Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

State of Palestine

2014-12-23T02:39:51Z

UkrainianAmerican:

[[File:Flag of Palestine.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Flag of Palestine]]
The '''State of Palestine''' was unilaterally declared on November 15, 1988 in [[Algiers]] at an extraordinary session in exile of the [[Palestine National Council]], the legislative arm of the [[Palestine Liberation Organization]]. Legal justification for this act was based on [[United Nations General Assembly]] Resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, which provided for the termination and partition of the [[British Mandate for Palestine]] into two states.<ref>[http://unispal.un.org/unispal.nsf/0/7F0AF2BD897689B785256C330061D253 Resolution 181 (II). Future government of Palestine] - United Nations</ref>

At the time, the PLO did not have control over any part of [[Palestine]] (or any other territory), and therefore the State of Palestine failed to meet one of the main defining aspects of a real [[state]] - namely, occupying a territory.

The State of Palestine was recognized immediately by the [[Arab League]] and several other Islamic nations, at the expense of recognition of [[Israel]]. It maintains embassies in these countries (which are generally simply [[Palestine Liberation Organization]] delegations).

Currently 130 [[United Nations]] member states have formally recognized Palestine as a state, stretching from Africa to Asia, Europe to Latin America.. Around 150 countries maintain diplomatic relations with the Palestinians in one form or another...
In October, 2011, Palestine was granted full membership at the U.N. cultural organization, [[UNESCO]], in a diplomatic victory won despite stiff resistance from the United States and Israel. <ref> [http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/12/15/182782.html More than 100 countries recognize Palestine as a state.] </ref>

A pro-Arab website expresses the Palestinian view concerning the border of Palestine by declaring they want a border which existed prior to the [[Six-Day War]]:
<blockquote>
The value of a UN resolution recognizing an independent state for the Palestinian people, with its borders running exactly along the 1949 Armistice line, which was the border between Israel and the West Bank until June 4, 1967, should not be undermined.<ref> [http://english.alarabiya.net/views/2011/04/27/146903.html Obama, Netanyahu and the 'Palestinian state'.] </ref>
</blockquote>

Pro-Israel advocates typically point out that Israel has repeatedly had to defend itself against attacks by neighboring Arab states and counter that reverting Israel's border to borders which existed before the Six-Day war would not allow Israel to have defensible borders.<ref>[http://www.defensibleborders.org/amidror.htm Defensible borders]</ref>

The Israeli government of Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] is openly opposed to the proposed Palestinian statehood and is threatening retaliatory action. US officials, notably Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]] are also opposed.

In November 2012, Palestine was granted the status of a non-member observer state by the [[United Nations General Assembly]]. This move was applauded by the [[Vatican]]. <ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/29/vatican-palestinian-state_n_2215307.html?&ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009]</ref>

==Christians==
A large number of Christians are indigenous to the area known as Palestine, and many of these are descended from the first Christians- the first Jews who chose to follow Christ and recognize him as the messiah. Also many Arameans, another Semitic group native to the area, accepted Christ very early on in the history of Christianity, and thus contribute a lot to the genetics of today's Christians in the Palestinian Authority, later joined over thousand years later by surviving European crusaders and their families after their defeat at the hands of the Islamic armies<ref>http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/2045/palestinian-christianity-myth</ref>, when they blended into the native, Semitic Christian population.

The "Christian Left" and many anti-Semites like to use Palestinian Christians as a propaganda tool to turn Christians against Israel. Many of the Christians have taken on Palestinian nationalism promoted by the nearby Arab states, regardless of the fact that Palestinian nationalism is heavily rooted in both Islamism and pan-Arabism, which reject human rights for Christians or recognition of the distinct non-Arab Semitic ethnicities, mainly Aramean or Jewish, to which most of them belong, mainly due to [[taqiyya]] or propaganda to advance an Islamic cause. Israel-hatred runs very deep for these Christians because of their loyalty to this Arab identity, and many of them even hate Jewish people as a whole regardless of the ethnic, and to a lesser extent, cultural, origins of many of their own. Additionally many of these Christians will take sides with people who express a deep hatred for their fellow Christians around the Middle East<ref>addref[[http://unitedwithisrael.org/poll-palestinians-greatest-supporters-of-isis-in-middle-east-2/]]</ref>. The idea of being a proud Christian Palestinian supporter is contradictory<ref>http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/2045/palestinian-christianity-myth</ref>.

