Israel is a Middle Eastern country on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It is located in southwestern Asia, along the eastern Mediterranean coast. It is bordered by Lebanon to the north, Syria to the northeast, Jordan to the east, and Egypt to the southwest. Israel also shares boundaries with the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, whose political and territorial status is subject to international dispute. The western limits of the country are bounded by a coastline along the Mediterranean Sea. In the south of the country, Israel has a tiny coastline on the Red Sea through the Gulf of Aqaba, also known as the Gulf of Eilat, at Eilat.
The landscape of Israel varies, including the mountain territory of the north, including the Golan Heights and the Galilee, to the coastal plains, forests, and fields in the central and northern parts of the country, and the Negev Desert in the south. Jerusalem is situated in the central highlands of the country and is considered a city of enormous historical and religious significance. The city of Tel Aviv, on the Mediterranean coast, is a leading economic and technological center of the country.
Though small, covering about 22,000 square kilometres, Israel remains a country of major importance in terms of history, religion, politics, and geography. Its position at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe has contributed to its historical importance and its strategic location in the Middle East.
