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PALESTINE, historical region in the eastern Mediterranean; a self-governing territory consisting of two separate parts: the West Bank of Jordan (area - 879 sq. km) and the Gaza Strip (area - 378 sq. km). The West Bank borders on the north, west and south with Israel (border length - 307 km), on the east - with Jordan (border length - 97 km). Gaza is washed from the west by the Mediterranean Sea (the length of the coastline is 40 km), in the south it borders with Egypt (the length of the border is 11 km), in the east – with Israel (the length of the border is 51 km).

Nature.

The West Bank of the Jordan is predominantly a very rugged plateau, which gently slopes in the west and abruptly ends in the east towards the Jordan Valley. Most low point– the surface of the Dead Sea (–408 m), the highest is Mount Tal-Asur (1022 m). The Gaza Strip is a flat or hilly coastal plain covered with sands and dunes; the highest point is Abu Auda (105 m).

The rivers of Palestine are not navigable. The main river - Jordan (Nahr esh-Sharia) - flows from north to south and flows into salty Dead sea ​​(Bahr-lut). Small rivers and streams flowing from the plateau to the Mediterranean Sea, the Dead Sea and the Jordan Valley dry up during the dry season. There is a shortage of drinking water.

The climate is Mediterranean, depending on the altitude of the area above sea level. Summer is predominantly dry, warm or hot, and often a hot, drying khamsin wind blows from the desert. Winters are mild or cool, air masses from the sea bring rain. On the coast average temperature January (Celsius) is +12°, August +27°, in the east of Palestine - +12 and +30°, respectively. The area around Jerusalem receives approximately 500 mm of precipitation per year.

The most common plants are evergreen oak, turpentine tree, olive, pistachio, juniper, laurel, strawberry tree, Jerusalem pine, plane tree, Judas tree, in the mountains - Tabor oak and sycamore (biblical fig tree). Animal world Palestine is poor. Large mammals have been exterminated almost everywhere. There are foxes, porcupines, hedgehogs, hares, wild boars, snakes, turtles and lizards. Counts approx. 400 species of birds, including vultures, pelicans, storks, owls.

Population.

According to an estimate as of July 2004, 2.9 million Arabs lived in the West Bank, in addition, 187 thousand Israelis were settled in the West Bank, and in East Jerusalem - approximately. 177 thousand Israelis. In 2005, the Gaza Strip was home to 1.38 million Arabs and more than 5 thousand Israeli settlers. In August 2005, Israeli authorities evacuated settlements from Gaza and began the withdrawal of several settlements in the West Bank.

OK. 4 million Palestinian Arabs are refugees in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other countries.

Demographic data. In the West Bank, 43.4% of the population is under 15 years of age, 53.2% of the population is between the ages of 15 and 64, and 3.4% is 65 years of age and older. Average age population – 18.14 years old, average duration life – 73.08 years. The birth rate was 32.37 per 1000, the death rate was 3.99 per 1000, and the migration rate was 2.88 per 1000. Infant mortality was estimated at 19.62 per 1000 births. The annual population growth was 3.13% (2005 estimate).

In the Gaza Strip, 48.5% of residents were under 15 years of age, 48.8% were between 15 and 64 years of age, and 2.6% were 65 years of age or older. The average age of the population is 15.5 years, the average life expectancy is 71.79 years. The birth rate was 40.03 per 1000, the death rate was 3.87 per 1000, and the migration rate was 1.54 per 1000. Infant mortality was estimated at 22.93 per 1000 births. Annual population growth is 3.77%.

National and religious composition. The bulk of the population is Palestinian Arabs, Jews make up 17% of the residents of the West Bank and 0.6% of the residents of Gaza. IN religiously predominantly Muslim (75% in the West Bank, 98.7% in Gaza). Jews practice Judaism. 8% of West Bank residents and 0.7% of Gazans are Christian. The population speaks Arabic and Hebrew, English is also common.

Population distribution. The largest cities in Palestine at the turn of the 2000s were: East Jerusalem (about 370 thousand inhabitants, including Israeli settlers), Gaza (over 350 thousand inhabitants), Khan Yunus (over 120 thousand), Al-Khalil ( Hebron, about 120 thousand), Jabalya (about 114 thousand), Nablus (over 100 thousand), Tulkarm (about 34 thousand). The UN unilaterally declared East Jerusalem the capital of Arab Palestine, but it was officially annexed by Israel in 1980. The Palestinian Authority is headquartered in Ramallah.

POLITICAL ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNANCE

After the end of the British Mandate for Palestine (1948) and the Arab-Israeli War of 1948–1949, the territory allocated by UN General Assembly Resolution No. 181 of November 29, 1947 for the creation of an Arab Palestinian state was divided between Israel, Transjordan and Egypt. The West Bank of Jordan and East Jerusalem were included in the Kingdom of Jordan in 1949–1950, and Gaza was annexed to Egypt. In 1967, Israel occupied the West Bank and Gaza, and in 1980 announced the annexation of East Jerusalem. Subsequently adopted UN Security Council resolutions No. 242 and No. 338 contained demands for Israel's withdrawal from all Palestinian territories occupied in 1967 and the liquidation of all Israeli settlements established there.

Egypt later abandoned its claims to Gaza, and in 1988, King Hussein of Jordan announced the termination of his country's administrative and other ties with the West Bank. On November 15, 1988, the Palestinian National Council (the Arab Palestinian parliament in exile) at a session in Algiers announced the creation of the State of Palestine in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel in 1967, including East Jerusalem. Under a series of agreements between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) from 1993–1998, Palestinian Arabs were granted temporary self-government. The final status of the territories must be resolved through direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian side.

Within the framework of the autonomy regime, which has existed since 1994, Palestinian authorities have been created, which are gradually transferred control of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. In 2002, the then head of the Palestinian National Authority, Yasser Arafat, signed the Basic Law, establishing a system for organizing Palestinian authority. It consolidated the existence of a de facto regime of a presidential republic.

The Palestinian National Authority is headed by a president elected by the people through direct elections. He is also the commander-in-chief of the autonomy's armed forces. The post of President since 1994 was held by Ya. Arafat. He died in 2004, and Mahmoud Abbas was elected to this post in the presidential elections held in January 2005.

The highest legislative body is the Palestinian Legislative Council. It consists of 89 members: the president and 88 deputies elected in 16 multi-member constituencies. The Legislative Council is called upon to approve the prime minister appointed by the president and the members of the government cabinet nominated by the prime minister. He has the right to express a vote of no confidence in ministers. Elections to the Legislative Council took place in 1996. Since 2006, the council consists of 132 deputies.

Executive power in the autonomy is exercised by the president and the government. According to the 2003 amendment to the Basic Law, the President appoints the Prime Minister, who is also the head of the services national security. The prime minister forms the government (cabinet) and is responsible to the president. The post of Prime Minister has been held by Ahmed Qureyi since 2003.

At the local level, power resides in elected municipal councils.

The judicial power, the organization of which is provided for by the Basic Law, has not yet been officially formalized.

Political parties and organizations.

Hamas(Islamic Resistance Movement) - formed in 1987 on the basis of the Palestinian branch of the pan-Arab organization "Muslim Brotherhood". He wages a Muslim holy war (jihad) against Israel, advocates its destruction and the creation of an Islamic theocratic state throughout Palestine and Jordan, and does not renounce terrorist methods. Hamas has officially opposed any peace agreement with Israel. Enjoys wide influence in Gaza and growing influence in the West Bank. After the death of Palestinian leader Arafat in 2004, the new head of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, managed to get the Hamas leadership to agree to a ceasefire with Israel. In 2005 he won the municipal elections. Ruling party since 2006.

