Is·rael
a country on the eastern side of the Mediterranean Sea, surrounded by Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon. Population: 5,938,000 (2001). Capital: Jerusalem. Israel was established in 1948 as a home for the Jewish people, and was part of Palestine. In the past, Israel has been at war with the Arab countries which surround it. There is a lot of fighting between the Arab Palestinians who live in Israel and the Israeli government.