| PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES GAZA STRIP AND WEST BANK Updated 12 September 2012 |
West Bank and The Gaza Strip are non-contiguous territories under the auspice of the Palestinian Authority pending
statehood located in the Middle East of the Asian Continent, with a population of 4,332,801 (1,710,257 from Gaza
and 2,622,544 from West Bank) making it the 124th largest national population. Its interim capital is Ramallah and
its largest cities are Gaza City in the Gaza Strip with a total population of 449,221 and Hebron in the West Bank
with a total population of 250,000. The country encompasses 6,220 square kilometers (360 sq. Km from Gaza and
5,860 sq. Km from the West Bank) making it the 169th largest country in total area. The Gaza Strip shares
boundaries with Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean and the West Bank shares boundaries with Israel, Jordan and
the Dead Sea.
The Chief of State is presently disputed as President Mahmoud Abbas' term expired 9 January 2009, however he
unilaterally extended his term for an additional year. The term has been extended indefinitely until elections can be
held. Aziz Duwaik of the rival Hamas Party declared himself as Chief of State and President of the Palestinian
National Authority since 9 January 2009, when the elected term of Mahmoud Abbas of the rival Fatah party
expired. He had become Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council on 18 January 2006. He was imprisoned in
Israel on 6 August 2006 on charges of being a Hamas member, and was released on 22 June 2009. Prime Minister
Dr. Salam Fayad is recognized as the Head of Government and achieved that status on 15 June 2007 by
appointment of the President as part of a "national emergency" resulting from renewal of conflict between Hamas
and Fatah. His appointment has not been confirmed by the Palestinian Legislative Council and was reappointed by
Abbas on 19 May 2009. Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh had achieved that status following legislative elections when
Hamas became the ruling party and has refused to acknowledge the appointment of Dr. Fayad and is the de facto
authority in the Gaza Strip. Its form of government is an interim administrative organization that nominally governs
parts of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and as yet do not yet celebrate the adoption of a constitution. Violence
between the rival Hamas and Fatah factions have resulted in a breakdown of the coalition government with Hamas
seizing control of the Gaza Strip on 15 June 2007 and Fatah exercising authority over the Palestinian territories of
the West Bank.
The languages commonly or officially spoken are Arabic, Hebrew and English. It counts among its major religions
Muslim, Christian, Jewish. As sources of mass communication it has 8 FM and 1 Television station.
Major geographical features are Abu ‘Awdah, its highest point in Gaza at 105 meters and Tall Asur in West Bank at
1.022 meters. The Mediterranean Sea is the lowest point of the Gaza strip at 0 meters and The Dead Sea is the
lowest point of the West Bank at -408 meters. Its principal waterway is the Mediterranean Sea, which measures 40
Kilometers how ever Israel at present bars access to these ports.
Major industries providing for the bulk of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) are family-owned businesses
manufacturing textiles, soup, olive wood carvings and mother of pearl souvenirs plus the West Bank manufactures
cement. Its official currencies are the New Israeli Shekel in both territories plus the Jordanian Dinar in the West
Bank.
Here’s something you may not know about Palestinian Territories. The Dead Sea, which is located in the West
Bank, is about -405 meters below sea level. It is It is the most mineral laden water in the world and so salty
anyone can float on it.
statehood located in the Middle East of the Asian Continent, with a population of 4,332,801 (1,710,257 from Gaza
and 2,622,544 from West Bank) making it the 124th largest national population. Its interim capital is Ramallah and
its largest cities are Gaza City in the Gaza Strip with a total population of 449,221 and Hebron in the West Bank
with a total population of 250,000. The country encompasses 6,220 square kilometers (360 sq. Km from Gaza and
5,860 sq. Km from the West Bank) making it the 169th largest country in total area. The Gaza Strip shares
boundaries with Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean and the West Bank shares boundaries with Israel, Jordan and
the Dead Sea.
