The Palestinian Territories [1] 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.
Regions
CitiesGaza
West BankOther destinationsUnderstandGeneralThe 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. HistoryThe 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. Get inBy planeBy trainBy carBy busBy boatGet aroundTalkBuyCurrency: Shekels, though US dollars seem to be widely accepted, especially at tourist shops (Jericho and Bethlehem, for example). CostsEatDrinkSleepLearnWorkStay safe
Modest clothing is expected in Gaza and to a lesser extend in the West Bank. A few hints for a successful trip:
Stay healthyRespectContactGet outDelays may occur at checkpoints unexpectedly, especially if there has been recent violence or political events. Sometimes it may be quicker to walk through a checkpoint on foot rather than on a vehicle, and then take a taxi to your destination once you get through. It is highly advised to keep Palestinian flags, PA/PLO pamphlets, and similar articles out of plain sight when going through checkpoints: why cause unnecessary complications and delays for yourself?
Content is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0. Privacy policy About Wikitravel Terms of use | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
