Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1% (1997)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: Northern Ireland issue with the UK
(historic peace agreement signed 10 April 1998); Rockall continental
shelf dispute involving Denmark, Iceland, and the UK (Ireland and
the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for and consumer of hashish
from North Africa to the UK and Netherlands and of European-produced
synthetic drugs; transshipment point for heroin and cocaine destined
for Western Europe

======================================================================

@Israel
------

Introduction

Background: The territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 war
are not included in the data below, unless otherwise noted. In
keeping with the framework established at the Madrid Conference in
October 1991, bilateral negotiations are being conducted between
Israel and Palestinian representatives, and Israel and Syria, to
achieve a permanent settlement between them. On 25 April 1982,
Israel withdrew from the Sinai pursuant to the 1979 Israel-Egypt
Peace treaty. Outstanding territorial and other disputes with Jordan
were resolved in the 26 October 1994 Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace.

Geography

Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Egypt and Lebanon

Geographic coordinates: 31 30 N, 34 45 E

Map references: Middle East

Area:
total: 20,770 sq km
land: 20,330 sq km
water: 440 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries:
total: 1,006 km
border countries: Egypt 255 km, Gaza Strip 51 km, Jordan 238 km,
Lebanon 79 km, Syria 76 km, West Bank 307 km

Coastline: 273 km

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert
areas

Terrain: Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central
mountains; Jordan Rift Valley

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Har Meron 1,208 m

Natural resources: copper, phosphates, bromide, potash, clay,
sand, sulfur, asphalt, manganese, small amounts of natural gas and
crude oil

Land use:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 7%
forests and woodland: 6%
other: 66% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 1,800 sq km (1993 e