Israel explained to kids

Israel is a country located in the Middle East. The official name of Israel is the State of Israel. Israel is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea, Egypt, the Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank. The land area of Israel is about 20,770 square kilometers. The population of Israel is about 8.5 million people. The capital of Israel is Jerusalem. The official language of Israel is Hebrew, but many people also speak Arabic. The currency of Israel is the Israeli Shekel. The land of Israel has a long and rich history. The first people to live in the land were the Israelites, who came from the Middle East about 3,000 years ago. The Israelites were ruled by a series of kings and queens. In the year 70 AD, the Romans conquered the land of Israel and made it into a province called Judea. In the late 1800s, the country of Turkey controlled the land of Israel. In 1917, the British took control of Israel from the Turks. In 1948, the State of Israel was founded as an independent country. Since 1948, Israel has been involved in a number of wars with its neighbors. The most recent war was the Gaza War, which took place in 2014. Today, Israel is a modern country with a thriving economy. Tourism is an important industry in Israel. Every year, millions of people visit Israel to see its many historical and religious sites.