North District

The Northern District (population 1.57 million) is Israel's second-largest administrative region by area at 4,473 km²—encompassing the Galilee region, Golan Heights, and Jezreel Valley. The district contains the highest concentration of Arab citizens, with cities like Nazareth (21,400 Arab Christians), Shefa'Amr (10,300), and numerous Arab villages creating a demographic profile distinct from coastal Israel. Major Jewish cities include Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee, the Kabbalist center of Safed, and newer development towns like Karmiel. The district hosts significant religious sites: Nazareth (Christian), Safed (Jewish mysticism), and various holy sites attracting pilgrimage tourism. National Outline Plan 35 specifically targets the Northern District for population growth through tax incentives, achieving 1.4% annual growth rates. The district's border position along Lebanon and Syria creates security considerations that have historically affected development patterns. Agricultural production—including wine from the Galilee and crops from the fertile Jezreel Valley—contributes to the regional economy alongside tourism.