488;&#1497;&#1512;&#1493;&#1506;&#1497; &#1490;&#1488;&#1493;&#1514; &#1493;&#1513;&#1508;&#1500;

== Politics and Law ==

''Main article [[Politics of Israel]]''

Israel is a [[parliamentary system|parliamentary]] [[republic]] based on universal suffrage and proportional representation. Israel's legislative branch is a 120-member [[parliament]] known as the [[Knesset]]. Membership in the Knesset is allocated to parties based on their proportion of the vote. Elections to the [[Knesset]] are normally held every four years, but the Knesset can decide to dissolve itself ahead of time by a simple majority.

The [[President of Israel]] is [[head of state]], serving as a largely powerless [[figurehead]]. The President selects the leader of the majority party or ruling coalition in the Knesset as the [[Prime Minister of Israel|Prime Minister]], who serves as [[head of government]].^{[[#footnotes|2]]}

The Judiciary branch of Israel is made of a three-tier system of courts: at the lowest level are the Magistrate Courts. Above them, serving both as an appelate court and as a court of first instance are the District Courts. At the top of the judicial pyramid is the Supreme Court. Judges in Israel retire at the age of 70 and are appointed by a committee made up of representatives of the Knesset, Supreme Court justices and the Israeli Bar. The Israeli Supreme Court is regarded by many as Israel's guardian of civil rights.

Israel has not completed a written [[constitution]]. Its government is based on the laws of the [[Knesset]], especially by "[[Basic Laws of Israel]]", which are special laws (currently there are 15 of them), by the Knesset legislature which will become the future official constitution. The [[Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel, May 14, 1948|declaration of the State of Israel]] has a significance in this matter as well. Israel's legal system is a western legal system best classified as "mixed": it has a strong Anglo-American influence, but in some parts has borrowed heavely from civil law tradition. Certain Ottoman legal principles are still in practice. Marital issues are governed by religious law.

Because of its [[Proportional representation]] electoral system, coalitions in the Knesset can often be unstable and are usually made up of at least two parties. Coalitions can be difficult to form and hard to keep together because of the large number of political parties, many of whom run on very specialized platforms, often advocating the tenets of particular interest groups such as religious sects.

In the past thirty years, the largest parties have been the conservative [[Likud]] Party and the Socialist [[Israeli Labour Party|Labour Party]]. However, they do not attract sufficient support to govern without the help of smaller parties such as [[Shas]], a Mizrahi [[Haredi_Judaism|Haredi]] party which represents the [[Mizrahi Jews]], has a network of religious schools, and supports social spending; [[Shinui]], a secularist party that sees itself representing Israel's middle class and a foe of religious (particularly Haredi) parties, and works to reduce social spending; the [[National Union Party]], a far-right party advocating [[Population transfer|"transfer"]] of Palestinian refugees to resettle in Arab countries; the [[Mafdal]] - the national religious party, affiliated with religious [[Zionism|Zionists]] (''kipot srugot''); and [[Yachad]] (former [[Meretz]]), a social-democratic party which is sometimes supportive of the Palestinian cause. All governments have so far avoided forming a coalition with parties representative of the Palestinian minority, such as the Arab-Jewish communist [[Hadash]] party, the Arab-nationalist [[Balad]] party or the conservative-Islamic bloc United Arab List party [[Raam]].

Parties of the left have dominated Israel's elections until 1974, when following the 1973 War the ruling Labour party began to lose popularity. On the right, the Likud party was formed by a union of the Liberals and the nationalistic conservative Herut party. The beginning of right-wing dominance in Israeli politics began in 1977 with the ascendance of Likud's [[Menachem Begin]] as prime minister. With the exception of the Labour-Meretz coalitions between 1992-1996 and 1999-2001, the Likud continued to form most Israeli governments since 1977, sometimes in coalition with the Labour Party. In 2003, left-wing parties fared poorly in elections won by Likud government of prime minister Ariel Sharon.