In many cases, the self-declared "Palestinian" government encourages demographic shifts in areas inhabited by minorities<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_Christians#Persecutions</ref> (an example of this is the [[Samaritan Genocide]], a result of which only 300 [[Samaritans]] remain today in their traditional homeland in Samaria (the southern part of the West Bank) in one village (Kiryat Luza), in which their is an Israeli presence, responsible for protecting them from Arab ethnic cleansing. In [[Bethlehem]], Christians have become a small minority of the population under control of the Palestinian Authority<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethlehem#Demographics</ref>. In Israel, however, ethnic and religious minorities, in villages in which they historically formed the majority, have retained their status as the majority of the population in the vast majority of cases, a trend which shows no indication of changing in the future. Christians in Israel can even form their own political parties<ref>http://www.frontpagemag.com/2013/joseph-puder/israeli-christians-moving-in-a-new-direction/</ref>, whereas in the Palestinian Authority this would be seemingly unthinkable.

Christy Anastas is a Palestinian Christian who speaks about persecution of Christians by the Palestinian Authority<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzCAqXrBGtU</ref>, an issue largely ignored by the western media.

==See also==
*[[Arab-Israeli conflict]]
*[[Hamas]]
*[[Israel]]
*[[Palestine]], for the region
*[[Palestinian Authority]]

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Middle Eastern Countries]]

Palestine

2014-12-23T02:02:25Z

UkrainianAmerican:

[[File:Map of the Holy Land.jpg|thumb|Map of the Holy Land Divided into the XII Tribes of Israel, by Emanuel Bowen, PUBLISHED 1752.]]
'''Palestine''' (from Latin: Palaestina; Hebrew: פלשת‎ Pleshet, פלשתינה Palestina; Arabic: فلسطين‎ Filastīn, Falastīn) is a name sometimes given to part of the land that generally comprises the [[Promised Land]] given to the [[Israelites]] / [[Jews]] in the [[Bible]]. Though historically [[Jews]] did reside there, it is not directly associated with the Jewish promise, as it is a geopolitical designation more than a religious one. Palestine was a later name for the province of Judea in the [[Roman Empire]], who ruled the Jewish people at that time.<ref>http://www.palestinefacts.org/pf_early_palestine_name_origin.php</ref> The Romans also renamed Jerusalem to Aelia Capitolina.

After the [[Romans]] renamed Israel as Syria Palestina in 132-135 AD, Palestine is one of many names for the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the River Jordan. Many different definitions of the region have been in usage in the past three thousand years. It was never an Arab state, and much of it's history has been falsified by the Palestinian movement and its sympathizers in order to to create a new identity to give the Arab nations a new weapon to use to fight against the nation of [[Israel]].

==Ancient==
: ''Main Article: [[Israel#History|History of Israel]]''

The Hebrew scriptures call the region Canaan when referring to the pre-Israelite period,(Hebrew: כּנען‎) and afterwards Israel (Yisrael). The name "Land of the Hebrews" (Hebrew: ארץ העברים‎, Eretz Ha-Ivrim) is also found. The wide area appears to be the habitat of the ancient ethnic Hebrews, though perhaps shared with other ethnic groups. The land of Canaan is part of the land given to the descendants of Abraham, which extends from the Nile to the Euphrates River (Genesis 15:18). Already in Genesis 12:6 and 7 we can read: ''And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land.'' This land is said to include an area called Aram Naharaim, which includes Haran in modern Turkey.

