Disputes – international

West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation. Israel continues construction of a "seam line" separation barrier along parts of the Green Line and within the West Bank. Israel withdrew its settlers and military from the Gaza Strip and from four settlements in the West Bank in August 2005. The Golan Heights is Israeli-occupied (Lebanon claims the Shab'a Farms area of Golan Heights). Since 1948, about 350 peacekeepers from the UN Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) headquartered in Jerusalem monitor ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements, prevent isolated incidents from escalating and assist other UN personnel in the region.

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs: 150,000-420,000 (Arab villagers displaced from homes in northern Israel) (2006)

Illicit drugs

Israel is increasingly concerned about ecstasy, cocaine and heroin abuse. Drugs usually arrive in the country from Lebanon and, increasingly, from Jordan. Israel is also a money-laundering centre.