The core of the political structure of the Palestinian Arabs is created in 1964 by Ahmed Shuqairi " Palestine Liberation Organization» (PLO), which led the movement to create an independent Arab Palestinian state. To this end, the PLO carried out armed actions and political speeches. Initially, the organization did not recognize the partition of Palestine in 1947–1948 and advocated the elimination of the state of Israel and the creation of a single secular state throughout the territory of former Mandatory Palestine. In 1969, the PLO leadership was replaced by a radical wing led by Arafat, which in the 1970s shifted its focus to organizing an armed struggle against Israel, including committing terrorist acts against civilians. In 1988, the PLO announced recognition of UN resolutions 1948 and 1967 and, as a result, Israel's right to exist. This paved the way for subsequent agreements and the creation of the Palestinian National Authority in the West Bank and Gaza.

The PLO includes leading secular political organizations Palestinian Arabs: Fatah, " Popular Front Liberation of Palestine", "Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine", "Palestinian People's Party", "Palestine Liberation Front", "Arab Liberation Front", "Popular Struggle Front", "Al-Saika" and others.

« Palestinian National Liberation Movement» (Fatah) – largest organization The PLO formed the Palestinian Authority until 2006. Formed in 1959 by Arafat, in 1967–1968 it became part of the PLO. Advocates for the creation of an Arab state in the territories occupied by Israel in 1967. Supported by conservative Arab governments, has observer status in the Socialist International. It has armed formations: Quwwat al-Saeqa (official), Tanzim, Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (since 2005 - Arafat Brigades), etc. In the elections to the Legislative Council in 1996, Fatah received 55 of 88 seats . Leader - Farouk Qaddumi, M. Abbas (President of the Palestinian Authority).

« Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine» (PFLP), created in 1953 by Georges Habash as the “Arab Nationalist Movement”. In 1968 it was transformed into the PFLP, which declared itself a Marxist-Leninist organization. He joined the PLO in 1968, objected to the recognition of Israel's right to exist and relied on armed struggle.

« Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine» (DFLP) - broke away from the PFLP in 1969, is part of the PLO. The DFLP declared itself a Marxist-Leninist organization and advocated achieving national independence for the Palestinian Arabs through mass revolution. Focused on the USSR. In 1993, the front rejected the agreement between the PLO and Israel, which paved the way for the creation of the Palestinian Authority, but in 1999 it took part in the negotiations. DFOP receives some help from the Syrian side. The leader is Naif Hawatme.

« Palestinian Democratic Alliance" - broke away from the DFLP in 1991, advocated PLO negotiations with Israel, which led to the formation of the Palestinian Authority. Alliance leader Yasser Abd-Rabbo took the post of Minister of Information in the Palestinian National Authority.

« Palestinian People's Party» – socialist. Formed in 1982 as Palestinian communist party, focused on Soviet Union. In 1991 she abandoned the Marxist-Leninist ideology and changed the name. Leaders - Khan Amira, Abdel Majid Hamadan.

"As-Saika"(“Lightning”) is a military-political organization created with the support of the Syrian Arab Socialist Renaissance Party (PASV) in 1968. It is part of the PLO and focuses on Syria.

« Palestinian Liberation Front» (PFO) - formed in 1977 as a result of the PFLP - High Command group that broke away from the PFLP in 1968. The organization widely resorted to terrorist methods. In the 1980s, he moved his headquarters to Iraq. In the 1990s, the front announced its renunciation of terrorism and recognition of Israel's right to exist. The leader of the Volga Federal District, Abu Abbas, was arrested by the Americans in Iraq in 2003 and died in custody.

« Arab Liberation Front"- created in 1969, focused on the Iraqi Arab Socialist Renaissance Party (BAath).

In addition to the organizations that are part of the PLO, there is a radical Islamist movement operating in the West Bank and Gaza " Islamic Jihad"- a military organization of Islamic fundamentalists, formed in the end. 1970s under the influence of the Islamic revolution in Iran. Seeks to destroy Israel and expel Jews from Palestine. Uses terrorist methods.

In addition to those mentioned, other small groups (including leftists) operate in Palestine: “Palestinian People's Democratic Union”, Palestinian Revolutionary Communist Party”, “Socialist Workers League”, etc.

Armed forces. In accordance with the agreements signed between the PLO and Israel in 1993 in Oslo, a “police force” was formed in the Palestinian Authority, numbering, according to some sources, from 40 to 80 thousand recruits. They are armed with a limited number of military equipment and automatic weapons. In addition to these official forces, there are armed formations of individual political groups.

Foreign policy.

In 1974, the UN General Assembly granted the PLO observer status; in 1988 it was extended to enable him to participate in assembly debates without the right to vote. The State of Palestine is recognized by 94 countries and has diplomatic relations with Russian Federation. General delegations represent Palestine in European countries.

ECONOMY

The economy of the West Bank and Gaza was based on agriculture and the work of Palestinians in Israel. However, since the start of a new round of armed confrontation with Israel in 2000 (the so-called “Second Intifada”), the Israeli authorities have closed the borders, blocked Palestinian territories and stopped allowing Palestinians to work in Israel (thus, about 100 thousand of them have lost their jobs 125 thousand Palestinians). These measures have caused serious damage to the Palestinian economy, especially in the densely populated Gaza Strip. Many enterprises and firms have closed. A complete collapse was averted thanks to international financial assistance, amounting to $2 billion in 2004. More than half of the working-age population is unemployed, and 59% of West Bank residents and 81% of Gazans live below the official poverty level.

The West Bank's GDP in 2003 was $1.8 billion ($800 per capita), Gaza's GDP was $768 million ($600 per capita). GDP growth in 2003 was 6% in the West Bank and 4.5% in Gaza. GDP structure: 9% - agriculture, 28% - industry, 63% - service sector (2002).

The cultivation of olives, citrus fruits and vegetables, the production of meat and other food products is developed. The industry is represented mainly by small family enterprises that produce cement, clothing, soap, handicrafts and souvenirs (wood carvings and mother-of-pearl products). There are small, modern industrial plants in Israeli settlements. Most of the electricity is imported from Israel.

The volume of exports (205 million US dollars in 2002) is significantly inferior to imports (1.5–1.9 billion US dollars). Olives, citrus and other fruits, vegetables, building stone, and flowers are exported. Food products, consumer goods and construction materials are imported. Main trading partners: Israel, Egypt and Jordan.

The Palestinian Authority's budget in 2003 consisted of revenues of $677 million and expenditures of $1,155 million. External debt in 1997 was $108 million. The Israeli shekel and the Jordanian dinar are in circulation.

Length highways in the West Bank is 4.5 thousand km (of which 2.7 thousand km are paved). Gaza has only a network of small roads of poor quality. The Israelis built separate roads serving Israeli settlements. The main port is Gaza. There are 3 airports in the West Bank with paved runways. There are 2 airports in the Gaza Strip, including Gaza International Airport with paved runways.

The population of the West Bank and Gaza uses 302 thousand telephones and 480 thousand. mobile phones. There are 145 thousand Internet users.

There are Arab universities in the West Bank (the largest are in Bir Zeit and Nablus). The Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation operates in Ramallah, and there are also local, private radio stations.

A number of newspapers are published: Al-Quds (Jerusalem), An-Nahar, Al-Fajr, Al-Shaab, etc.