In the Qur'an, the term الأرض المقدسة ("Holy Land", Al-Ard Al-Muqaddasah) is mentioned at least seven times, once when [[Moses]] proclaims to the Children of Israel: "O my people! Enter the holy land which Allah hath assigned unto you, and turn not back ignominiously, for then will ye be overthrown, to your own ruin." (Surah 5:21)

Originally inhabited by a loose bonding of [[Canaan]]ite tribes, the Israelites settled into the area after [[the Exodus]] from [[Egypt]] and were partially successful in driving out the Canannites and making it their home. Migrations from the 'Peoples of the Sea' led to a strong [[Phillistine]] presence on the coastline, but they were generally subdued by [[King David]] and [[Solomon]] during the height of ancient Israel. The kingdom was subsequently divided into the [[Northern Kingdom]] and [[Judea]] upon the death of Solomon. The Northern Kingdom, and the remnants of the Philistine kingdoms, were conquered by the [[Assyrian]]s in the late 8th century B.C. and the kingdom of Judea fell under [[Babylonian]] control in the late 7th century and lost their independence completely in 586 B.C. with the fall of [[Jerusalem]], their capital. The Jews were allowed to return under the [[Persian Empire]] and the entire area was conquered by [[Alexander the Great]] around 330 B.C. When his empire broke apart at his death and consolidated into four different regions, it was the [[Ptolemies]] centered in Egypt who controlled the region for the better part of the next two centuries, but conquest by the [[Seleucids]] led to a harsh religious persecution on the Jews in the region. The Jews revolted and had their independence for almost 100 years before a civil war courted Roman intervention and the area came under Roman control and eventually became the province of Palestine. Byzantine rule was forcefully removed by the great Islamic waves of the 7th century A.D. Portions of Palestine were reclaimed under Crusader control from the late 11th century until the mid 13th century, but the overall region was under Islamic control for over 1000 years. Worth mentioning that the Philistines who at one time lived in part of the area were completely conquered by [[King David]].

In the mid-1200's, Mamelukes, originally soldier-slaves of the Arabs based in Egypt, established an empire that in time included the area of Palestine. Arab-speaking Muslims made up most of the population of the area once called Palestine. Beginning in the late 1300's, Jews from Spain and other Mediterranean lands settled in Jerusalem and other parts of the land. The Ottoman Empire defeated the Mamelukes in 1517, and Palestine became part of the Ottoman Empire. The Turkish Sultan invited Jews fleeing the Spanish Catholic inquisition to settle in the Turkish empire, including several cities in Palestine. <ref> [http://www.mideastweb.org/briefhistory.htm Israel and Palestine: A Brief History.] </ref>

==Modern History==
The breakup of the [[Ottoman Empire]] after their defeat in [[World War I]] saw the region come under the control of [[Great Britain]]. While there was always a Jewish remnant who never left, Jewish re-emigration to the area increased under the tolerant eyes of the British. This increased after the atrocities of World War II and the areas were given their independence with Palestine being divided into separate Jewish and Arab nations, the Jewish nation being called Israel and the Arab Palestine.

[[File:Six Day War Territories.svg.png|thumb|"Six Day War" Territories.]]
A war broke out in which the Jews expanded their borders and the Arab nation of Palestine was absorbed by Jordan. Hostility between the Arabs and Jews continued and in 1967 Israel conquered the West Bank from Jordan, taking the bulk of the Jewish land that had been the "Palestinian state". UN resolution 242 called for the Israeli removal from that land, but it did not occur. Attempts to hold Israel accountable were vetoed in the Security Council by the United States. Although the land was part of Jordan, Jordan relinquished its rights in the 1980s telling the Israelis to speak with the Palestinian Arabs directly. The 1967 Israel borders have no popular support among ordinary “Palestinian” residents. What most people call the 1967 Israel borders is really a cease-fire line (armistice) dating back to 1949; this armistice agreement was never a permanent treaty between Israel and any Arab country. <ref> [http://www.conservativenewsandviews.com/2011/05/21/talk/1967-israel-borders-have-no-basis/ 1967 Israel borders have no basis.] </ref>

