Israel Today

MAP 1

M E D I T E R R A N E A N

S E A

L E B A N O N

S Y R I A

J O R D A N

E G Y P T

S I N A I P E N I N S U L A

S A U D I A R A B I A

Mt. Hermon

GOLAN

HEIGHTS

SAMARIA SAMARIA

JUDEA JUDEA

G A Z A

Dead Sea

Haifa

Nazareth

Safed

Tiberias

Afula

Herzliya

Tel Aviv-Jaffa

Ashdod

Ashkelon

Jerusalem Jerusalem

Beersheba

Eilat Eilat

Amman Amman

Damascus Damascus

Jenin Jenin

Nablus Nablus

Ramallah Ramallah

Jericho Jericho

Bethlehem Bethlehem

Hebron Hebron

Ariel Ariel

Maale Adumim Maale Adumim

Efrat Efrat

Kiryat Arba Kiryat Arba

L E G E N D

Israel, 1949 lines

Held since 1967 (Golan, Area C)

Area B, Palestinian civil control

Area A, and Gaza west of the line

Gaza held by Israel

Yellow Line, Gaza

National border

International border today

1949 armistice line

Cease-fire line

Principal city

N

100 km

62 mi

North at top. Israeli Transverse Mercator projection. Situation as of 2026. Areas A and B and the Gaza line are approximate.

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HISTORICAL MAPS

MAP 1 Israel Today

Borders, the lines of 1949 and principal cities

Israel, located at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and Asia, is a geographically compact yet remarkably diverse country. Bounded by the Mediterranean to the west, Lebanon and Syria to the north, Jordan to the east, the Red Sea and Egypt to the south, Israel spans about 260 miles (420 km) north to south. From the sea to the Jordan River, there are at most seventy miles (115 km). Looming above are the central hills of Judea and Samaria, now under Israeli control, overlooking and safeguarding the valleys on all sides, as they do on the Golan Heights.

Although much smaller than California, only about 5% of its area, Israel's geographical diversity rivals that of the most populous US state. Yet it is the size of New Jersey.

The country features the lush Galilee hills in the north, the arid Negev Desert in the south, and vibrant coastal plains along the Mediterranean. There are even snow-covered mountains in the Golan in winter. Dividing Israel from Jordan is the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth, and Eilat's coral-rich Red Sea shores lie in the south. This variety within a tiny area highlights Israel's blend of natural beauty, historical significance, and modern development.

Before 1967, Israel's narrow waist near Netanya was just 9 miles (15 km) wide, leaving the country exposed to potential threats from the Arab-held high ground. After 1967, with the inclusion of Judea and Samaria, Israel's width increased to a modest 70 miles (115 km) at its widest point and 45 miles (74 km) in the center of the country near Tel Aviv.

Jerusalem is Israel's capital and largest city, about a 50 minute drive to Tel Aviv, its commercial hub. Haifa is the third largest city.

KEY FACTS

Area, 1949 lines About 20,900 km² (8,100 sq mi), before the territories captured in 1967.

Area with the Golan About 22,100 km² (8,500 sq mi). About 5% of California and close to the size of New Jersey.

Narrowest point About 9 miles (15 km) near Netanya, within the 1949 lines.

Widest point About 70 miles (115 km), including Judea, Samaria and Gaza.

Width at Tel Aviv About 45 miles (74 km), coast to the Jordan Valley.

Mount Hermon Held since 1967 as the southern slopes of the Golan Heights (Israeli law 1981, US recognition 2019). Israeli control on the northern and eastern slopes and summit area was extended in December 2024 and continues.

Reading the map Medium blue is Israel in the 1949 lines. Light blue is land held since 1967, including Area C. Tan and brown are Areas B and A and Gaza west of the yellow line. Banding is Israeli-held Gaza.

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