Israel: intertwining tradition and modernity

Israel: past and present - Israel is well-known for its wine, advanced technology and being gay friendly. If you think that it's just a traditional and conservative country, then this gallery is for you. Click on the images to learn some fascinating facts about the history and culture of this enchanting country.

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Myth or reality? - According to historical sources, Jerusalem was destroyed twice, besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times and captured and then recaptured 44 times.

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Foundation - The state of Israel was established in 1948 after World War II.

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Territory - Israel is one of the smallest countries in the world. It spans 470 km from north to south.

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Army - Both boys and girls are required to serve in the army after highschool.

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Military service - The only difference is that boys serve for three years and girls for two.

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The return - After the army, Israelis typically return to their parent's home and spend a year saving up money.

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Rite of passage - The goal is to spend a year traveling around the world, known as a 'rite of passage.'

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Place for faith - Every day, thousands of people visit the Wailing Wall in the Holy Land.

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Tradition - People write down requests and prayers and leave them in the cracks of the wall.

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Holy hill - According to the Bible, the Mount of Olives is where Jesus Christ went after the last supper.

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Geography - The country's geography is varied, including snow-covered mountains and beautiful coastal regions.

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Tourist destination - TripAdvisor named Jerusalem as one of the 10 top cities to visit.

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Gastronomy - The country does not have a typical dish, so the food is called 'Israel Fusion Food,' and is a combination of food from various countries.

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Dessert - Krembo is the typical dessert. It can only be made in the winter as it melts in the summer.

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Celebration - Purim is a traditional religious holiday that commemorates the Jews' salvation from Persia.

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Jesus' tomb? - The Garden Tomb was discovered in 1867 and is considered by Christians to be the place where Jesus was buried.

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Tribute to the Jews - The famous Memorial Yad Vashem was constructed to honor the Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Anyone who visits is greatly impacted by the memorial.

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Stations of the Cross - One of the most-visited places is the Via Dolorosa, where - according to Christian tradition - Jesus carried the cross.

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Temple Mount - Considered sacred by both Christians and Muslims, the Temple is one of the most highly disputed places in the world.

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Fortress - Most of Jerusalem is surrounded by giant walls that are monitored by surveillance towers.

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A threat? - Evaporation in the great salt lake, the Dead Sea, is causing sinkholes which could collapse along with everything above them.

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Dispute - Jerusalem used to be Palestinian territory. The sacred city is one of the primary causes of dispute between Jews and Palestinians.

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Languages - Depending on the region, signs are written in different languages, including English, Arabic and Hebrew.

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Fun fact - One of the biggest attractions in Jerusalem is the cats, brought to the city by the British in 1917 to combat the rat problem.

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Modern Jerusalem - Jerusalem is well-known for its historical characteristics, although many people don't know that it is also very technologically advanced.

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A conservative country? - Israel is synonymous with tradition, but not necessarily conservatism. Tel-Aviv is one of the most gay-friendly cities in the world.

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Good wine - The country was one of the first to begin fermenting grapes and they make really good wines.

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Controversy - President of the United States Donald Trump recently announced his recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, stirring up controversy.

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Worldwide - Israelis are banned from entering 16 different countries, including Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Syria.

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