Israel is a country that seamlessly blends the ancient with the modern. It is known as the Holy Land and is significant to the world’s three major religions – Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. When people think of Israel, they often think about sacred cities or archaeological sites, but Israel is one of the world leaders in science and technology, along with national security and defense innovation. This set of 50 important MCQs about Israel is filled with important information about Israel’s geography, politics, accomplishments, and lesser-known hidden facts which are not commonly known to much of the community of learners – it is great for quizzes, school, or general knowledge. Find below the 50 key MCQs about Israel.
Key Fact Sheet about Israel
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Capital | Jerusalem |
| Official Language(s) | Hebrew and Arabic |
| Currency | Israeli New Shekel (ILS) |
| Population | Approximately 9.5 million (2025 est.) |
| Area | 22,145 km² |
| Government | Parliamentary Democracy |
| Famous Personalities | David Ben-Gurion, Golda Meir, Shimon Peres, Yitzhak Rabin |
| Famous Places | Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Dead Sea, Haifa, Bethlehem |
| Famous Buildings | Dome of the Rock, Western Wall, Knesset, Church of the Holy Sepulchre |
| Office of International Organizations | UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Jerusalem and Acre |
| Famous Sporting Event | Maccabiah Games (since 1932) |
| Nobel Prize laureate | Shimon Peres, Menachem Begin, Yitzhak Rabin (Peace) |
50 Key MCQs About Israel
1. What is the official name of Israel?
A. State of Palestine
B. State of Israel
C. Republic of Israel
D. Kingdom of Israel
Explanation: The official name is the “State of Israel,” established in 1948 after the British Mandate ended.
2. Which city is internationally recognized as Israel’s economic hub?
A. Jerusalem
B. Tel Aviv
C. Haifa
D. Nazareth
Explanation: Tel Aviv is Israel’s financial and tech center, known for its start-up ecosystem.
3. What sea lies to the west of Israel?
A. Dead Sea
B. Red Sea
C. Mediterranean Sea
D. Caspian Sea
Explanation: The Mediterranean Sea forms Israel’s western coastline.
4. Who was Israel’s first Prime Minister?
A. Yitzhak Rabin
B. Golda Meir
C. David Ben-Gurion
D. Shimon Peres
Explanation: David Ben-Gurion led the nation after its establishment in 1948.
5. Which Israeli city is known as the “Silicon Wadi”?
A. Tel Aviv
B. Haifa
C. Eilat
D. Beersheba
Explanation: “Silicon Wadi” refers to Israel’s tech cluster, similar to Silicon Valley in the U.S.
6. Which desert covers much of southern Israel?
A. Sahara Desert
B. Negev Desert
C. Arabian Desert
D. Judean Desert
Explanation: The Negev Desert occupies around 55% of Israel’s land area.
7. Which body of water is the lowest point on Earth?
A. Mediterranean Sea
B. Dead Sea
C. Red Sea
D. Lake Tiberias
Explanation: The Dead Sea lies about 430 meters below sea level, making it Earth’s lowest point.
8. Which year was the State of Israel established?
A. 1917
B. 1945
C. 1948
D. 1952
Explanation: Israel declared independence on May 14, 1948.
9. What is Israel’s legislative body called?
A. Congress
B. Parliament
C. Knesset
D. Assembly
Explanation: The Knesset is Israel’s unicameral parliament, with 120 members.
10. Which religion has its holiest site at the Western Wall?
A. Christianity
B. Judaism
C. Islam
D. Baháʼí
Explanation: The Western Wall in Jerusalem is Judaism’s most sacred site.
11. Which Israeli city is famous for the Baháʼí Gardens?
A. Jerusalem
B. Tel Aviv
C. Haifa
D. Nazareth
Explanation: The Baháʼí Gardens in Haifa are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Baháʼí pilgrimage center.
12. Which Israeli operation rescued hostages from Entebbe in 1976?
A. Operation Moses
B. Operation Thunderbolt
C. Operation Peace
D. Operation Freedom
Explanation: The Entebbe Raid successfully rescued hostages from Uganda in 1976.
13. What is the name of Israel’s national airline?
A. Israir
B. Arkia
C. El Al
D. Skyways
Explanation: El Al, founded in 1948, is the flag carrier airline of Israel.
14. Which sea borders Israel in the south?
A. Dead Sea
B. Red Sea
C. Black Sea
D. Caspian Sea
Explanation: Israel’s southern tip, Eilat, lies on the Red Sea coast.
