The State of Israel (1948) • Population: Approximately 8 million (6.2 million Jewish

citizens, approx. 1.6 million Palestinian citizens, and approx. 318,000 other minorities)

• Approximately 77% of population = Jewish Of this population:

32% European or American born 21% Israeli born 14.6% African born 12.6% Asian born • 20% Non-Jewish Arabs

• Official Language: Hebrew

The West Bank

• 5,853 square km.• Population = Just over

2.5 million people (all Palestinian EXCEPT for approximately 350,000 Jewish settlers

The Gaza Strip • Size = 360 sq. miles 24 miles long, 10-12

miles wide • One of most densely

populated areas in the world

• Population: 1.5 million (majority refugees) All Palestinian

• Over 80% live in poverty • Average age of

population = 16

Population Shifts 1870 1912 1925 1946

Palestinians 367,000 (98%)

525,000 (93%)

598,000 (83%)

1,237,000 (67%)

Jews 7,000 (2%) 40,000 (6%) 120,000 (17%)

608,000 (33%)

Source: Anna Baltzer - Witness in Palestine: A Jewish-American in Occupied Territories

1946 Palestine under British Mandate

1947 UN Partition Plan

1949-1967Jordan and Egypt controlled dark parts

2007 with wall

1,200,000 P (67%)608,000 J(33%)

45% land – P55% land – J

Population: 69% P31% J

22% Land – P4-5 Million Palestinian refugees outside

12% of historic Palestine