Palestine

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Palestine is a geographic region in Western Asia, situated between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and is traditionally recognized as comprising the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. The area is home to the Palestinian people, an Arab population that traces its heritage back centuries. Today, Palestine refers primarily to the State of Palestine, which has been recognized by the United Nations and over 130 UN member states, although it remains a subject of international dispute.

The region has a long and complex history, having been controlled by various powers over the centuries, including the Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and the Ottomans. After World War I, Palestine came under British administration under the terms of the League of Nations Mandate for Palestine. The conflict between Jewish and Arab populations escalated in the early 20th century, particularly after the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, leading to the first Arab-Israeli war.

Following the 1948 war, the West Bank was occupied by Jordan, and the Gaza Strip by Egypt. Israel captured both territories, along with East Jerusalem, during the 1967 Six-Day War, and they have remained under varying degrees of Israeli control since. The Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), founded in 1964, became the principal representative body of the Palestinian people and sought to establish an independent state. The Oslo Accords, signed in the 1990s, led to the creation of the Palestinian Authority, an interim self-government body that administers parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Despite these developments, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict persists, with ongoing disputes over borders, the status of Jerusalem, security concerns, and the right of return for Palestinian refugees. The Gaza Strip has been governed by the political and militant group Hamas since 2007, while the West Bank is largely under the control of the Palestinian Authority, led by President Mahmoud Abbas.

Palestine's economy has faced significant challenges due to political instability, restricted movement, and limited access to resources. The region is heavily reliant on international aid, and unemployment rates, particularly in Gaza, are among the highest in the world.

The Palestinian territories are recognized by the United Nations as a non-member observer state, and international diplomatic efforts continue to seek a resolution to the conflict.