In 1988, the Kingdom of Jordan renounced all claims to the territory known as Judea and Samaria within Israel, and "The West Bank" to the rest of the world.<ref name=renounce>"[http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/his_periods9.html Jordan, History of: Disengagement from the West Bank]," from the official histories of Jordan. Retrieved April 8, 2012. Cited in Hurlbut TA, "[http://www.conservativenewsandviews.com/2012/04/02/news/world-news/settlements-israel-legal/ Settlements in Israel: Legal or Not]?" ''Conservative News and Views'', 2 April 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2012.</ref> In 1994 Jordan made that renunciation permanent. It negotiated a permanent treaty of peace with Israel. That treaty set the boundary along the Jordan and Yarmouk Rivers, through the Dead Sea, then southwest along the ''Emek Ha’arava'' (or ''Wadi Araba'' in [[Arabic]]) line to the Gulf of Aqaba.<ref name=jordantreaty>"[http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace%20Process/Guide%20to%20the%20Peace%20Process/Israel-Jordan%20Peace%20Treaty Treaty of Peace Between the State of Israel and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, October 26, 1994]," Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Israel. Retrieved 8 April 2012. Cited in Hurlbut TA, "[http://www.conservativenewsandviews.com/2012/04/02/news/world-news/settlements-israel-legal/ Settlements in Israel: Legal or Not]?" ''Conservative News and Views'', 2 April 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2012.</ref> For that reason, the Judea-Samaria region is ''not'' an occupied territory at all, but a territory under military administration, the civilian population of which (with key exceptions) have leaders desiring secession and independence.

Today's Palestinian Arabs are children and grandchildren of [[Arab]] immigrants from the surrounding nations <ref>http://www.peacefaq.com/palestinians.html</ref><ref>http://www.meforum.org/article/522</ref>
[[File:Gaza War 18 07 2014.jpg|thumb|left|East of [[Gaza City]], 18.07.2014]]
The Palestinian [[Intifada]] from the late 1980s tried to regain Arab control of the West Bank region of Israel. While first clamping down harshly, Israel did sign an accord to grant the Palestinian Arabs autonomy in the West Band and the Gaza Strip, but not full independence. The borders of a future Palestinian state has been a stumbling block to a final solution with the Arabs wanting to control all of the area captured in the 1967 War and Israel claiming part of the land for the Jewish people. A continuing series of violent actions on the part of the Palestinian Arabs and an inability to find a comprise has prevented any type of permanent solution. The short term solution is bleak. With [[Hamas]] having the majority of the control in the Palestinian legislature, a terrorist entity that does not even recognize Israel's right to exist in its own land (seeks to ethnic cleanse all Jews in the area and create a radical oppressive Islamic state, its head in Damascus Osama Hamdan supports Ahmadinejad's genocide call to "wipe off Israel off the map" <ref>http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/html/osama_hamdan0807e.htm</ref> and Hamas Cleric Muhsen Abu 'Ita said: "The Annihilation of the Jews in Palestine is One of The Most Splendid Blessings for Palestine"<ref>http://www.memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=SD208708</ref>.

<blockquote>
The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) is an autonomous national entity comprising the territories of Gaza (formerly under Egyptian sovereignty) and West Bank (formerly under Jordan sovereignty), which were occupied by the Israeli Defense Forces in Jun 1967. As provided by the Israeli-PLO Declaration of Principles signed on 13 Sep 1993 and upon the Agreement signed on 4 May 1994, the PNA was inaugurated on 5 Jul 1994 as a transitional status including Palestinian interim self-governing and a phased transfer of powers and territories (towns and areas of the West Bank). Negotiations on the permanent status, which could end in a Palestinian State, are under way. Headquarters: Ramallah, Chairmen of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO): [[Mahmoud Abbas|Mahmoud Ridha Abbas]]<ref> [http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Palestinian_National_Authority.htm Palestinian National Authority.] </ref>
</blockquote>

== State of Palestine ==
{{Main article|State of Palestine}}
Currently, the Palestinians living in disputed territories are trying to create a state called Palestine. The [[Palestine Liberation Organization]] has declared the [[State of Palestine]], which is recognized by 130 United Nations member states, the [[Arab League]], and the United Nations.

