Palestine is a de jure sovereign state in Central Asia. With rich culture and traditions but a disputed history, Palestine has been arousing curious minds since years. Here are some quick facts!
Sucheta Pradhan
Officially recognized as the State of Palestine by only 138 UN members, it hasn’t yet received recognition as an independent country. Till date, all efforts to create an independent state have failed due to continuous conflict with Israel.
It claims West Bank, bordering Jordan and Israel, and Gaza Strip, bordering Israel and Egypt, to be its legitimate territory.
The designated capital of Palestine is Jerusalem, but its main administrative center is currently in Ramallah.
Palestine’s current population is 5.5 million, with the majority residing in West Bank. The Gaza Strip is a highly disputed territory with a huge military presence.
Earth’s lowest natural point of elevation, the Dead Sea, is in Palestine. The Dead Sea’s salinity unusually high; it is 8.6 times saltier than the ocean.
Tourism is one of the major industries in Palestine. Apart from that, quarrying and the building stone industry, cement production, olive-wood carvings, and olive-related industries are other dominant sectors.
Olive is the main crop of Palestine. Olives are grown on almost 45% of Palestinian land.
In Palestine, Christmas is celebrated thrice in a year – on December 25th as per western tradition, on January 6th as per Greek Orthodox tradition, and on January 18th as per Armenian tradition.
Believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, the Church of Nativity is in Bethlehem in Palestine’s West Bank region. It is one of the oldest churches in the world.
Some of the most beautiful wildflowers in the world are found in Palestine. If you’re visiting during April and May, you’ll encounter several colorful flower species – a real treat to your eyes!
While the world is waiting for release of 5G technology, 3G technology is not yet widely available in Palestine. This regulation was imposed when Israeli authorities raised security concerns in international forums.
Owing to security threats from neighboring Israel, Palestinians are not allowed to travel freely even between their own cities. There are check posts everywhere, where people must show IDs to be able to move freely for work or pleasure.