The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements (the DOP), signed in Washington on 13 September 1993, provided for a transitional period not exceeding five years of Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Under the DOP, Israel agreed to transfer certain powers and responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority (PA) as part of the interim self-governing arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A transfer of powers and responsibilities for the Gaza Strip and Jericho took place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area and in additional areas of the West Bank pursuant to the Israel-PLO 28 September 1995 Interim Agreement, the Israel-PLO 15 January 1997 Protocol Concerning Redeployment in Hebron, the Israel-PLO 23 October 1998 Wye River Memorandum, and the 4 September 1999 Sharm el-Sheikh Agreement. The DOP provides that Israel will retain responsibility during the transitional period for external and internal security and for public order of settlements and Israeli citizens. Direct negotiations to determine the permanent status of Gaza and West Bank began in September 1999 after a three-year hiatus, but were derailed by a second intifadah that broke out in September 2000. In April 2003 the Quartet (US, EU, UN, and Russia) presented a roadmap to a final settlement of the conflict by 2005 based on reciprocal steps by the two parties leading to two states, Israel and a democratic Palestine. The proposed date for a permanent status agreement has been postponed indefinitely due to violence and accusations that both sides have not followed through on their commitments. Longtime Palestinian leader Yasir ARAFAT died in November 2004 and Mahmud ABBAS was elected PA president in January 2005, bringing hope of a turning point in the conflict. In February 2005 Israel and the PA agreed to the Sharm el-Sheikh Commitments, focused on security issues, in an effort to move the peace process forward. Progress has been slow because of different interpretations of the verbal agreement by the two sides. In September 2005, Israel withdrew all its settlers and soldiers and dismantled its military facilities in the Gaza Strip and four northern West Bank settlements. Nonetheless, Israel controls maritime, airspace, and most access to the Gaza Strip. An agreement signed by the PA and Israel in November 2005 authorized the reopening of the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt under joint PA and Egyptian control, with monitoring provided by the EU.

The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements (the DOP), signed in Washington on 13 September 1993, provided for a transitional period not exceeding five years of Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Under the DOP, Israel agreed to transfer certain powers and responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority (PA) as part of the interim self-governing arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A transfer of powers and responsibilities for the Gaza Strip and Jericho took place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area and in additional areas of the West Bank pursuant to the Israel-PLO 28 September 1995 Interim Agreement, the Israel-PLO 15 January 1997 Protocol Concerning Redeployment in Hebron, the Israel-PLO 23 October 1998 Wye River Memorandum, and the 4 September 1999 Sharm el-Sheikh Agreement. The DOP provided that Israel would retain responsibility during the transitional period for external and internal security and for public order of settlements and Israeli citizens. Direct negotiations to determine the permanent status of Gaza and West Bank began in September 1999 after a three-year hiatus, but were derailed by a second intifada that broke out in September 2000. In April 2003 the Quartet (US, EU, UN, and Russia) presented a roadmap to a final settlement of the conflict by 2005 based on reciprocal steps by the two parties leading to two states, Israel and a democratic Palestine. The proposed date for a permanent status agreement has been postponed indefinitely due to violence and accusations that both sides have not followed through on their commitments. Longtime Palestinian leader Yasir ARAFAT died in November 2004 and Mahmud ABBAS was elected PA President in January 2005, bringing hope of a turning point in the conflict. Israel and the PA agreed in February 2005 to the Sharm el-Sheikh Commitments, focused on security issues, in an effort to move the peace process forward. Progress has been slow because of different interpretations of the verbal agreement by the two sides.

Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Israel

Middle East, west of Jordan

31 25 N, 34 20 E

32 00 N, 35 15 E

Middle East

Middle East

total: 360 sq km
land: 360 sq km
water: 0 sq km

total: 5,860 sq km
land: 5,640 sq km
water: 220 sq km
note: includes West Bank, Latrun Salient, and the northwest quarter of the Dead Sea, but excludes Mt. Scopus; East Jerusalem and Jerusalem No Man's Land are also included only as a means of depicting the entire area occupied by Israel in 1967

slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

slightly smaller than Delaware

total: 62 km
border countries: Egypt 11 km, Israel 51 km

total: 404 km
border countries: Israel 307 km, Jordan 97 km

40 km

0 km (landlocked)

Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation

none (landlocked)

temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers

temperate; temperature and precipitation vary with altitude, warm to hot summers, cool to mild winters

flat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain

mostly rugged dissected upland, some vegetation in west, but barren in east

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Auda) 105 m

owest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Tall Asur 1,022 m

arable land, natural gas

arable land

arable land: 29%
permanent crops: 21%
other: 50% (2002)

arable land: 16.9%
permanent crops: 18.97%
other: 64.13% (2001)

150 sq km; note - includes West Bank (2003)

150 sq km; note - includes Gaza Strip (2003)

droughts

droughts

desertification; salination of fresh water; sewage treatment; water-borne disease; soil degradation; depletion and contamination of underground water resources

adequacy of fresh water supply; sewage treatment

strategic strip of land along Mideast-North African trade routes has experienced an incredibly turbulent history; the town of Gaza itself has been besieged countless times in its history

landlocked; highlands are main recharge area for Israel's coastal aquifers; there are 242 West Bank settlements and 29 East Jerusalem settlements in addition to at least 20 occupied outposts (August 2005 est.)

