is critical of government's Lebanon policy

International organization participation: AG (observer), BSEC
(observer), CCC, CE (observer), CERN (observer), EBRD, ECE, FAO,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, OAS (observer), OSCE
(partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO

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 S. INDYK
embassy: 71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv
mailing address: PSC 98, Box 100, APO AE 09830
telephone: [972] (3) 519-7575
FAX: [972] (3) 517-3227
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

Economy
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Economic 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, agriculture, forestry, and fishing
3.5%, and services 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 US, 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 525,000 during the period 1990-95, increased
unemployment, intensified housing problems, and strained the
government budget. At the same time, the immigrants br