School encyclopedia. Unrecognized Palestine

) this region, and the entire western part of the Fertile Crescent as a whole, was called “Canaan” (“Kenaan”), in the modern Russian tradition - “Canaan”. Canaan was conquered by Jewish tribes in the middle of the 2nd millennium BC. e. In Joshua 11:23 (Hebrew) יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן-נוּן ‏‎ [Yehoshua ben Nun]) the name “Land of the Children of Israel” is mentioned (Hebrew: ארץ בני ישראל ‏‎ [Eretz Bnei Israel]).

Some Greek writers, starting with Herodotus (according to Roman scribes), called this land Syria Palestine, or Palestine. Others used the general name Syria or the specifying Kelesyria. A division was also applied into the interior regions of Judea and the coastal region, which was considered part of Phenicia.

In 930 BC. e. the power of David and Solomon split into two kingdoms, the northern kingdom became known as Israel, and the southern kingdom - Judah (Hebrew: יְהוּדָה [Juda]). After the conquest of the Kingdom of Israel by Assyria (722 BC), the name “Judea” gradually spread and took root as the name of the entire territory of the country.

Administrative divisions of Palestine

Geography

The region of Palestine is historically divided into the following geographical areas: Coastal Plain (near the Mediterranean Sea), Galilee (northern part), Samaria (central part, north of Jerusalem) and Judea (southern part, including Jerusalem), Transjordan (Transjordan) - eastern bank of the Jordan River . In particular, the Bible operates with these geographical concepts. Currently, the territory of Judea and Samaria in Russian-language sources is usually called “West Bank of the Jordan River”. Galilee, Samaria and Judea consist of a number of mountain groups, valleys and deserts.

The mountains in the south are the Judean Plateau, in the middle are the Samaria Mountains (Gerizim, Ebal (Ebal)), then Tabor (Tavor; 562 m above sea level), Little Hermon (515 m), Carmel (551 m), in the north - Hermon ( 2224 m). In deep depressions well below sea level are Lake Tiberias (Lake Kinneret; 212 m below sea level) and the Dead Sea, whose coast is the lowest landmass on Earth - at the end of 2015, the water surface was 430 m below sea level and continuing to decline by about 1 m per year.

Story

Early history

In the 3rd millennium BC. e. this territory, called Canaan, was inhabited by Canaanite tribes.

In the 13th century. BC e. the country was invaded by the “peoples of the sea” from Crete and other islands of the Mediterranean Sea, who also attacked Egypt and established themselves in the southern part of the Mediterranean coast, in the area of ​​​​the current Gaza Strip. From the surrounding Semitic-speaking peoples they received the name plishtim, literally "invaders", or Philistines.

In the 11th century BC. e. Hebrew tribes founded the Kingdom of Israel, which collapsed in 930 BC. e. into two: the Kingdom of Israel (existed until 722 BC) and the Kingdom of Judah (until 586 BC).

Antiquity

Subsequently, the region was conquered by the ancient Persian state of the Achaemenids, then it was part of the Hellenistic states of the Ptolemies and Seleucids (in the 3rd-2nd centuries BC).

From 395 to 614, Palestine was a province of Byzantium.

In 614, Palestine was conquered by Persia and became part of the Sassanid Empire.

After the victory over Persia in 629, the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius triumphantly entered Jerusalem - Palestine again became a province of the Byzantine Empire.

Period of Arab rule (638-1099)

Around 636, at the very beginning of the Arab conquests, Palestine was conquered from Byzantium by the Muslims.

Over the next six centuries, control of this territory passed from the Umayyads to the Abbasids, to the Crusaders and back again.

The era of Arab rule in Palestine is divided into four periods:

1. conquest and development of the country (638-660);
2. Umayyad dynasty (661-750);
3. Abbasid dynasty (750-969);
4. Fatimid dynasty (969-1099).

Crusader period (1099-1291)

Under Ottoman rule (1516-1917)

In 1517, the territory of Palestine was conquered by the Ottoman Turks under the leadership of Sultan Selim I (1512-1520). For 400 years it remained part of the vast Ottoman Empire, covering large parts of southeastern Europe, all of Asia Minor and the Middle East, Egypt and North Africa.

In early 1799, Napoleon invaded Palestine. The French managed to capture Gaza, Ramla, Lod and Jaffa. The stubborn resistance of the Turks stopped the advance of the French army towards the city of Acre, and the English fleet came to the aid of the Turks. The French general Kleber managed to defeat the Turks at Kafr Kana and Mount Tavor (April 1799). However, due to the lack of heavy artillery, Napoleon was unable to capture the Acre fortress and was forced to retreat to Egypt.

In 1800, the population of Palestine did not exceed 300 thousand, 5 thousand of which were Jews (mainly Sephardim). The majority of the Jewish population was still concentrated in Jerusalem, Safed, Tiberias and Hebron. The Christians, numbering about 25 thousand, were much more dispersed. The main places of concentration of the Christian population - in Jerusalem, Nazareth and Bethlehem - were controlled by the Orthodox and Catholic churches. The rest of the country's population was Muslim, almost all Sunni.

In the period 1800-1831, the country's territory was divided into two provinces (vilayets). The central-eastern mountainous region, stretching from Nablus in the north to Hebron in the south (including Jerusalem), belonged to the Damascus vilayet; Galilee and coastal strip - to the vilayet of Acre. Most of the Negev was outside Ottoman jurisdiction during this period.

In 1832, the territory of Palestine was conquered by Ibrahim Pasha, son and military leader of the Viceroy of Egypt, Muhammad Ali. His residence was located in Damascus. Palestine, whose northern border reached Sidon, became a single province. The Egyptians, who ruled the country for eight years (1832-1840), carried out some reforms along European lines, which caused Arab resistance and uprisings in most cities of the country, which were suppressed by force. During the period of Egyptian rule, extensive research was carried out in the field of biblical geography and archaeology. In 1838, the Egyptian government allowed England to open a consulate in Jerusalem (previously, consulates of European powers existed only in the port cities of Acre, Haifa and Jaffa, as well as in Ramla). After 20 years, all major Western states, including the United States, had consular representations in Jerusalem.

