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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Israel: intertwining tradition and modernity

How would you like to visit one of the oldest cities in the world?

20/12/17 | StarsInsider

TRAVEL culture

Israel has been a huge focus in the media as political tensions remain high between Palestine and Israel. However, the country is much more than war and conflict. We've compiled some interesting facts about the ancient culture.