Welcome to Israel

Presented by: Camie Hicks

Full name: State of Israel

Capital: Jerusalem

Population of Israel: 7,590,758

According to the Bible, Israel is the name given by God to Jacob (Executive Planet, 2012).

The star is known as the Shield of David- a symbol of the Jewish faith (Executive Planet,

2012).

Israel’s Flag

Israel Imports:• Raw materials• Military equipment• Rough diamonds• Fuel• Consumer goods (Central Intelligence Agency, 2012)

Exports primarily come from the U.S, the Benelux countries, Germany and the United Kingdom

(Executive Planet, 2012)

Imports

Israel Exports:• Machinery and equipment • Software• Cut diamonds, • Agricultural products• Textiles (Central Intelligence Agency, 2012)

Exports primarily go to the U.S, United Kingdom, the Benelux countries, Hong Kong and Japan

(Executive Planet, 2012)

Exports

Culture & Religion

Ethnic Groups:

Religions: Jewish, Muslim, Christian, & Druze

Jewish-Israel born

Jewish- Europe/Amer-ica

Jewish-African

Jewish- Asian

Non-Jewish

LanguagesHebrew, Arabic, & English

• Minority language is Hebrew, but official state languages are

Hebrew and Arabic (Lindquist, 2010).

• All minority groups are expected to learn the majority language (Abu-Rabia, 1996).

• English is learned as the second language (Abu-Rabia, 1996).

• Every Israeli citizen learns Arabic and Hebrew in school (Lindquist, 2010).

• Currencies, passports and road signs contain translations in all three languages (Lindquist, 2010).

• Arabic is associated with negativity (Lindquist, 2010).

Women & Men of Israel

• God Experts have complete control over marriage and divorce, Israel does not recognize civil marriage (Granados, 2011).

• Between 5-10% of all Israeli women were exposed to violence in the home (Muhlbauer, 2006)

• Abuse was seen to be the struggle of genders in society (Muhlbauer, 2006).

• Men felt the need to show their domination by abusing their wives (Muhlbauer, 2006).

• In 1996 -over 4700 cases of women being abused, in 1997 this number grew to 7800 (Muhlbauer, 2006).

Education

• Schooling life expectancy is 15yrs old for males and 16yrs old for females (Central Intelligence Agency, 2012).

• Over 97% of the total population over 15yrs old can read and write (Central Intelligence Agency, 2012).

• Israel ranks in the highest investing countries into public education (Gumpel, 2007).

• The government has slashed higher education by 20% in the last 6 years (Kalman, 2007).

Education

• Israeli’s government spending on higher education in relation to students, GDP and population growth is second to last in the world (Kalman, 2007).

• The education system is structured as: kindergarten for ages 5-6, elementary school for grades 1-6, middle school for grades 7-9, and high school for grades 10-12 (Gumpel, 2007).

• More than 37,000 pupils study in special education and an additional 40,000 pupils are in general education with special education assistance (Gumpel, 2007).

Israel and the United StatesIn 1978, U.S. Vice President, Walter Mondale stated that “There is no country anywhere in the world which more accurately reflects our basic values”. He is

referring to Israel and the U.S.

• Israel is the largest beneficiary of American overseas aid.

• Like America, Israel is a settler state.

• Americans, Americanized the Holocaust by publicizing the Holocaust.

• The Six Day War is what helped the U.S. and Israel build a relationship.

• This relationship is believed to be derived from the core values that the two states share.

(Stephens & Morewood, 2009)

Doing Business in Israel

• Relationship oriented society• Feelings and Emotions are most important

(Israel, S.O, 2012).

The Native born Israeli is referred to as a Sabra. The word Sabra comes from the Sabra Cactus Plant- very thorny and threatening on the outside and very sweet and soft on the inside (Israel, S.O, 2012).

Doing Business in Israel

How to Dress

• Wear your suit initially

• Dress down on next meeting

Appointment & Time

• Israeli’s want things done today- NOW!