In the 19th century, Jerusalem once again emerged as the most important Jewish center in Eretz Israel. Safed, which competed with Jerusalem for spiritual primacy, suffered greatly as a result of the earthquake (1837), which claimed the lives of about 2 thousand Jews, and fell into decay.

In 1841, Palestine and Syria returned to direct Turkish control. By this time, the Jewish population of Palestine had doubled, while the Christian and Muslim population remained unchanged.

In 1847, the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Pius IX, restored the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

By 1880, the population of Palestine reached 450 thousand people (according to the Turkish census of the settled population, just over 270 thousand people), of which 24 thousand were Jews. The majority of the country's Jews still lived in four cities: Jerusalem (where Jews made up more than half of the total population of 25 thousand), Safed (4 thousand), Tiberias (2.5 thousand) and Hebron (800), as well as Jaffa (1 thousand) and Haifa (300). Jerusalem became the largest city in the country. The flow of aliyah increased after the opening of a steamship service between Odessa and Jaffa.

The first major wave of modern Jewish immigration, known as the First Aliyah (Hebrew: עלייה‏‎), began in 1881, when Jews were forced to flee pogroms in Eastern Europe.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the population was approximately 450 thousand Arabs and 50 thousand Jews.

On March 28, 1917, as the British army (the enemy of the Ottoman Empire in World War I) approached Jaffa, all residents of the city were ordered to leave it; two days later, the same announcement appeared in Tel Aviv. Only fellahim (due to the harvest) and landowners were allowed to remain. The authorities monitored the execution of the order by the Jews much more strictly than the execution of it by the Arabs. On April 1, Jamal Pasha announced that everyone must leave the city within 8 days due to fears that it could be destroyed to the ground. On May 8, Reuters reported that Jamal Pasha threatened the Jews with the fate of the Turkish Armenians.

British Mandate

Territory of the British Mandate of Palestine

Because of the Jaffa riots at the very beginning of the Mandate, Britain restricted Jewish immigration, and part of the territory planned for the Jewish state was given over to form Transjordan, in whose territory Jews were prohibited from settling.

Subsequent events

In 1947, the British government abandoned the Mandate for Palestine, arguing that it was unable to find an acceptable solution for the Arabs and Jews.

Creation of Israel

On May 14, 1948, the formation of the State of Israel was proclaimed in the former territory of Mandatory Palestine.

The next day, seven Arab states (Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Transjordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Yemen) attacked the new country, thus starting the First Arab–Israeli War.

After a year of hostilities, a truce was declared and temporary boundaries were defined, called the “Green Line”. Transjordan annexed what would become known as the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip remained under Egyptian control.

An Arab state was never created in the former mandate territory.

In 1993, after, during the preparation of the decisions of the Oslo Accords, the PLO officially recognized Resolution 242 and the UN Security Council and officially declared its renunciation of the desire to destroy Israel and the methods of terror, Israel recognized the PLO as a negotiating partner. As a result of these negotiations, the Palestinian National Authority was created in 1994.

On November 29, 2012, following a vote in the UN General Assembly (138 votes in favor, 9 against, 41 countries abstained), the Assembly “granted Palestine the status of an observer state with the United Nations that is not a member, without prejudice to the acquired rights, privileges and role of the Palestine Liberation Organization in the United Nations as the representative of the Palestinian people in accordance with relevant resolutions and practice."

The leaders of Israel's leading political parties condemned the content of Mahmoud Abbas's speech at the UN General Assembly, calling it “outrageous and distorting history” (opposition leader Sheli Yachimovich). Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that “the speech, full of slander, only confirms the fact that as long as Abu Mazen is at the head of the Palestinians, he will not bring any progress to his people, but will use them to satisfy his personal interests. Abu Mazen will only bring unnecessary suffering on the Palestinians, delaying the possibility of a peaceful settlement.” The Israeli Prime Minister's Office said that "this is a meaningless step that will not lead to any change."

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that “A Palestinian state will not be created without Palestinian recognition of Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state, it will not be created without Israel receiving guarantees of ending the conflict, and it will not be created without ensuring the complete security of our country.” ".

Israel responded to Palestinian recognition with settlement expansion.

Dispute over the historical right to Palestine

The question of the historical right to Palestine between Palestinian Arabs and Jews is the subject of heated debate.

Other sources believe that, unlike the disappeared Canaanites and Philistines, the Jewish presence in Palestine was never interrupted.

Russian presence in Palestine

Russian Palestine is the collective name for land holdings and real estate that belonged to the Russian Empire and then the USSR in the Middle East in the 19th-20th centuries. The Russian Empire and especially the Russian Orthodox Church managed to make significant acquisitions and even create an entire infrastructure designed to receive pilgrims from Russia and other Orthodox countries. It was sold to Israel by the Soviet Union in the so-called "Orange Deal" in the 1960s.

Negotiations are underway on the return of the Russian Compound to Russia.

