PALESTINE

1. Population and capital.

Palestine is a state in Western Asia with a population of about 5.5 million people. Palestine claims East Jerusalem as its capital, while the administrative center of the Palestinian National Authority is located in Ramallah.

2. Religion.

The most widespread religion in Palestine is Islam. Most Palestinians are Sunni Muslims. Christians also live in Palestine, and its territory contains important holy sites of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.

3. East Jerusalem.

Palestine claims East Jerusalem as its capital. The Old City is located here and contains major religious holy sites, including the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock. The status of Jerusalem remains one of the key issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

4. West Bank.

The West Bank is one of the two main Palestinian territories. It includes cities such as Ramallah, Bethlehem, Jericho, Hebron, and Nablus. Much of the region consists of hills and highlands.

5. Dead Sea.

The Dead Sea lies along the eastern part of the West Bank and is one of the saltiest bodies of water in the world. Its shores are more than 400 meters below sea level, making this area the lowest land area on the Earth's surface.

6. Bethlehem.

Bethlehem is an ancient city in the West Bank, located south of Jerusalem. According to Christian tradition, Jesus Christ was born here. One of the city's main landmarks is the Church of the Nativity, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

7. Palestinian culture.

Palestinian culture developed under the influence of Arab and Islamic traditions, as well as the region's long history. Family traditions, music, dabke dance, embroidery, religious holidays, literature, and national cuisine all play an important role.

8. Currency.

Palestine does not have its own national currency. The Israeli new shekel is the most widely used currency; the Jordanian dinar and other currencies are also used.

9. Geographical location.

The Palestinian territories are located in Western Asia and consist mainly of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The West Bank borders Israel and Jordan, while the Gaza Strip borders Israel and Egypt and has a coastline on the Mediterranean Sea.