Outline of the State of Palestine

Short description: Overview of and topical guide to the State of Palestine

The Palestinian Flag

The Coat of arms of Palestine

A map of the State of Palestine with the West Bank and Gaza Strip highlighted in red

An enlargeable map of the West Bank

An enlargeable map of the Gaza Strip

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to the State of Palestine:

Palestine – country in the Middle East, politically under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian government and the Hamas Government in Gaza. Since the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in 1988 and the consequent admission into UN as an observer state in 2012, Palestine is today recognized by three-quarters of the world's countries.^[1] Its claimed capital is East Jerusalem, although Ramallah is its internationally recognised capital. Although recently promoted to a non-member state status in the UN, the State of Palestine does not exert full control of its territory and has historically turbulent relations with Israel and much of the west.

General reference

Pronunciation: /ˈpælɪstaɪn/
Common English country names: State of Palestine; Palestine
Official English country name: U.S. State Department: Palestinian Territories [2]; E.U. ISO 3166-2: Palestine, State of [3]; UN-affiliated organizations: Palestine, State of [4]
Common endonym(s): Dawlat Filasṭīn (Arabic: دولة فلسطين); filasṭīn (Arabic: فلسطين, also transliterated falasṭīn and filisṭīn)
Official endonym(s): N/A
Adjectival(s): Palestinian
Demonym(s): Palestinian people (aš-šaʿb al-filasṭīnīy), Palestinians (al-filasṭīnīyūn) or Palestinian Arabs (al-ʿarab al-Filasṭīnīyūn)
Etymology: Timeline of the name Palestine, Place names in Palestine
ISO country codes: PS, PSE, 275
ISO region codes: See PS
Internet country code top-level domain: .ps

Geography of the State of Palestine

An enlargeable topographic map of Israel and the Palestine. Outlined in red are the 1949-designated boundaries of the West Bank and Gaza Strip

State of Palestine location:
- Northern Hemisphere and Eastern Hemisphere
- Eurasia
  - Asia
    - Southwest Asia
      - Middle East
- Time zone: UTC+02, summer UTC+03
- Extreme points of Palestine
  - High: Mount Nabi Yunis 1,030 m (3,379 ft)
  - Low: Dead Sea −412 m (−1,352 ft) – lowest point on the surface of the Earth
- Land boundaries: Officially undefined, figures given are the de facto boundaries of the Green Line as they apply to the West Bank and Gaza Strip (See also Israeli West Bank barrier, Israeli Gaza Strip barrier and the Seam Zone)

Total: 466 km (290 mi)

Israel 358 km (222 mi)

Jordan 97 km (60 mi)

Egypt 11 km (6.8 mi)

Coastline (Gaza Strip): 40 km (25 mi)
Coastline (West Bank): 0 km (0 mi)

Note: West Bank includes the northern portion of the Dead Sea with a 40 km (25 mi) shoreline.

Population of Palestine:
- Palestinian population worldwide, including diaspora: est. 10,000,000 - 11,000,000
- Population of Palestine: est. 3,800,000
Area of Palestine:
- State of Palestine (post-2013): claimed area 6,220 km² (2,400 sq mi) (de facto control of 2,488 km² (961 sq mi)); The West Bank (including East Jerusalem) is (5,860 km² (2,260 sq mi) and the Gaza Strip is 360 km² (140 sq mi)
Atlas of Palestine

Environment of Palestine

An enlargeable satellite image of State of Palestine, Israel and surrounding region

The Palestine sunbird, native to Palestine

Inflorescence of the terebinth (Pistacia terebinthus), a tree native to Palestine

The Dead Sea on a rough day, with salt deposits on cliffs

Colored postcard of the Jordan River by Karimeh Abbud circa 1925.