Notes

1. Israel. Land of Israel (Eretz Israel). Geographical sketch- article from
2. Instructions for transferring geographical names of Arab countries on maps. - M.: Nauka, 1966. - P. 26.
3. Palestine Definition
4. The non-Semitic people who invaded Canaan were most likely from the island of Crete.
5. Philistines- article from the Electronic Jewish Encyclopedia
6. History of Herodotus Book Second Euterpe (undefined) (unavailable link). Retrieved August 1, 2011. Archived March 8, 2016.
7. Strabo Geography, Book XVI. (p. 755-765 according to Casaubon)
8. Pliny the Elder, Natural History, vol. 5, xiii. 66
9. Diodorus Sicilian "History", book XIX, Ch. 93
10. Bernard Lewis, "The Middle East: A Brief History of the Last 2,000 Years" Scribner | 1995 | ISBN 0-684-80712-2 | 465 pages, p. 31 (English)
11. Netanyahu B. A Place in the Sun, Chapter 4
12. Boris Shustef. Palestinian Sharon // Jewish World, May 24, 2002.
13. The Palestinian Identity (undefined) (unavailable link). Retrieved October 30, 2010. Archived August 9, 2011.
14. Arab Imperialism: The Tragedy of the Middle East, Efraim Karsh (undefined) (unavailable link). Retrieved November 6, 2010. Archived August 7, 2011.
15. The Gaza Strip is preparing for secession - Kommersant, 07/24/2012
16. Abbas submitted an application to the UN for recognition of Palestine // Lenta.Ru, 09.23.2011
17. Rossiyskaya Gazeta, story/section “Palestine and Israel”
18. Palestine was admitted to UNESCO - News. Ru, 10/31/2011
19. The International Criminal Court rejected Palestine's claim against Israel - Lenta.Ru, 04.04.2012
20. The Icelandic Parliament recognized the independence of Palestine - Lenta.Ru, 12/15/2011
21. Thailand recognized the independence of Palestine - Lenta.Ru, 01/20/2012
22. The Chilean government recognized the independence of Palestine - Lenta.Ru, 01/07/2011
23. Declaration of Principles, September 13, 1993 (English)
24. Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area, May 4, 1994 (English)
25. Agreement on Preparatory Transfer of Powers and Responsibilities, August 29, 1994 (English)
26. Israel. Land of Israel (Eretz Israel). Historical sketch- article from the Electronic Jewish Encyclopedia
27. Palestine: History(English) (unavailable link). The Online Encyclopedia of the Roman Provinces. The University of South Dakota (02/22/2007). Retrieved July 5, 2007. Archived June 21, 2000.

The State of Palestine was proclaimed at an extraordinary session of the Palestinian National Council on November 15, 1988 in Algiers.

The State of Palestine is officially recognized by many countries (more than 100) and is part of the League of Arab States. The first Western European country to recognize this state was Iceland in 2011.
Palestine has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation.
The USA, Israel, Spain, Norway, Sweden and other countries do not recognize the State of Palestine and believe that the possibility of its creation should be the result of direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). Israel exercises actual military control over a significant part of Palestine, even in the territory where power officially belongs to the Palestinian National Authority. Large areas of the West Bank, as well as East Jerusalem, are disputed between Israelis and Palestinians.

Why doesn't Israel recognize the State of Palestine?
Let's consider Israel's position on this issue.
Israel believes that the proclaimed state does not have a defined territory, nor does it have a functioning effective government. The Palestinian National Authority (PNA), led by Mahmoud Abbas, controls neither the Gaza Strip, which is under the rule of the radical Hamas movement, nor the West Bank (about 60% of its territory is controlled by Israel).
The Palestinian leadership claims to represent the interests of all Palestinians. But at the same time, it refuses to grant civil rights to Palestinian refugees, including those living in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
A necessary condition for acceptance by the UN is the recognition of international laws, respect for human rights, and the desire for peace. Israel believes that Palestine does not meet any of these conditions. In turn, the leaders of the PNA have repeatedly stated that their goal is to create a state “free of Jews,” which causes rejection by the world community.
Russia supports Palestine's intention to become an observer state at the UN.
Thus, a partially recognized state of Palestine in the Middle East is in the process of being created.

State symbols

Flag- comes from the Arab nationalist flag of World War I during the Arab Revolt of 1916-1918. against the Ottoman Empire. It is a rectangular panel with an aspect ratio of 1:2, consisting of three equal horizontal stripes (from top to bottom): black, white and green, with a red isosceles right triangle at the pole edge.
According to the “Palestinian Mission in Germany”, black is the color of the Abassids, white is the color of the Umayyads, red is the color of the Kharijites, the conquerors of Andalusia and the Hashemites, green is the color of the Fatimids and Islam. All four colors are considered Pan-Arabic colors. The flag was approved in 1916.

Coat of arms– is an image of a silver “Saladin eagle” with black wings, tail and upper part of the head, looking to the right and having a pointed shield on its chest, repeating the design of the flag of Palestine in a vertical position. In its paws the eagle holds a cartouche on which the name of the state is written in Arabic. The coat of arms was approved on January 5, 2013.

State structure

Form of government– democratic parliamentary republic.
Head of State- the president.
Head of the government- Prime Minister.

Capital- Ramallah.
The largest city- Gaza.
Official language– Arabic. Hebrew and English are widely spoken.
Territory– 6020 km².

Palestinian Arabs
Population– 4,394,323 people. The bulk of the population are Palestinian Arabs and Jews (17% of residents of the West Bank and 0.6% of residents of Gaza).
Religion– Muslims predominate (75% in the West Bank, 98.7% in Gaza). Jews practice Judaism. 8% of West Bank residents and 0.7% of Gazans are Christian.
Currency– new Israeli shekel.
Political parties and organizations. Hamas (Islamic Resistance Movement). Formed in 1987. It 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 officially opposes any peace agreement with Israel. In 2004, the new head of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, obtained agreement from the Hamas leadership to a ceasefire with Israel.
In 1964 Ahmed Shukeyri created the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), which led the movement for the creation of an independent Arab Palestinian state, carried out armed actions and political speeches. In 1988, the PLO announced recognition of UN resolutions 1948 and 1967 and, as a result, Israel's right to exist.
Islamic Jihad is a military organization of Islamic fundamentalists formed in the late 1970s under the influence of the Islamic revolution in Iran. Seeks to destroy Israel and expel Jews from Palestine. Uses terrorist methods.
There are other organizations and groups (more than 10).
Armed forces- “police forces”, numbering from 40 to 80 thousand recruits. They are armed with a limited number of military equipment and automatic weapons. There are also armed formations of individual political groups.
Economy– was based mainly on agriculture, Palestinians worked in Israel. After Israel closed its borders, more than half of the country's working population found themselves unemployed in Palestine.
Agriculture: cultivation of olives, citrus fruits and vegetables, production of meat and other food products is developed.
Industry: small family businesses 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.
Export: olives, citrus and other fruits, vegetables, building stone, flowers. Import: food, consumer goods and construction materials.

Education– school education lasts 12 years: from 1st to 10th grade – basic school; Grades 11-12 – high school (specialized education). In addition to public schools, there are UNRWA schools, created at the initiative of UNESCO for refugees in Palestine. Education in these schools is provided only in the scope of a basic school; the students then move on to public schools. Separate schools for boys and girls predominate, but there are also mixed schools. There are universities, colleges, institutes and vocational schools in the country.