1,428,757 (July 2006 est.)

2,460,492
note: in addition, there are about 187,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank and fewer than 177,000 in East Jerusalem (July 2004 est.)

0-14 years: 48.1% (male 351,642/female 335,060)
15-64 years: 49.4% (male 360,147/female 345,318)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 15,231/female 21,359) (2006 est.)

0-14 years: 42.9% (male 541,110/female 515,202)
15-64 years: 53.7% (male 676,427/female 644,347)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 35,440/female 47,966) (2006 est.)

total: 15.8 years
male: 15.7 years
female: 16 years (2006 est.)

total: 18.3 years
male: 18.2 years
female: 18.5 years (2006 est.)

3.71% (2006 est.)

3.06% (2006 est.)

39.45 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

31.67 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

3.8 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

3.92 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

1.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

2.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

total: 22.4 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 23.48 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

total: 19.15 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 21.12 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 17.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

total population: 71.97 years
male: 70.67 years
female: 73.34 years (2006 est.)

total population: 73.27 years
male: 71.5 years
female: 75.15 years (2006 est.)

5.78 children born/woman (2006 est.)

4.28 children born/woman (2006 est.)

NA

NA

NA

NA

NA

NA

noun: NA
adjective: NA

noun: NA
adjective: NA

Palestinian Arab and other 99.4%, Jewish 0.6%

Palestinian Arab and other 83%, Jewish 17%

Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 98.7%, Christian 0.7%, Jewish 0.6%

Muslim 75% (predominantly Sunni), Jewish 17%, Christian and other 8%

Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by many Palestinians), English (widely understood)

Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers and many Palestinians), English (widely understood)

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.9%
male: 96.3%
female: 87.4% (2003 est.)

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.9%
male: 96.3%
female: 87.4% (2003 est.)

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Gaza Strip
local long form: none
local short form: Qita Ghazzah

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: West Bank

High population density, limited land access, and strict internal and external controls have kept economic conditions in the Gaza Strip - the smaller of the two areas under the Palestinian Authority (PA)- even more degraded than in the West Bank. The beginning of the second intifadah in September 2000 sparked an economic downturn, largely the result of Israeli closure policies; these policies, which were imposed in response to security interests in Israel, disrupted labor and commodity relationships with the Gaza Strip. In 2001, and even more severely in 2003, Israeli military measures in PA areas resulted in the destruction of much capital plant, the disruption of administrative structure, and widespread business closures. Including the West Bank, the UN estimates that more than 100,000 Palestinians out of the 125,000 who used to work in Israel or in joint industrial zones have lost their jobs. Half the labor force is unemployed. Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in September 2005 offers some medium-term opportunities for economic growth, especially given the removal of restrictions on internal movement. In addition, recent agreements and continuing negotiations on the administration of Gaza's border crossings increase the prospects for trade.

The West Bank - the larger of the two areas under the Palestinian Authority (PA)- has experienced a general decline in economic growth and a degradation in economic conditions made worse since the second intifadah began in September 2000. The downturn has been largely the result of the Israeli closure policies - the imposition of border closures in response to security incidents in Israel - which disrupted labor and commodity market relationships. In 2001, and even more severely in 2002, Israeli military measures in PA areas resulted in the destruction of much capital plant, the disruption of administrative structure, and widespread business closures. Including the Gaza Strip, the UN estimates that more than 100,000 Palestinians out of the 125,000 who used to work in Israeli settlements, or in joint industrial zones, have lost their jobs. International aid of $2 billion to the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 2004 prevented the complete collapse of the economy and allowed some reforms in the government's financial operations. In 2005, high unemployment and limited trade opportunities, due to continued closures both within the West Bank and externally, stymied growth.

$768 million (2003 est.)

$1.8 billion (2003 est.)

NA

NA

4.5% (2003 est.)

6.2% (2004 est.)

$600 (2003 est.)

$1,100 (2003 est.)

agriculture: 9%
industry: 28%
services: 63%
note: (includes West Bank) (2002 est.)

agriculture: 9%
industry: 28%
services: 63%
note: includes Gaza Strip (2002 est.)

278,000 (April-June 2005)

614,000 (April-June 2005)

agriculture: 11.9%
industry: 18%
services: 70.1% (2005)

agriculture: 18.4%
industry: 24%
services: 57.6% (April-June 2005)

31% (includes West Bank) (January-September 2005 avg.)

19.9% (includes Gaza Strip) (January-September 2005)

81% (2004 est.)

46% (2004 est.)

