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Modern states /
Palestine
Arabic:
filistīn
Search 'Palestine'
All figures are 2003 estimates.
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Status
| Republic, which has declared its own independence. Large parts of the country is occupied by Israel, and final status of Palestine is not settled. Palestine is recognized by about 100 nations, but not by most Western powers, nor the United Nations.
ARTICLE: Is Palestine a state?
Day of independence: November 15, 1988.
| Government
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Head of state: President Mahmoud Abbas.
Prime minister: Ismail Haniya. Palestine has 22 ministries. 2007-2009, West Bank had its own prime minister, Salam Fayyad.
Palestinian Legislative Council: 89 members (including the president), fully dominated by representatives of Al Fatah.
| Geography
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Inhabitants: 4.24 million (2005 estimate).
Gaza Strip: 1.44 million.
West Bank: 2.80 million
Jewish settlers (with Israeli citizenship, living on Palestinian land): 230,000
Population growth rate: 3.6%
Total area: 6,217 kmē
Gaza Strip: 364 km²
West Bank: 5,853 km²
Water (West Bank): 220 km²
Density: 360 per kmē
Border: 466 km (Egypt 11 km, Israel 358 km, Jordan 97 km).
Coastline: 40 km.
Highest point: Tell Asur 1,022 m
Lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
Arable land: 9%
Capital: Ramallah (effective), Al Quds/Jerusalem (official)
| Human Development Index
| World rank (of 182): 110
Index (1.0 max): 0.737
Explanation
| Demography
| Ethnic groups: Palestinian Arabs.
Languages: Arabic.
Religions: Sunni Islam, Christianity, Samaritans.
| Economy
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Currency: None (Palestine uses Israeli New Shekels and Jordanian dinars)
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Climate and Geography
Palestine is one of the smallest countries in the Middle East, and most of its territory remains under Israeli occupation and control. Important areas are also used by Jewish extremist settlers claiming that this land has been given to them by God.
Effectively, the Palestinians today control less than 1,000 kmē. Both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip is a mixture of fertile ground and desert, with little rain in many zones, and sufficient rain in other zones. Many areas rely upon water coming from the mountains.
The economy of the country is heavily depending on Israel's, as many goods have to be exported to Israel, and as many Palestinians work in Israel. Economic conditions are hard, and worst in the Gaza Strip.
Palestine has a new and fresh democracy that is working on the surface (in terms of free elections) but which is dominated by heavy corruption and a ruthless police and intelligence. It is also the victim of the decisions of certain organizations like Hamas, and foreign governments like the US and the Israeli.
© Copyright 1996-2009 LookLex Ltd. All rights reserved
By: Tore Kjeilen
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