Nature

The West Bank of Jordan is mostly a rugged plateau. The lowest point is 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 rivers of Palestine are not navigable. The Jordan River flows from north to south and flows into the salty Dead Sea. It is mentioned many times in the Bible. According to the Old Testament, Joshua led the Jewish people on dry land between the miraculously parted waters of the Jordan, ending the Jews' forty-year wandering in the desert. According to the Gospel, Jesus Christ was baptized in the waters of the river. Christians treat the Jordan as a sacred river; Since the Byzantine era, there has been a belief that the water of the Jordan heals diseases.

The Jordan River at the site of the events described
Small rivers and streams dry up during the dry season. There is a shortage of drinking water in the country.
Climate Mediterranean, it depends on the altitude of the area above sea level. Summer is dry, warm or hot, and a hot, drying khamsin wind often blows from the desert. Winter is mild or cool.
Flora: 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).

Jerusalem (Aleppo) pine
Fauna Palestine is poor. Large mammals are almost exterminated. There are foxes, porcupines, hedgehogs, hares, wild boars, snakes, turtles and lizards. There are about 400 species of birds, including vultures, pelicans, storks, and owls.

Culture

Contemporary literature of Arab Palestine: the outstanding Palestinian poet, laureate of the international literary prize “Lotus” Mahmoud Derwish (cycle of poems “Songs of my little homeland”, poem “Poems in the glare of a shot”), poets Samih al-Kasem, Muin Bsisu.

Writers and poets of the older generation - Abu Salma, Tawfik Zayyad, Emil Habibi. Works of Palestinian writers have been published in Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, and European countries, incl. in Russia.

Ismail Shammout
Fine arts are developing, especially painting and graphics. The most famous Palestinian artists: Ismail Shammut (paintings “The Good Land”, “Women from Palestine”), Tamam al-Akhal, Tau-fik Abdulal, Abded Muty Abu Zeida, Samir Salama (paintings “Palestinian Refugee Camp”, “Peace and War” ", "People's Resistance"). Artist Ibrahim Ghanem has been called the “artist of the Palestinian village.” In his paintings, he shows the usual daily work of fellah peasants, their customs and rituals, colorful costumes and dances, and landscapes of Palestinian villages filled with sunlight. The painter subtly conveys this deep feeling of his native land and the customs of its people in the compositions “Dancing in the Village Square”, “Harvest”, “Rural Landscape”. The life and work of peasants and townspeople are equally sincerely and soulfully shown in the paintings of artists Jumarani al-Husseini (“Olive Harvest Season”), Leila al-Shawwa (“Village Women”), Ibrahim Hazim (“Girls”).

I. Shammut “The female face of Palestine”
Young Palestinian filmmakers have created a number of films: “Chronicle of a Disappearance” and “Divine Intervention” (directed by Ilya Seleiman, 2002), “Invasion” (directed by Nizar Hasan), “Chronicle of a Siege” (directed by Samir Abdulla, working in France), etc. .

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Palestine

Holy Nativity scene (Bethlehem)

Holy Cave of the Nativity

The greatest Christian shrine, a cave in the rock where Jesus Christ was born from the Virgin Mary.
In surviving written sources it was first mentioned around 150. An underground temple has been located here since the time of St. Helena. Belongs to the Jerusalem Orthodox Church.
The birthplace of Christ is marked by a silver star set into the floor and once gilded and adorned with precious stones. The star has 14 rays and symbolizes the Star of Bethlehem, inside the circle there is an inscription in Latin: “Jesus Christ was born here from the Virgin Mary.” Above this star, in a semicircular niche, hang 16 lamps, of which 6 belong to the Orthodox, 6 to the Armenians and 4 to the Catholics. Behind these lamps, in a semicircle on the wall of a niche, are small Orthodox icons.

The silver star below the throne marks the place where Christ was born.

Basilica of the Nativity

Christian church in Bethlehem, built, according to legend, over the birthplace of Jesus Christ. Along with the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, it is one of the two main Christian churches in the Holy Land.
One of the oldest continuously operating churches in the world. The first temple over the Cave of the Nativity was built in the 330s at the direction of Emperor Constantine the Great.

Since then, services here have been virtually uninterrupted. Modern basilica VI-VII centuries. - This is the only Christian temple in Palestine that has survived intact from the pre-Muslim period.

Other attractions of Palestine

There are many places in Palestine associated with Christianity.

Church of the Holy Sepulcher

The temple stands on the spot where, according to Holy Scripture, Jesus Christ was crucified, buried, and then resurrected. The ceremony of the descent of the Holy Fire is held annually in the temple. The main rights of ownership and use of the shrines of the Temple belong to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the complex of administrative buildings of which is directly adjacent to the southwestern side of the Temple.
In addition to the Holy Sepulcher, the temple complex included the supposed site of Golgotha ​​and the site of the discovery of the Life-Giving Cross.

Jericho

Modern Jericho
A city in Palestine, in the West Bank. It is the capital of the province of Jericho. Located in the north of the Judean Desert, approximately 7 km west of the Jordan River.
One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, it is mentioned many times in the Bible.
To the west of Jericho rises the Forty Days Mountain (Mount of Temptation, Mount Quarantal), where Jesus Christ fasted for forty days, tempted by the devil. Now the Orthodox Monastery of Temptation is located on this site.

Monastery of Temptation

In Jericho, according to local legend, the tree of Zacchaeus has been preserved. The fig tree mentioned in the Gospel is located on land owned by the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society.

The ancient city of Hebron and its surroundings

Hebron is one of the oldest cities in the world, located in the historical region of Judea, and is revered in Judaism as the second holiest city after Jerusalem. The most famous historical site in Hebron is the Cave of the Patriarchs (Cave of Machpelah), which is a holy site for Jews, Christians and Muslims. Literally translated from Hebrew, the name sounds like “Double Cave.” According to the Bible, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, as well as their wives Sarah, Rebekah and Leah, are buried in the crypt. According to Jewish tradition, the bodies of Adam and Eve are also buried here.
In Judaism, the cave is revered as the second holiest place (after the Temple Mount), and is also revered by Christians and Muslims.

