Israel

Israel is a Middle Eastern country on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, bordered by Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. The world's only predominantly Jewish state, Israel also has a large Arab population. Despite [Page 422]historic and symbolic ties to the ancient country of Israel, modern Israel is a distinct entity, established in 1948.

Before 1967, drug use in Israel was treated tolerantly, dealt with as a medical issue if dealt with at all—drugs were generally considered a matter of personal liberty. The first generation of Israelis were an eclectic bunch from many walks of life, and the country needed to be prepared to continue to accept new residents from all over the world as it struggled to establish and ...