The Geography of Palestine According to Palestinians
Palestine lies to the west of the Asian continent
between longitudes 15-34 and 40-35 to the east, and between latitudes
30-29 and 15-33 to the north.
Palestine constitutes the southwestern part of a
huge geographical unity in the eastern part of the Arab world, which
is Belad El-Sham. In addition to Palestine, Sham contains Lebanon,
Syria and Jordan. It used to have common borders with these
countries, in addition to Egypt.
The borders of Palestine start with Lebanon at Ras
El-Nakoura at the Mediterranean sea and head in a straight line to
the east till it reaches the area beyond the small Lebanese city of
Bent Jubayel, where the separating line between the two countries
curves to the north at a straight angle. At that point, the border
comes around the fountain of the River Jordan, and a narrow passage
adjacent to it from the east connects it with the land of Syria and
the lakes Al-Hola, Lout and Tabarriyya.
The border with Jordan begins to the south of
Tabarriyya Lake at the drainage of Al-Yarmouk River. It continues
along the River Jordan. From the fountain of the River Jordan, the
border heads south across the geometrical middle of the Dead Sea and
the Araba Valley till it reaches the of Aqaba.
The borders with Egypt could be compared to a
straight line that separates the semi-island of Seena and Al-Naqab
desert. The border begins at Rafah at the Mediterranean Sea till it
reaches Taba at the Gulf of Aqaba.
On the west side, Palestine lies next to the
international open waters of the Mediterranean Sea at a distance of
about 250 km from Ras El-Nakoura in the north to Rafah in the south.
Sources: Palestinian
Information Center |