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Palestine, officially known as the State of Palestine, is a country in southern Levant region of the West Asia. The country shares is bordered with Israel to the east, north and west, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the southwest and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. It encompasses the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, collectively known as the Palestinian territories. Palestine has a total land area of 6,020 square kilometres (2,320 sq mi) while its population exceeds five million people.The Palestinian people are mostly Arabs, while Kurds, Turks, Armenians and Assyrians are also found. Majority of Palestinian people are Muslims, with minority includes Christians, Samaritans and Druze. Jerusalem is the proclaimed capital, Ramallah is the administrative center and Gaza City is the largest city, as of 2023.

The wider historic region of Palestine, the country's history is deeply rooted in religious significance. Located in Fertile Crescent, the region is referred to as "cradle of civilization". Palestine gave rise various groups such as the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks and Romans. The region have been ruled by the Canaanites, Philistines and Israelites. Jerusalem, along with Bethlehem and Hebron are among the holiest cities, revered by the Jews, Christians and Muslims. During the Muslim conquest of the Levant in 7th century, the region came under Islamic control. Successive Islamic Caliphates' rule continued, until the Crusaders captured Jerusalem in 1099. Following Saladin's conquest of Palestine in 1187, the Islamic rule was restored. Between 13th century to 16th century, the Mamluk Sultanate ruled. The Ottoman Empire conquered the region in 1516 and ruled for the next 400 years, until the World War I. Following the British conquest of Palestine in 1917, Mandatory territory was established under the League of Nations, setting up stages for the conflict.

The modern Palestinian state have been in conflict since 1948, which was triggered during the British rule. Following the establishment of Mandate, British government facilitated immigration of the Jews, supporting the Zionist movement. Intercommunal tensions increased between the Zionist Jews and Arabs (Christians and Muslims). In 1947, the United Nations prepared a partition plan for Palestine, rejected by the Arabs. The 1947–1949 civil war and the 1948 war resulted displacement of Palestinians from the lands captured by Israel, known as Nakba. The subsequent Arab–Israeli wars, including the Six Day War in 1967 saw entire Palestinian territories being occupied and Israel established illegal settlements. Palestinian militant groups, including the PLO led several armed rebellions against Israel. After 1993–1995 peace treaties, the interim government was formed to govern certain parts. Following the end of the second intifada, Israel withdrew completely from the Gaza Strip. However the occupation of the West Bank continues. The 2006–2008 civil war resulted Hamas takeover of the coastal enclave.

As of 2024, Palestine is recognized as a sovereign state by 145 member states of the United Nations. It is a semi-presidential republic. Due to the ongoing conflict Palestinians are subjected to the ongoing occupation, restrictions on movement, blockade by Israel, violence by Israeli settlers and Zionist terrorism. Palestine's borders, the legal and diplomatic status of Jerusalem, and the right of return of Palestinian refugees remain unsolved. Israel has built illegal settlements in the West Bank, where to 600,000 Israeli settlers reside. The Gaza Strip is ruled by Hamas and the West Bank is governed by Fatah-led Palestinian Authority. Today, there are nearly 7 million Palestinian refugees around the world, with some of them within the country. Despite these challenges, the country maintains an emerging economy and sees frequent tourism. Palestine have potential reserves of crude oil and natural gas. It is a member of several international organizations, including the United Nations, Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. (Full article...)

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Tubas skyline

Tubas is a small Palestinian city in the northeastern West Bank, located 21 kilometers (13 mi) northeast of Nablus, a few kilometers west of the Jordan River. A city of over 16,000 inhabitants, it serves as the economic and administrative center of the Tubas Governorate. Its urban area consists of 2,271 dunams (227 hectares). It is governed by a municipal council of 15 members and most of its working inhabitants are employed in agriculture or public services. Jamal Abu Mohsin has been the mayor of Tubas since being elected in 2005. Tubas has been identified as the ancient town of Thebez (/ˈθˌbɛz/)—a Canaanite town famous for revolting against King Abimelech. However, the modern town was founded in the late 19th century—during the Ottoman rule of Palestine—by Arab clans living in the Jordan Valley region and became major town in the District of Nablus, particularly known for its timber and cheese-making. It came under the British Mandate of Palestine in 1917, annexed by Jordan after their capture of the town in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, and then occupied by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War. The Palestinian National Authority has had complete control of Tubas since it was transferred to them in 1995.

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Machine gunners, Second Battle of Gaza
Machine gunners, Second Battle of Gaza
Credit: American Colony, Jerusalem
Restoration: Lise Broer/Fir0002

Ottoman machine gun corps, before the Second Battle of Gaza, which took place on 19 April 1917. The First Battle of Gaza, just three weeks prior, had ended in defeat for the British Empire, and this second attempt to break through Turkish defenses was also unsuccessful. Six months later, on the third attempt, the Allied forces were finally able to break the GazaBeersheba line.

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Sir Charles Burnett in RAF full dress

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Both the Germans and the Zionists wanted as many Jews as possible to move to Palestine. The Germans preferred to have them out of Western Europe, and the Zionists themselves wanted the Jews in Palestine to outnumber the Arabs as quickly as possible. (...) In both cases, the purpose was a kind of 'ethnic cleansing', that is, a violent change in the ratio of ethnic groups in the population.
Slavoj Žižek, discussing a meeting between Feivel Polkes and Adolf Eichmann

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Air Marshall Richard Williams
Sir Richard Williams (1890–1980) is regarded as the "father" of the Royal Australian Air Force. He was the first military pilot trained in Australia, and commanded fighter units in World War I. A proponent of independent air power, Williams played a leading role in the establishment of the RAAF and became its first and longest-serving Chief of the Air Staff (CAS). Born into a working class family, he was an Army Lieutenant when he learned to fly in 1914. As a pilot with the Australian Flying Corps in World War I, Williams commanded No. 1 Squadron and later 40th Wing RAF, earning the Distinguished Service Order. Afterwards he campaigned for an Australian Air Force separate from the Army and Navy, and this came into being on 31 March 1921. The fledgling RAAF faced challenges to its existence for the next decade, and Williams was credited with maintaining its independence. However an adverse report on flying safety saw him dismissed as CAS prior to World War II. Despite promotion to Air Marshal in 1940, he never again commanded the RAAF. After the war he was forcibly retired and took up the position of Director-General of Civil Aviation. He was knighted shortly before his retirement in 1955.

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Demographics: Definitions · State of Palestine · History · Name · People · Diaspora  · Refugee camps · Arab citizens of Israel

Politics: Arab Higher Committee · All-Palestine Gov-t · PLO · PFLP · Depopulated villages

Today: Fatah · Hamas · Islamic Jihad · Political parties · PNA · Hamas gov-t · Governorates · Governorates · Cities · Arab localities in Israel · PNC · PLC ·

General: Flag · Law

Palestine: West Bank · Gaza Strip · E. Jerusalem

Religion: Islam · Christianity · Judaism · Dome of the Rock · Al-Aqsa Mosque · Great Mosque of Gaza · Cave of the Patriarchs · Church of the Holy Sepulchre · Basilica of the Annunciation · Church of the Nativity · Joseph's Tomb · Rachel's Tomb · Lot's Tomb · Nabi Samwil

Culture: Art · Traditional costumes · Cinema · Cuisine · Dance · Handicrafts · Language · Literature · Music


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