The premiership of Ariel Sharon is one of the most controversial since Israel's founding, with hostility emanating from both Left and Right. In [[1983]], the Israeli [[Kahan Commission]] found Ariel Sharon indirectly responsible for the [[1982]] Phalangist-led [[Sabra and Shatila Massacre]], leading to his dismissal as Defence Minister by [[Menachem Begin]]. Some of his military tactics, such as repeated assassinations of Palestinian leaders and incursions into Palestinian territories, have come under fire from the Israeli peace movement (see [[Peace Now]] and [[Jews For Peace]]) and sections of the international community, such as the [[European Union]]. On the Right, his acceptance in principle of a state of Palestine and his call for the evacuation of all [[Israeli_settlements|settlements]] in the [[Gaza Strip]] and some in the [[West Bank]] is opposed by settler organisations, the [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]] religious parties and many in his own [[Likud]] party. Sharon's supporters see his strategy as having reduced the threat of Palestinian [[terrorism]], and as laying the basis for a lasting peace in the [[Middle East]] by resolving the "Palestinian problem" with finality.

See also: [[List of political parties in Israel]]

== Military ==

''Main article [[Military of Israel]]''

Israel's military consists of a unified [[Israel Defense Forces]] (IDF), known in Hebrew by the acronym "Tzahal". Historically there have been no separate Israeli military services. The Navy and [[Israeli Air Force|air]] are subordinate to the army.

There are other paramilitary government agencies which deal with different aspects of Israel's security (such as [[MAGAV]] and the [[Shin Bet]]). ''See further discussion: [[Israel Security Forces]].''

The IDF is considered the strongest military force in the Middle East, and relies heavily on technology, training, and esprit de corps. Most of Israel's military hardware is donated by the United States and frequently enhanced by Israel's own military industries.

Most Israelis, males and females, are [[draft]]ed into the military at the age of 18, with the notable exceptions of Arabs, most [[Haredi Judaism|Haredi Jews]], pacifists, and women who declare themselves religiously observant. Compulsory service is three years for men, and two years for women.

Following the compulsory service, Israeli men become part of the IDF reserve forces, and are usually required to serve several weeks every year as reservists, until their 40s.

Israel is widely regarded as being an undeclared nuclear power -- it operates nuclear facilities and is generally believed to be in the possession of [[nuclear weapons|nuclear warheads]]. Because it is not a signatory to the [[Non-Proliferation Treaty]], Israel rejects international inspections of its nuclear facilities and the nation maintains a public policy of "nuclear ambiguity". For further information, see: [[Israel and weapons of mass destruction]].

Israel is technically at war with [[Iraq]], which never signed an armistice ending the war of 1948-1949. It is also technically in a state of war with Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Lebanon. A cease fire agreement was signed with Syria in 1973. There is no such agreement with Lebanon.

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of 2,938 [[km²]] (1,134 [[square mile|mi²]]). 2,935 km² (1,133 mi²) of it is land and 3 km² (1 mi²) of it (0.11%) is water.

''Main article: [[Geography of Israel]]''

===Major Highways===

<div style="float: right; margin: 0em 0em 1em 1em; text-align: center;">

*[[Image:IsI-map35.PNGsvg|Map20px]] of[[Interstate Israel35]]<br/>

*[[Image:US 57.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 57]]

<small>''Map of Israel''</small>

*[[Image:Texas 85.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 85 (Texas)]]

</div>

*[[State Highway 173 (Texas)]]

===Adjacent counties===

Israel, located in [[Southwest Asia]], is a country whose exact territorial boundaries and borders are widely disputed. It is also considered to be one of the fifteen states that comprise the so-called "[[Cradle of Humanity]]". The total area&mdash;excluding East [[Jerusalem]] and other territories taken over by Israel in the [[Six-Day War|1967 war]]&mdash;is 20,770 square km; the total area&mdash;including the aforementioned territories&mdash;is 22,145 square km.