15. Which Israeli prime minister was assassinated in 1995?
A. Ariel Sharon
B. Menachem Begin
C. Yitzhak Rabin
D. Shimon Peres
Explanation: Rabin was assassinated during a peace rally in Tel Aviv in 1995.
16. What is Israel’s main intelligence agency?
A. Mossad
B. Shin Bet
C. IDF
D. CIA
Explanation: Mossad handles Israel’s foreign intelligence and covert operations.
17. Which city is the spiritual center for three major religions?
A. Nazareth
B. Bethlehem
C. Jerusalem
D. Hebron
Explanation: Jerusalem is sacred to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
18. Which lake is also known as the Sea of Galilee?
A. Lake Tiberias
B. Lake Kinneret
C. Both A and B
D. Dead Sea
Explanation: Lake Tiberias and Lake Kinneret refer to the same freshwater lake in northern Israel.
19. Who was Israel’s first female Prime Minister?
A. Tzipi Livni
B. Golda Meir
C. Ayelet Shaked
D. Shulamit Aloni
Explanation: Golda Meir served as Israel’s Prime Minister from 1969 to 1974.
20. What is the official currency of Israel?
A. Dinar
B. Shekel
C. Pound
D. Rupee
Explanation: The New Israeli Shekel (ILS) has been the official currency since 1985.
21. Which city in Israel is known for its world-renowned diamond exchange?
A. Jerusalem
B. Tel Aviv
C. Ramat Gan
D. Haifa
Explanation: Ramat Gan hosts the Israel Diamond Exchange, one of the largest in the world.
22. Which Israeli scientist won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2004?
A. Ada Yonath
B. Aaron Ciechanover
C. Dan Shechtman
D. Avram Hershko
Explanation: Avram Hershko, along with Aaron Ciechanover and Irwin Rose, won the Nobel Prize for discovering ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation.
23. Which Israeli port city is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities?
A. Acre (Akko)
B. Eilat
C. Jaffa
D. Ashdod
Explanation: Acre has been inhabited for over 4,000 years and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
24. What is Israel’s largest freshwater lake?
A. Dead Sea
B. Lake Tiberias
C. Lake Hula
D. Yarkon River
Explanation: Also called the Sea of Galilee, Lake Tiberias is Israel’s main freshwater reservoir.
25. Which Israeli city is home to the Weizmann Institute of Science?
A. Jerusalem
B. Tel Aviv
C. Rehovot
D. Haifa
Explanation: The Weizmann Institute in Rehovot is one of the world’s leading research centers in natural sciences.
26. Which is Israel’s main port on the Mediterranean coast?
A. Eilat
B. Haifa
C. Ashkelon
D. Acre
Explanation: Haifa’s port is the largest and busiest in Israel.
27. Who was the founder of modern Zionism?
A. David Ben-Gurion
B. Theodor Herzl
C. Chaim Weizmann
D. Menachem Begin
Explanation: Theodor Herzl founded the modern Zionist movement advocating for a Jewish homeland.
28. Which valley is Israel’s main agricultural region?
A. Negev
B. Jezreel Valley
C. Arava Valley
D. Jordan Valley
Explanation: The Jezreel Valley is a fertile area often called Israel’s breadbasket.
29. Which Israeli port city borders the Red Sea?
A. Acre
B. Ashdod
C. Eilat
D. Haifa
Explanation: Eilat is Israel’s only Red Sea port and a popular tourist destination.
30. Which Israeli leader signed the Camp David Accords in 1978?
A. Shimon Peres
B. Menachem Begin
C. Yitzhak Rabin
D. Ariel Sharon
Explanation: Menachem Begin signed the peace accords with Egypt under U.S. mediation.
31. What is Israel’s official emblem?
A. Menorah with Olive Branches
B. Star of David
C. Lion of Judah
D. Temple Mount
Explanation: The national emblem features a Menorah flanked by olive branches symbolizing peace.
32. Which mountain is the highest point in Israel?
A. Mount Hermon
B. Mount Tabor
C. Mount Carmel
D. Mount Zion
Explanation: Mount Hermon reaches 2,236 meters above sea level on Israel’s northern border.
33. What is Israel’s main intelligence agency for internal security?
A. Mossad
B. Shin Bet
C. Aman
D. IDF
Explanation: Shin Bet handles counterterrorism and internal security operations.
