Palestinian Territories

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The Palestinian Territories include parts of the West Bank (of the Jordan River) and the Gaza Strip. With significant parts of the Territories under Israeli occupation since 1967, their Final Status is still in dispute and remains the subject of ongoing and future negotiation. The Palestinian National Authority (PNA or PA) is the semi-autonomous state institution (created in agreement with Israel and the United Nations) nominally governing the bulk of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip (which it calls "the Palestinian Territories"). The stated outcome of negotiations and Final Status talks is currently regarded as the eventual creation of a new, sovereign state - to be called simply Palestine.

Table of contents
	palestinian territories Travel Guide : 1 Understand 1.1 General 1.2 History 2 Cities 2.1 Gaza Strip 2.2 West Bank 3 Stay Safe

Understand

Palestinian National Authority (http://www.pna.gov.ps/) - official web site

General

The Palestinian Territories, in a wider sense and together with Israel, are considered the Holy Land for three of the world's major religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Many sites of religious and archeological significance from the so-called Biblical periods are to be found within the current boundaries of the Palestinian National Authority, most notably Bethlehem, Hebron, Nablus and Jericho. The ownership of parts of Jerusalem, of course, although claimed by the Palestinian National Authority, remain disputed, with Israel claiming the city as its undivided national capital.

History

The current Palestinian Territories are a sub-division of pre-1948, British Mandatory Palestine. United Nations-projected Arab-held areas of the former Mandate were greatly reduced after the 1948-1949 Israel War of Independence, when the embryonic state of Israel was first attacked by its Arab neighbours, then successfully defeated their armies, leading to a re-drawing of the internationally-recognised borders. Of course, these hostilities were accompanied by much bloodshed and displacement on both sides, much of the focus being on Palestinian refugees who fled in large numbers to neighbouring Arab countries, to Gaza and to the West Bank. Palestinian autonomy was subsequently further reduced with the illegal annexation of the West Bank by Jordan in 1950 and Egypt's continuing hold on the Gaza Strip.

Cities

Gaza Strip

• Gaza City
• Rafah
• Khan Younis
• Beit Hanoun
• Beit Lahya
• Deir al-Balah

West Bank

• Bethlehem
• Hebron
• Jenin
• Jericho
• Nablus
• East Jerusalem
• Qalqilya
• Ramallah
• Al-Bireh
• Tulqarm

Stay Safe

Because of ongoing conflict in this area of the world, travellers should take notice of travel advisories issued by various embassies before undertaking travel here. Security concerns result in travel between Israel and the Palestinian Territories being tightly controlled on occasions. Travellers should ensure that their travel documentation is entirely in order and should monitor local news channels in case the security situation changes suddenly.

Women should wear a veil if in Gaza when out and about, while not wearing a veil on the West Bank is generally okay.

A few hints for a successful trip:

These are not PR, but they will keep you alive, so follow them!

1) Do not argue with local cab drivers, waiters, etc. You do not want to make trouble and "be seen." While the Palestinian Authority claims control, in reality, West Bank and Gaza are almost like the wild west.

2) Unless you are there on a solidarity mission and are pro-Palestinian, do NOT engage in political conversation! Even if you are on a solidarity mission, try not to draw attention; you never know exactly who you are talking to. Westerners are kidnapped, even if there for solidarity - parents of Rachel Corrie (pro-Palestinian activist run over by an Israeli bulldozer) were almost kidnapped during a visit to Gaza.

3) Needless to say, if you are Jewish, don't reveal it. Best thing to do is to stay away all-together. Seriously. Even Jewish members of the Palestinian Solidarity Movement have been known to be beaten.

4) Expect to hear gunfire at night. This is not necessarily fighting, but Palestinian factions tend to fire their weapons in the evening and at night for celebrations, noticeability, etc.

5) ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS bring a COPY of your passport along with your original copy and hide the copy in your hotel room.

6) Women must always be accompanied by men - this is not a religious issue, but there have been instances of assaults on lone women.

7) Show respect at places of worship - take off your shoes. Women shouldn't come into a mosque without a veil.

8) Consider hiring a local tour guide/translator who will also keep you out of trouble.

9) Beware of local water, including ice cubes - bottled is the way to go.

10)Common sense goes a long way.

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