Back Filastin ACE Staat Palestina Afrikaans Staat Palästina ALS Rice of Palestīn ANG फिलिस्तीन ANP دولة فلسطين Arabic فلسطين ARY دولة فلسطين ARZ পেলেষ্টাইন Assamese Estáu de Palestina AST

State of Palestine

This article is about the State of Palestine specifically. For the Fatah-controlled government body, see Palestinian National Authority. For the geographical region, see Palestine (region). For other uses, see Palestine (disambiguation).

State of Palestine
دولة فلسطين (Arabic)
Dawlat Filasṭīn
Anthem: "فدائي"
"Fida'i"[1]
"Fedayeen Warrior"
Territory claimed by Palestine (green).[2] Claimed territory annexed by Israel (light green).
Territory claimed by Palestine (green).[2]
Claimed territory annexed by Israel (light green).
StatusUN observer state under Israeli occupation
Recognized by 139 UN member states
  • Proclaimed capital
  • Administrative
    center
Largest cityRafah[b][3]
Official languagesArabic
Demonym(s)Palestinian
GovernmentUnitary semi-presidential republic[4]
• President
Mahmoud Abbas[c]
Mohammad Mustafa
Aziz Dweik
LegislatureNational Council
Formation
15 November 1988
29 November 2012
• Sovereignty dispute with Israel
Ongoing[d][5][6]
Area
• Total
6,020[7] km2 (2,320 sq mi) (163rd)
• Water (%)
3.5[8]
• West Bank
5,655 km2
• Gaza Strip
365 km2[9]
Population
• 2023 estimate
5,483,450[10] (121st)
• Density
731/km2 (1,893.3/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)2023 estimate
• Total
Increase $36.391 billion[11] (138th)
• Per capita
Increase $6,642[11] (140th)
GDP (nominal)2021 estimate
• Total
Increase $18.109 billion[11] (121st)
• Per capita
Increase $3,464[11] (131st)
Gini (2016)Positive decrease 33.7[12]
medium
HDI (2021)Increase 0.715[13]
high (106th)
Currency
Time zoneUTC+2 (Palestine Standard Time)
• Summer (DST)
UTC+3 (Palestine Summer Time)
Date formatdd/mm/yyyy
Driving sideright
Calling code+970
ISO 3166 codePS
Internet TLD.ps

Palestine (Arabic: فلسطين, romanized: Filasṭīn[e]), officially known as the State of Palestine (دولة فلسطين, Dawlat Filasṭīn),[f] is a country in the Levant region of West Asia. It is officially recognized as a state by the United Nations and numerous countries. Palestine shares borders with Israel to the west and north, Jordan to the east, and Egypt to the southwest. The state comprises the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. The population of Palestine exceeds five million people, and covers an area of 6,020 square kilometres (2,320 sq mi). Jerusalem is its proclaimed capital and the official language is Arabic. The majority of Palestinians practice Islam, while Christianity also has a significant presence.

Palestine's ancient history spans thousands of years, with its crossroads location witnessing the rise and fall of empires, shaping world history. The Canaanites, Israelites, Semitics, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines all left their mark on the land. In addition to its historical significance, Palestine holds profound religious importance for Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Sacred sites such as the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque draw countless pilgrims and visitors each year. Throughout history, the region has seen periods of coexistence and conflict between different religious and ethnic groups. Notably, during the Middle Ages, when Jewish communities faced persecution, they found refuge and protection under Muslim rule in Palestine and the wider Islamic world. The Ottoman Empire, which controlled Palestine from the 16th century until its collapse at the end of World War I, provided a sanctuary for Jews fleeing persecution in Europe. The end of the Ottoman rule marked a new chapter in Palestine's history. Following World War I, the British Empire assumed control of the region under the League of Nations mandate. The British Mandate for Palestine, established in 1920, brought significant changes to the political and social landscape of the area, setting the stage for the conflicts and struggles that would follow.

