You may be asking: Where is Palestine? What countries are neighbors to Palestine? Where is Palestine located in the Middle East? What and where are the West Bank and Gaza?
Where Palestine is located
Palestine is an Arab country in Asia on the eastern Mediterranean coast, which is known also as the Levant. It borders with Jordan to the east, Lebanon to the north, and the Red Sea and Sinai, Egypt, to the south. To the west of Palestine, the Mediterranean Sea acts as a bridge connecting Africa, Asia, and Europe.
| The area of historical Palestine | Is about 27,000 km2 |
| The area of the Gaza Strip | About 1.3% of the area of Palestine, (360 square kilometers) |
| Size of the West Bank | Has a land area of 5,640 km2 |
| Number of Governorates and Cities of Palestine | 11 Governorates in the West Bank 5 Governorates in the Gaza Strip |
| The largest Governorate in the West Bank | Hebron |
| Population of Palestine | 13 Million Palestinians |
Palestine as a Crucial Part of the Middle East
Palestine is located in the heart of the Middle East, and this strategic position is what makes Palestine a path and crossroads to the West for many travelers. Furthermore, it also serves as a commercial interface for traders where goods reach Palestine first and from there proceed on to Europe.
Palestine has a strategic location
Palestine has occupied an important and strategic position throughout history. Its location has been ideal for the defense of invaders’ areas in Egypt and Levant countries (Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Jordan now) where it acted as a convenient location for battles necessary for defending a state’s interests from possible threats.
What is the size of Palestine?
The area of historical Palestine (from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea) is about 27,000 square kilometers, with the West Bank and Gaza comprising about 6,220 square kilometers today.
The area of the West Bank comprises approximately 21% of the historical area of Palestine, or about 5,860 square kilometers, including the mountains of Nablus and the Jerusalem hills, the eastern part of Jerusalem, the Hebron Mountains, and the western Jordan Valley.Â
Gaza Strip’s area constitutes about 1.3% of the area of Palestine, and is approximately 360 square kilometers. The area is primarily populated by refugees who have restrictions on leaving, which is a contributing factor in making it one of the most densely populated regions in the world.
Division Is Still Present In Palestine
Palestine is divided into two areas: the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) and the Gaza Strip. Imagine the West Bank as an island bordering Jordan in the east. Gaza is a thin strip of land bordered by the Mediterranean on its west and Egypt to the south and west.
Number of governorates and cities of Palestine
Palestine has 16 governorates divided into 11 governorates in the West Bank, where Jenin is located in the far north and Hebron city in the far south, and 5 governorates in the Gaza Strip. (In English-speaking countries, governorates are called states or provinces.)
The governorates of Palestine are Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Hebron, Ramallah, Beira, Nablus, Salfit, Qalqiliya, Tulkarem, Tubas, Jenin, Jericho, the Jordan Valley, the northern Gaza Strip, Gaza, the central Gaza Strip, Khan Younis, and Rafah.
Palestine was under the Jordanian administration
For nearly 20 years, from 1948 until 1967, the West Bank fell under Jordanian administration and authority. During this same period, Gaza fell under the authority and administration of Egypt. In 1967 the Jordanian and Egyptian administrations ended after the Six Day War in 1967, giving way to Israeli occupation and authority in these areas.
Final remarks
We hope this has given you a better idea of the geography and background of Palestine. Our program Travel to Palestine is in a centrally located position in Hebron, making it an excellent point to begin your exploration of Palestine.Â
Travel to Palestine staff will do everything they can to answer your questions and advise you regarding travel plans. We hope that you will enjoy discovering different places, and landscapes and experiencing a taste of Palestine.
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