== Protesters 2011 ==

Each year, Palestinians throughout the region mark the ''Nakba'' (or catastrophe) ''Day'' with demonstrations; they use the term "nakba" to describe their defeat and displacement in the war that followed Israel's founding on May 15, 1948 when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were uprooted. But never before have marchers descended upon Israel's borders from all directions. The Syrian incursion in May 2011 was especially surprising. The events carried a message for Israel: Even as it wrestles with the Palestinian demand for a state in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem — areas Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast war — there is a related problem of neighboring countries that host millions of Palestinians with aspirations to return.

International Protesters in the United Kingdom, led by Dave Randall, released a song in May 2011 as support for the Palestinians.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V28HnPTYz-I</ref> This has brought about huge criticism from Glenn Beck.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj02pJKI9NI About Freedom for Palestine single!]</ref>

==Culture of Palestine==
The dialect of Palestinian Arabs and their culture is essentially the same as that of Jordanian Arabs. The flag of the Palestinians is also almost identical to the Jordanians. To this day the second biggest concentration of Palestinian Arabs is in Jordan, partly due to their fleeing of Israel during the 1948 and 1967 wars.

==See also==
*[[Yasser Arafat]]
*[[Neturei Karta]]

==External links==
*[http://switch5.castup.net/frames/20041020_MemriTV_Popup/video_480x360.asp?ai=214&ar=1468wmv&ak=null Graduation Ceremony in a Hamas Kindergarten], Al-Aqsa TV (The Palestinian Authority), May 31 2007. Children vow to die for [[Allah]].
*[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=56241 Christians warned: Accept Islamic law], 'New Hamas rule means real changes,' missionaries to be 'dealt with harshly', By Aaron Klein, ''WorldNetDaily.com'', June 19, 2007.
*[http://www.conservativenewsandviews.com/2011/05/21/talk/1967-israel-borders-have-no-basis/ 1967 Israel borders have no basis.]
*[http://www.palestinefacts.org/pf_early_palestine_christians.php What about Christians in Palestine?]
*[http://jdl-uk.blogspot.mx/2012/02/jewish-settler-plans-to-run-against.html A "Jewish Settler" plans to run against Netanyahu.] Who has a proposal to pay Palestinians to leave the West Bank and Gaza regions.
*[http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/sep/01/state-palestine-play-into-israeli-hands A State of Palestine would backfire on its own people.]

== References ==
<references/>

==Backgrounders==

* [http://mythsandfacts.com Myths & facts]
* [http://palestinefacts.org Palestine facts]
* [http://peacefaq.com Peace dictionary]

{{Asian Countries}}

[[Category:Middle Eastern Countries]]
[[Category:Disputed Territories]]

Gaza Strip

2014-12-23T01:58:57Z

UkrainianAmerican: /* Christians in Gaza Strip */

[[Image:Gazastrip91.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Gaza Strip]]
The '''Gaza Strip''' is a narrow [[coast]]al strip of land that runs along the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. With a population fo 1.4 million, almost all Palestinians, in an area of only 139 square miles, it is one of the most densely populated areas in the world and has been littered with refugee camps. The strip takes its name from Gaza, the main city.

==History==
[[History|Historically]] the Gaza Strip was part of the land controlled by ancient [[Israel]] after the removal of the [[Philistines]]. An Islamic area since the Islamic conquest of the 7th century, it was controlled by the British after [[World War I]] and was to be a part of an independent Palestinian state in 1948 based upon a UN partition, but the first Arab-Israeli War saw Israel take most of the region that would have made the Arab state and Egypt absorbed the Gaza Strip, which overflowed with refugees from the war. In 1967 Israel overran the area in the [[Six Day War]] and administered the region. They built settlements, but these never attracted many people and only 10,000 Israelis lived there by 2005 among the Palestinians. The Israeli government withdrew, with strong objections from the settlers, leaving the area under the control of the [[Palestinian Authority]]. In 2007, [[Hamas]] overran the Palestinian authority and took defacto control for themselves.