Mount Gerizim

Together with Mount Ebal, Gerizim was appointed by Moses for the annual reading of the Law at the national assembly, and here the six tribes of Israel: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Benjamin were to pronounce a blessing on the performers of the Law. Here, by order of Moses, the Israelites built an altar of solid stones, on which the 10 commandments of the Lord were carved.

Qumran

This is an area in the West Bank. The settlement was destroyed by the Romans in 68 AD. or soon after. The settlement, like the entire area, became known thanks to the cache of scrolls located not far from it in the caves of the steep cliffs and below, in the marl ledges. From its discovery in 1947 until 1956, approximately 900 scrolls were found, mostly written on parchment, but also on papyrus. Extensive excavations were carried out. Vessels, Jewish ritual baths and cemeteries were found.
Some scientists believe that a community of the Jewish sect of the Essenes was located here, others suggest the existence of non-religious communities here.

Qumran Manuscripts (Dead Sea Scrolls)

Currently, all the Qumran scrolls have been published. They are kept in the Temple of the Book in Jerusalem. But there is an opinion that not all of the Dead Sea Scrolls have fallen into the hands of scientists. Of particular interest is the connection between the Qumran manuscripts and early Christianity: it turned out that the Dead Sea Scrolls, created several decades before the birth of Christ, contain many Christian ideas.

City of Nablus (in antiquity Flavia Neapolis)

Modern Nablus
The city has been known since biblical times. In 400 BC. e. it became a cultural center and holy city for the Samaritans. Captured by the Romans at the beginning of our era and renamed by them in honor of the Emperor Vespasian as Flavius ​​Neapolis, this name was corrupted in Arabic as Nablus. The city preserves the ruins of an ancient Hyksos temple. The Church of St. Anne and the Sidonian Tombs are interesting.
The city is currently home to about 130,000 people, mostly Palestinians. Most believers are Muslims. About 350 Samaritans live in a separate area on Mount Gerizim.

Story

Ancient history

The first people on the territory of Palestine were erectuses (they lived on the banks of the Jordan River back in 750 thousand BC and already knew how to make fire). During the Middle Paleolithic, Neanderthals lived here. About 9 thousand years ago Jericho was built here.

Canaan (Phenicia)

In biblical times it was a country stretching west from the northwestern bend of the Euphrates and from the Jordan to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Currently divided between Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Jordan.
Originated in the 4th millennium BC. The Canaanite period lasts 2 thousand years before the invasion of proto-Jewish tribes. According to the Bible, the Hebrew tribes led by Joshua invaded the territory of Canaan from the east, and Jericho became their first victim. They captured most of the territory of Canaan; the Philistines (Palestinians) were able to overpower them only during the reign of kings David and Solomon.

Roman and Byzantine periods

The Roman period begins in 66 BC. e., when Pompey annexed Palestine, among other territories of the Eastern Mediterranean. Initially, the local Jewish elite welcomed the new rulers, believing that the distant Romans would not interfere in the internal affairs of their country. However, the Romans soon brought to power the more loyal Idumean dynasty, whose most famous representative was King Herod the Great.
In 395, Palestine became a province of Byzantium. By this time, a strong Christian community had formed among the local population, known as the Jerusalem Orthodox Church. Then, in 614, Palestine was annexed to Persia, the churches were destroyed, and the Life-Giving Cross was taken to Iran. After the victory over Persia in 629, Palestine again became a province of Byzantium.

Arab period

It lasted from 634. In the 10th century. control over Palestine passes to the Egyptian Tulunid dynasty, which is replaced by the Seljuk Turks, and from 1098 again by the Egyptian Fatimids.

Crusaders

In 1099, European crusaders stormed Jerusalem and the Kingdom of Jerusalem was established. The kingdom's power also extended to Lebanon and coastal Syria. During this period, numerous castles were built in Palestine in Gaza, Jaffa, Acre, Arsur, Safed and Caesarea). The kingdom fell in 1291.

Ottoman Empire

In 1517, the territory of Palestine was conquered by the Ottoman Turks under the leadership of Sultan Selim I. For 400 years it remained part of the vast Ottoman Empire, covering much of southeastern Europe, all of Asia Minor and the Middle East, Egypt and North Africa.
Christians and Jews, according to Muslim law, had the status of "dhimmi" (enjoyed relative civil and religious freedom, but did not have the right to bear arms, serve in the army or ride horses and were required to pay special taxes. During this period, the Jews of Palestine lived mainly at the expense of charitable proceeds from abroad.
In 1800, the population of Palestine did not exceed 300 thousand. The main places of concentration of the Christian population - in Jerusalem, Nazareth and Bethlehem - were controlled by the Orthodox and Catholic churches. Jews were mainly concentrated in Jerusalem, Safed, Tiberias and Hebron. The rest of the country's population was Muslim, almost all Sunni.

Zionism

There has always been a strong desire among the Jews to return to Zion and Palestine. Since the 12th century. the persecution of Jews by the Christian Church led to their influx into the Holy Land. In 1492, this flow was replenished with Jews expelled from Spain, they founded the Jewish community of Safed.
The first major wave of modern Jewish immigration, known as the First Aliyah, began in 1881.

The founder of political Zionism (a movement that aimed to establish a Jewish state on the land of Israel, raising the Jewish question in the international arena) is considered to be Theodor Herzl, a journalist, writer, and doctor of jurisprudence.

