The official languages of Israel are Hebrew and Arabic. Hebrew is the primary language of the Jewish population in Israel and was declared the official language of the state upon Israels establishment in 1948. Arabic is the primary language of the Arab population in Israel and is also the official language of the country. Almost the entire population of Israel speaks Hebrew either as native speakers or proficiently as a second language. Arabic is used mainly by Israels Arab minority, which comprises about one-fifth of the population. In addition to Hebrew and Arabic, there are also smaller communities in Israel that speak other languages, such as Russian, Yiddish, French, and English. English is widely spoken and understood in Israel, and it is also Israels major international language.