== Hostilities in late 2008-present ==

Terrorists are still attacking Israel from the Gaza strip with missiles, in response to this Israel is bombarding in order to prevent more threats to its population on the border. On January 3, 2009 Israel has started a ground campaign in Gaza. It was preceded by an artillery barrage to soften the border so Israeli troops could cross safer. The campaign was against Hamas targets and Israel never had any plans to reoccupy the land. Hamas, rather than stop firing rockets into Gaza has begun sabre rattling and stated that they will kidnap and kill invading Israeli soldiers and cause mental illness from the horrors they will bring them. They have also stated that they will begin suicide attacks again.[http://www.onenewsnow.com/Headlines/Default.aspx?id=372854]

==Today==
A very poor and desolate area, the residents of the area live in poverty and squalor, mainly due to the control of their daily lives by Hamas. The Strip is not self sufficient and counts on outside aid, but Hamas takes most foreign aid for itself to manufacture more bombs and rockets. There is continued friction with Israel with home made rockets being fired by the Gaza residents and occasional open fighting. Hamas does not recognize Israel's right to exist. The Strip has been the source of many suicide missions against Israel as well Kasam rocket fire against the settlements and towns of southern Israel.

Israel controls the Gaza strip’s airspace and offshore maritime access, in order to prevent more materials being given to Hamas terrorists.

==Christians in Gaza Strip==
The official religion of Gaza is [[Islam]]. Christians are routinely murdered by the by [[Hamas]] government, and those who manage to survive have fewer rights. Their rights have no protection,.<ref>http://www.opendoorsuk.org/persecution/worldwatch/palestinian_territories.php</ref>

==See also==
[[Suicide bomber: a personal account]]

==External links==
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7v1C0VUhyA A Hamas made video of one of their suicide bomber operations]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOVhTFOPKxc&feature=related Failed suicide bombing attempt by anguishing 21 year old Gazan woman]

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Geography]]
[[Category:Disputed Territories]]

Gaza Strip

2014-12-23T01:58:17Z

UkrainianAmerican: /* Hostilities in late 2008-present */

[[Image:Gazastrip91.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Gaza Strip]]
The '''Gaza Strip''' is a narrow [[coast]]al strip of land that runs along the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. With a population fo 1.4 million, almost all Palestinians, in an area of only 139 square miles, it is one of the most densely populated areas in the world and has been littered with refugee camps. The strip takes its name from Gaza, the main city.

==History==
[[History|Historically]] the Gaza Strip was part of the land controlled by ancient [[Israel]] after the removal of the [[Philistines]]. An Islamic area since the Islamic conquest of the 7th century, it was controlled by the British after [[World War I]] and was to be a part of an independent Palestinian state in 1948 based upon a UN partition, but the first Arab-Israeli War saw Israel take most of the region that would have made the Arab state and Egypt absorbed the Gaza Strip, which overflowed with refugees from the war. In 1967 Israel overran the area in the [[Six Day War]] and administered the region. They built settlements, but these never attracted many people and only 10,000 Israelis lived there by 2005 among the Palestinians. The Israeli government withdrew, with strong objections from the settlers, leaving the area under the control of the [[Palestinian Authority]]. In 2007, [[Hamas]] overran the Palestinian authority and took defacto control for themselves.

== Hostilities in late 2008-present ==

Terrorists are still attacking Israel from the Gaza strip with missiles, in response to this Israel is bombarding in order to prevent more threats to its population on the border. On January 3, 2009 Israel has started a ground campaign in Gaza. It was preceded by an artillery barrage to soften the border so Israeli troops could cross safer. The campaign was against Hamas targets and Israel never had any plans to reoccupy the land. Hamas, rather than stop firing rockets into Gaza has begun sabre rattling and stated that they will kidnap and kill invading Israeli soldiers and cause mental illness from the horrors they will bring them. They have also stated that they will begin suicide attacks again.[http://www.onenewsnow.com/Headlines/Default.aspx?id=372854]

==Today==
A very poor and desolate area, the residents of the area live in poverty and squalor, mainly due to the control of their daily lives by Hamas. The Strip is not self sufficient and counts on outside aid, but Hamas takes most foreign aid for itself to manufacture more bombs and rockets. There is continued friction with Israel with home made rockets being fired by the Gaza residents and occasional open fighting. Hamas does not recognize Israel's right to exist. The Strip has been the source of many suicide missions against Israel as well Kasam rocket fire against the settlements and towns of southern Israel.

