sraeli flag fleet; the Israeli
flag of convenience fleet typically includes all of its oil tankers
Airports:
total:
55
usable:
48
with permanent-surface runways:
30
with runways over 3,659 m:
1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
6
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
13
Telecommunications:
most highly developed in the Middle East although not the largest;
good system of coaxial cable and microwave radio relay; 1,800,000
telephones; broadcast stations - 14 AM, 21 FM, 20 TV; 3 submarine
cables; satellite earth stations - 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1
Indian Ocean INTELSAT

@Israel, Defense Forces

Branches:
Israel Defense Forces (including ground, naval, and air components)
note:
historically, there have been no separate Israeli military services
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 1,257,345; females age 15-49 1,280,899; males fit for
military service 1,026,699; females fit for military service
1,049,998; males reach military age (18) annually 47,297 (1994 est.);
females reach military age (18) annually 45,214 (1994 est.); both
sexes are liable for military service
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $12.5 billion, 18% of GDP (1993)

@Italy, Geography

Location:
Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean
Sea
Map references:
Africa, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
301,230 sq km
land area:
294,020 sq km
comparative area:
slightly larger than Arizona
note:
includes Sardinia and Sicily
Land boundaries:
total 1,899.2 km, Austria 430 km, France 488 km, Holy See (Vatican
City) 3.2 km, San Marino 39 km, Slovenia 199 km, Switzerland 740 km
Coastline:
4,996 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry in south
Terrain:
mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands
Natural resources:
mercury, potash, marble, sulfur, dwindling natural gas and crude oil
reserves, fish, coal
Land use:
arable land:
32%
permanent crops:
10%
meadows and pastures:
17%
forest and woodland:
22%
other:
19%
Irrigated land:
31,000 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
air pollution from industrial emissions such as sulfur dioxide;
coastal and inland rivers polluted from industrial and agricu