British Mandate

The second aliyah (1904-1914) began after the Kishinev pogrom. About 40 thousand Jews settled in Palestine.
During World War I, the Jewish Legion was formed and assisted British troops in the conquest of Palestine. In November 1917, a document was created declaring that Britain "looks positively at the founding in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people."
1919-1923 – Third Aliyah: 40 thousand Jews arrived in Palestine, mostly from Eastern Europe. The economy began to develop. Arab resistance led in 1920 to the Palestinian riots and the formation of a new Jewish military organization, the Haganah.
In 1922, the League of Nations awarded Great Britain a Mandate for Palestine, explaining the need to “establish in the country political, administrative and economic conditions for the safe formation of a Jewish national home.” At that time, the country was inhabited mainly by Muslim Arabs, but the largest city, Jerusalem, was predominantly Jewish.
In 1924-1929. - Fourth Aliyah. 82 thousand Jews came to Palestine, mainly as a result of a surge in anti-Semitism in Poland and Hungary. The rise of Nazi ideology in the 1930s. in Germany led to the Fifth Aliyah, a quarter of a million Jews fled from Hitler. This influx ended with the Arab Revolt of 1936-1939. and the British publication of the White Paper in 1939, which effectively stopped Jewish immigration to Palestine. Countries around the world refused to accept Jews fleeing the Holocaust. Together with Britain's ban on resettlement in Palestine, this effectively meant death for millions. To circumvent the ban on immigration to Palestine, a secret organization, Mossad Le-Aliyah Bet, was created, which helped Jews illegally reach Palestine and escape death.
At the end of World War II, the Jewish population of Palestine was 33%, up from 11% in 1922.

After the creation of Israel

At the end of 1947, according to a UN decision, British Palestine was divided into Arab and Jewish parts, with special status being granted to the Jerusalem area under UN administration. But the Arabs did not agree with the creation of the State of Israel on the territory that they considered theirs. A protracted Arab-Israeli conflict began.
As a result of the first Arab-Israeli war, the territory of Palestine was divided between Israel, Egypt and Transjordan.

Arab activists almost immediately turned to terrorist attacks against Israel. The Arabs were supported by international organizations and countries of the socialist camp. In 1967, as a result of the Six Day War, most of British Palestine came under Israeli control.
In 1994, the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) was created, led by Yasser Arafat. The capital of the PNA became the city of Ramallah.

Yitzhak Rabin, Bill Clinton and Yasser Arafat at the signing of the Oslo Accords, September 13, 1993, Washington
In 2005, Israel, as part of its Unilateral Disengagement Plan, evacuated all Jewish settlements and withdrew its troops from the Gaza Strip.
The State of Palestine is officially recognized by 134 member states of the UN and is part of the League of Arab States, but does not have the status of a full member of the UN, since it is not recognized by the three permanent member states of the UN Security Council: the USA, Great Britain and France, as well as most countries of the European Union, Japan and some others.

Once a beautiful area with clean, intact homes and infrastructure, the Palestinian territory is now a dilapidated disaster zone. The ongoing war for the right to own their ancestral lands is taking away the opportunity for the population to take a break and restore their economic activity.

The story of a small but very proud state is still sad, but Palestinians are full of hope for a bright future. They believe that one day Allah will remove all infidels from their path and give peace and freedom to the Palestinian people.

Where is Palestine?

The territory of Palestine is located in the Middle East. The geographical map includes in this territory the Asian countries of the southwestern part: Qatar, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and others. Among them there are surprising differences in the state system: some states are distinguished by republican rule, others by monarchical rule.

Historians have proven that the territories of the Middle East are the ancestral home of ancient civilizations that disappeared many millions of years ago. Three famous world religions appeared here - Islam, Judaism and Christianity. The terrain mainly consists of sandy deserts or impassable mountains. For the most part, there is no agriculture here. However, many countries rose to the peak of their modern development thanks to oil fields.

A darkening factor for the residents is territorial disputes, due to which a huge number of civilians are dying. Since the emergence of a Jewish state was an unexpected factor, almost all countries of the second point abandoned diplomatic relations with Israel. And military conflicts between Israelis and Palestinians have continued from 1947 to the present day.

Initially, the location of Palestine occupied the entire area, ranging from the waters of the Jordan to the Mediterranean shores. In the middle of the last century, the Palestinian disposition changed after the creation of the famous state of Israel.

Which city is Jerusalem status

The history of the ancient city of Jerusalem goes back to ancient times BC. Modern realities do not leave the sacred land alone. The division of the city began immediately after the establishment of the borders between Israel and the Arab state in 1947, after many years of British claims. However, Jerusalem was endowed with a special international status; all military garrisons were to be withdrawn from it; accordingly, life was supposed to be exclusively peaceful. But, as often happens, everything did not go according to plan. Despite the instructions of the UN, in 48-49 of the twentieth century there was a military conflict between Arabs and Israelis to establish power over Jerusalem. As a result, the city was divided into parts between the Jordanian state, which was given the eastern part, and the Israeli state, which received the western territories of the ancient city.

The famous Six-Day War of 67 of the 20th century was won by Israel, and Jerusalem completely became part of it. But the UN Security Council did not agree with this policy and ordered Israel to withdraw its troops from Jerusalem, recalling the decree of 1947. However, Israel ignored all the demands and refused to demilitarize the city. And already on May 6, 2004, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the full right of Palestine to occupy the eastern part of Jerusalem. Then military conflicts began with renewed vigor.

Now Palestine has a temporary capital - Ramallah, located thirteen kilometers from Israel, in the center of the western banks of the Jordan River. The city was recognized as the capital of Palestine in 1993. In the 1400s BC, the settlement of Rama was located on the site of the city. This was the era of the Judges, and the place was the sacred Mecca for Israel. The modern boundaries of the city were formed in the mid-16th century. Wars were also fought over this city, and at the beginning of the second millennium AD the city was finally transferred to the state of Palestine. The burial place of Yasser Arafat, who passed away in 2004, is located in Ramallah. The population is twenty-seven and a half thousand people, exclusively Arabs live here, some of whom profess Islam, and some of whom are Christians.

President of the country

The President of Palestine is the same chairman of the Palestinian National Authority. As in many presidential countries, he is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The President has the right to appoint and remove the Prime Minister, and is also personally involved in approving the composition of the government. The President can revoke the powers of the head of the board at any time. He has the power to dissolve parliament and call early elections. The Palestinian President is the determining element in matters of foreign and domestic policy.

Historical information includes the fact that by UN decree, Palestine was prohibited from representing its head as the President of Palestine, despite the fact that the state of Palestine was officially created in 1988. The penultimate chairman, Yasser Arafat, did not use the word president to designate his position. But the real chairman of the Palestinian Authority in 2013 issued a decree officially replacing the position with a presidential one. True, many countries around the world have not recognized this change.