34. Which city in Israel is known for its Crusader-era fortifications?
A. Acre (Akko)
B. Jerusalem
C. Haifa
D. Tiberias
Explanation: Acre’s medieval walls and tunnels date back to the Crusader period.
35. Which Israeli physicist discovered quasicrystals and won a Nobel Prize?
A. Ada Yonath
B. Dan Shechtman
C. Aaron Ciechanover
D. Avram Hershko
Explanation: Dan Shechtman received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2011 for discovering quasicrystals.
36. Which Israeli festival marks the end of the harvest season?
A. Passover
B. Sukkot
C. Yom Kippur
D. Hanukkah
Explanation: Sukkot celebrates the gathering of the harvest and commemorates the Israelites’ journey in the desert.
37. Which international competition did Israel win in 1978, 1979, and 1998?
A. Eurovision Song Contest
B. Olympics
C. FIFA World Cup
D. Miss Universe
Explanation: Israel has won the Eurovision Song Contest multiple times with iconic songs like “Hallelujah.”
38. Which is Israel’s largest university?
A. Technion – Israel Institute of Technology
B. Tel Aviv University
C. Hebrew University of Jerusalem
D. Ben-Gurion University
Explanation: Tel Aviv University is Israel’s largest and most research-intensive academic institution.
39. Which Israeli city is called the “City of Bauhaus Architecture”?
A. Jerusalem
B. Tel Aviv
C. Haifa
D. Safed
Explanation: Tel Aviv’s “White City” features over 4,000 Bauhaus-style buildings, a UNESCO Heritage Site.
40. What is the name of Israel’s parliament building located in Jerusalem?
A. Menorah Hall
B. Knesset Building
C. Herzl Center
D. Independence Hall
Explanation: The Knesset Building in Jerusalem houses Israel’s national legislature.
41. Which Israeli inventor co-developed the USB flash drive?
A. Dov Moran
B. Shai Agassi
C. Gil Shwed
D. Erel Margalit
Explanation: Dov Moran, an Israeli entrepreneur, co-invented the USB flash drive technology.
42. Which year did Israel join the United Nations?
A. 1948
B. 1949
C. 1950
D. 1951
Explanation: Israel became a member of the United Nations on May 11, 1949.
43. Which is Israel’s national airline security system, known for its strict procedures?
A. SkySafe
B. EL AL Security
C. Iron Shield
D. Mossad Air Division
Explanation: EL AL’s security system is one of the world’s most advanced, ensuring passenger safety globally.
44. Which river forms part of Israel’s eastern border?
A. Nile River
B. Jordan River
C. Euphrates River
D. Litani River
Explanation: The Jordan River flows along Israel’s eastern boundary with Jordan.
45. Which ancient fortress overlooks the Dead Sea?
A. Megiddo
B. Masada
C. Acre
D. Jericho
Explanation: Masada is a UNESCO World Heritage Site symbolizing Jewish heroism against the Romans.
46. Which innovation originated in Israel and is used in modern agriculture worldwide?
A. Solar Power Cells
B. Drip Irrigation
C. Hybrid Crops
D. Genetically Modified Wheat
Explanation: Drip irrigation was developed in Israel by Simcha Blass to conserve water in farming.
47. Which Israeli city has a large Druze population?
A. Safed
B. Daliyat al-Karmel
C. Nazareth
D. Beersheba
Explanation: Daliyat al-Karmel is the largest Druze town in Israel, near Mount Carmel.
48. What is Israel’s national bird?
A. Hoopoe
B. Eagle
C. Dove
D. Falcon
Explanation: The Hoopoe was chosen as Israel’s national bird in 2008 through a public vote.
49. Which year did Israel sign a peace treaty with Jordan?
A. 1979
B. 1994
C. 2000
D. 1996
Explanation: The Israel–Jordan Peace Treaty was signed on October 26, 1994.
50. Which Israeli city hosts the annual Jerusalem Film Festival?
A. Haifa
B. Tel Aviv
C. Jerusalem
D. Eilat
Explanation: The Jerusalem Film Festival showcases Israeli and international cinema every summer.
The tale of Israel combines ancient belief, strength, and technical ingenuity. From holy sites to scientific advances, the little country has changed the world in many ways, well outside of its immediate neighborhood. These 50 important MCQs about Israel will share significant insight into Israel’s culture, politics, innovation, and things that are left out of the textbooks, which will help students and quiz participants see Israel in an intelligent, interactive way.
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