*[[Medina County, Texas|Medina County]] (north)

*[[Atascosa County, Texas|Atascosa County]] (east)

The territories taken over by Israel since the [[1967]] war are not included in the Israel country profile, unless otherwise noted. In keeping with the framework established at the [[Madrid Conference]] in October [[1991]], bilateral negotiations are being conducted between Israeli and Palestinian representatives (from the Israeli-controlled [[West Bank]] and [[Gaza Strip]]) to achieve a permanent settlement. These talks generated the [[Oslo Accords]] in [[1993]], which established mutual recognition between Israel and the [[PLO]], and granted the new [[Palestinian Authority]] partial autonomy in areas of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Talks were also held between Israel and [[Syria]]. On [[April 25]] [[1982]], Israel withdrew from the [[Sinai Peninsula]] pursuant to the [[1979]] [[Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty]]. Outstanding territorial and other disputes with [[Jordan]] were resolved in the [[1994]] [[Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace]].

*[[La Salle County, Texas|La Salle County]] (south)

*[[Dimmit County, Texas|Dimmit County]] (southwest)

== Administrative districts ==

*[[Zavala County, Texas|Zavala County]] (west)

''Main article: [[Districts of Israel]]''

6 districts (mehozot; singular, mehoz)

* [[Jerusalem]] ([[Jerusalem|Yerushalayim]])

* Northern ([[HaZafon]])

* [[Haifa]] ([[Haifa|Hefa]])

* Central ([[HaMerkaz]])

* [[Tel Aviv]]

* Southern ([[HaDarom]])

== Economy ==

''Main article: [[Economy of Israel]]''

Israel has a technologically advanced market economy with substantial government participation. It depends on imports of crude oil and gas, grains, raw materials, and military equipment. Despite limited natural resources, Israel has intensively developed its agricultural and industrial sectors over the past 20 years. Israel is largely self-sufficient in food production except for grains. Diamonds, high-technology and military equipment, and agricultural products (fruits and vegetables) are leading exports. Israel usually posts sizable current account deficits, which are covered by large transfer payments from abroad and by foreign loans. Roughly half of the government's external debt is owed to the [[U.S.]], which is its major source of economic and military aid. The influx of Jewish immigrants from the former USSR topped 750,000 during the period [[1989]]-[[1999]], bringing the population of Israel from the former [[Soviet Union]] to 1 million, one-sixth of the total population, and adding scientific and professional expertise of substantial value for the economy's future. The influx, coupled with the opening of new markets at the end of the [[Cold War]], energized Israel's economy, which grew rapidly in the early [[1990s]]. But growth began slowing in [[1996]] when the government imposed tighter fiscal and monetary policies and the immigration bonus petered out. Those policies brought inflation down to record low levels in [[1999]].

==Demographics==

As of the [[census]][[Geographic references#2|²]] of 2000, there were 16,252 people, 4,743 households, and 3,642 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was 6/km² (14/mi²). There were 5,660 housing units at an average density of 2/km² (5/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 71.86% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 4.87% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.58% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.41% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 19.76% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.50% from two or more races. 73.76% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

''Main article: [[Demographics of Israel]]''

There were 4,743 households out of which 40.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.20% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 16.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.20% were non-families. 20.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.98 and the average family size was 3.44.

As of 2001, 81% of Israel's population (excluding the non-Jewish population of the West Bank and Gaza) is ethnically [[Jew]]ish. Among Jews, 26% have at least one Israeli-born parent, 37% are first-generation Israelis, 27% are immigrants from the West, and 11% are from developing countries in Asia and Africa, including Arab countries.[http://www.cbs.gov.il/shnaton53/st02_21x.pdf]

In the county, the population was spread out with 28.70% under the age of 18, 11.20% from 18 to 24, 30.80% from 25 to 44, 18.70% from 45 to 64, and 10.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 121.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 130.20 males.

6% of Israeli Jews define themselves as ''[[haredi]]m'' (ultra-orthodox religious); an additional 9% are "religious"; 34% consider themselves "traditionalists" (not strictly adhering to Jewish [[halacha]]) ; and 51% are "secular". Among the seculars, 53% believe in God.[http://www.geocities.com/demokratya/dat/shavit.htm]

The median income for a household in the county was $24,504, and the median income for a family was $26,578. Males had a median income of $23,810 versus $16,498 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $16,069. About 24.50% of families and 29.00% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 36.20% of those under age 18 and 30.40% of those age 65 or over.

