Palestine

Palestine
Orionist, previous versions by Makaristos, Mysid, etc. · Public domain · source
Conventional long name	State of Palestine
Common name	Palestine
Capital	East Jerusalem (declared), Ramallah (administrative)
Largest city	Gaza City
Official languages	Arabic
Area km2	6220
Population estimate	5,100,000
Currency	Israeli new shekel; Jordanian dinar; Egyptian pound
Calling code	+970
Time zone	Eastern European Time

Palestine is a geographic and political term referring to territories in the Levant with a complex modern and ancient identity. The area encompasses parts of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and is central to disputes involving Israel, Jordan, Egypt, United Nations, Arab League, and international actors. Its significance arises from historical events such as the British Mandate for Palestine, the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, and ongoing negotiations involving the Oslo Accords, Camp David, and the Quartet on the Middle East.

Etymology and Terminology

The name derives from Latin and Greek usages—Palaestina—applied during the Roman period after the Bar Kokhba revolt and earlier citations in Herodotus and Septuagint. Modern usage evolved through the Ottoman Empire administrative divisions like the Mutasarrifate of Jerusalem and the Sanjak of Nablus, through the British Mandate for Palestine legal framework, to contemporary diplomatic terms including State of Palestine recognized by many members of the United Nations General Assembly and invoked in documents of the League of Nations and the UN Security Council.

History

The region's prehistory and antiquity include archaeological cultures such as Natufian culture, Bronze Age polities like Canaan, and Iron Age entities including Kingdom of Israel and Kingdom of Judah. Imperial periods featured Assyrian Empire, Babylonian Empire, Achaemenid Empire, Alexander the Great’s successors, Roman Empire, and Byzantine Empire. The advent of Islam brought rule by the Rashidun Caliphate, Umayyad Caliphate, Abbasid Caliphate, and later the Ottoman Empire. The modern era was shaped by the Zionist movement, the Balfour Declaration, the British Mandate for Palestine, the UN Partition Plan for Palestine, the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, and the displacement known as the Nakba. Subsequent conflicts include the Six-Day War, Yom Kippur War, First Intifada, Second Intifada, and the Gaza–Israel conflict. Diplomatic efforts feature the Madrid Conference of 1991, the Oslo Accords, the Camp David 2000 Summit, and periodic peace process initiatives involving the United States, European Union, and regional actors like Egypt and Jordan.

Geography and Environment

The territory spans the coastal Mediterranean Sea shore near Gaza Strip and the inland West Bank highlands including Hebron, Nablus, and the environs of Jericho. Climatic zones range from Mediterranean near Haifa and Jaffa to arid conditions approaching the Negev Desert and Wadi Araba. Key hydrological features include the Jordan River, Dead Sea, and seasonal wadis feeding into the Gaza Strip aquifer and West Bank springs. Environmental concerns intersect with transboundary issues involving Israel, Jordan, and Syria such as water allocation, land use, and biodiversity in sites like the Judean Hills and Mount Gerizim.

Demographics and Society

The population comprises primarily Arabic-speaking communities with diverse religious identities including Sunni Islam, Druze, and Christianity denominations such as Greek Orthodox Church in Jerusalem and Maronite Church adherents, alongside smaller groups like Samaritans. Urban centers include Gaza City, Ramallah, Nablus, Hebron, and Bethlehem, while refugee populations are served by agencies such as United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and live in camps like Balata and Rashidieh. Migration patterns involve diasporas in countries such as Jordan, Lebanon, United States, and Chile, and demographic debates feature fertility rates, age structure, and labor migration.

Politics and Government

Political administration is divided between the Palestinian National Authority institutions operating in parts of the West Bank and the de facto governance of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Representation includes the Palestine Liberation Organization, the Palestinian Legislative Council, and the office of the President of the State of Palestine. International recognition involves member states of the United Nations General Assembly, observer status at the United Nations, and bilateral relations with entities such as Turkey, South Africa, and Brazil. Security arrangements and territorial control are affected by agreements like the Oslo Accords and operational realities including Israeli settlements in the West Bank and checkpoints administered by Israel.

Economy and Infrastructure

Economic life intertwines with cross-border trade through crossings such as Kerem Shalom Crossing and Erez Crossing, labor markets linked to Israel, and external assistance from donors including the European Union and United States Agency for International Development. Key sectors include agriculture in the Jordan Valley and services in Ramallah and Gaza City, while infrastructure challenges involve energy supply, water stress linked to the Mountain Aquifer, telecommunications, and transport corridors connecting to Allenby Bridge and Ashdod Port. Monetary arrangements involve currencies like the Israeli new shekel and fiscal issues relate to customs and taxation administered under frameworks influenced by the Paris Protocol.

Culture and Religion

Cultural heritage reflects millennia of interaction among peoples associated with sites such as the Old City of Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa Mosque, Church of the Nativity, and archaeological places like Megiddo and Jericho (Tell es-Sultan). Literary traditions include poets and writers connected to institutions like Birzeit University and Al-Quds University, while musical forms span Maqam traditions, dabke dance, and contemporary artists performing in venues across Ramallah and Gaza City. Religious tourism and pilgrimage engage communities linked to Islamic eschatology, Christian pilgrimage, and Jewish historical claims expressed at locations like the Western Wall and Mount of Olives.

Category:States in Asia