The name of the President, who has ruled for four years, is Abu Mazen. The Palestinian president's term of office cannot exceed five years and can only be re-elected consecutively once. Yasser Arafat, his predecessor, died while in office.

Where are the borders of Palestine? Geography of the country

Officially, only 136 UN member countries out of 193 have recognized Palestine as a state. The historical territory of Palestine is divided into four parts, which consist of the lands of the coastal plain to the Mediterranean territories of Galilee - the northern part, Samaria - the central part, located on the northern side of Holy Jerusalem and Judea - the southern part that includes Jerusalem itself. Such boundaries were established according to biblical scriptures. However, at the moment, the Palestinian area is divided into only two parts: the bank of the Jordan, the river in Palestine (its western part) and the Gaza Strip.

Let's consider the first component of the Arab state. stretched for only 6 thousand kilometers, and the total length of the border is four hundred kilometers. In summer it is quite hot here, but in winter the climatic conditions are mild. The lowest point of the area is the Dead Sea with its 400 meters below sea level. With the help of irrigation, local residents adapted to using the land for agricultural needs.

The West Bank is a predominantly flat area. Palestine as a whole has a very small amount of territorial land - 6220 square kilometers. The main part of the western plain is covered with small hills and desert, and there is no sea traffic. And forest space is only one percent. Accordingly, the border between Palestine and Jordan runs here.

The next part of the country is the Gaza Strip, with a border length of sixty-two kilometers. The area consists of hills and sand dunes, the climate is dry and the summers are very hot. Gaza is almost entirely dependent on drinking water from the Wadi Gaza spring, from which Israel also receives its water. The Gaza Strip borders Israel and is connected to all vital communications that the Jewish state has established. In the west, Gaza is washed by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea, and in the south it borders on Egypt.

Residents

Considering that the area of ​​Palestine is quite small, the population in Palestine is only about five million. The exact data for 2017 is 4 million 990 thousand 882 people. If we recall the mid-twentieth century, the population growth over half a century was almost 4 million. Compared to 1951, when the country consisted of 900 thousand people. The number of male and female populations is almost the same, the birth rate exceeds the death rate, perhaps this is also due to a slight decrease in military operations in the form of bombing populated areas. Migration is also popular, with almost ten thousand people fleeing Palestine this year. The average life expectancy for men is only 4 years less than for women and is 72 years and 76 years, respectively.

Since, by UN decree, the eastern part of Jerusalem belongs to Palestine, the population is almost entirely Israeli, as is the west of the city. The Gaza Strip is inhabited mainly by Arabs who profess Sunni Islam, but among them there are also a couple of thousand Arabs with a Christian cross on their necks. In general, Gaza is mainly settlements of refugees who fled Israeli soil 60 years ago. Today, hereditary refugees live in Gaza.

Approximately four million former Palestinian residents live in refugee status. They settled in the territories of Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt and other states of the Middle East. The official language of Palestine is Arabic, but knowledge of Hebrew, English and French is common.

History of origin

The historical name of the state of Palestine comes from Philistia. The population of Palestine at that time was also called the Philistines, which literally translated from Hebrew means “invaders.” The place of settlement of the Philistines was the modern part of the Mediterranean coast of Israel. The second millennium BC was marked by the appearance of Jews in these territories, who nicknamed the area Canaan. In the Jewish Bible, Palestine is referred to as the Land of the Children of Israel. Starting from the time of Herodotus, other Greek philosophers and scientists began to call Palestine Syria Palestine.

In all history textbooks, the state of Palestine traces its origins to the colonization of the area by the Canaanite tribes. In the early period before the coming of Christ, the area was captured by different peoples: Egyptians, invaders from the shores of Crete, and so on. 930 BC divided the country into two different states - the kingdom of Israel and the kingdom of Judah.

The population of Palestine suffered from the aggressive actions of the ancient Persian state of the Achaemenids; it was annexed by various states of the Hellenistic period, and in 395 it was part of Byzantium. However, the revolt against the Romans brought exile to the Jewish people.

Since 636, Palestine came under Arab control, and for six centuries, like a ball, it rolled from the hands of the Arab conquerors into the hands of the crusaders. Since the 13th century, Palestine has been part of the Kingdom of Egypt, and it was ruled by the Mamluks until the arrival of the Ottomans.

The beginning of the 16th century falls on the reign of Selim the First, who increases his territories with the help of the sword. For 400 years, the population of Palestine was subject to the Ottoman Empire. Of course, over the years, successive European military expeditions, for example, Napoleon, tried to take possession of the territory. Meanwhile, the fleeing Jews returned to Jerusalem. Together with Nazareth and Bethlehem, leadership was carried out on behalf of Orthodox and Catholic church leaders. But beyond the borders of the holy cities, the overwhelming majority of the population was still Sunni Arabs.

Forced settlement of Palestine by Jews

In the 19th century, Ibrahim Pasha came to the country, he conquered the lands and founded his residence in During the eight years of his reign, the Egyptians managed to carry out a reform movement according to the models presented to them by Europe. Natural resistance on the part of the Muslim people was not long in coming, but they suppressed it with bloody military force. Despite this, during the period of Egyptian occupation, extensive excavations and research were carried out in the territories of Palestine. Scientists have tried to find evidence for the biblical writings. Towards the middle of the 19th century, a British consulate was established in Jerusalem.

At the end of the 19th century, Jewish people poured into Palestine at breakneck speed, mostly followers of Zionism. A new stage in the history of the state of Palestine has begun. At the beginning of the last century, the Arab population was 450 thousand, and the Jewish population was 50 thousand.

After the First World War, London establishes its mandate over the territories of Palestine and modern Jordan. The British authorities pledged to create a large national Jewish diaspora in Palestine. In this regard, in the 20s, the Transjordanian state was formed, where Jews from Eastern Europe began to move, and their number grew to 90 thousand. In order for everyone to find something to do, they specially drained the swamps of the Israel Valley and prepared the land for agricultural activities.