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

3% (includes West Bank) (2004)

3% (includes Gaza Strip) (2004)

revenues: $964 million
expenditures: $1.34 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA; note - these budget data include West Bank (2004)

revenues: $964 million
expenditures: $1.34 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA; note - these budget data include Gaza Strip (2004)

olives, citrus, vegetables; beef, dairy products

olives, citrus, vegetables; beef, dairy products

generally small family businesses that produce textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis have established some small-scale modern industries in an industrial centre, but operations ceased prior to Israel's evacuation of Gaza Strip settlements

generally small family businesses that produce cement, textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis have established some small-scale, modern industries in the settlements and industrial centres

NA%

NA%

NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by the Gaza Strip power plant and by an Israeli utility

NA kWh; note - most electricity imported from Israel; East Jerusalem Electric Company buys and distributes electricity to Palestinians in East Jerusalem and its concession in the West Bank; the Israel Electric Company directly supplies electricity to most Jewish residents and military facilities; some Palestinian municipalities, such as Nablus and Janin, generate their own electricity from small power plants

NA kWh

NA kWh

0 kWh (2001)

NA kWh

NA kWh; note - some electricity supplied by an Israeli utility (2005)

NA kWh

$270 million f.o.b.; note - includes West Bank (2003)

$270 million f.o.b.; note - includes Gaza Strip (2003)

citrus, flowers, textiles

olives, fruit, vegetables, limestone

Israel, Egypt, West Bank (2004)

Israel, Jordan, Gaza Strip (2004)

$1.952 billion c.i.f.; note - includes West Bank (2003)

$1.952 billion c.i.f.; note - includes Gaza Strip (2003)

food, consumer goods, construction materials

food, consumer goods, construction materials

Israel, Egypt, West Bank (2004)

Israel, Jordan, Gaza Strip (2004)

$0; note - includes West Bank (2002)

$0; note - includes Gaza Strip (2002)

$2 billion; note - includes West Bank (2004 est.)

$2 billion; note - includes Gaza Strip (2004 est.)

new Israeli shekel (ILS)

new Israeli shekel (ILS); Jordanian dinar (JOD)

ILS

ILS; JOD

new Israeli shekels per US dollar - 4.4877 (2005), 4.482 (2004), 4.5541 (2003), 4.7378 (2002), 4.2057 (2001)

new Israeli shekels per US dollar - 4.4877 (2005), 4.482 (2004), 4.5541 (2003), 4.7378 (2002), 4.2057 (2001)

calendar year

calendar year

357,300 (total for Gaza Strip and West Bank) (2004)

357,300 (total for West Bank and Gaza Strip) (2004)

974,300 (cellular subscribers in both Gaza Strip and West Bank) (2004)

974,300 (cellular subscribers in both West Bank and Gaza Strip) (2004)

general assessment: NA
domestic: Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL are responsible for fixed line services in the Gaza Strip; the Palestinian JAWAL company provides cellular services
international: country code - 970

general assessment: NA
domestic: Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL are responsible for fixed line services in the Gaza Strip; the Palestinian JAWAL company provides cellular services
international: country code - 970

AM 0, FM 8, shortwave 0 (2005)

AM 1, FM 20, shortwave 0 (2005)

NA; note - most Palestinian households have radios (1999)

NA; note - most Palestinian households have radios (1999)

1 (2005)

8 (2005)

NA; note - most Palestinian households have televisions (1997)

NA; note - many Palestinian households have televisions (1999)

.ps

.ps

3 (1999)

8 (1999)

160,000 (includes West Bank) (2004)

160,000 (includes Gaza Strip) (2004)

2 (2001)
note: includes Gaza International Airport (GIA), inaugurated on 24 November 1998 as part of agreements stipulated in the September 1995 Oslo II Accord and the 23 October 1998 Wye River Memorandum; GIA has been largely closed since October 2000 by Israeli orders and its runway was destroyed by the Israeli Defense Forces in December 2001 (2005)

3 (2005)

total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2005)

total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2005)

total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2005)

NA

1 (2005)

NA

note: see entry for West Bank

total: 4,158 km
paved: 4,158 km
note: includes Gaza Strip (2003)

Gaza

NA

in accordance with the peace agreement, the Palestinian Authority is not permitted conventional military forces; there are, however, public security forces (2002)

NA

males age 18-49: 260,855 (2005 est.)

NA

males age 18-49: 221,530 (2005 est.)

NA

males age 18-49: 15,196 (2005 est.)

NA

NA

NA

NA

NA

West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation; Israel removed settlers and military personnel from the Gaza Strip in August 2005

West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation; Israel continues construction of a "seam line" separation barrier along parts of the Green Line and within the West Bank; Israel withdrew from four settlements in the northern West Bank in August 2005; since 1948, about 350 peacekeepers from the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), headquartered in Jerusalem, monitor ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements, prevent isolated incidents from escalating, and assist other UN personnel in the region

refugees (country of origin): 986,034 (Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA)) (2005)

refugees (country of origin): 699,817 (Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA)) (2005)