James Baquet

Searching a map or globe for the State of Palestine can be an exercise in frustration.

At the end of World War II, the United Nations intended to divide the former British Mandate (also called “Mandatory Palestine”) into two areas, one for Arabs and the other for Jews. The plan was accepted by the Jews — the future nation of Israel — but rejected by both the Arabs and the British.

Almost immediately after the partition was effected, the Arabs invaded the newborn State of Israel and took control (at least temporarily) of the Gaza Strip, a narrow area of just 365 square kilometers that borders Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.

Since then the area has been occupied by Egypt and then Israel. It is now back in Palestinian hands, along with the West Bank (an area west of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea, bordering Jordan and Israel). Part of the West Bank is under Israeli control, and virtually all areas of Palestine are disputed. Although East Jerusalem is claimed as the capital, administration is carried out from Ramallah, located in the West Bank some 10 kilometers north of Jerusalem.

Though tenuous on the ground, Palestine is better established on paper — in fact, it has been described as a de jure state. The Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the well-known Yasser Arafat, proclaimed the State of Palestine’s establishment in 1988; it has since come to be recognized by 136 (of 193) member states of the U.N., and is itself one of two “non-member observer states” (along with the Holy See). This means it may participate in the work of the U.N. General Assembly with some limitations on its participation.

Palestine is also a member of the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Group of 77 (a U.N. coalition of developing nations), and the International Olympic Committee, among others.

Palestine currently claims an area of just over 6,000 square kilometers, and a population of somewhat under 5 million. Arabic is the only official language, and 93 percent of the people are Muslim.

Vocabulary:

Which word above means:

1. disappointment, dissatisfaction

2. separation, dividing up

3. by law

4. turned down, refused

5. another name for Vatican City

6. a spherical “map” of the world

7. shaky, unstable

8. alliance, working partnership

9. a metaphor for “newly-created”

10. usually meaning “required,” in this case referring to being placed under a nation’s control by mandate (command)