STORY

The oldest inhabitants of Palestine known to archaeologists were the Neanderthals (200 thousand years BC). OK. 75 thousand years ago people appeared in the region modern type, who lived here side by side with Neanderthals for tens of thousands of years. OK. 9 thousand years BC The Neolithic revolution began on the territory of Palestine, permanent settlements appeared, and in the 9th–8th millennia BC. – the first walled city known in history: Jericho. In 4–3 millennia BC. Semitic tribes (Canaanites) settled here. In the subsequent period, the area was under Egyptian political influence. OK. 1200 BC Hebrew tribes settled in Palestine, and almost simultaneously the Philistines appeared on the coast, from whose name the modern name “Palestine” comes. In the 10th century BC. Palestine was united by the Hebrew kingdom of David and Solomon, which later split into Israel and Judah. The first of these states was destroyed by the Assyrians in 722 BC, the second by the Babylonians in 597–586 BC. In the 6th–4th centuries. BC. Palestine was part of the Persian kingdom in the 4th century. BC. was conquered by Alexander the Great, and after his death served as an object of struggle between the dynasties of his successors - the Egyptian Ptolemies and the Syrian Seleucids. In 168 BC The Jewish state was restored, ruled by the Maccabean dynasty and then by Herod the Great. In the 1st century BC. it became dependent on the Roman Empire. After a series of uprisings, the Jews were expelled from Palestine by the Roman authorities in the 70s. From the 1st century Until 395, Palestine was a province of the Roman Empire, and from 395–634 it was part of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium).

In 634 Palestine was conquered by the Arabs and included in Arab Caliphate. The Arab tribes that settled in Palestine mixed with the local inhabitants and laid the foundation for the modern Palestinian Arabs. After the collapse of the caliphate, the region was part of various Muslim states. Muslim rule was interrupted only in 1099–1187, when the Kingdom of Jerusalem existed in Palestine, created by European crusaders.

In 1516, Palestine became part of the Ottoman Empire and remained part of it until 1918. At the end of the First World War, it was occupied by British troops; in 1923 Great Britain received a mandate from the League of Nations to govern Palestine. The British authorities promised to create a “national home” for Jews on its territory. Originated in the 19th century. The Zionist movement began to settle Palestine. Violent conflicts often broke out between the new settlers and the Arab residents. Great Britain sought to use these contradictions in the interests of maintaining its power over Palestine. Demands for independence began to grow among both Jews and Arabs.

In 1947, the UN General Assembly decided to divide Palestine into an Arab and Jewish state and an international zone of Jerusalem. In May 1948, the creation of a Jewish state, Israel, was proclaimed. The Arab leadership and neighboring Arab states did not recognize the partition of Palestine; A war broke out between them and Israel, during which the territory allocated for the Arab state was divided between Israel, Transjordan (West Bank with East Jerusalem) and Egypt (Gaza). Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled and were resettled in refugee camps in neighboring Arab countries. Israel still does not recognize the right of return for them and their descendants.

In 1949, Transjordan annexed the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and these territories became part of the Kingdom of Jordan. Palestinian representatives were included in the Jordanian government. Gaza was governed as part of Egypt (from 1958 - the United Arab Republic). Constant attacks by armed groups of Palestinians (fidayeen) from Gaza and the West Bank on Israeli territory provoked retaliatory actions by the Israelis and often became the reason for serious conflicts (for example, Israeli participation in the Anglo-French attack on Egypt in 1956).

During the Arab-Israeli War in June 1967, the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza were captured by Israeli troops. Israeli military control was introduced in these territories, and East Jerusalem was officially annexed by Israel in 1980. After this, Palestinian groups intensified their armed struggle with Israel, often resorting to acts of terror against civilians in third countries (attacks on Israeli schools in 1970 and 1974, the murder of Israeli athletes in Olympic Games in Munich in 1972, explosions in Israeli cities, hijackings of aircraft, ships, etc.). In 1970, after clashes with the Jordanian authorities, Palestinian organizations were expelled from Jordan, and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) moved its headquarters to Lebanon. Here their stay provoked a bloody civil war in 1975. In turn, Jordan confirmed its claims to the West Bank by putting forward a plan to create a United Arab Kingdom in 1972.

In the 1970s, PLO leader Yasser Arafat began to look for ways to peacefully resolve the Palestinian conflict. In 1976, he supported a draft UN Security Council resolution calling for the creation of two states in Palestine (the project met opposition in the PLO and was also rejected by the United States). After the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982, the PLO was forced to move its headquarters to Tunisia.

In December 1987, mass protests (intifada) broke out in the territories occupied by Israel. Their participants demanded an end to the occupation and the creation of a Palestinian state. The intifada continued until 1993. Under these conditions, the Palestinian National Council (the highest body in exile) at a session in Algeria on November 15, 1988, proclaimed the creation of the State of Palestine. The PLO announced the recognition of UN resolutions 1947 and 1967, which provided for the existence of two states in Palestine, thereby recognizing Israel's right to exist. That same year, Jordan renounced its claims to the West Bank. In 1991, the PLO leadership authorized the participation of Palestinians from the occupied territories as part of the Jordanian-Palestinian delegation to the Madrid Peace Conference on the Middle East. Under US and Russian sponsorship, informal direct negotiations began between Israel and the PLO. On August 20, 1993, the parties signed an agreement in Oslo. On September 13, 1993, in Washington, Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister I. Rabin officially signed a Declaration of Principles, which provided for the creation of temporary Palestinian self-government in the West Bank and Gaza for a period of 5 years. During this period, Israel retained responsibility for ensuring external and internal security and maintaining order in Israeli settlements. Negotiations on a final settlement were to begin no later than the third year of the transition period. Israel and the PLO announced mutual recognition. In 1996, the Palestinian National Council excluded from the PLO National Charter (program) all provisions that denied Israel's right to exist. The agreement with Israel caused sharp disagreements within the PLO itself. Radical groups (PFLP, DFLP, etc.) opposed him.

In 1994, the Palestinian Authority was formed in Ramallah, headed by President Arafat. In January 1996, elections for the President and Legislative Council took place. Arafat was re-elected head of the autonomy; out of 88 seats in the Legislative Council, 55 were won by his party, Fatah, another 7 by candidates close to it, and the rest by independents. Under the Cairo Agreement (May 1994), Israel transferred responsibility for governance of the Gaza Strip and Jericho to the Palestinians, and subsequent agreements (September 1995 Interim Agreement, January 1997 Protocol, October 1998 Memorandum and September Sharm El-Sheikh Agreement) 1999) – additional areas in the West Bank.

In September 1999 (with a three-year delay) Israeli-Palestinian negotiations on a final settlement began. The PFLP and DFLP decided to join the peace process and took part in the Camp David negotiations in July 2000, which ended inconclusively.

The further progress of the settlement was interrupted when, in response to Israeli right-wing leader A. Sharon’s visit to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem (which both Jews and Muslims consider their shrine), a “second intifada” broke out in the Palestinian territories. During the war, representatives of extremist groups (Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, Hezbollah and the PFLP-General Command) began to massively carry out bomb explosions in Israel aimed at the civilian population. Israel responded with rocket and bomb attacks, assassinations of Palestinian military leaders, and military operations. Israeli troops blocked Arafat's residence in Ramallah. Hundreds of people have died as a result of the ongoing violence. In the beginning. In the 2000s, Israel began constructing a fortified line (“security wall”) designed to isolate it and Israeli settlement areas from the occupied territories.

In 2002 USA, European Union, Russia and the UN proposed a new plan for resolving the Palestinian conflict, called the “Road Map”. It provided for the resumption of negotiations and a phased resolution of the problem until the creation of an independent Palestinian Arab state next to the Israeli one. At the same time, Israel and the West continued to criticize Arafat for the fact that his administration was not taking the necessary measures to stop the organization of terrorist acts. Yielding to international pressure, on March 19, 2003, Arafat appointed a supporter of a more moderate line, Mahmoud Abbas, as prime minister of the autonomy, who resigned on September 6. On October 7, 2003, Ahmed Qureyi was appointed to this post. At the same time, in Palestine itself, Arafat was criticized for corruption and ineffectiveness of the administration; These circumstances, economic difficulties and the intensity of the confrontation with Israel contributed to the rapid growth in the popularity of Islamic extremists from Hamas.