Climate of the State of Palestine
List of ecoregions in the State of Palestine
- - Eastern Mediterranean conifer-sclerophyllous-broadleaf forests
Renewable energy in Palestine
- Solar cookers in Gaza
Geology of Palestine
- Jerusalem stone
- Meleke
Protected areas of Palestine
- Biosphere reserves in Palestine
- National parks of Palestine
Wildlife of Palestine
- Flora of the State of Palestine
  - List of native plants of Palestine (A-D)
  - List of native plants of Palestine (E-O)
  - List of native plants of Palestine (P-Z)
    - Opuntia
- Fauna of Palestine
  - Banded newt
  - Calopteryx syriaca
  - Telescopus hoogstraali
  - Birds of Palestine
  - Mammals of Palestine
    - Marbled polecat
    - Striped hyena
Palestinian Environmental NGOs Network

Natural geographic features of Palestine

Glaciers of Palestine: N/A
Islands of Palestine: N/A
Lakes of Palestine
List of seas in Palestine
- Dead Sea
- Mediterranean Sea
Mountains of Palestine
- Volcanoes in Palestine
Rivers of Palestine
- Jordan River
  - Water politics in the Jordan River basin
    - Headwater Diversion Plan (Jordan River)
- Wadi Fa'rah
- Waterfalls of Palestine
Wells of Palestine
- Jubb Yussef (Joseph's Well)
Valleys of Palestine
- Jordan Rift Valley
  - Jordan Valley
- Wadi Qelt
- Villages named for Wadis ("Valleys")
  - Wadi al-Arayis
  - Wadi Ara, Haifa (depopulated in 1948)
  - Wadi al-Far'a
  - Wadi Fukin

Regions of Palestine

Regions of the State of Palestine

Ecoregions of Palestine

List of ecoregions in Palestine

Administrative divisions of Palestine

West Bank Areas in the Oslo II Accord

Administrative divisions of the State of Palestine

Palestinian Governorates: 16 (11 in the West Bank, 5 in Gaza)
- Jerusalem Governorate: Jerusalem District
- Bethlehem Governorate: Bethlehem District
- Deir Al-Balah Governorate: Deir Al-Balah District
- Gaza Governorate: Gaza District
- Hebron Governorate: Hebron District
- Jenin Governorate: Jenin District
- Jericho Governorate: Jericho District
- Khan Yunis Governorate: Khan Younis District
- Nablus Governorate: Nablus District
- North Gaza Governorate: North Gaza District
- Qalqilya Governorate: Qalqilya District
- Rafah Governorate: Rafah District
- Ramallah and Al-Bireh Governorate: Ramallah and Al-Bireh District
- Salfit Governorate: Salfit District
- Tubas Governorate: Tubas District
- Tulkarm Governorate: Tulkarm District
Cities under Palestinian administration
- List of cities in the Gaza Strip

Demography of Palestine

Demographics of Palestine
- Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics

Government and politics of Palestine

The building of the Palestinian Legislative Council in Ramallah

Form of government: semi-presidential parliamentary democracy^[2]

The souq in the Old City of Jerusalem, which both the Palestinians and Israelis proclaim as their capital

Capital of Palestine:
- Proclaimed capital: East Jerusalem (also proclaimed by Israel)
- de facto capital: Ramallah
Elections in Palestine
Palestinian government
- Palestinian government of 2013
- Palestinian unity government of 2014
List of political parties in the State of Palestine
- Political parties of the PLO
Taxation in Palestine

Branches of the government of Palestine

- President of the State of Palestine: Mahmoud Abbas
- Prime Minister of the State of Palestine: Rami Hamdallah
NB. As a result of the Fatah-Hamas conflict, there is a dispute over the Presidency and Prime Ministership of the State of Palestine.
- Ministries of Palestine
  - Education Ministry
  - Foreign Affairs Ministry
  - Finance Ministry
  - Health Ministry
  - Interior Ministry
  - Planning Ministry

Legislative branches of the government of Palestine

Palestinian Legislative Council (Palestine, unicameral)
Palestinian National Council (PLO, unicameral, parliament-in-exile^[3])

Judicial branch of the government of Palestine

According to the Constitution of Palestine, all courts relating to the country shall be independent.

