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Connecting Voices
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Overview of Gaza & Palestinian Territories
People: The Palestinian population of the West Bank is 2.3 million people with 1.3 million living in the Gaza Strip and a number of Palestinian Arabs living in the State of Israel as Israeli citizens. Most all people considering themselves Palestinian are of Arab ethnicity. Language: The language of the Palestinian Arabs is Arabic. English is a required language learned in secondary school and French is a common third language. Due to Israeli occupation many people also speak Hebrew. Religion: 92% Muslim (mostly Sunni,) 8% Christian (generally Greek Orthodox or Roman Catholic, although few are Protestant.) Lifestyle Facts: Western clothing is common in urban areas, though less so in the West Bank and Gaza. Elderly men and those following traditional Muslim practices wear long loose-fitting white robes and sometimes a turban. Women usually cover their heads with a scarf, though less-traditional women wear it loosely, or go entirely without. Palestinian families are often large and play an important role in social organization and in the life of individuals. Most homes are equipped with running water, electricity and refrigeration, and often house extended family. Climate: Temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas. Currency: 1 Jordan dinar = 1,000 fils, 1 new Israeli shekel
(NIS) = 100 new agorot
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The area known to
Christians as the holy land was long ago named Palestine by the Romans and because
of its central location between Asia and Europe, has since been conquered by
many nations. The region has an extensive history of power exchange and in 1917,
after World War I, Palestine was finally declared a British mandate. The Balfour
Declaration pledged British support for both a homeland for the Jews in Palestine
while insisting on religious and civil rights for existing non-Jewish communities
in Palestine. The conflicting ideals of the mandate have resulted in years of
ongoing conflict between the Jews and Arabs in Palestine. Peace negotiations
have since been ongoing as have frustrations and tensions on both sides. In
November of 2004, longtime Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat died and was replaced
by elected leader Mahmoud Abbas. Under the new leadership peace negotiations
continue and optimism is on the rise for improved Israeli-Palestinian relations.
While there are some Jewish settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, Gaza
is nearly 100% Palestinian population. All together there are about six million
Palestinians in the world. Palestinian Arabs value courage, freedom, generosity
and hospitality and are known for their strong family ties and social warmth.
Most Palestinians say they respect Judaism, but oppose Zionism as a movement
to establish the entire region as only a Jewish homeland.