Infrastructure
Communications
Israel is connected to the world's major commercial,
financial and academic data networks and is fully integrated into international
communications systems by means of underwater fiber-optic lines and
satellite link-ups. The country ranks high, on a per capita basis, is
telephone lines, computers and Internet users.
Israel is one of the few countries worldwide to have
100 percent digitalization of its telephone network, which enables the
provision of a range of state-of-the art services for subscribers. In
addition, Israel has one of the world's highest cellular phone penetration
rates.
Postal services operate throughout Israel and connect
it with most countries abroad. The Philatelic Service has issued over
1,500 stamps. Many well-known Israeli artists have helped create these
‘calling cards', some of which have already attained the status
of classics and are eagerly sought by collectors.
Roads
In a country of short distances, cars, buses and trucks
are the main means of transportation. In recent years, the road network
has been extensively expanded and improved to accommodate the rapid
increase in the number of vehicles as well as to make even the most
remote communities accessible. Currently sections of a multi-lane highway,
to run almost 190 miles (300 km.), starting at Be'er Sheva in the south
and branching out to Rosh Hanikra and Rosh Pina in the north are under construction. This road, which
is still being debated because of its environmental ramifications, is
expected to make it possible to bypass heavily populated areas, thus
easing traffic congestion and providing fast access to most areas of
the country.
Railways
Israel Railways operates passenger services between Tel Aviv, Haifa and Nahariya. Freight services
also operate further south, serving the port of Ashdod,
the cities of Ashkelon and Be'er Sheva and the mineral
quarries south of Dimona. In recent years, both rail freight and passenger
usage has increased. To help alleviate problems caused by increased
road-traffic density, rapid rail transit services - utilizing upgraded
existing tracks - are now being instituted in the Tel Aviv and Haifa
areas, operated in coordination with bus feeder lines. Many outmoded
coaches now in use are being replaced by modern, air-conditioned passenger
cars, and up-to-date mechanical track-maintenance equipment is being
put into operation.
On October 6 2014 work began on the final tunnel portion for a high speed rail that will connect Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The train will be able to make the trip between the two cities in 28 minutes while travelling at 160 km/hr and is slated to begin operations in late 2017. This section of the tunnel will run between Sha’ar Hagai intersection on Route 1 to the Mevasseret Zion area, a distance of about 9 miles. The dedication of this final tunnel was attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz. The total cost for the project is around $7 billion New Israeli Shekels ($1.9 billion US). The high speed train will run four times during rush hour, and will pass by Ben Gurion Airport as well as the towns of Modiin and Latrun.
Seaports
The ancient ports of Jaffa (Yafo), Caesarea and Acre
(Akko) have been replaced by three modern deep-water harbors at Haifa, Ashdod and Eilat which serve international shipping. Haifa Port is one of the largest
container ports on the Mediterranean Sea as well as a busy passenger
terminal; Ashdod Port is used mainly for shipping goods; and the port
of Eilat on the Red Sea links Israel to the southern hemisphere and
the Far East. In addition, a tanker port in Ashkelon receives fuel shipments,
and a direct off-loading facility for freighters supplying coal to the
nearby power station operates in Hadera.
Recognizing that Israel's geographic location gives
it the potential to become a transit country for passengers and goods
traversing the region, the Ports and Railways Authority has designed
a long-term master plan to meet future transportation needs. Among other
priorities, it advocates developing a modern rail system, instituting
state-of-the-art equipment in every phase of its land and sea operations
and setting up a network of computer systems to control and supervise
all of its services.
Airports
Ben-Gurion International Airport (a 25-minute drive
from Tel Aviv, 50 minutes from Jerusalem) is Israel's main and largest
air terminal. Due to rapid increases in the numbers of passenger arrivals
and departures, the airport is being extensively enlarged. Charter flights,
mainly from Europe, and domestic air travel are served by the Eilat
airport in the south and small airports near Tel Aviv in the center
and Rosh Pina in the north.
Sources: Israeli
Foreign Ministry |