8 ways to divide Israel
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Israel is a small country packed with contrasts—geographic, cultural, religious, economic, and political. And in this brilliantly tongue-in-cheek map created by Reddit user davenbenabraham, all of those complexities are sliced into eight colorful, stereotype-laden snapshots. At first glance, it’s a joke. But like any sharp satire, it works because it hits uncomfortably close to reality.
Let’s look at each small map in more detail.
Jewish vs. Arab
The first map splits the country into two general areas: Jewish (blue) and Arab (green). While simplistic, this does represent actual demographic realities. Around 21% of Israel’s population are Arab, residing in parts of the Galilee, East Jerusalem, and the Negev.
Trees, Cities, Desert
A more geographic view: green for forests and agriculture, yellow for the urban agglomeration (mainly surrounding Tel Aviv), and tan for the Negev Desert. It’s not just about ecology—it implies cultural and political divisions, too.
Tel Aviv tends to represent modern, secular, hi-tech Israel. The desert south (where there are more old-fashioned communities and Bedouin) tends to be out of touch with that hub. And the north regions, fertile and green, connect both to Zionism’s history and to twenty-first-century tourism.
High Taxes vs. Slightly Less Taxes
Everyone jokes about taxes—but in Israel, the punchline stings. With one of the highest indirect tax burdens in the OECD, it’s no surprise the map shows nearly the entire country as suffering under “high taxes.”
The lone exception? Eilat. As a VAT-free zone, it earns the map’s one purple spot labeled “slightly less taxes.” Not exactly a tax haven, but at least it’s a break from the norm.
Stoned by Arabs, Stoned by Jews, Stoned
Here’s where the satire turns dark.”Stoned” does not mean cannabis—it refers to actual stone-throwing in conflict areas. The map refers to examples of violence and confrontations, particularly around flashpoints like Hebron and East Jerusalem.
15, 30, 45 Seconds to Shelter
For Israelis living near Gaza, the time it takes to find shelter after a rocket siren is more than trivia—it’s a matter of survival. This map exaggerates a bit, but it reflects reality. In places like Sderot, you may have only 15 seconds to find cover. In Tel Aviv? Closer to 90 seconds.
Beautiful Women, Beautiful Men, Camels
Tel Aviv gets “beautiful men,” Haifa “beautiful women,” and the Negev? Just camels.
Learn Code, Learn Torah, Learn Farming
Education in Israel is a cultural battleground. In secular cities like Tel Aviv, technology and innovation are king—”study code.” In ultra-Orthodox communities, it’s religious study—”study Torah.” And in agricultural communities like kibbutzim, farming is still an integral identity.
Definitely Israel, Probably Israel, Maybe Israel, Please No
This last is a cut. It satirizes international debates over what “counts” as Israel. Some borders are internationally recognized. Others, like the Golan Heights or the West Bank settlements, are highly contested.
The purple area labeled “please no” likely refers to Palestinian territories or areas outside the 1967 borders that many would rather not discuss.
These eight frames school us in something deeper than satire. They show us how a single piece of land can be read in explosively different ways—depending on who you are, where you’re from, and what you hold to be true.
And they remind us of an even greater truth: maps are not merely tools for navigation.They’re stories, arguments, sometimes jokes—but always reflections of how we see the world.
If this map intrigued you, you’ll probably love the Atlas of Prejudice by Yanko Tsvetkov, which turns stereotypes from around the world into delightfully controversial maps. (Please note: the link leads to Amazon.)