Local governance in Palestine

Local governance in Palestine
Mukataa

Foreign relations of Palestine

Foreign relations of Palestine
- Holy See – Palestinian relations
- India-Palestine relations
- Iran-Palestine relations
- Palestine-Russia relations
- Pakistan-Palestine relations
- Romania-Palestine relations
Diplomatic missions in Palestine
List of diplomatic missions of the State of Palestine

Palestine and the United Nations

UN 1947 partition plan for Palestine

United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine
United Nations Palestine Commission
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
United Nations resolutions concerning Palestine
United Nations Special Committee on Palestine (UNSCOP)
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
- United Nations Division for Palestinian Rights (UNDPR)
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
Palestinian right of return
Palestine and the United Nations

International organization membership

UN stamp commemorating the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people

Palestine is a member in a number of international organizations. In others, it enjoys affiliation in a lesser capacity or under another designation (such as PLO or Palestinian National Authority). In the list below, if the membership is not full or not for the state of Palestine, the type and name of affiliation is denoted in parentheses.

Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD)
Arab League (AL)
Arab Monetary Fund (AMF)
Council of Arab Economic Unity (CAEU)
FIFA (Asian Football Confederation (AFC)
Group of 77 (G77)
International Olympic Committee (IOC)
International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) (affiliate member)
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) (non-voting observer status)
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Islamic Development Bank (IDC)
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
United Nations (UN) (observer)
- Asian Group of the United Nations
- United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA)
UNESCO
UNIDO
Universal Postal Union (UPU)
World Health Organization (WHO) (observer status) (see also: Palestine's application to the WHO)
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
OPCW
ICC
Interpol
UNCTAD
UNICEF
IPU

International aid to Palestine

International aid to Palestinians

International solidarity movements

Palestinian solidarity organizations
- Comités Palestine
- Melbourne Palestine Solidarity Network
- Palestine Solidarity Campaign
- Palestine Solidarity Movement
- Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Law and order in Palestine

Palestinian Law

Palestinian National Charter
Crime in Palestine
Human rights in Palestine
- Freedom of religion in Palestine
- LGBT rights in Palestine
- Polygamy in Palestine
- Human rights organizations in Palestine
  - Al Mezan Center for Human Rights
  - Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
  - Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring Group
- Human rights record of Israel in the Palestinian Territories
  - International law and Israeli settlements
  - Israeli targeted killings
Law enforcement in Palestine
Prostitution in Palestine

Military of Palestine

Military of the State of Palestine

Command
- Commander-in-chief: N/A
  - Ministry of Defense of Palestine: N/A
Forces
- Army of the Palestine: N/A
- Navy of the Palestine: N/A
- Air Force of the Palestine: N/A
- Special forces of Palestine:
Military history of Palestine
- Arab Liberation Army
- Army of the Holy War
Military ranks of Palestine: N/A

Paramilitary forces of Palestine

Palestinian National Security Forces

Preventive Security Force

Irregular Palestinian forces

Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades (armed wing affiliated with Fatah)
al-Quds Brigades (armed wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad)
Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades (armed wing of Hamas)
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command (PFLP-GC) (armed wing of the PFLP)
Popular Resistance Committees
Palestinian domestic weapons production
- Qassam rocket
- al-Quds rocket
  - Rocket and mortar attacks on southern Israel
- Yassin RPG
- Al-Bana RPG
- Batar RPG

International civilian organizations in Palestine

European Union Border Assistance Mission Rafah
European Union Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories
Temporary International Presence in Hebron

History of Palestine

Interior of the house of a Palestinian Christian family in Jerusalem. By W. H. Bartlett, c. 1850

Old postcard of men native to Gaza, Palestine

- Postage stamps and postal history of Palestine
Military history of Palestine
- Sinai and Palestine Campaign (1915–1918)
- Battle of Megiddo (1918)
- 1920 Palestine riots
- Jaffa riots
- 1929 Palestine riots
- 1936–1939 Arab revolt in Palestine
- Bombing of Palestine in World War II
- 1948 Palestine war
- 1948 Palestinian expulsion and flight
- 1949–56 Palestinian exodus
  - Kfar Qasim massacre
- 1967 War
- 1967 Palestinian exodus
- Battle of Karameh
- Black September in Jordan (1970)
- Lebanese Civil War
  - 1982 Lebanon War
  - Sabra and Shatila massacre
- Second Intifada (2000–05)
  - Battle of Jenin (2002)
  - Battle of Nablus (2002)
  - Siege of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem (2002)
- Gaza–Israel conflict
Political history of Palestine
- Partitioning of the Ottoman Empire
- History of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict
- British Mandate Palestine
- Arab Higher Committee
- All-Palestine Government
- Palestine Liberation Organization
- Israeli–Palestinian peace process
- Palestinian National Authority
- Road map for peace