The Chief of State is presently disputed as President Mahmoud Abbas' term expired 9 January 2009, however he
unilaterally extended his term for an additional year. The term has been extended indefinitely until elections can be
held. Aziz Duwaik of the rival Hamas Party declared himself as Chief of State and President of the Palestinian
National Authority since 9 January 2009, when the elected term of Mahmoud Abbas of the rival Fatah party
expired. He had become Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council on 18 January 2006. He was imprisoned in
Israel on 6 August 2006 on charges of being a Hamas member, and was released on 22 June 2009. Prime Minister
Dr. Salam Fayad is recognized as the Head of Government and achieved that status on 15 June 2007 by
appointment of the President as part of a "national emergency" resulting from renewal of conflict between Hamas
and Fatah. His appointment has not been confirmed by the Palestinian Legislative Council and was reappointed by
Abbas on 19 May 2009. Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh had achieved that status following legislative elections when
Hamas became the ruling party and has refused to acknowledge the appointment of Dr. Fayad and is the de facto
authority in the Gaza Strip. Its form of government is an interim administrative organization that nominally governs
parts of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and as yet do not yet celebrate the adoption of a constitution. Violence
between the rival Hamas and Fatah factions have resulted in a breakdown of the coalition government with Hamas
seizing control of the Gaza Strip on 15 June 2007 and Fatah exercising authority over the Palestinian territories of
the West Bank.
The languages commonly or officially spoken are Arabic, Hebrew and English. It counts among its major religions
Muslim, Christian, Jewish. As sources of mass communication it has 8 FM and 1 Television station.
Major geographical features are Abu ‘Awdah, its highest point in Gaza at 105 meters and Tall Asur in West Bank at
1.022 meters. The Mediterranean Sea is the lowest point of the Gaza strip at 0 meters and The Dead Sea is the
lowest point of the West Bank at -408 meters. Its principal waterway is the Mediterranean Sea, which measures 40
Kilometers how ever Israel at present bars access to these ports.
Major industries providing for the bulk of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) are family-owned businesses
manufacturing textiles, soup, olive wood carvings and mother of pearl souvenirs plus the West Bank manufactures
cement. Its official currencies are the New Israeli Shekel in both territories plus the Jordanian Dinar in the West
Bank.
Here’s something you may not know about Palestinian Territories. The Dead Sea, which is located in the West
Bank, is about -405 meters below sea level. It is It is the most mineral laden water in the world and so salty
anyone can float on it.
| GAZA STRIP |
| Sunset on the Mediterranean Sea- Gaza Strip's lowest point |
| Market in Gaza City |
| Destroyed home |
| WEST BANK |
| Dome of The Rock in Jerusalem |
| Mar Saba Monastery |
| Boys flashing the Peace sign |
| Abi's Home Page |
| Back to |
| NEWSPAPERS Al Quds Al Ayyam Al Hayat Aljeeda |
| Baba Ganoush- a traditional Gaza dish of eggplant or aubergine salad |
| Gaza City- the largest city in the Gaza Strip |
| Wreckage of Gaza International Airport on Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Auda)- Gaza's highest and southernmost point |
| Rafah crossing from Gaza into Israel |
| Deir al-Balah |
| Dead Sea- West Bank's lowest point |
| Bethlehem |
| Tall Asur- West Bank's highest point |
| Jordan River- the border between west Bank and Jordan |
| Palestinian national costume |
| Ramallah- the unofficial capital of the Palestinian Authority |
| Nablus- the largest city of the West Bank |
| Maqluba- a West Bank favorite dish of upside-down eggplant, rice, lamb and pine nuts |
| Jenin- the northernmost refugee settlement of the West Bank |
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| Adult Prevalence Rate: People Living with HIV/AIDS: HIV/AIDS Deaths: |
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| Elei Sinai- the northernmost point on the Gaza Strip on the border with Israel |
| Beyt Hanun- the easternmost point of the Gaza Strip |
| Gaza Strip's border with Egypt |
| Palestinian fisherman at Tall Rafah on Gaza's Mediterranean coast |
| Agricultural region of Jenin- West Bank's northernmost point on the border with Israel |
| Greek Monastery at Mul Nevo- West Bank's easternmost point on the border with Jordan |
| Eskelot in the South Hebron Hills- West Bank's westernmost point |
| Sansana- West Bank's southernmost point on the border with Israel |
