Locale

• 77
  Cities
  Israel has 77 localities with formal city (ir) status — granted by the Interior Ministry when a settlement crosses ~20,000 residents and a service threshold.
• 257
  Local authorities
  257 local authorities in total — 77 cities, 124 local councils, and 53 regional councils covering villages, kibbutzim, and moshavim.
• 6+1
  Districts
  Six administrative districts (mehoz) plus the Judea & Samaria area, each headed by a district commissioner appointed by the Interior Ministry.
• 9.86M
  Population
  Around 9.86 million Israelis as of early 2025 (CBS estimate), up from 9 million in 2020.
• 92%
  Urban share
  About 92% of Israelis live in cities or local-council towns — one of the highest urban shares in the OECD.
• 22,072
  Total area (km²)
  Israel covers 22,072 km² (including the Golan Heights and East Jerusalem) — roughly the size of New Jersey.

• Central district2,452K · 25%
• Tel Aviv district1,510K · 15%
• Northern district1,549K · 16%
• Southern district1,464K · 15%
• Jerusalem district1,271K · 13%
• Haifa district1,051K · 11%
• Judea & Samaria area548K · 6%

Source: CBS Statistical Abstract 2024, Table 2.16. Population in thousands.

• 77

  Cities (Iriya)

  Granted city status by the Interior Ministry once a town crosses ~20,000 residents and provides the required municipal services. Run by an elected mayor and council.

• 124

  Local councils (Mo'atza Mekomit)

  Smaller towns of roughly 2,000–20,000 residents — Efrat, Ariel, Or Akiva, Yeruham, Pardes Hanna-Karkur, and others. Also run by an elected council.

• 53

  Regional councils (Mo'atza Ezorit)

  Cover rural areas — kibbutzim, moshavim, and small communities grouped by region. Eshkol, Misgav, Gush Etzion, the Jordan Valley, and others.

Elevations are city-centre averages from gov.il and Wikipedia. Negative values are below mean sea level.

• 754 m

  Jerusalem · capital and highest major city

  Israel's capital sits at 754 metres above sea level on the Judean hills — over a million residents, the largest city in the country.

• −200 m

  Tiberias · 200 m below sea level

  On the shore of the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee), the only Israeli city built below sea level — one of the four holy cities of Judaism.

• 30,500

  Bnei Brak · densest city

  Around 30,500 residents per km² on average, the densest city in Israel. The heart of Lithuanian-Haredi Torah scholarship.

• 1996

  Modi'in · newest major city

  Founded in 1996 on the ancient site of the Maccabean revolt; today over 100,000 residents, halfway between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

• 29.5°N

  Eilat · southernmost city

  At the northern tip of the Red Sea, Israel's gateway to the Indian Ocean and a year-round resort and dive destination.

• 1878

  Petah Tikva · 'Mother of the Moshavot'

  Founded in 1878 by religious pioneers — the first modern Jewish agricultural settlement and the root of the pre-state Jewish moshava movement.

• 2026-06-30

  Israel Tests Upgraded Iron Dome With Iron Beam Integration

  Israel's Defense Ministry and Rafael said Tuesday that IMDO completed a comprehensive test series upgrading Iron Dome and incorporating Iron Beam laser-interceptor lessons from the Iran war. The tests examined complex scenarios and the systems' ability to operate together against rockets, missiles, drones and other aerial threats. Times of Israel, Jerusalem Post and Defense Industry Europe report the same MOD-Rafael account, including that the upgrade is meant to improve multi-layer defense after recent combat. Strengthening Iron Dome while bringing Iron Beam into the architecture gives Israeli civilians and soldiers a denser shield against Iran's proxy arsenals.

  Primary:(1)(2)Secondary:(3)(4)(5)
• 2026-06-30

  IAF Scrambles Jets After Contact Lost With Israel-Bound Flight

  The IDF said Israeli fighter jets were scrambled Tuesday after an emergency report on a LOT Polish Airlines flight operated by Electra Airways from Warsaw to Tel Aviv. Times of Israel later reported that Bulgaria's transport ministry blamed a transponder technical failure for a false hijacking alert, while LOT said the emergency report was quickly canceled. Ynet reported the alert was triggered over Turkish airspace and the plane was denied landing permission in Cyprus before diverting. The rapid response shows Israel's aviation-security network acted immediately while civilian authorities sorted out a non-hostile incident.

  Secondary:(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)
• 2026-06-30

  American in Israel Faces Charge of Spying for Iran

  Israel Police and Shin Bet said a joint Jerusalem District investigation has led prosecutors to prepare charges against a young American citizen suspected of spying for Iranian intelligence. The reports say he was arrested June 9 after tips from international security agencies, kept contact with Iranian handlers, documented sensitive sites across Israel and received payments for the tasks. Channel 13, Ynet, Israel National News and JDN all report that a prosecutor's declaration was filed and an indictment is expected in the coming days. The case shows Iran's continuing effort to recruit operatives inside Israel, and the value of Israeli security cooperation in disrupting it.

  Secondary:(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)
• 2026-06-30

  Leaders Condemn Incitement Against IDF Chief at Haredi Rally

  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, Defense Minister Israel Katz and opposition leaders condemned Rabbi Aryeh Yazdi after a Bnei Brak anti-draft rally in which he attacked IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir in extreme terms. Shas also distanced itself from the remarks, while Haredi outlets carried Herzog's rebuke. The dispute comes as the Knesset weighs draft enforcement and Torah-study legislation. Israel can respect Torah learning and Haredi service frameworks while drawing a clear national line against incitement toward the soldiers and commanders defending the country.

  Primary:(1)Secondary:(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)
• 2026-06-30

  Ministers Push Pardon After Judges Flag Netanyahu Bribery Count

  Jerusalem District Court judges reiterated that prosecutors should consider withdrawing the Case 4000 bribery charge against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after previously warning of difficulties proving that count. Justice Minister Yariv Levin said the trial should end through a pardon or cancellation, and Israeli reports say additional coalition ministers and MKs joined calls for clemency or closing the case. Netanyahu continues to deny wrongdoing. Israel needs legal accountability and judicial restraint, with public institutions focused on wartime governance rather than an endless political-legal rupture.

  Secondary:(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)
• 2026-06-30

  Netanyahu Condemns Anti-IDF Incitement After Bnei Brak Rally

  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined a cross-party backlash Tuesday after Rabbi Aryeh Yazdi cursed IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir by name at a Bnei Brak rally against yeshiva draft enforcement. Netanyahu called the remarks disgraceful and said there is no place for incitement against IDF commanders or soldiers; President Isaac Herzog, opposition leaders and Defense Minister Israel Katz also denounced the attack. Shas, whose MKs attended the rally, issued a statement saying Torah debate and protest must not harm IDF soldiers. Israel can respect Torah study and haredi tradition while insisting public argument never targets the IDF chain of command.

  Secondary:(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)