The conflict has its roots in the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, which led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians and the creation of a large Palestinian refugee population.[18] Subsequent Arab-Israeli conflicts, including the Six-Day War in 1967, resulted in occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. In 1988, the PNC, the legislative body of the PLO led by Yasser Arafat, declared the establishment of Palestine. Peaceful resolution gained momentum with the signing of the Oslo Accords in the 1990s. These agreements, negotiated between Israel and the PLO, aimed to establish a government and the eventual creation of Palestinian state. However, the implementation of the Oslo Accords faced significant challenges, including the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories and ongoing security concerns. In 2007, internal divisions between Palestinian political factions led to a takeover of the Gaza Strip by Hamas. Since then, the West Bank has been governed by the Palestinian Authority, led by Fatah, while the Gaza Strip falls under the control of Hamas.

The modern establishment of the State of Palestine stems from the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and the pursuit of self-determination by the Palestinian people. The Palestinian Authority governs parts of the West Bank, while Hamas controls the Gaza Strip. Efforts towards a peaceful resolution with Israel continue, with negotiations and international mediation playing a crucial role in the pursuit of lasting peace and stability in the region. Palestine faces various challenges, including political disputes, socio-economic disparities, and the impact of the Israeli occupation. International recognition and support are crucial in advancing the Palestinian cause and achieving a just and lasting resolution to the conflict. Palestine is a member of several international organizations, including the United Nations, the Arab League, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.[19]

  1. ^ "Palestine" (includes audio). nationalanthems.info. Archived from the original on 31 March 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference only1967 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "ActionAid: Conditions in Rafah at breaking point, with over one million displaced people". wafa agency.
  4. ^ "Declaration of Independence (1988) (UN Doc)". State of Palestine Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations. United Nations. 18 November 1988. Archived from the original on 8 June 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  5. ^ Miskin, Maayana (5 December 2012). "PA Weighs 'State of Palestine' Passport". israelnationalnews.com. Arutz Sheva. Archived from the original on 7 December 2012. Retrieved 8 June 2014. A senior PA official revealed the plans in an interview with Al-Quds newspaper. The change to 'state' status is important because it shows that 'the state of Palestine is occupied,' he said.
  6. ^ "State of Palestine name change shows limitations". AP. 17 January 2013. Archived from the original on 10 January 2013. Israel remains in charge of territories the world says should one day make up that state.
  7. ^ "Table 3, Population by sex, annual rate of population increase, surface area and density" (PDF). Demographic Yearbook. United Nations Statistics Division. 2012. Archived from the original on 15 October 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  8. ^ "The World Factbook: Middle East: West Bank". cia.gov. Central Intelligence Agency. 7 April 2014. Archived from the original on 22 July 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  9. ^ "The World Factbook: Middle East: Gaza Strip". cia.gov. Central Intelligence Agency. 12 May 2014. Archived from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  10. ^ "Estimated Population in the Palestine Mid-Year by Governorate,1997-2026". Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  11. ^ a b c d "World Economic Outlook Database, October 2023 Edition. (Palestine)". IMF.org. International Monetary Fund. 10 October 2023. Archived from the original on 23 October 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  12. ^ "GINI index coefficient: West Bank & Gaza". CIA Factbook. Archived from the original on 30 June 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  13. ^ Human Development Report 2020 The Next Frontier: Human Development and the Anthropocene (PDF). United Nations Development Programme. 15 December 2020. pp. 343–346. ISBN 978-92-1-126442-5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 December 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  14. ^ According to Article 4 of the 1994 Paris Protocol, the State of Palestine has no official currency. The Protocol allows the Palestinian Authority to adopt multiple currencies. In the West Bank, the Israeli new sheqel and Jordanian dinar are widely accepted, while in the Gaza Strip the Israeli new sheqel and Egyptian pound are widely accepted.
  15. ^ Bissio, Robert Remo, ed. (1995). The World: A Third World Guide 1995–96. Montevideo: Instituto del Tercer Mundo. p. 443. ISBN 978-0-85598-291-1.
  16. ^ Baroud, Ramzy (2004). Kogan Page (ed.). Middle East Review (27th ed.). London: Kogan Page. p. 161. ISBN 978-0-7494-4066-4.
  17. ^ Cite error: The named reference GA43177 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  18. ^ Gelber, Y. Palestine, 1948. pp. 177–78
  19. ^ "Membership of the State of Palestine in international organizations (as of 25 May 2018)". MOFAE. Archived from the original on 29 December 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.


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