Because Israel is beautiful. A couple walk on a beach at the Dead Sea. Photo by Yossi Zamir/FLASH90
Stunningly beautiful. A view of Mount Tabor. Photo by the Israel Tourism Ministry
And the colors in the spring are unforgettable. Fields of blooming flowers near Bet Shemesh. Photo by Yaakov Lederman/FLASH90
Because even our desert is beautiful. The Negev Desert seen from the air during springtime. Photo by Dani Machlis/Ben-Gurion University
And sometimes the desert is busy. Hikers on a trail at Ein Avdat. Photo by Nissan Hananya
And sometimes it’s quiet and calm. Desert visitors admiring the view over the Negev. Photo by Dani Machlis/Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Because there are places in Israel that look like Switzerland. The Island of Peace in Naharayim on the border with Jordan. Photo by Yaakov Lederman/FLASH90
Because Israel has more rainbows than many other countries. A rainbow over a wheat field near Kfar Harif, in southern Israel. Photo by Gershon Elinson/FLASH90
Many, many rainbows. A rainbow arches over Kfar Adumim in the Judean Desert. Photo by Daniel Santacruz
And because in Israel there are all types of rainbows. Beach umbrellas in Tel Aviv. Photo courtesy of Tel Aviv municipality
Because we have cafés that look like this. Reviva and Celia, in Ramat HaSharon. Photo by Nicky Blackburn
And markets that look like this. Halva on sale in Machane Yehuda, Jerusalem. Photo by Daniel Santacruz
The organic market at Sarona in Tel Aviv. Photo by Kvitka Fabian/Shutterstock.com
Because we have streets that look like this. Photo of a street in the Old City of Jerusalem by Daniel Santacruz
And also this. The Ayalon Freeway in Tel Aviv at sunset. Photo by Mordechai Meiri/Shutterstock.com
Because we have beautiful churches and monasteries. The entrance to the Church of the Transfiguration in Mount Tabor in the Galilee. Photo by Shutterstock.com
And mosques. Photo of a mosque in the Old City of Acre (Akko). Photo by Shutterstock.com
And synagogues. Photo of the Hurva Synagogue, Old City of Jerusalem, by Daniel Santacruz
And you can find other faiths here, too. The Bahá’í Gardens in Haifa. Photo by Shutterstock.com
Because there are ancient mysteries still being discovered. A 4,000-year-old dolmen found on Kibbutz Shamir. Photo by Gonen Sharon/Tel Hai
Because Israel is on the cutting edge of technology. Photo By Ido Biran, courtesy of Tel Aviv municipality
And Israel is a leader in design, too. The Design Museum in Holon designed by Ron Arad. Photo by Shutterstock.com
Because learning is fun in Israel. An outdoor exhibition during DLD Innovation Week in Tel Aviv. Photo by Guy Yechiely/Tel Aviv municipality
And the universities are excellent. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Photo by Dani Machlis
Because people in Israel are crazy about dogs. Photo courtesy of Tel Aviv municipality
And because yes, we do have camels. A camel in Jerusalem. Photo by Daniel Santacruz
Because when it’s really hot in Israel, the bears at the Ramat Gan Safari Park get icy treats. Photo courtesy of Ramat Gan Safari
Because 500 million birds migrate across Israel every spring and fall. Silhouettes of cranes at sunrise at the Hula Valley Nature Reserve. Photo by Gal Gross, 2017 Sony World Photography Awards.
