Religion & Language
Israel has a population that is 77% Jewish, 19% Arab, and 2.1% Christian. The remaining 1.9%, mostly druses and church boxes, are present (2009). According to the 1948 Declaration of Independence, the State of Israel promises complete social and political equality for all of its people, regardless of their race, gender, or religious affiliation. It upholds religious liberty and safeguards the holy sites of all religions within its borders. Israel is a parliamentary democracy that distinguishes itself as a "Jewish" state by allowing any Jew who wishes to immigrate.
The political hostility between Jews and Arabs has a negative impact on relations between the various religion communities because the large majority of Muslims and Christians are from the country's Arab population. The religious discourse between Jews, Christians, and Muslims has been attempted more lately.
Men should wear a kippah or cap, while women should cover their shoulders and knees. Sunday through Thursday are the working days. Jewish holy day Shabbat is observed from 3 p.m. on Friday until 7 p.m. on Saturday. Hebrew is the official language; other widely used languages include Arabic, English, French, and Russian.
