What to know about the State of Israel
Israel is a country in the Middle East predominantly composed of Jewish individuals. It is home to many holy sites and has deep religious roots dating back to biblical times. Bordered by Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria, Israel is roughly the size of New Jersey.
Benjamin Netanyahu, from the right-wing Likud party, is the longest-serving prime minister of Israel. He previously served as prime minister from 1996 to 1999 and later from 2009 to 2021, before returning to the role in 2022.
The State of Israel was established in 1948 and was officially admitted to the United Nations (UN) in 1949. Israel has a long-standing conflict with Arab states and the Palestinians, characterized by years of violence and terrorist attacks against the Jewish state.
On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists launched a deadly attack on Israel, prompting Israel to formally declare war on Hamas. In June 2025, Israel launched strikes aimed at Iran's nuclear facilities and top military leaders. On June 13, 2025, Israel initiated strikes targeting nuclear sites in Iran, marking the beginning of fire exchanges between the two nations and the start of the Israel-Iran war. In retaliation for U.S. strikes against its nuclear program, Iran launched at least 14 missiles toward Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. According to President Donald Trump, the United States carried out strikes on three of Iran’s nuclear facilities in Operation Midnight Hammer on June 22, 2025.