Palestinian culture

Mosaic detailing on the Dome of the Rock in the Old City of Jerusalem

Old postcard depicting a woman, in traditional Palestinian costume, and children from Ramallah, British Mandate of Palestine

200pxNabulsi soap, a Palestinian handicraft, stacked for drying in "Camel" factory in Nablus in 2008

The Church of Bir Ya'acub (Jacob's Well) in Nablus, West Bank

Hebron glass on display in a shop in Hebron, West Bank

An artist's rendering of Palestinian pottery practices in Jaffa, Palestine in 1859, entitled, "The Potter and Wheel"

The ruins of Khirbet al-Mafjar, an Umayyad era palace in Jericho, West Bank

Archaeology in the State of Palestine
- Gaza Museum of Archaeology
Architecture of Palestine
- Abd al-Hadi Palace
- Hisham's Palace
- Jacir Palace
- Khan al-Tujjar (Nablus)
- Khirbat al-Minya
- Manara Clock Tower
- Qasr al-Basha
Palestinian costumes
Palestinian cuisine
Festivals of the State of Palestine
- Al-Quds Capital of Arab Culture
- Boston Palestine Film Festival
- Chicago Palestine Film Festival
- Feast of Saint George
- Khader Grape Festival
- Thursday of the Dead
- Palestine Festival of Literature
- Nabi Musa (pre-1948)
- Nabi Rubin (pre-1948)
- Al-Nabi Yusha' (pre-1948)
Languages of Palestine
- Palestinian Arabic
Communications in Palestine
- Print media of the State of Palestine
  - Al-Ayyam
  - Al-Hadaf
  - Electronic Intifada
  - Gaza Weekly Newspaper
  - Al-Hayat al-Jadida
  - Al-Hurriya
  - International Middle East Media Center
  - Al-Karmil
  - Palestine News Network
  - Palestine Times
  - Al-Quds
  - Al-Quds Al-Arabi
  - Filistin Ashabab
  - Sawt al-Jamahir
- Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation
- Radio in Palestine
  - Near East Broadcasting Station
  - RAM FM (West Bank)
  - Voice of Palestine
- Television in the State of Palestine
  - Al Aqsa TV
  - Palestinian Satellite Channel
National symbols of Palestine
- Coat of arms of Palestine
- Palestinian Flag
- Keffiyeh
- National anthem of Palestine
- Palestinian nationalism
- Sumud
Palestinians
- Internally displaced Palestinians
- Palestinian diaspora
- Palestinian prisoners in Israel
- Palestinian refugees
- Prominent Palestinians
National holidays of the State of Palestine
- Land Day
- Nakba Day
- Naksa Day
Records of Palestine
Religion in Palestine
- Christianity in Palestine
  - Eastern Orthodox
    - Greek Orthodox Church
      - Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre
        Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem
        Arab Orthodox
        Church of the Nativity
        
        Church of Saint Porphyrius
        
        Monastery of Saint George, al-Khader
        
        Monastery of the Temptation
  - Oriental Orthodoxy
    - Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem
  - Latin Rite
    - Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem
      - Church of Saint Lazarus
  - Eastern Catholic Churches
    - Melkite Greek Catholic Church
  - Anglican Communion
    - Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East
      - Anglican-German Bishopric in Jerusalem
        Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem
  - Protestantism
    - Presbyterianism
      - Sabeel
      - Church of Scotland
        St Andrew's Church, Jerusalem
  - Church of the Holy Sepulcher
- Islam in Palestine
  - Ahmadiyya in Palestine
  - Waqf
    - Jerusalem Islamic Waqf
      - Al-Aqsa
        Al-Aqsa Mosque
        