• Provide an agenda outlining objectives and timelines

• Pay attention to when National holidays fall

• Respect normal workday hours – Sun-Thurs 8am-5pm

• Being on time to a meeting is relaxed.

Doing Business in Israel

Greeting & Conversation• Greet with a handshake

• Quickly Move to first name basis

• Maintain direct eye contact

• Expect invitation for coffee

• Always address Education level and refer to Doctor or Professor

• Like to talk about your personal life, and about Israel’s cuisine, arts technology, sport and tourist attractions

• AVOID talking about Israel’s government, politics or religious issues

Doing Business in Israel

Gestures• Echo the way an Israeli sits during a meeting

• Raising of the voice is a normal way of speaking

• An Israeli will take a phone call during a meeting or allow people to interrupt

• Lines are not formed to get on a bus or in busy areas• Nudge people with your elbow or you will be LAST in line

• It is not common courtesy when passing someone on the street to say “Hi” or

to make eye contact. • You will be asked “Who are you?”

• In religious communities• No left-hand handshakes• No gift giving• No touching, greeting or handshake with women

(Israel, S.O, 2012)

Doing Business in IsraelNegotiation

• Best at negotiation- tough and friendly negotiations

• Start reasonably higher than what are looking for in price

• Have a translator

• Get final negotiations in writing- Do not bring Attorney, send paperwork after meeting

(Israel, S.O, 2012).

Doing Business in Israel

Gift Giving

Visiting in the home• Chocolates, bottle of wine or bouquet of flowers

are acceptable (Executive Planet, 2012).

Visiting in the office• Culture book from your home country, pen w/

company logo or global desk clock (Israel, S.O, 2012).

A framed photo of your and the Israeli associate (Israel, S.O, 2012).

Food & Dining

• Restaurants are Kosher• Meat and dairy are not served

• No pork products

• American, Indian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern Restaurants

• Most common is Mediterranean-Middle Eastern

• No special seating or etiquette codes in restaurants

(Executive Planet, 2012).

????QUESTIONS????

I look forward to your questions

Thank you!

Bibliography:

Abu-Rabia, S. (1996). Factors Affecting the Learning of English as a Second Language in Israel. Journal Of Social Psychology, 136(5), 589-595. Advameg, Inc. (2012). Israel. Retrieved from Countries and Their Cultures:

http://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Israel.html

BBC. (2012, September 11). Israel Profile: Facts. Retrieved from BBC New Middle East: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14628840

Central Intelligence Agency. (2012, September 12). Middle East: Israel. Retrieved from The World Factbook: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/is.html

Executive Planet. (2012). Israel: Culture. Retrieved from Michigan State University: Global Edge: http://globaledge.msu.edu/Countries/Israel/Culture

Granados, L. (2011). Erasing Women. Humanist, 71(4), 6-8.

Gumpel, T. (2007). Current Best Practices in Learning Disabilities in Israel. Learning Disabilities Research & Practice (Blackwell Publishing Limited), 22(3), 202-209.

Bibliography (cont…):

Israel, S. O. (2012). Tips For Doing Business In Israel. Retrieved from Israel Economic & Cultural Office in Taipei : http://www.tamas.gov.il/NR/exeres/3614E1A7-2D84-4F27-A4DC-

3585A6F6450E.htm

Kalman, M. (2007). Israel's Latest Conflict: Paying for Higher Education. Chronicle Of Higher Education, 54(14), A27-A28.

Lindquist, T. (2010). Arabic Language and Culture in Israel Could Be an Object of Pride -- but Is Not. Palestine-Israel Journal Of Politics, Economics & Culture, 16(3/4), 129-

134.

Muhlbauer, V. (2006). Domestic violence in Israel: changing attitudes. Annals Of The New York Academy Of Sciences, 1087301-310. 

Stephens, E., & Morewood, S. (2009). The Cultural Turn in the US-Israeli Relationship. Middle East Journal Of Culture & Communication, 2(1), 13-32. doi:10.1163/187398609X430598