On November 11, 2004, Palestinian National Authority President Arafat died. The chairman of the Legislative Assembly, Rauhi Fattouh, was appointed acting leader, and presidential elections were held on January 9, 2005. They were won by Fatah candidate Mahmoud Abbas, who received a St. 62% of votes. His main rival, independent candidate Mustafa Barghouti, supported by the PFLP, collected approx. 20%; DFLP representative T. Khaled - St. 3%, and nominated by the Palestinian People's Party B. al-Salhi - approx. 3%. On February 24, 2005, A. Qureyi formed a new government of the Palestinian Authority.

Abbas managed to negotiate with Israel to end the violence. Having promised Hamas Islamists the opportunity to participate in local and parliamentary elections, he persuaded them to join this arrangement. Hamas won a landslide victory in municipal elections in 2005, and Abbas delayed parliamentary elections until 2006.

In March 2005, Israel officially handed over control of Jericho to the Palestinian Authority, followed by Tulkarm, Ramallah, Qalqiyah and Bethlehem.

Israeli Prime Minister Sharon back in 2004 achieved, despite protests in the ranks of his own ruling coalition, the adoption of a plan for “unilateral separation” from the Palestinians. In August 2005, Israel evacuated settlements from the Gaza Strip and several settlements in the West Bank, and in September 2005 withdrew troops from Gaza, ending its 38-year occupation.

In the parliamentary elections held on January 25, 2006, the Hamas movement won (76 out of 132 seats). The Fatah movement won 43 seats. The turnout at polling stations was 77%. Prime Minister Ahmed Qureyi resigned. Abbas was forced to form a new government led by Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. The new cabinet of ministers began its work on March 29.

In the beginning. In 2006, a Hamas delegation led by Khaled Meshal (chairman of the political bureau of the movement) visited Moscow. Russia has actually become the main mediator in negotiations between Israel and Palestine. Plans for a peaceful settlement of the Middle East problem and the economic situation in the autonomy were the focus of V. Putin’s meeting with Abbas, which took place in May in Sochi. During the first half of 2006, the Russian Federation granted the Palestinian Authority humanitarian aid in the amount of 10 million US dollars.

After the creation of the Hamas police (in May 2006), whose activities were immediately banned by Abbas, fighting began in the Gaza Strip between supporters of Fatah and Hamas. On May 3 in Cairo, the Fatah and Hamas movements signed an agreement on national reconciliation and the creation general bodies authorities. This means forming a unified government and holding general elections. The agreement was reached through the mediation of the new Egyptian authorities. Under the agreement, Fatah units will continue to control the West Bank, and Hamas will continue to control the Gaza Strip.

Literature:

Polyakov K., Khasanov V. Palestinian resistance movement and the formation of Palestinian statehood (1980s–1990s). M., 2001
Faten M. The problem of Palestinian refugees and conflict resolution in the Middle East. St. Petersburg, 2002
Brass A. Palestinian origins. M., 2004



Story:

Based on the results of the First World War, at the Conference in San Remo (1920), it was decided to establish Palestine on the territory, which before the war was part of the disintegrated Ottoman Empire, the regime of British government under the mandate of the League of Nations. In addition to the territory of modern Israel, the Mandate included the territories of modern Jordan, Judea and Samaria (West Bank) and the Gaza Strip. One of the goals of the mandate was “to establish in the country political, administrative and economic conditions for the safe formation of a Jewish national home.”

In the early 1920s. within the framework of this mandate, Great Britain created the principality of Transjordan, dependent on it, which received about 3/4 of the territory of mandatory Palestine. At the same time, clauses that allowed Jews to settle on the territory of the principality were excluded from the mandate agreement. On May 25, 1946 it gained independence.

During the 25 years of British control of the remaining part of Palestine, its population increased sharply: from 750 thousand people according to the 1922 census, to about 1 million 850 thousand people at the end of 1946 (an increase of almost 250 percent). At the same time, the Jewish population increased from 84 thousand in 1922 to 608 thousand in 1946 (an increase of almost 725 percent). A significant portion of this increase was accounted for by those born in Palestine, but legal immigration alone accounted for an increase of 376 thousand people, and the number of illegal immigrants is estimated at another 65 thousand people, for a total of 440 thousand people. Approximately 70-75% of the Jewish population lived in cities such as Jerusalem, Jaffa, Tel Aviv, Haifa and their suburbs. At the end of World War II, the Jewish population of Palestine was 33%, up from 11% in 1922.

The growth of the Jewish population of Mandatory Palestine was accompanied by active opposition from Palestinian Arabs, including terrorist attacks and pogroms, and as a result, the Mandatory authorities restricted Jewish immigration to Palestine. Thus, Britain became involved in the Arab-Jewish conflict, and in 1947 its government announced its desire to abandon the mandate, arguing that it was unable to find a solution acceptable to Arabs and Jews.

The United Nations, created shortly before, at the Second Session of its General Assembly on November 29, 1947, adopted Resolution No. 181 on a plan for the division of Palestine into Arab and Jewish states, granting special status to the Jerusalem area under UN administration. Unlike the leadership of the Jewish Yishuv, which adopted the resolution, the Palestinian Supreme Arab Committee and the League of Arab States (LAS) as a whole rejected it.

On May 14, 1948, on the day the Mandate ended, the creation of the State of Israel was proclaimed, and on May 15, the invasion of Israel by regular units of the armies of the five Arab League countries began with the aim of destroying the new Jewish state and, according to the Arab League declaration during the invasion, to protect the Arab population and create in Palestine "one (Arabic) public education", "where all residents will be equal before the law."

As a result of this war, an Arab state was not created, Israel increased the territory planned for the creation of a Jewish state, Jerusalem was divided between Transjordan and Israel, the Gaza Strip and the entire West Bank came under the control of Egypt and Transjordan, respectively.

In September 1948, the All-Palestine Government in Exile was established in Gaza by the League of Arab States. At the same time, in December of the same year, at the Jericho Conference, King Abdullah ibn Hussein of Transjordan was proclaimed “King of Arab Palestine.” At a conference calling for the unification of Arab Palestine and Transjordan, Abdullah announced his intention to annex the West Bank. Despite the objections of other Arab League members, Abdullah unilaterally annexed the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in 1950, after which Transjordan was renamed Jordan.

Contradictions between Jordan, Egypt and other members of the Arab League led to the fact that the issue of creating an Arab state in Palestine was practically removed from the agenda, and most of the territory allocated by the UN for its creation was divided between Jordan and Egypt until their defeat in Six Day War (1967), when it came under Israeli control.

The "All Palestine Government" in Gaza was dissolved by Nasser in 1959 after the unification of Egypt and Syria.

On June 6, 1967, the Israel Defense Forces defeated Egyptian troops holding the Gaza Strip and forced them to retreat deeper into the Sinai Peninsula.

Created in 1964, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and its allies did not recognize the creation of the state of Israel and waged a terrorist war against it. The Arab countries, which adopted the decision called the “three NOs” at the Arab summit in Khartoum in August 1967: no peace with Israel, no recognition of Israel and no negotiations with it, supported the PLO.

The PLO's policy document, the Palestine Charter, adopted in Cairo in 1968, provided for the liquidation of Israel, the elimination of the Zionist presence in Palestine, and considered it as "an indivisible regional entity within the boundaries of the British Mandate."

The military-political organizations that were part of the PLO were responsible for the murder of many Israelis and citizens of other states, and were recognized as terrorist by a number of countries. She herself was also considered such until 1988.

The situation began to change in the late 1980s and early 1990s. following the conclusion of a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt and corresponding negotiations between Israel and Jordan.

On September 13, 1993, PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, after lengthy negotiations, signed in Washington the “Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements” (the so-called “Oslo 1 Agreement”), under the terms of which the PLO recognized Israel’s right to peace and security and renounced terrorism and other types of violence, and Israel agreed to the creation of the “Palestinian National Authority” (PNA) in part of the territories under its control. The agreement provided for a transition period not exceeding 5 years, during which an agreement on a final settlement of the conflict was to be reached. The transition period began with the Gaza-Jericho Cairo Declaration of May 4, 1994.

