1. For ISRAEL, give the following information:

1. capital
2. location/the countries that share its borders
3. the religious breakdown of the population
4. the type of government
5. the chief of state (and head of government if different) If monarch or dictator, since what date has he/she ruled? – include name of heir apparent for monarch
6. the population

Find the answers at the CIA World FactBook website. For each country, answers can be found under the “Geography” “People” and “Government” headings.

NOTE: Before answering the following questions, read the info under “Background” and watch the video under “Resources” below.

2. For ISRAEL:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) What is the U.S. military’s THAAD?
c) What is the purpose of sending it quickly to Israel?
d) From what locations will the U.S. operate this system?
e) The THAAD system intercepts missiles with 100% success rate. Check out the map of the Middle East. Why do you think Israelis are most likely happy to have this system in place?
CHALLENGE: The first two Muslim women to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives (both in 2018; both Democrats) have criticized the U.S.’s long-standing support for our ally Israel. (Conservatives have called the Representatives out on these remarks; two Democrats have done so as well.) What effect do you think it would have on the security of Israel if a majority of Democrats in Congress held the same anti-Israeli views and voted along those lines?