exclaim +++Israel has a technologically advanced market economy with substantial government participation. It depends on imports of fossil fuels (crude oil, natural gas, and coal), grains, beef, raw materials, and military equipment. Despite limited natural resources, Israel has intensively developed its agricultural and industrial sectors over the past 20 years. Israel is largely self-sufficient in food production except for grains and beef. Diamonds, high technology, military equipment, software, pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, and agricultural products (fruits, vegetables and flowers) are leading exports. Israel usually posts sizable current account deficits, which are covered by large transfer payments from abroad and by foreign loans. Israel possesses extensive facilities for oil refining, diamond polishing, and semiconductor fabrication.
+++Roughly half of the government's external debt is owed to the United States, which is its major source of economic and military aid. A relatively large fraction of Israel's external debt is held by individual investors, via the Israel Bonds program. The combination of American loan guarantees and direct sales to individual investors, allow the state to borrow at competitive and sometimes below-market rates.
+++The influx of Jewish immigrants from the former USSR topped 750,000 during the period 1989–1999, bringing the population of Israel from the former Soviet Union to one million, one-sixth of the total population, and adding scientific and professional expertise of substantial value for the economy's future. The influx, coupled with the opening of new markets at the end of the Cold War, energized Israel's economy, which grew rapidly in the early 1990s. But growth began slowing in 1996 when the government imposed tighter fiscal and monetary policies and the immigration bonus petered out. Those policies brought inflation down to record low levels in 1999.
+++High technology industries have taken a pre-eminent role in the economy, particularly in the last decade. Israel’s limited natural resources and strong emphasis on education have also played key roles in directing industry towards high technology fields. As a result of the country’s success in developing cutting edge technologies in software, communications and the life sciences, Israel is frequently referred to as a second Silicon Valley. Israel (as of 2004) receives more venture capital investment than any country of Europe, and has the largest VC/GDP rate in the world, seven times that of the United States. Outside the US and Canada, Israel has the largest number of NASDAQ listed companies.
+++Israel produces more scientific papers per capita than any other nation - 109 per 10,000 people. It also boasts one of the highest per capita rates of patents filed. Twenty-four percent of Israel's workforce holds university degrees - ranking third in the industrialized world, after the US and Netherlands - and 12 percent hold advanced degrees.
+++Another leading industry is tourism, which benefits from the plethora of important historical sites for Judaism and Christianity and from Israel’s warm climate and access to water resources. The important diamond industry has been affected by changing industry conditions and shifts of certain industry activities to the Far East.
+++As Israel has liberalized its economy and reduced taxes and spending, the gap between the rich and poor has grown. As of 2005, 20.5% of Israeli families (and 34% of Israeli children) are living below the poverty line, though around 40% of those are lifted above the poverty line through transfer payments.
+++Israel's GDP per capita, as of 28 July 2005, was $20,551.20 per person (42nd in the world). Israel's overall productivity was $54,510.40, and the amount of patents granted was 74/1,000,000 people.
Additional Statistics:
Purchasing Power: $184,900,000,000
Gold Reserves: $30,990,000,000
Oil Production: 100 (bbl per day)
Oil Consumption: 249,500 (bbl per day)
Proven Oil Reserves: 2,000 (barrels)
Labor Force: 2,880,000
Ports: 4
Airports: 53
Railways: 853 km
Roadways: 17,446 km
Land Area: 20,770 km
2008-2011
After the people decided a change was needed a push was made for conservativism. The people for the first time since Israel's birth had voted for a Rabbi. An incredibly powerful speaker he held the possition of "Head of the Rabbitical Court" for almost 30 years. Voted in at 50 he would reach the highest approval rating in Israel's history, 93%. His first two decisions would put gas to the flames of the people. He instated the "Children of Israel Act" This would give more money to IDF Vets, more benefits to Mahal and Alliah, and lastly vast tax breaks families with 3+ children. Within the first 2 years a massive influx of Jewish people flooded into Israel. Soon the economy was bursting at the seams with relatively inexpensive labor and a massive boon in the educated workforce. The GDP grew an impressive 3.1% in the first year of his office.
Over the next 2 years he would push onward with the Residential Act of 2009 which would establish massive additions to all major cities along with the establishment of 30 New Townships, of which 13 where Palestinian exclusive.
Under his leadership Israel had seen a massive growth in all areas, a decrease in terrorist attacks, and more global support than it had ever seen before.
Once more Israel was dubbed The Lion of Zion.
With this came many changes. The flag now emblazened the words "Never Again" in gold over the Star of David.
The reconstruction of the Temple had begun from popular vote.
Lebanon was now a province of Israel.
A pilot program for a new special forces Code Named Knights of Jerusalem had begun.
New Political Map (Israel/Lebanon in Purple, to show new landmass)
