Islam is the second-largest religion in Israel, after Judaism. Here are the main points about Islam in Israel:

1. Demographics:

• About 18-20% of Israel’s population are Muslims (roughly 1.7-2 million people).
• Almost all Muslims in Israel are Sunni.
• The Muslim population includes Arab citizens of Israel, Bedouins, and small groups of other ethnicities.

2. Location of Muslim Communities:
Major Muslim populations are concentrated in:

• Northern Israel (Galilee): cities like Nazareth, Umm al-Fahm, and Sakhnin.
• The Triangle region (near the West Bank): includes cities like Tayibe and Qalansawe.
• Bedouin communities in the Negev Desert: cities like Rahat.
• Mixed cities (Jews and Arabs) such as Haifa, Acre, Lod, Ramla, and Jaffa (south of Tel Aviv).

East Jerusalem is also home to a large Palestinian Muslim population.

3. Religious Life:
Muslims in Israel enjoy the right to freely practice their religion. There are hundreds of mosques, with notable ones like:

• Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem (Islam’s third holiest site).
• White Mosque in Nazareth.

Friday prayers, Ramadan fasting, and Eid celebrations are publicly observed. Islamic law (Sharia) is applied in personal status issues such as marriage, divorce, and inheritance via Islamic (Sharia) courts recognized by the state.

4. Religious Institutions:

• The state recognizes Muslim religious courts.
• The Ministry of Interior and religious councils oversee Muslim religious affairs, including mosques and cemeteries.
• The Mufti of Jerusalem is an important religious figure for Palestinian Muslims.

5. Bedouin Muslims:

• Around 300,000 Bedouins live in southern Israel, mostly Muslims.
• Bedouin society preserves tribal and traditional Islamic customs.

6. Islamic Education:

• Muslim students can attend Arab schools in Israel where Islamic education is part of the curriculum.
• Some Muslims also study in Christian or Jewish schools, especially in mixed cities.

7. Challenges and Issues:
Tensions between Muslim Arabs and the Jewish majority sometimes lead to social and political friction, especially regarding:

• Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque access.
• Discrimination in housing, employment, and government services.
• Security measures and surveillance.

However, many Muslims participate actively in Israeli civic life, including politics, business, sports, and culture. There are Muslim members of the Knesset (Israeli parliament).

8. Islam in the West Bank and Gaza:

• While not part of Israel proper, Palestinians in the occupied territories (West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza) are overwhelmingly Muslim.
• Gaza is governed by Hamas, an Islamist movement.
• Religious and political conflicts over access to Islamic holy sites, especially in Jerusalem, remain central to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

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Israel
Country Code Top-Level Domain: .il
Country Code: +972