        Dome of the Rock
        Dome of the Chain
        
        Excavations at the Temple Mount
      - Imaret
        Hasseki Sultan Imaret
    - Moroccan Quarter
    - Sabil Abu Nabbut
    - List of mosques in Palestine
      - Great Mosque of Gaza
      - Great Mosque of Nablus
      - Al-Hamadiyya Mosque
      - Ibn Marwan Mosque
      - Ibn Uthman Mosque
      - Al-Khadra Mosque
      - Mahmoudiya Mosque
      - Mosque of Omar (Bethlehem)
      - An-Nasr Mosque
      - Sayed al-Hashim Mosque
      - Sultan Ibrahim Ibn Adham Mosque
      - Umm al-Naser Mosque
      - Welayat Mosque
  - Supreme Muslim Council
- Sites holy to Christians, Jews, and Muslims
  - Cave of the Patriarchs (Al-Haram Al-Ibrahimi)
  - Joseph's Tomb
  - Jacob's Well (also holy to Samaritans)
  - Rachel's Tomb (Bilal ibn Rabah)
  - Tomb of Samuel (Nabi Samwil)
- Judaism in Palestine
  - Palestinian synagogues
    - Ancient Synagogue of Gaza
- Samaritans in Palestine
- Ahmadiyya in Palestine

Art in Palestine

Palestinian art
- Museums in Palestine
  - Badd Giacaman Museum
  - Baituna al-Talhami Museum
Cinema of the State of Palestine
- Cinema Jenin
Palestinian handicrafts
Palestinian literature
Music of Palestine
- Ataaba
- The Edward Said National Conservatory of Music
- Palestinian hip hop
Palestinian Theatre
- Al-Kasaba Theatre
- Palestinian National Theatre

Sports in Palestine

Sport in Palestine

Football in the State of Palestine
- Palestine national football team
- Palestinian Football Federation
  - Faisal Al-Husseini International Stadium
  - Palestine Stadium
Hammams (bathhouses)
- Hamam al-Sammara
Palestine Olympic Committee
- Palestine at the Olympics
Palestine at the Paralympics
Palestinian Scout Association
Girl Guides of Palestine

Economy and infrastructure of Palestine

Economy of Palestine
- Economy of Gaza

The Yasser Arafat International Airport in Gaza. Severely damaged by an Israeli airstrike in 2001, the airport has remained closed ever since.

Economic rank, by nominal GDP (2007): 134th (one hundred and thirty fourth)
Agriculture in Palestine
Banking in Palestine
- Arab Bank
- National Bank of Palestine
Communications in Palestine
- Internet in Palestine
- Telephone numbers in the State of Palestine
List of companies of Palestine
- G.ho.st
- Palestinian Airlines (defunct)
- Paltel
- Taybeh Brewery
National Trade Union of Palestine
Fair Trade organizations in the State of Palestine
- Canaan Fair Trade
- Palestine Fair Trade Association
- Zaytoun
Currency of Palestine: dinar/sheqel
- ISO 4217: JOD/ILS
Energy in the State of Palestine
Mining in the State of Palestine
Public squares in Palestine
- Manger Square
- Palestine Square
- Soldier's Square
Tourism in Palestine
- Alternative Tourism Group
Transport in Palestine
- List of airports in Palestine
  - Yasser Arafat International Airport (1998–2001)
- Rail transport in the State of Palestine
- Port of Gaza
- Roads in Palestine
  - Highway 57
  - Omar Mukhtar Street
  - Star Street
  - Wehda Street
Water supply and sanitation in Palestine
Palestine Stock Exchange

Healthcare in Palestine

Health care in Palestine
- Palestine Red Crescent Society
- Augusta Victoria Hospital
- Al-Shifa Hospital

Housing in Palestine

Housing in Palestine
- House demolition in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict
- Palestinian refugee camps

Education in the Palestine

The main building of Bethlehem University in Bethlehem, West Bank

The amphitheatre of An-Najah National University overlooking the city of Nablus, West Bank

Education in Palestine
Education Ministry
Universities and colleges of Palestine
- Student organizations in Palestine
  - General Union of Palestinian Students
  - Palestinian Youth Association for Leadership and Rights Activation
  - Progressive Student Labor Front
  - Students Liberation Bloc
- Student organizations supporting Palestine
  - Palestinian cultural club
  - Palestine Solidarity Movement
  - Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights

Books on Palestine

Correcting a Mistake: Jews and Arabs in Palestine/Israel, 1936-1956
The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine
Palestine (comics)
Palestine Peace Not Apartheid
Underground to Palestine

