The State of Israel, at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea, bounded by Lebanon on the north, Syria on the northeast, Jordan on the east, and Egypt on the southwest, has an area of 7,847 sq. mi. (23,309 sq. km.) and a population of 6.08 million. Capital: Jerusalem. Diamonds, chemicals, citrus, textiles, and minerals are exported, local tourism to religious sites. ,Palestine, which corresponds to Canaan of the Bible, was settled by the Philistines about the 12th century B.C. and shortly thereafter was invaded by the Jews who established the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Because of its position as part of the land bridge connecting Asia and Africa, Palestine was invaded and conquered by nearly all the historic empires of ancient Europe and Asia. In the 16th century it became a Turkish satrap. After falling to the British in World War I, it, together with Transjordan, was mandated to Great Britain by the League of Nations in 1922.,, ,For more than half a century prior to the termination of the British mandate over Palestine in 1948, Zionist leaders had sought to create a Jewish homeland for Jews dispersed throughout the world. Israel was the logical location choice as it had long been the Jewish religious and cultural homeland. Also, for almost as long, Jews fleeing persecution had immigrated to Palestine. The Nazi persecutions of the 1930s and 1940s increased the Jewish relocation to Palestine and generated international support for the creation of a Jewish state, first promulgated by the Balfour Declaration of 1917 which asserted British support for the endeavor. The dream of a Jewish homeland was realized on May 14, 1948 when Palestine was proclaimed the State of Israel.,, Monetary System:,,, ,1 Palestine Pound = 1000 Mils to 1948,, ,1 Lira = 1000 Prutot, 1948-1960,, ,1 Lira = 100 Agorot, 1958-1980,, ,1 Sheqel = 10 ?old? Sheqalim, 1980-1985,, ,1 Sheqel = 100 New Agorot, 1980-1985,, ,1 New Sheqel = 1000 ?old? Sheqalim, 1985-,, ,1 New Sheqel = 100 Agorot, 1985-,,