At the 20th session of the Palestinian Central Council, held in Tunis on October 10-12, 1993, the PLO executive committee was instructed to form the Council of the Palestinian National Authority for the transitional period, and Ya. Arafat was elected president of the PNA.

On May 4, 1994, in an official letter to I. Rabin, Ya. Arafat undertook, after arriving in the Palestinian territories, not to use the title “President of Palestine”, but to call himself “Chairman of the Palestinian Authority” or “Chairman of the PLO.” In joint Russian-Palestinian diplomatic documents recent years it also refers to the Palestinian National Authority, not the State of Palestine.

On September 28, 1995, an Interim Agreement was concluded in Washington between the PLO and Israel on the West Bank. Jordan and the Gaza Strip (“Oslo 2”), which provided, in particular, for the election of a Palestinian Legislative Council consisting of 82 people for a five-year transition period.

On September 4, 1999, in the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh, Ehud Barak and Yasser Arafat signed a Memorandum providing for reaching an agreement on the final status of the disputed territories by September 2000.

After the creation of the PNA, the State of Palestine project was, in a sense, “frozen.” This is evidenced by the fact that in August 2000 Ya. Arafat announced his intention to again proclaim the independence of the state on September 13 of the same year (after 7 years from the date of signing the Washington “Declaration of Principles...”). Russia and the United States called on the PNA not to do this until the territorial dispute with Israel is resolved, and on September 9-10, at a session in Gaza, the “Palestine Central Council” postponed the decision on the issue of independence until November 15, and then for an indefinite period - due to failure negotiations at Camp David (2000) and subsequent September negotiations, at which Ya. Arafat rejected the significant concessions proposed by E. Barak, and the al-Aqsa Intifada that began on September 29, 2000.

The intensification of terror against Israeli citizens during the intifada led to snap elections for the Prime Minister of Israel, scheduled for February 8, 2001.

However, on January 28, 2001, during negotiations in Taba (Egypt), which took place on the eve of the elections, a preliminary Palestinian-Israeli agreement was reached on a final settlement, including the problem of Jerusalem and refugees, but due to the fact that on February 8, 2001, With the direct election of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon defeating incumbent Prime Minister Ehud Barak and the ongoing terrorist attacks against Israeli citizens, further negotiations were not resumed.

In December 2001, the Government of Israel declared the PNA administration, headed by Yasser Arafat, an “organization supporting terrorism.” Military units under Arafat's Fatah movement, including Unit 17 and Tanzim, have been designated "terrorist organizations" and targets for military action.

Wave of terror in 2001-2002 led to the operation Protective wall", during which the terror infrastructure was cleared in the territory of the PNA on the West Bank of the river. Jordan. Documents captured during the operation clearly indicated that “... the Palestinian Authority, led by Arafat, provided support and was an active participant in the terror. Arafat and his close environment are directly responsible for the cold-blooded murder of Israeli civilians.”

Further attempts at negotiations, as a rule, were punctuated by another intensification of terrorist attacks against the Israelis. As a result, in 2005, A. Sharon decided to refuse bilateral negotiations and to unilaterally withdraw Israeli troops and liquidate settlements in the Gaza Strip. The adoption of the decision by the Knesset and its implementation led to a practical split in the ruling Likud party and protest from a significant part of Israeli society, which believed that it would lead to increased terror.

Ultimately, the withdrawal from Gaza contributed significantly to the rise in popularity of the Hamas movement: when the PNA held elections to the Palestinian Legislative Council in February 2006, it won 73 of 133 seats. A month later, the government formed by Hamas, headed by Ismail Haniyeh, was sworn in. That same month, at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin, a Hamas delegation led by Khaled Meshaal visited Moscow in what was widely seen as a step toward recognizing the organization, which has been designated a terrorist organization in several other countries. One of the ministers of Ehud Olmert's government called Russia's invitation to the Hamas delegation "a stab in the back of Israel." “In addition, the Israelis released information about connections between Hamas and Chechen militants.”

Since the Hamas program involves the destruction of the state of Israel and its replacement with an Islamic theocracy, its leadership, having come to power, refused to recognize the agreements previously concluded by the PNA with Israel and to disarm its militants. As a result, a number of states that previously financed autonomy began an economic boycott of the PNA.

The successes of Hamas led, on the one hand, to a conflict with Fatah, which had already managed to form legal power structures that enjoy the support of the United States and Europe, and on the other hand, to an escalation of confrontation with Israel. The kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in July 2006 triggered Operation Summer Rains, and continued shelling of Israel from the Gaza Strip led to its economic blockade (2007).

On October 20, 2006, an assassination attempt was made on the life of Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority Ismail Haniyeh (Hamas) by Fatah activists in the Gaza Strip. The motorcade was fired upon by militants with small arms.

In February 2007, an agreement was reached between the leaders of Fatah and Hamas and a coalition government was created. International community in Once again demanded that the new PNA government recognize Israel, disarm the militants and stop the violence. Tripartite negotiations between the US, PNA and Israel ended without results.

In May - June 2007, Hamas tried to remove from power former police officers who were not subordinate to the Minister of Internal Affairs - supporters of Fatah, who at first turned out to be subordinate to the Fatah-Hamas government, and then refused to leave civil service. In response, on June 14, PNA chairman and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas announced the dissolution of the government and introduced a regime of state of emergency and took full power into his own hands. As a result of the bloody civil war for power that broke out, Hamas retained its position only in the Gaza Strip, while in the West Bank. Supporters of M. Abbas retained power in Jordan. Mahmoud Abbas created a new government in the West Bank and called Hamas militants "terrorists." Thus, the PNA split into two hostile entities: Hamas (Gaza Strip) and Fatah (West Bank).

On November 23, 2008, the “PLO Central Council” - an unconstitutional and undemocratic body - re-elected M. Abbas as chairman of the PNA (President of the State of Palestine) for a new term.

In 2007-2008 The Israeli government, already under the leadership of Ehud Olmert, during active negotiations with the administration of M. Abbas, again offered significant concessions to the PNA, “effectively providing for Israel’s retreat to the borders of 1967,” including “an extended border with Jordan along the Jordan River and access to the Dead Sea" and exchange of territories. As it became known in 2009-2011, according to the plan for determining common borders, the PNA “had to withdraw 93 percent of the West Bank and part of Israeli land adjacent to the Gaza Strip. In addition, Palestinians were asked to be allowed to move freely between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Jordan. In return, Israel demanded the complete demilitarization of the Palestinian Authority." The PNA leadership did not accept these proposals, and Hamas responded by intensifying rocket attacks on Israeli territory, which led to Operation Cast Lead.

The worsening security situation had a significant impact on the outcome of the 2009 Knesset elections, which resulted in Benjamin Netanyahu becoming the new Prime Minister of Israel.

Despite the fact that in his speech at Bar Ilan University on June 14, 2009, B. Netanyahu “reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to a two-state solution to the conflict,” and on November 25, 2009, the Israeli government announced a unilateral moratorium on construction in the territories for a period of 10 months , the PNA leadership practically refused to continue direct negotiations between the parties, relying on unilateral steps in order to achieve recognition of the State of Palestine without any concessions on its part. The Israeli Foreign Ministry also notes that instead of fighting terrorism, the PNA leadership glorifies terrorists and conducts anti-Israeli propaganda in the international arena.

At the same time, according to a survey conducted in 2011 by the Palestinian Institute of Public Opinion, the number of residents of the West Bank. Jordan, who believed that “negotiation is preferable to unilateral appeal to the UN,” was 60%, versus 35% who held the opposite opinion.