Arabs make up 18% of Israel's population. Within this group is a minority of [[Palestinian Christian]]s who make up 9% of the Israeli Arab population.[http://www.cbs.gov.il/shnaton53/st02_01.pdf]

==Cities and towns==

There are also a number of smaller minorities, including [[Druze]] (1.5%) and a tiny [[Armenia]]n community.

*[[Bigfoot, Texas|Bigfoot]]

*[[Dilley, Texas|Dilley]]

*[[Hilltop, Texas|Hilltop]]

*[[Moore, Texas|Moore]]

*[[North Pearsall, Texas|North Pearsall]]

*[[Pearsall, Texas|Pearsall]]

*[[West Pearsall, Texas|West Pearsall]]

==See also==

As of [[31 December]], [[2003]], 224,200 Israeli citizens live in the [[West Bank]] in [[community|communities]] established before the [[1948 Arab-Israeli War]] and re-established after the [[Six-Day War]], and in numerous [[Israeli_settlements|settlements]]. All but a few of these were new settlements, established after the Israeli military occupation following the [[Six-Day War]] in [[1967]], and assisted in their development by government funding and military protection. This number does not include Israelis in [[East Jerusalem]], which was captured by [[Jordan]] in [[1948]], and annexed by it from [[1950]] to [[1967]]. About 7,500 Israelis live in settlements built in the [[Gaza Strip]]. [http://www.cbs.gov.il/population/new_2003/tab_1.pdf].

*[[Winter Garden Region]]

See also: [[Immigration to Israel]]

==Culture and religion==

''Main article: [[Culture of Israel]]''

* [[Archaeology of Israel]]

* [[Music of Israel]]

* [[List of Israeli artists]]

* [[Science of Israel]]

* [[Hatikva]], the [[National anthem]] of Israel

* [[Judaism in Israel]]

{| border="1" align="center" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"

|+<font size="+1">'''Holidays'''</font>

|-

! style="background:#efefef;" | Date

! style="background:#efefef;" | English Name

! style="background:#efefef;" | Local Name

! style="background:#efefef;" | Range of possible dates<br/>in Gregorian calendar

|-

| Tishri 1

| New Year

| [[Rosh Hashanah]]

| between Sept 6 & Oct 5

|-

| Tishri 10

| Day of Atonement

| [[Yom Kippur]]

| between Sept 15 & Oct 14

|-

| Tishri 15

| Feast of Tabernacles (Booths)

| [[Sukkot]]

| between Sept 20 & Oct 19

|-

| Tishri 22

| Assembly of the Eighth Day

| [[Shemini Atzeret]]

| between Sept 27 & Oct 26

|-

| Nissan 15

| Passover

| [[Pesach]]

| between March 27 & April 25

|-

| Nissan 21

| Passover

| [[Pesach]]

| between April 2 & May 1

|-

| Iyar 5

| Independence Day

| [[Yom Ha-Atzmaut]]

| between April 16 & May 15

|-

| Sivan 6

| Pentecost

| [[Shavuot]]

| between May 16 & June 14

|}

==Miscellaneous topics==

* [[List of Israelis]]

* [[Cities in Israel]]

* [[Communications in Israel]]

* [[Transportation in Israel]]

* [[Military of Israel]]

* [[Foreign relations of Israel]]

* [[Israel and the United Nations]]

* [[Ha-Mossad le-Modiin ule-Tafkidim Meyuhadim]] - (often shortened to ''Mossad'')

* [[Israeli terrorism]]

* [[Violence against Israelis]]

* [[List of Israeli newspapers]]

* [[List of universities in Israel]]

* [[Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange]]

== Footnotes ==

¹ [[Jerusalem]] is Israel's officially designated capital, and the ___location of its presidential residence, government offices and the Knesset, the parliament. Israelis often describe the city as "The Eternal Capital of Israel." However, many countries do not recognize this designation and consider the status of Jerusalem an unresolved issue, due to Israel's capture of the eastern half of Jerusalem (and subsequent reunification) from Jordan during the Six Day War. They believe that the final issue of the status of Jerusalem will be determined in future Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. Therefore, most countries locate their embassies in Israel's other major cities like [[Tel Aviv]], [[Ramat-Gan]], [[Herzliya]], etc., instead, to avoid political sensitivities.

