Palestinian National Authority Information

Eastern Mediterranean.

GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from first Sunday in April to second Saturday in September).

6,165 sq km (2,380 sq miles) made up of the West Bank territories, 5,800 sq km (2,240 sq miles) and the Gaza Strip, 365 sq km (141 sq miles).

4.1 million (estimate 2009). (Around 4 million Palestinians currently live outside the Occupied Territories of West Bank and Gaza, the largest number in Jordan.)

665 per sq km.

Ramallah. (Intended seat of government: East Jerusalem.) Population: 120,000 (2003).

The two territories of Palestine lie within Israel, around 40km (25 miles) apart at their closest point. The West Bank is to the west of the River Jordan, bordered by Jordan to the east and Israel to the north, south and west. The Gaza Strip, in Israel's southwest, is a narrow stretch of land bordered by the Mediterranean to the west and Egypt to the south. The Great Rift Valley follows the path of the River Jordan running along the West Bank and through the lowest point in the world, the Dead Sea at 390m (1,280ft) below sea level, before continuing on into Eastern Africa. The Jordanian Valley is green and fertile; the south contains the Judean Desert.

Parliamentary Republic.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas since 2005.

Prime Minister Salam Fayyad since June 2007.

Mahmoud Abbas, candidate of the ruling Fatah faction, won the January 2005 poll to replace the late Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat. Regarded as a moderate, he has condemned the armed Palestinian uprising and favours the resumption of negotiations with Israel. But his primary challenge is to deal with the militant Islamic group, Hamas, who scored a stunning win in January 2006 parliamentary elections - the first the group had ever taken part in. This dominance of Hamas has met with worldwide controversy; many nations refuse to negotiate with a party that will not recognise Israel or which condones terrorist activity. The USA and the EU severed financial aid shortly after Hamas took power in March 2006. In December 2006 the UN announced it needed US$450 million to prevent a Palestinian humanitarian crisis; a direct consequence of the economic damage caused by the international boycott and numerous Israeli-imposed restrictions. In June 2007, following days of violence and fighting in Gaza, Mahmoud Abbas set up a new Fatah-led government and the EU announced financial aid would be resumed as soon as proper mechanisms for making payments were set up.

Arabic is the official language. English and Hebrew are widely spoken.

Muslim, Christian and Judaism minority.

230 volts AC, 59Hz.

Women in particular should dress modestly. Ramallah is less strict than other areas but bare shoulders, shorts and short skirts are still inadvisable. Visitors may choose not to eat, drink or smoke in public places between sunrise and sunset during Ramadan in order to avoid causing offence.

Visitors should also be sensitive when taking pictures of military or police personnel and installations, and when photographing people in Muslim and Orthodox Jewish areas. It is advisable to carry identification at all times, and photocopies of the date and entry stamp on your passport.