White with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star, a Jewish symbol dating back to medieval times) known as the Magen David (Star of David or Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag. The basic design resembles a traditional Jewish prayer shawl (tallit), which is white with blue stripes.

Flag courtesy of the CIA World Factbook

Map courtesy of the CIA World Factbook

Google Earth

A nighttime view of Jerusalem and Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem, taken from the Mount of Olives.

Photo courtesy of the CIA World Factbook

Government

According to Britannica, Israel does not have a formal written constitution. Instead, its system of government is founded on a series of “basic laws” plus other legislation, executive orders, and parliamentary practice. The basic laws are a political compromise that serve as an alternative to a constitution. They are passed in the same way as other pieces of legislation but are intended to serve as guiding principles of the state. While it remains unclear whether the basic laws in fact hold superiority over other laws, Israel’s High Court of Justice has historically ruled against laws that have contradicted the basic laws.

The country is a democratic republic with a parliamentary system of government headed by a prime minister and involving numerous political parties representing a wide range of political positions. Israel’s lawmaking body, the Knesset, or assembly, is a single-chamber legislature with 120 members who are elected every four years (or more frequently if a Knesset vote of non confidence in the government results in an early election). Members exercise important functions in standing committees. Hebrew, the country’s official language, and Arabic, legally recognized as holding special status, are used in all proceedings.

The country’s prime minister is the head of government and is entrusted with the task of forming the cabinet, which is the government’s main policy-making and executive body. Israel has a strong cabinet, and its members may be, but need not be, members of the Knesset.

The president, who is the head of state, was traditionally elected by the Knesset for a five-year term that could be renewed only once; beginning in 2000, however, presidents were elected for a single, seven-year term. The president has no veto powers and exercises mainly ceremonial functions but has the authority to appoint certain key national officials, including state comptroller, governor of the Bank of Israel, judges, and justices of the Supreme Court.

The state comptroller, an independent officer elected by the Knesset before being appointed by the president, is responsible only to the Knesset and is the auditor of the government’s financial transactions and is empowered to inquire into the efficiency of its activities. The comptroller also acts as a national ombudsman.

Israel’s civil service gradually has become a politically neutral and professional body; previously, it tended to be drawn from, and to support, the party in power. The government’s extensive responsibilities and functions have acted to enlarge the bureaucracy.

The country is divided into 6 districts, Central, Jerusalem, Haifa, Northern, Southern, and Tel Aviv, and into 15 subdistricts. Local government consists of municipalities, local councils (for smaller settlements), or regional rural councils. The bylaws of the councils, as well as their budgets, are subject to approval by the Ministry of the Interior. Local government elections are held every five years.

Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)

The Civil Aviation Authority of the state of Israel is primarily responsible for the regulation of the civil aviation in the State of Israel in compliance with the Air Navigation rules, standards and International Conventions.

Airspace

SkyVector – Google Maps – ADS-B Exchange

ICAO countries publish an Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP). This document is divided into three parts: General (GEN), En Route (ENR) and Aerodromes (AD). ENR 1.4 details the types of airspace classes they chose to adopt from classes A through G.

Israel AIP

Drone Regulations

Issuance of a Recreational Drone License

UAV Laws

Foreign Air Operators- UAV

No Fly Zones

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Regulations & Policies

None found by the author.

However, should you, the reader, happen to stumble across something to the contrary, please email the author at FISHE5CA@erau.edu and you may be mentioned in the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS section of this book by way of thanks for contributing to this free eBook!

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) News

2025

Video courtesy of Advanced Air Mobility Institute from the January 2025 Global AAM Forum. Complete session for Day 3 of this Forum is available on the Advanced Air Mobility Institute YouTube Channel

2023

Short Essay Questions