The Israeli leadership and a number of other sources consider such a decision by the PNA leadership to be a direct violation of the Oslo Accords, as a result of which the PNA itself was created, and according to which the question of the independence of the new state “should be resolved exclusively through peaceful negotiations between official representatives two peoples,” and explain it by M. Abbas’s desire to improve the precarious situation in the domestic political arena, where Fatah is significantly losing to Hamas

Recognized countries:

Palestine is recognized by 110 countries

Flag:

Map:

Territory:

Demography:

4,394,323 people
Density – 667 people/km²

Religion:

Languages:

The first mention of Palestine, or rather the prototype of the state that was located on modern territory Palestine, has biblical roots and dates back to the ninth millennium BC, when, according to legend, the city of Jericho was built on the banks of the ancient Jordan River. And it was with him that the modern history of Palestine began.

The vicissitudes of Judea or the history of Palestine

If we return once again to the question of the historical right of Jews and Arabs to Palestine, then history of Palestine seems to be a rather confusing “tangle” of a whole chain of historical events starting from the formation of the Canaanite kingdom, which, according to the Bible, was conquered by the Hebrew tribes under the leadership of Joshua. And then this territory changed its owners and patrons many times, from the ancient Roman conquerors to the rulers of the Ottoman Empire.

And today, debates continue in scientific and political circles as to whether this territory is originally Arab or has belonged to Jews since time immemorial. So, until Palestine ceases to be the subject of military-political interests of leading world leaders, the question of Palestinian statehood will remain in limbo, as evidenced by story the last fifty years of the existence of this state.

Capital of Palestine

Based on numerous historical twists and turns, it should be located in Jerusalem. However, the creation of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization led by Yasser Arafat, the realities were slightly adjusted by the UN decision of 1947, the capital of modern Palestine is ancient city Palestinians Ramallah, and no less ancient Jerusalem received the status open city under the protectorate of the same United Nations.

Population of Palestine

Today, the Palestinian population numbers just over 4.6 million. And the overwhelming majority are the so-called ethnic Arab Palestinians, who consider themselves heirs of the Canaanites, whose Arab roots have been evident since 634, when the Arabs invaded the historical lands of Palestine under the leadership of Caliph Adu Bakr.

State of Palestine

This is how it turns out purely historically, but the question of whether it is legal from a legal point of view remains open today. But a significant part of the Arab countries of the Middle East do not even question this issue and open representative offices of Palestine in their capitals, unlike representatives of Israel.

Politics of Palestine

Today it is somewhat problematic to talk about what it is. Since for several decades now Palestine and its military formations are waging an undeclared guerrilla war with Israel. At the same time, according to some leaders of Palestine itself and a number of Arab countries, it captured part of the territory of this state not recognized by the world community.

Language of Palestine

Officially belong to the Arabic group of languages, which is enshrined in official documents this state entity. Taking into account precisely this moment, the Palestine culture. However, the realities of our time make their own small adjustments. Since some of the population of Palestine considers themselves ethnic Jews, Hebrew is practiced as the language of interethnic communication in Palestine.

Palestine began thousands of years ago. Having such a long history, having survived dozens of wars, it is obvious that the borders of the state changed regularly. The territory where Palestine was located increased or decreased depending on the influence of neighboring states, the invasion of invaders, and the decisions of world political leaders.

What does the name of the state mean?

The ancient state originated in the coastal zone of the Mediterranean Sea. These lands were inhabited by the Philistines starting in the 12th century BC. The name of this people gave the name to Palestine. In Hebrew, this word sounded like “pelishtim”, translated it means “invaders”.

Throughout its history, Palestine was independent for a relatively short period of time. With the arrival of successive invaders, the name of the lands also changed. The territory where Palestine was located was called Canaan, Palestine Syria, the Kingdom of Israel, Judea.

Geographical location of Ancient Palestine

Palestine is located in the southwestern part of Asia. Since ancient times, the state has been bordered on the eastern side by the Arabian Desert. The western border was washed by the Mediterranean Sea. The city of Dan is considered the northernmost settlement of the territory where Palestine was located in ancient times. The southernmost point is Bathsheba. The northern border of the state began from the Leontes River, above the city of Tire. Then it went straight until it crossed the Jordan River. To the south it extended to the Dead Sea. The territory where Palestine was located in ancient times covered 240 kilometers from north to south. The total area of ​​the country was 25 thousand square kilometers.

The ancient state was usually divided into several regions. The western part is the Coastal Plain. It is washed by the Mediterranean Sea. Central part from north to south it is occupied by Galilee, Samaria and Judea. They are limited to the east by the Jordan Valley. South of Judea is the Negev Desert. The eastern region is called Transjordan or Transjordan Highlands.

On the modern world map, the territory where Ancient Palestine was located today includes Israel, the Gaza Strip, South Lebanon, North-West Jordan and the Palestinian National Authority.

Holy Crescent

This was the name given to the region of the Middle East, which has fertile soil and climatic conditions that are most comfortable for life. This geographical area also characterized by increased levels of precipitation. It is believed that this is where agriculture and cattle breeding originated in ancient times. Archaeological research has shown that this was a densely populated region, and was the cradle of modern civilization.

IN modern world this territory is occupied by Lebanon, Israel, Syria, Iraq, North-West Jordan, south-east Turkey and south-west Iran. The southwestern part of the “crescent” was the territory where Palestine was located.

Galilee

This area was the northern part of Ancient Palestine. It was located between the Mediterranean coast and the Jordan Valley. The landscape of Galilee is mountainous, which gives the area its name. In Hebrew, the word for "wave" is pronounced "gal."

The history of Galilee begins in the third millennium BC. These lands were inhabited by many pagan tribes. At different periods of time, Galilee was part of different states. Until 722 BC it was the territory of the Kingdom of Israel, then it became part of the Assyrian state. In 539 BC it was conquered by the Persians, in 333 BC - by the Greeks under the leadership of Alexander the Great. Beginning in 63 BC, Galilee became part of the Roman Empire.

This part of Palestine attracted invaders with its fertile plains. Galilee has an important place in biblical stories. It was the birthplace of most of the apostles. Nazareth was also located there, where Jesus Christ was born and lived for 30 years; in the cities of Cana and Nain he showed miracles to the world.

Samaria

Below Galilee in central Palestine was Samaria. It was here that a city was built about 3 thousand years ago, which became the capital of the Kingdom of Israel. This city, called Samaria, was considered one of the richest and most protected fortresses in Palestine.

This area is located on the west bank of the Jordan River. There are practically no plains in Samaria; the landscape of this territory is mainly composed of mountains and hills. It is noteworthy that the descendants of the ancient inhabitants of these places still live here. They call themselves Samaritans.

Judea

This area has other names: Eretz Yehuda, Land of Judah, Palestinian Syria. Together with Samaria it forms the West Bank of Jordan. The climate of Judea is quite harsh. The Old Testament mentions that it occupied the lands between the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. It included: part of the Negev Desert, the Judean Desert, the Judean Mountains, and the Judean Lowland.

During the time of the Kingdom of Israel, it included Jerusalem, Jericho, Shimon, Dan, and Benjamin.

The region received its name from the name of the Jewish tribe, called Judean. When the Jewish kingdom collapsed in the 10th century BC, a territorial split also occurred. Two new states were formed: the Kingdom of Judah and the Kingdom of Israel. Later, these lands were independent only for short periods of time between attacks by the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, and Romans.

History of Palestine

The end of ancient times and the beginning of our era was marked by the dawn and wars of conquest of the Roman state. Palestine, where large cities were located, culture, agriculture and cattle breeding were significantly developed, became a desirable territory for the empire. The Jewish population was persecuted from Judea, and the majority fled to Galilee.

In the seventh century, Palestine was conquered by the Arabs. The period of Egyptian rule in Palestine is significant. It was then that the Tatar-Mongol attack was successfully repelled, which undoubtedly saved the great shrines of both the Muslim and Christian worlds from destruction. The Egyptians also liberated these lands from the Crusaders.