Israel controls the Gaza strip’s airspace and offshore maritime access, in order to prevent more materials being given to Hamas terrorists.

==Christians in Gaza Strip==
The official religion of Gaza is [[Islam]]. Christians are tolerated by [[Hamas]] government, but they have fewer rights. Their rights are not adequately protected. <ref>http://www.opendoorsuk.org/persecution/worldwatch/palestinian_territories.php</ref>

==See also==
[[Suicide bomber: a personal account]]

==External links==
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7v1C0VUhyA A Hamas made video of one of their suicide bomber operations]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOVhTFOPKxc&feature=related Failed suicide bombing attempt by anguishing 21 year old Gazan woman]

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Geography]]
[[Category:Disputed Territories]]

Gaza Strip

2014-12-23T01:57:10Z

UkrainianAmerican: /* Today */

[[Image:Gazastrip91.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Gaza Strip]]
The '''Gaza Strip''' is a narrow [[coast]]al strip of land that runs along the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. With a population fo 1.4 million, almost all Palestinians, in an area of only 139 square miles, it is one of the most densely populated areas in the world and has been littered with refugee camps. The strip takes its name from Gaza, the main city.

==History==
[[History|Historically]] the Gaza Strip was part of the land controlled by ancient [[Israel]] after the removal of the [[Philistines]]. An Islamic area since the Islamic conquest of the 7th century, it was controlled by the British after [[World War I]] and was to be a part of an independent Palestinian state in 1948 based upon a UN partition, but the first Arab-Israeli War saw Israel take most of the region that would have made the Arab state and Egypt absorbed the Gaza Strip, which overflowed with refugees from the war. In 1967 Israel overran the area in the [[Six Day War]] and administered the region. They built settlements, but these never attracted many people and only 10,000 Israelis lived there by 2005 among the Palestinians. The Israeli government withdrew, with strong objections from the settlers, leaving the area under the control of the [[Palestinian Authority]]. In 2007, [[Hamas]] overran the Palestinian authority and took defacto control for themselves.

== Hostilities in late 2008-present ==

Terrorists are still attacking Israel from the Gaza strip with missiles, in response to this Israel is bombarding with a disproportionate amount of bombs. On January 3, 2009 Israel has started a ground campaign in Gaza. It was preceded by an artillery barrage to soften the border so Israeli troops could cross safer. Israel still insists that this campaign is against Hamas targets and that it has no plans to reoccupy the land. Hamas, rather than stop firing rockets into Gaza has begun sabre rattling and stated that they will kidnap and kill invading Israeli soldiers and cause mental illness from the horrors they will bring them. They have also stated that they will begin suicide attacks again.[http://www.onenewsnow.com/Headlines/Default.aspx?id=372854]

==Today==
A very poor and desolate area, the residents of the area live in poverty and squalor, mainly due to the control of their daily lives by Hamas. The Strip is not self sufficient and counts on outside aid, but Hamas takes most foreign aid for itself to manufacture more bombs and rockets. There is continued friction with Israel with home made rockets being fired by the Gaza residents and occasional open fighting. Hamas does not recognize Israel's right to exist. The Strip has been the source of many suicide missions against Israel as well Kasam rocket fire against the settlements and towns of southern Israel.

Israel controls the Gaza strip’s airspace and offshore maritime access, in order to prevent more materials being given to Hamas terrorists.

==Christians in Gaza Strip==
The official religion of Gaza is [[Islam]]. Christians are tolerated by [[Hamas]] government, but they have fewer rights. Their rights are not adequately protected. <ref>http://www.opendoorsuk.org/persecution/worldwatch/palestinian_territories.php</ref>

==See also==
[[Suicide bomber: a personal account]]

==External links==
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7v1C0VUhyA A Hamas made video of one of their suicide bomber operations]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOVhTFOPKxc&feature=related Failed suicide bombing attempt by anguishing 21 year old Gazan woman]

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Geography]]
[[Category:Disputed Territories]]