References

↑ [1] "Note that the term Palestine has historically referred to the region which today incorporates Israel as well as the Palestinian territories. The current position was expressed by Mahmoud Abbas in his September 2011 speech to the United Nations: 'When we adopted this program, we were taking a painful and very difficult step for all of us, especially those, including myself, who were forced to leave their homes and their towns and villages, carrying only some of our belongings and our grief and our memories and the keys of our homes to the camps of exile and the Diaspora in the 1948 Al-Nakba, one of the worst operations of uprooting, destruction and removal of a vibrant and cohesive society that had been contributing in a pioneering and leading way in the cultural, educational and economic renaissance of the Arab Middle East. Yet, because we believe in peace and because of our conviction in international legitimacy, and because we had the courage to make difficult decisions for our people, and in the absence of absolute justice, we decided to adopt the path of relative justice – justice that is possible and could correct part of the grave historical injustice committed against our people. Thus, we agreed to establish the State of Palestine on only 22% of the territory of historical Palestine – on all the Palestinian Territory occupied by Israel in 1967.'"
↑ Martijn Schoonvelde (26 June 2009). "Palestinian Territories". http://www.europeanforum.net/country/palestinian_territories.
↑ Sela and Ma'oz, 1997, p. 16.

Bibliography

Roberto Remo Bissio, ed (1995). The world: a Third World guide 1995-96 (Illustrated ed.). Instituto del Tercer Mundo. ISBN 9780855982911.
Milton-Edwards, Beverley (2008), The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: A People's War (Illustrated ed.), Taylor & Francis, ISBN 9780415410434
Kogan Page (2004). Middle East Review (27th, illustrated ed.). Kogan Page Publishers. ISBN 9780749440664. https://books.google.com/books?id=NYszJtC66FAC&q=%22official+name%22+palestine&pg=PA161.
Said, Edward W.; Hitchens, Christopher (2001), Blaming the victims: spurious scholarship and the Palestinian question (2nd, illustrated ed.), Verso, ISBN 9781859843406
Sela, Avraham; Ma'oz, Moshe (1997), The PLO and Israel: from armed conflict to political solution, 1964-1994 (Illustrated ed.), Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN 9780312129064, https://books.google.com/books?id=0OisRvSZIiAC&q=%22PLO%22+%22parliament-in-exile%22&pg=PA16

External links

The Hope Simpson Report (London, 1930) [5]
Palestine Royal Commission Report (the Peel Report) (London, 1937) [6]
Report to the Council of the League of Nations (1928) [7]
Report to the Council of the League of Nations (1929) [8]
Report to the Council of the League of Nations (1934) [9]
Report to the Council of the League of Nations (1935) [10]
www.mideastweb.org - A website with a wealth of statistics regarding population in Palestine
Coins and Banknotes of Palestine under the British Mandate
WorldStatesmen- Maps, flags, chronology, see Israel and Palestinian National Authority
hWeb - Israel-Palestine in Maps
Palestine Fact Sheet from the Common Language Project
Liberal Democrat Friends of Palestine
History of the Palestine Problem, UN website

Maps

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[1] [1] "Note that the term Palestine has historically referred to the region which today incorporates Israel as well as the Palestinian territories. The current position was expressed by Mahmoud Abbas in his September 2011 speech to the United Nations: 'When we adopted this program, we were taking a painful and very difficult step for all of us, especially those, including myself, who were forced to leave their homes and their towns and villages, carrying only some of our belongings and our grief and our memories and the keys of our homes to the camps of exile and the Diaspora in the 1948 Al-Nakba, one of the worst operations of uprooting, destruction and removal of a vibrant and cohesive society that had been contributing in a pioneering and leading way in the cultural, educational and economic renaissance of the Arab Middle East. Yet, because we believe in peace and because of our conviction in international legitimacy, and because we had the courage to make difficult decisions for our people, and in the absence of absolute justice, we decided to adopt the path of relative justice – justice that is possible and could correct part of the grave historical injustice committed against our people. Thus, we agreed to establish the State of Palestine on only 22% of the territory of historical Palestine – on all the Palestinian Territory occupied by Israel in 1967.'"

[EF-2] Martijn Schoonvelde (26 June 2009). "Palestinian Territories". http://www.europeanforum.net/country/palestinian_territories.

[Selap16-3] Sela and Ma'oz, 1997, p. 16.

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