Since the beginning of the 16th century, Palestine was part of the powerful Ottoman Empire. Christians and Jews were not killed or taken into slavery. However, they suffered significant oppression in religious and civil law. Therefore, the attempts of the Jews to gain freedom did not stop, although they did not bring success.

Jewish Palestine

At the end of the Ottoman Empire, all Jews greater distribution acquires new political movement- Zionism. One of the goals of this direction was the return of Jews to the lands where Palestine was located. It is not clear in which country the majority of the Jews were located at that time. Persecuted for centuries, the Jewish people found refuge in the countries of the Middle East and Europe. It is known that in 1936 the World Jewish Congress was formed, which included representatives of communities living in the Diaspora from 32 countries.

In 1922, the world community, concerned about surges of anti-Semitism, handed Britain a Mandate for Palestine to ensure control of Jewish migration. This caused a very negative response among the Arab population.

After World War II, when the population of Palestine was 33% Jewish, the UN decided to divide the territory into two parts.

Arab-Israeli conflict

Significant changes in territorial division began to occur in the second half of the 20th century. The Arabs opposed the creation of the Israeli state, and the Jews, in turn, wanted to conquer as much land as possible. The result was a division into Israel, the Palestinian National Authority, Transjordan and the Gaza Strip.

Where are Palestine and Israel currently located? The borders of these two states are not defined. They are still the subject of conflict between the Jewish and Arab populations of the Palestinian land.

- in the east, and from the west it is washed by the Mediterranean Sea. The West Bank, in turn, is bordered on the east by Jordan and on the north, south and west by Israel.

The name of the state of Palestine comes from "philistia"(translated from Hebrew as “invaders”). This is the name given to the territory of the Mediterranean coast, inhabited in ancient times by the Philistines.

Palestine is a country with a rich and difficult history. Its lands once belonged to Jordan and Egypt. After numerous Arab-Israeli wars and the abandonment of Palestinian territories by Egypt and Jordan, at a session in Algiers in 1988, the Palestinian National Council announced the creation of a Palestinian state. Despite the fact that the final status of the Palestinian territories was not determined, authorities were created in Palestine. Yasser Arafat became the first president of the state, and in 2005 Mahmoud Abbas was elected to this post.

However, relations between Palestine and Israel remain extremely tense. The Israeli army controls almost all the borders of the Palestinian state.

On November 29, 2012, following a UN vote, Palestine was granted observer state status at the United Nations. This will allow the Palestinian authorities, if necessary, to turn to international authorities operating under the auspices of the UN and file claims with international Court in The Hague.

Capital	Ramallah
Population	4,016,416 people
Population density	667 people/km²
	Arab
Religion	Islam (more than 90% of the population)
Form of government	democratic parliamentary republic
	Israeli new shekel
Timezone
International dialing code
Domain zone
Electricity

Climate and weather

The climate in Palestine is subtropical. Due to the scattered territory of the state and the features of the relief, some regions belong to the dry tropical and temperate climate zone.

Temperatures in winter range from - 6…+18 °С, in summer - from +24 °С before +35 °С. Summer here falls between April and October. This is the time when sultry winds (“khamsin” and “sharav”) blow from the Sinai and Arabian deserts. Different parts of Palestine experience heat differently due to differences in humidity.

The water of the Dead Sea heats up to +19 °С, in summer its temperature often reaches +31 °С.

Precipitation ranges from 100 to 800 per year (depending on the region), most of it occurs in the winter months.

Nature

The territory of the Palestinian state is represented by two disparate parts: the coastal Gaza Strip and the West Bank Jordan.

The Gaza Strip is represented by sand dunes that stretch for as much as 40 kilometers from Egypt to the city Gaza. It is a densely populated area and much of the land is planted with vegetables and citrus fruits. Tourists will be delighted by the picturesque coastline in the south of the Gaza Strip.

There is also a mountain range in Palestine. Its northern region is Samaria- represented by olive gardens and green hills. Judea is characterized by an arid climate, and south of Hebron this area completely turns into a desert.

The West Bank of the Jordan is represented by a plateau, which decreases in the west and then abruptly ends in the east. The lowest point is the Dead Sea (-408 meters), and highest point- mountain Tal-Asur(1022 meters).

The flora of Palestine is very diverse. Oak, olive, juniper, turpentine tree, pistachio, laurel, Jerusalem pine, strawberry tree, plane tree, sycamore and Tavorian oak are often found here. The fauna is represented by foxes, hedgehogs, hares, wild boars, porcupines, snakes, turtles and lizards. Large mammals, unfortunately, have been almost completely exterminated. The bird population is represented by 400 different species.

Palestine has several natural reserves, but due to the Arab-Israeli conflict, it is not easy for the Palestinian Authority to monitor the safety of its unique natural monuments.

Attractions

Almost all the sights of Palestine are in one way or another connected with the Bible and are holy places.

Bethlehem is one such place. The city is located at an altitude of 955 meters above sea level, 10 kilometers from Jerusalem. As the birthplace of Jesus, Bethlehem has become the most significant city on earth for Christians. Every year thousands of pilgrims from all over the world flock here to venerate the shrines, admire their palaces and temples, and simply wander through the narrow streets of this ancient city.

On the site of the cave where Jesus was born, Emperor Constantine the Great once built Basilica of the Nativity. Only a small part of it has survived to this day. Of particular value is Grotto of Birth.

On the top of a hill 6 kilometers from Bethlehem are the ruins of King Herod's palace. They amaze with their grandeur and luxury. It offers breathtaking views of the Dead Sea.

Not far from Bethlehem are Solomon's Ponds. Three huge stone reservoirs that collected rainwater were once the main source of water for nearby cities.

One of the oldest cities in the world - Hebron- located south of Jerusalem. This city is associated with the name of Abraham and is considered sacred by Jews, Christians and Muslims.

Main shrine Hebron- temple El Haram. In this temple, built over the Cave of Machpelah, Jews and Arabs pray side by side.

On the highway leading to Jericho, 10 kilometers from Jerusalem, is located Good Samaritan House. Since ancient times it has been a resting place for travelers and traders. Today there are craft workshops where you can buy a variety of souvenirs.

There are many monasteries, temples, and mosques open to visitors in Palestine: monastery Mar Saba, mosque Nabi Musa, monastery Saint Elias, monastery Deir Quarantal and others.

Nutrition

Palestinian cuisine, which unites the culinary traditions of Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and the United Arab Emirates, has many individual characteristics.

Contrary to popular belief, Pakistani dishes are not overly hot and spicy. Mint, all kinds of herbs and greens, onions, olives, lemons, and pine nuts are often added to food. Dishes are often complemented with salted and pickled vegetables.

In Pakistan, chicken meat is very popular - it forms the basis of almost all meat dishes.

They eat a lot of bread. It's basically flatbread. mileage(they are often used instead of spoons) or traditional ragyf, as well as various pita breads.

The most popular meat dishes shawarma(flatbread with meat and herbs), mansaf(stewed lamb seasoned with special sauce), adas(lentils with chicken and onions in lemon sauce), Mashavi(cold cuts) and others.

Palestine is considered the leader among Arab countries in the preparation of sweets. Be sure to try it knafe with cheese, guava dessert, delicious ice cream and candied fruit.

There are many tea and coffee shops in Palestine. Tea and coffee accompany any meal or friendly gatherings. Tea here is often drunk overly sweet, while sugar is not added to coffee at all. Palestinian coffee is of very good quality. Depending on the degree of roasting of the beans, coffee can be brown or black. Cardamom is often added to coffee when brewing.

The country produces good wine and beer. The most popular local alcoholic drink is arak(specific milky color, has a strong anise smell).

The price level in Palestine is low. You can have a good meal in a cafe or small restaurant for just $10, and lunch in the most expensive restaurant will cost $20.