Moreover, some of the dissenting countries do not recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, due to what they perceive as illegal Israeli action in designating the city to be its capital in the first place (1950), as well as Israel's capture of the eastern half from Jordan, in 1967. These states instead recognize Tel Aviv, the temporary capital in 1948, as the continuous legitimate capital, and as a result keep their embassies there. Other entities maintain that Jerusalem must be internationalized as originally envisioned by the United Nations General Assembly. See the article on [[Jerusalem]] for more.

² For a short period in the [[1990s]] the prime minister was directly elected by the electorate. This change was not viewed a success and was abandoned.

==External links==

* {{Handbook of Texas|id=FF/hcf10|name=Frio County}}

*[http://www.rootsweb.com/~isrwgw/ Israel GenWeb - Israel Genealogy & History]

* [http://texashistory.unt.edu/search/?q=%22United+States+-+Texas+-+Frio+County%22&t=dc.coverage Historic Frio County materials], hosted by the [http://texashistory.unt.edu/ Portal to Texas History.]

*[http://www.settingtheworldtorights.com/node/view/74.html A Short History of Israel]

*[http://www.hareshima.com/Israel/government.asp Comprehensive Israel sites]

*[http://www.science.co.il/ Israel Science and Technology Homepage]

*[http://www.infotour.co.il/ Tourist services in Israel]

*[http://www.israel.com/directory/Government/ Israel Dot Com Directory]

*[http://www.imj.org.il/ Israel Museum, Jerusalem]

*[http://www.iba.org.il/ Israel Broadcast Authority]

*[http://www.israel21c.com Israel21c: A focus beyond the conflict]

*[http://globes.co.il/serveen/ Globes Online: Business and technology news from Israel]

===Government===

*[http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/home.asp Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

*[http://www.info.gov.il/eng/mainpage.asp Israel Government Gateway]

*[http://www.pmo.gov.il/english/ Prime Minister's Office]

*[http://www.goisrael.com/ Ministry of Tourism]

*[http://www.education.gov.il/ Ministry of Education]

*[http://www.mot.gov.il/ Ministry of Transportation]

*[http://www.cbs.gov.il/engindex.htm Bureau of Statistics]

*[http://www.knesset.gov.il/ The Knesset (Parliament)]

*[http://www.idf.il/ Israel Defence Force site]

*[http://www.seamzone.mod.gov.il/pages/eng/purpose.htm Israel Security Fence Project]

===Israeli Laws===

*[http://www.knesset.gov.il/description/eng/eng_mimshal_yesod1.htm Basic Laws]

*[http://www.israelinsurancelaw.com/site/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&btitle=CE&mid=&ceid=122 Commercial Laws (English Translation)]

===Media===

*[http://www.jpost.com/ Jerusalem Post newspaper (English)]

*[http://www.israelnationalnews.com/ Arutz Sheva - news site of Arutz Sheva Israel Broadcasting Network ]

*[http://www.haaretz.com/ The English edition of the Israeli newspaper Ha'Aretz]

*[http://www.ynet.co.il/ Yedioth Aharonoth - Israel's widest circulation newspaper]

*[http://www.HavenWorks.com/world/israel Israel News Sources, References]

*[http://israel.indymedia.org/ Israel Indymedia] - mostly in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]

*[http://www.maarivintl.com/ English edition of Maariv, an Israeli newspaper]

===News articles===

*[http://mondediplo.com/focus/mideast/r1276 Le Monde diplomatique report on EU-Israeli relations]

*[http://www.radicalparty.org/israel/israele_e.htm Report of a conference exploring the possibility of Israeli membership of the European Union]

*[http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/912892/posts Report from The Times of India on strained relationship between Israel and the United Kingdom]

*[http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/israel/intro/ European Union relations with Israel]

{{Texas}}

===Blogs===

*[http://israpundit.com/ Israpundit - Israel News and Commentary]

*[http://www.israelblog.org/index.html Aron's Israel Peace Weblog]

{{coord|28.86|-99.11|display=title|type:adm2_region:US-TX_source:UScensus1990}}

===Photos===

*[http://www.shatz.com/english/israel.htm Photos of Israel]

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