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Palestine

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Palestine, officially known as the State of Palestine, is a country located in West Asia.

Palestine Base Map
Palestine Base Map

The nation encompasses two distinct geographic areas known as the Palestinian territories. These are the West Bank, which borders Jordan to the east, and the Gaza Strip, which borders Egypt to the southwest. Most of these territories share borders with Israel.

State of Palestine (orthographic projection)
State of Palestine (orthographic projection)

While Jerusalem is the proclaimed capital, the city of Ramallah serves as the de facto administrative center. The region is home to a population exceeding five million people.

The geography of Palestine has made it a vital continental crossroad for millennia. Because of its location, the region served as a path for armies and merchants. Travelers from North Africa, China, and India once moved through these lands. This constant movement led to many demographic changes from antiquity to the modern era. The name "Palestine" itself has deep roots. It comes from ancient Greek and refers to a Semitic name for the general area.

Camel - panoramio
Camel - panoramio

In the 5th century BCE, the historian Herodotus used the term to describe a district of Syria.

The modern history of the region is defined by shifting political control. For a long time, the Ottoman Empire ruled the area. Following World War I, the United Kingdom took control under a League of Nations system. This period was called the British Mandate for Palestine.

Map of Mandatory Palestine in 1946 with major cities (in English)
Map of Mandatory Palestine in 1946 with major cities (in English)

During the 1920s and 1930s, tensions grew between Jewish and Arab communities. This was driven by increased Jewish immigration and different nationalist movements. These tensions led to riots, protests, and the Arab Revolt in the 1930s.

In 1947, the United Nations proposed a partition plan to divide the land into separate Jewish and Arab states. Palestinians and neighboring Arab nations rejected this proposal. This rejection led to a civil war and the 1948 Palestine war.

Dayr Yassin (cropped)
Dayr Yassin (cropped)

The war resulted in the establishment of the State of Israel. During this conflict, a majority of the Arab population was forcibly displaced. Palestinians refer to these events as the Nakba, which means "catastrophe."

Control over the territories changed again during the Six-Day War in 1967. Before this war, Jordan controlled the West Bank and Egypt controlled the Gaza Strip. After the war, Israel occupied both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Westbank Control & Access Restrictions Dec 2012
Westbank Control & Access Restrictions Dec 2012

In 1988, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) declared independence. Later, the 1993 Oslo Accords created the Palestinian Authority (PA). This allowed for limited PLO governance in parts of the West Bank and Gaza. However, political divisions emerged in 2007. This led to Hamas taking control of the Gaza Strip, while the Fatah-led PA governs parts of the West Bank.

The current situation involves significant legal and humanitarian challenges. Since 1967, Israel has built large settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. These settlements house more than 670,000 Israeli settlers and are considered illegal under international law.

Demonstration against road block, Kafr Qaddum, March 2012 3
Demonstration against road block, Kafr Qaddum, March 2012 3

In 2023, Hamas launched attacks against Israel. In response, Israel began a military campaign in Gaza. This has resulted in a large-scale loss of life and a humanitarian crisis, including famine.

Gaza by Mujaddara - panoramio (3400)
Gaza by Mujaddara - panoramio (3400)

The status of borders, Jerusalem, and refugees remains unsolved.

Despite these conflicts, Palestine maintains a presence in the international community. It is a permanent non-member observer state at the United Nations. Currently, 157 of the 193 UN member states recognize it as a sovereign state.

Palestine recognition only
Palestine recognition only

The country is also a member of the Arab League, UNESCO, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Arabic is the official language. While Islam is the most practiced religion, Christianity also has a presence.

Jerusalem Dome of the rock BW 14
Jerusalem Dome of the rock BW 14

The region also experiences frequent tourism and has an emerging economy.

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🖼️ Images & Media (35)
Anthem of Palestine.ogg
File:State of Palestine (orthographic projection).svg
State of Palestine (orthographic projection).svg
File:Palestine Base Map.png
Palestine Base Map.png
File:Dayr Yassin (cropped).jpg
Dayr Yassin (cropped).jpg
File:Map of Mandatory Palestine in 1946 with major cities (in English).svg
Map of Mandatory Palestine in 1946 with...
File:Intifada in Gaza Strip (FL45956496).jpg
Intifada in Gaza Strip (FL45956496).jpg
File:Leader of the PLO, Yasser Arafat, 1996 Dan Hadani Archive.jpg
Leader of the PLO, Yasser Arafat, 1996...
File:Clashes_following_the_Cave_of_the_Patriarchs_massacre,_1994_Dan_Hadani_Archive_V.jpg
Clashes_following_the_Cave_of_the_Patriarc...
File:אוקטובר 2000 1.jpg
אוקטובר 2000 1.jpg
File:חומת מגן 21.jpg
חומת מגן 21.jpg
File:Demonstration against road block, Kafr Qaddum, March 2012 3.JPG
Demonstration against road block, Kafr...
File:Westbank Control & Access Restrictions Dec 2012.png
Westbank Control & Access Restrictions...

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