Accommodation

The escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has caused an almost complete cessation international tourism. There are few places left in Palestine for comfortable accommodation for tourists. Hotels are located in major cities and are intended mainly for workers of various humanitarian foundations and UN employees. A regular room in a hotel of this kind will cost at least $150 per night.

The largest selection of hotels in Bethlehem. There are over 30 hotels of varying levels of service located here. Accommodation in Bethlehem will be the most acceptable from the point of view of moving around Palestine.

IN Ramallah, Nablus, Hebron, Gaza There are economy class hotels and boarding houses. They are aimed mainly at visitors from Jordan and local residents. A room here will cost $50 per night.

Many tourists wishing to travel to Palestine often stay in hotels on Israeli territory.

Entertainment and relaxation

Palestine is washed by two seas: the Mediterranean from the Gaza Strip and the Dead.

The sand dunes of Gaza stretch for 40 kilometers and provide good opportunities for organizing beach holiday. But, unfortunately, constant military conflicts do not allow us to create the necessary comfortable rest infrastructure. Most of the beaches are littered and cluttered with chaotic buildings. The beaches in the city are considered the best Gaza.

The northern part of the Dead Sea is only formally part of Palestine, but in reality is under the control of the Israeli administration. Therefore, if you want to get to the nature reserves or health facilities located here, then you can easily do this while on Israeli territory.

History buffs will be interested in an excursion to the ancient Jericho. This city was built much earlier than the Egyptian pyramids. Residents Jericho made a huge contribution to the development of civilization. Ancient Jericho located two kilometers from the modern city. Archaeological excavations are constantly underway here. Ruins of a Byzantine city and the Caliph's palace Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik are located just three kilometers from Jericho. The surrounding area is of particular archaeological value. Forty Day Mountains(west of Jericho). Legend has it that it was here that Jesus fasted for forty days without succumbing to the temptations of the devil.

Celtic Canyon is one of the most important natural parks in Palestine. The canyon stretches along the Judean Desert for 40 kilometers. During times ancient Rome there was a road connecting Jerusalem and Jericho. The slopes of the canyon seem deserted and lifeless, but many centuries ago they were inhabited by monks who carved their cells right into the rocks. And later, a majestic monastery was carved into the sheer rock of the canyon St. George. It was destroyed during the Persian invasion, but at the beginning of the twentieth century the monastery was almost completely restored.

Purchases

Most major stores including shopping mall Palestine Mall, are located in the capital Ramallah. There are also small shops and open markets scattered throughout the country.

Food in Palestine is not very expensive. For example, a kilogram of oranges will cost 1.2 $, a cup of cappuccino - about 3 $, a dozen eggs - 1.5 $.

The most popular souvenir from the country can be called the pilgrim's cross. This attribute indicates a visit to the Holy Land. It is a large cross with two massive bars on it (a symbol of the crucified Christ). In each quarter of the large cross there are four more small crosses, which symbolize the nailed hands and feet of Jesus. The pilgrim's cross is a shrine for Catholics, Christians, and Protestants.

The variety of jewelry, mostly of a religious nature, is also surprising - icons, images, crosses. Here you can also buy unique temple candles, particles of Saint Golgotha, magic cards, amulets, vases, figurines, and boxes.

Antique lovers and collectors will find many interesting things in Palestine. There is a large selection of edged weapons from all times - swords, daggers, scimitars, sabers, pikes.

Transport

Currently there is no air service in Palestine. The airport in the Gaza Strip, having been destroyed during military operations, has not operated since 2001.

The main means of transportation around the country are buses and minibuses. The bus fleet consists of old cars, minibuses - minibuses for 10-12 people. A bus ticket costs a little more than a dollar, a minibus ticket costs $1.5. The movement of minibus taxis does not follow any schedule and is carried out as the cabin fills up.

Taxis operate in all Palestinian cities. A taxi costs a little less than a dollar per kilometer, but the price can often be negotiated in advance.

Traveling around Palestine has some peculiarities. This is due to the fact that the territory of the state is divided into several zones: zone A is under the full control of the Palestinian Authority, zone B is under the general control of Palestine and Israel, zone C is under the control of the Israeli army. Roads outside zones A and B pass through Israeli checkpoints where documents are checked and vehicles are inspected. This procedure takes a lot of time. In addition, some roads are completely closed to Palestinian traffic.

There are no major car rental companies in Palestine. But in Ramallah, Hebron, and Gaza there are small companies that offer car rentals at prices ranging from $40 to $60 per day. But remember that you will be stopped at every Israeli army post to check your documents and find out your route.

Connection

Cellular communications in Palestine are provided by the company Paltel. It is the largest local operator of satellite, cellular and landline communications. In general, the service is provided with the help of Israeli companies Orange, Motorola And Cellcom A Paltel acts as an intermediary between these companies and Palestinian users. Israeli operators provide best quality communications and provide favorable rates, so many Palestinians prefer to use their services.

You can use the credit tariff by paying for services once a month. You can also make calls using prepaid cards. They are presented in denominations of 20, 45, 70, 150 and 270 units. Moreover, as the card denomination increases, the cost per minute becomes lower. Calls at night and evening time are 30% cheaper.

Internet communications are provided by companies Palsoft, Palestine on line, Palnet. There are Internet cafes in all major cities of Palestine.

Safety

When planning your trip, be aware of the volatile situation in Palestine. Local residents are exhausted by military conflicts; Often here you can witness outbursts of anger and violence, of which foreign tourists can also become victims. The Palestinian police are not always in control, so avoid crowds of locals.

Also, do not try to provoke Palestinians into a frank conversation by being interested in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. This may be misinterpreted.

Foreign tourists with a residence permit in Israel will be subject to criminal prosecution when visiting areas A and B: this is prohibited under Palestinian law.

Be careful with your food, wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly, and use only bottled water.

Business climate

The Palestinian economy is in a dire state. This situation is associated with constant exacerbations of the Arab-Israeli conflict, leading to hostilities and numerous destructions.

Tourism, once a driving force of the economy, is now minimal. The infrastructure is poorly developed, the level of service is low, and the turbulent situation within the country is frightening.

Palestine has good opportunities for agricultural development. Growing fruit trees always brought considerable income. But numerous roadblocks and various restrictions significantly slow down trade relations. Often the goods simply deteriorate in transit.

Moreover, in the country high level unemployment. About 60-70% of the population lives below the poverty line. This leads to constant mass unrest and demonstrations.

Real estate

Since ancient times, the lands of Palestine have been among the most coveted in the world. This is connected, of course, with the sacred history of these places. Today, Palestinian real estate is not in great demand. This is due to the turbulent political situation and the low level of economic development.

In addition, the local population has a negative attitude towards buyers who are not of Arab origin. Palestinian law prohibits, under penalty of death, the sale of real estate to persons with Israeli citizenship.

In Palestine, documents are checked quite often, so always carry your passport with you.

To visit the Gaza Strip you need to obtain a special permit and the wait can be long.

Try to avoid traveling at night and avoid areas with curfews.

The import and export of currency is not limited. In addition, cameras, typewriters, radios, binoculars, tape recorders, musical instruments, sport equipment. But provided that all these items are small in size and have been previously used.

But antiques, video equipment and computers are subject to mandatory declaration.

Visa information

Due to the fact that you can only enter Palestine from Israeli territory, tourists are subject to the Israeli passport and visa regime. A visa is not required to travel to Israel for a period not exceeding 90 days for the purpose of tourism or visiting relatives. In this case, upon entry you must provide a certain package of documents, and a special mark will be placed in your passport.

At Israeli airports, as well as at the checkpoint in Rafah There are “green corridors” that can be followed by persons who do not have items that need to be declared.

There are no additional customs controls when crossing the border between Israel and Palestine.

The Israeli Embassy in Moscow is located at: Bolshaya Ordynka, 56. Tel.: (+7 095) 230-6700. Fax: (+7 095) 238-1346