Because there are flamingos here. Flamingos in front of the ancient Atlit Fortress in northern Israel. Photo by Ilya Krivorok
Because Israel’s honeybee population remains stable, even though it’s collapsing elsewhere around the world. A honeybee feeds on a high-pollen shrub at Gilat Nursery. Photo by Pablo Cherchasky/KKL-JNF
Because Israel has cowboys. Really! A cowboy at work on Kibbutz Marom Golan, in the Golan Heights. Photo by Doron Horowitz/FLASH90
And horses to round up. A herd of horses on Kibbutz Marom Golan. Photo by Doron Horowitz/FLASH90
And all sorts of other wildlife. A fox in the Golan Heights. Photo by Maor Kinsbursk/FLASH90
Because there are people like this. Ultra-Orthodox Jews prepare for the Sabbath at Yavniel Moshav in northern Israel. Photo by Yaakov Lederman/FLASH90
And there are also people like this. Tel Aviv dog-walker. Photo by FLASH90
And this. Hossam Haick, a professor at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology has developed Na-Nose, which can detect the biomarkers of 17 diseases by smell. Photo courtesy of the Technion
And also this. Esther Tapta Geradi and Adenko Sabhat Haimovich are sworn in as judges, at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem. Photo by Yossi Zamir/FLASH90
Because Israel is a very young country. First-grade students on their first day of school in Ma’ale Adumim. Photo by Hadas Parush/FLASH90
And because people of all sorts help each other in times of need. Arab and Jewish volunteers for ZAKA prepare to rescue victims together. Photo courtesy of ZAKA.
Because the best field hospital in the world is Israeli. The IDF field hospital in Nepal in 2015 in the wake of a devastating earthquake. Photo courtesy of the Israel Defense Forces
Because people in Israel know how to party. Israelis enjoy dancing at a party in Ben Yehuda Street in Jerusalem. Photo by Shlomi Cohen/FLASH90
And Israelis love to listen to contemporary music in ancient surroundings. A concert at the Tower of David in Jerusalem. Photo courtesy of Jerusalem municipality
Because people stay up all night in Tel Aviv. Israelis celebrate White Night, an annual all-night festival in Tel Aviv. Photo courtesy of Tel Aviv municipality
And the night life is hopping. A bar in Florentin. Photo courtesy of Tel Aviv municipality
Because Israel has its very own Burning Man festival, and it’s wild! A participant at the Midburn Festival. Photo by Doton Barak
Because people here love sports. Runners set off on the Tel Aviv Night Run. Photo courtesy of Tel Aviv municipality
And throwing themselves off cliffs (with a rope this time). People rappelling near Rosh Hanikra. Photo by Daniel Santacruz
And off beach equipment. Photo courtesy of Tel Aviv municipality
And into the sea to look at antiquities. Photo of divers at Caesarea by Eyal Asaf
Because people can go out on boats to have fun. Photo of Banana Beach, Michmoret, by Eyal Asaf
Because you can do yoga on the beach. Coastal Yoga. Photo by Tamar Hagai
Or even on the rooftop. A yoga class on a rooftop in Tel Aviv. Photo courtesy of Tel Aviv municipality
Because there are beautiful ancient cities. The Old City of Acre. Photo by Yigal Dekel, a winner in the fourth annual Wiki Loves Monuments-Israel competition
The view from Hotel Rothschild 22. Photo by Nicky Blackburn
Because there are cities that look like this at night. Acre at night. Photo by Itamar Grinberg
And others that look like this. The Tel Aviv skyline at dusk. Photo by Tel Aviv Municipality
Or this.
The moon rises above the Jordanian mountains in Eilat. Photo by Shutterstock.com
Because we have the lowest sea on earth. A view of the Dead Sea following heavy rain. Photo by Yossi Zamir/FLASH90
And from above it looks like an alien planet. A beach on the Dead Sea. Photo by FLASH90
Because there are amazing walking trails. The Golan Trail. Photo by Israel Eshed
And mountains to climb. Gamla, in the Golan Heights. Photo by Daniel Santacruz
And rolling hills. Photo of Kibbutz Ruhana by Eyal Asaf
Because there are cool rivers to swim in on hot days. A view of the Yardenit River in northern Israel. Photo by Yaakov Lederman/FLASH90
Fountains to splash in. Children play in a water fountain near the Tower of David in the Old City of Jerusalem. Photo by Corinna Kern/FLASH90
Rivers where giant turtles live. The turtle bridge on the Alexander River. Photo by Eyal Asaf
Because there’s a stunning lake with a long and fascinating history. Overlooking Mount Arbel, Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret). Photo by Eyal Asaf
Because we have beaches that look like this. The beach at Caesarea. Photo by Eyal Asaf
And sunsets that look like this. A sunset at Beit Yanai Beach. Photo by Nicky Blackburn
And last, but not least, because it’s our home. Israeli families watch fireworks on Independence Day in Jerusalem. Photo by Hadas Parush/FLASH90