After the sad events in Germany and other European countries, Hitler’s rise to power, some Jews managed to leave for Jerusalem, but the rest were subjected to brutal repression, the consequences of which the whole world knows and mourns. After the end of World War II, Jews made up thirty percent of the total population of Palestine.

The creation of Israel was a blow to the Palestinian territories and the state as a whole. The United Nations, by its right, decided to allocate a certain piece of the Kingdom of Palestine for the Jews and give it to them to create a separate Jewish state. From this moment on, serious military conflicts begin between the Arab and Jewish people, each fighting for their ancestral lands, for their truth. At the moment, the situation has still not been resolved and the confrontation with the Palestinian army continues.

By the way, the Soviet Union also had its part in the Arab lands, which were called Russian Palestine and were acquired during the time of the Russian Empire. On the lands there were special real estate objects that were intended for Russian pilgrims and Orthodox people from other countries. True, later in the 60s these lands were resold to Israel.

The President and the Palestinian lands are protected by the Palestine Liberation Army. In fact, it is a separate military organization that had its head office in Syria and is supported by Syrian Islamists, therefore, according to some Russian and Israeli sources, the AOP is a terrorist group. It took part in almost all military operations against Palestine and its leaders condemn all military activities against Syria and the Syrian people by Western countries.

Country culture

The culture of Palestine in its modern form represents the works and works of local art. Palestine is gradually developing cinema; taking into account world examples, the dynamics can be seen at a good level.

In general, the art of Palestine is closely connected with Jewish art, because these two peoples lived side by side for hundreds of years. Despite political strife, literature and painting are based on traditional Jewish culture, and almost nothing remains of the Arab past. More than seventy percent of the population are Sunni Muslims, that is, Islam is the traditional religion of the state, which coexists with minorities in the form of Christians and Jews.

The same goes for customs and traditions. There is practically nothing from the Arabs in Palestine: for many centuries, the Palestinians absorbed Jewish traditions both in the song style and in the dance steps. The design of the houses and interior decoration are also almost identical to the Jewish ones.

The present state of Palestine

Today, the largest cities in Palestine can be called Jerusalem (taking into account its Eastern part, given to Palestine by decree of the UN), Ramallah (the capital city), Jenin and Nablus. By the way, the only airport was located in the temporary capital area, but was closed in 2001.

Modern Palestine looks depressing from the outside; crossing the famous wall, which is a military fence between the two countries, you find yourself in a world of complete destruction and “dead” silence. Half-destroyed houses from bombing border on newly rebuilt ones. Many Palestinians, left homeless, live the life of refugees and equip stone caves for rooms. They build masonry walls in the form of walls to enclose the family territory. Despite advanced development in various areas, poverty prevails over the number of jobs. Having traveled a little deeper through the country, we find ourselves in the last century, where there is no electricity or it is supplied at certain times. Many people burn fires to keep warm right on the floor of the former entrances of now destroyed houses. Some never left their dilapidated home; they continue to make internal frames for stability, because there is simply no opportunity for major repairs - financial support does not allow them to spend so much money on expensive restoration.

At the border of two warring states, a thorough check of documents is underway. If the bus is a tourist bus, then the police may not throw everyone out onto the street, but simply walk around the cabin and check their passports. The thing is that Israelis are prohibited from entering Palestinian territory, in particular, zone A. Everywhere on the roads there are indications of zones and warning signs that it is hazardous to health for an Israeli to be in this place. But who will go there? But many Palestinians, on the contrary, have Israeli IDs and, accordingly, dual citizenship (if we take Palestine as a separate, isolated state).

The local currency is the Israeli shekel. Which is convenient for tourists who suddenly find themselves from the western part of Jerusalem to the eastern. The central parts of the temporary capital and large cities look more modern and even have their own nightlife. According to tourists, people here are hospitable and always try to help, but there are scammer taxi drivers and street guides. Despite the close connection with Israeli culture, Muslim shrines are highly revered by local Arab residents, so you need to dress accordingly for a trip to Palestine.

In recent years, another problem between Palestinians and Israelis has been the construction of Israeli settlements in the west of the Jordan River and East Jerusalem. Officially, such settlements are prohibited and illegal. Some Arab families have lost their private lands, which, however, they promise to return in monetary terms.

But there are also Jewish houses facing demolition on the west bank of the Jordan River; the resettlement of such people has been delayed for ten years, due to the reluctance of the Jews themselves to leave their territories. They build barricades and organize rallies. The Palestinians are fierce opponents of any presence of a Jewish commune on the lands of their state. Thus, the conflict drags on for even more years, because Israel categorically refuses to listen to the instructions of the UN, and the idea of ​​​​creating two separate states is gradually becoming utopian.

Jordan River

There are only three rivers in the Palestinian state: Jordan, Kishon, Lachish. Of course, the most interesting is the Jordan River. And not by his attitude towards Palestine or Israel, but from a spiritual point of view. It was here that Christ was baptized, after which he was proclaimed the prophet Jesus, and it is here that pilgrims come to bathe, and many to accept the faith of Christianity. In ancient times, pilgrims took with them clothes completely soaked in the waters of the Jordan, and shipbuilders scooped up sacred waters with buckets for storage on the ship. Such rituals were believed to bring good luck and happiness.

- 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 appeal to international authorities operating under the auspices of the UN and to file claims at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

Climate and weather

The climate in Palestine is subtropical. Due to the dispersion of the state's territory and topography, 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 the highest point is Mt. 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, the Palestinian Authority is finding it difficult 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 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 of international tourism. There are few places left in Palestine for comfortable accommodation for tourists. The hotels are located in large cities and are designed 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 a beach holiday. But, unfortunately, constant military conflicts do not allow us to create the infrastructure necessary for a comfortable holiday. 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. In ancient Roman times 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 large stores, including shopping center 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 is not subject to 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 better call quality and competitive rates, which is why 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 in the evening 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 has always brought considerable income. But numerous roadblocks and various restrictions significantly slow down trade relations. Often the goods simply deteriorate in transit.

In addition, the country has a high unemployment rate. 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, and sports equipment are exempt from declaration upon entry. 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