Strip; Peace
Now supports territorial concessions in the West Bank and is critical
of government's Lebanon policy

Member of: AG (observer), CCC, CE (observer), CERN (observer), EBRD,
ECE, FAO, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, OAS
(observer), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Itamar RABINOVICH
chancery: 3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 364-5500
FAX: [1] (202) 364-5610
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles,
Miami, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Martin INDYK
embassy: 71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv
mailing address: PSC 98, Box 100, Tel Aviv; APO AE 09830
telephone: [972] (3) 517-4338
FAX: [972] (3) 663-449
consulate(s) general: Jerusalem

Flag: white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as
the Magen David (Shield of David) centered between two equal
horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag

@Israel:Economy

Overview: Israel has a market economy with substantial government
participation. It depends on imports of crude oil, grains, raw
materials, and military equipment. Despite limited natural resources,
Israel has intensively developed its agricultural and industrial
sectors over the past 20 years. Industry employs about 22% of Israeli
workers, construction 6.5%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 3.5%,
and services most of the rest. Israel is largely self-sufficient in
food production except for grains. Diamonds, high-technology
equipment, and agricultural products (fruits and vegetables) are
leading exports. Israel usually posts current account deficits, which
are covered by large transfer payments from abroad and by foreign
loans. Roughly half of the government's external debt is owed to the
United States, which is its major source of economic and military aid.
To earn needed foreign exchange, Israel has been targeting
high-technology niches in international markets, such as medical
scanning equipment. The influx of Jewish immigrants from the former
USSR, which topped 450,000 during the period 1990-94, increased
unemployment, intensified housing problems, and strained the
government budget. At the same time, the