Israel

[ iz-ree-uhl, -rey- ]

noun

1. a republic in southwest Asia, on the Mediterranean: formed as a Jewish state May 1948. 7,984 sq. mi. (20,679 sq. km). : Jerusalem (but not recognized by the international community).
2. the people traditionally descended from the Biblical Jacob; the Hebrew or Jewish people.
3. (in the Bible) a name given to Jacob after he had wrestled with an angel.
4. the northern kingdom of the ancient Hebrews, including 10 of the 12 tribes, sometimes called by the name of the chief tribe, Ephraim. : Samaria.
5. a group considered by its members or by others as God's chosen people.
6. a male given name.

Israel

/ -rɪəl; ˈɪzreɪəl /

noun

1. a republic in SW Asia, on the Mediterranean Sea: established in 1948, in the former British mandate of Palestine, as a primarily Jewish state; 8 disputes with Arab neighbours (who did not recognize the state of Israel), erupted into full-scale wars in 1948, 1956, 1967 (the Six Day War), and 1973 (the Yom Kippur War). In 1993 Israel agreed to grant autonomous status to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, according to the terms of a peace agreement with the PLO. Official languages: Hebrew and Arabic. Religion: Jewish majority, Muslim and Christian minorities. Currency: shekel. Capital: Jerusalem (international recognition withheld as East Jerusalem was annexed (1967) by Israel: UN recognized capital: Tel Aviv). Pop: 7 707 042 (2013 est). Area (including Golan Heights and East Jerusalem): 21 946 sq km (8473 sq miles)
2. 1. the ancient kingdom of the 12 Hebrew tribes at the SE end of the Mediterranean
   2. the kingdom in the N part of this region formed by the ten northern tribes of Israel in the 10th century bc and destroyed by the Assyrians in 721 bc
3. informal.
   the Jewish community throughout the world

Israel

¹

1. Republic in the Middle East , formerly part of Palestine . Israel is bordered by Lebanon to the north, Syria and Jordan to the east, the Gulf of Aqaba (an arm of the Red Sea ) to the south, Egypt (see also Egypt ) to the southwest, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Its capital and largest city is Jerusalem (see also Jerusalem ).

Israel

²

1. The name given to Jacob after he wrestled with God. Israel is also the name of the northern kingdom of the Israelites , when their nation was split in two after the death of King Solomon . ( See under “World Geography.” )

Notes

Periodic Palestinian intifadas against Israeli domination of the West Bank and Gaza Strip continue.

The state of Israel, a homeland for Jews (see also Jews ) worldwide, was proclaimed in 1948. Since then, conflict has arisen because of opposition by the surrounding Arab peoples to the formation of a Jewish state on what they consider Arab territory ( see Arab-Israeli conflict ).

The United States has been Israel's major supporter, but Israeli settlements on the West Bank strained U.S.-Israel relations.

As a move toward permanent peace between Israel and the Arab states, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat met with U. S. President James Earl Carter in the United States and signed a peace treaty in 1979.

Other Words From

• an·ti-Is·ra·el adjective
• pro-Is·ra·el adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Israel¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English, Old English, from Latin Isrāēl, from Greek Isrāḗl, from Hebrew Yisrā'ēl literally, “God perseveres”

Example Sentences

The hostilities escalated after the Iran-backed Hezbollah fired repeated salvoes of rockets into Israel in solidarity with Hamas, the Palestinian group that carried out the deadly 7 October 2023 attack on southern Israel.

From BBC

A prestigious prize awarded by Tel Aviv University in Israel has a new name.

From Science Magazine

The court also issued a warrant for Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif, who Israel says was killed in July, over alleged war crimes in relation to the 7 October 2023 attacks against Israel.

From BBC

Israel says he was killed in Gaza in July.

From BBC

The warrants, for alleged criminal responsibility for acts including murder, persecution and starvation as a weapon of war, prompted fury in Israel, which like the United States does not recognize the court’s jurisdiction.

From Los Angeles Times