PALESTINIAN Cultural Orientation TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: PROFILE ................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 Geography ................................................................................................................................ 1 History ..................................................................................................................................... 2 From Ancient Times to the 1800s .................................................................................... 2 British Occupation, UN Partition, and the State of Israel ................................................ 3 Expansion of Israel ........................................................................................................... 5 Palestinian Militancy ........................................................................................................ 6 The Lebanese Civil War ................................................................................................... 7 Intifada and Oslo .............................................................................................................. 8 Palestinian Political Fragmentation .................................................................................. 8 Movement Toward a Two-State Solution ........................................................................ 9 Government ........................................................................................................................... 10 Executive ........................................................................................................................ 10 Legislative ...................................................................................................................... 11 Judicial ............................................................................................................................ 11 Media ..................................................................................................................................... 11 Economy ................................................................................................................................ 12 Trade ............................................................................................................................... 14 Palestine Monetary Authority ......................................................................................... 14 Ethno-Religious Groups and Languages ............................................................................... 15 Palestinian Muslims ........................................................................................................ 16 Palestinian Christians ..................................................................................................... 16 Jewish Settlers ................................................................................................................ 17 Chapter 1 Assessment ............................................................................................................ 18 CHAPTER 2: RELIGION ............................................................................................................ 19 Overview of Major Religions ................................................................................................ 19 Islam ............................................................................................................................... 19 Christianity ..................................................................................................................... 20 Judaism ........................................................................................................................... 21 Religion in Government and Daily Life ................................................................................ 22 Religious Conventions and Gender Roles ............................................................................. 23 Religious Holidays and Events .............................................................................................. 23 Ramadan ......................................................................................................................... 24 Eid al-Fitr ........................................................................................................................ 24 Eid al-Adha ..................................................................................................................... 24 Christmas ........................................................................................................................ 25 Buildings of Worship ............................................................................................................. 25 © DLIFLC | i PALESTINIAN Cultural Orientation Mosques .......................................................................................................................... 25 Churches ......................................................................................................................... 26 Synagogues ..................................................................................................................... 27 Chapter 2 Assessment ............................................................................................................ 28 CHAPTER 3: TRADITIONS ....................................................................................................... 29 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 29 Clans in the Post-Oslo Era .............................................................................................. 30 Honor and Values .................................................................................................................. 31 Politeness, Hospitality, and Gift Giving ................................................................................ 32 Male/Female Interaction ........................................................................................................ 33 Eating Habits and Types of Food .......................................................................................... 34 Dress Codes ........................................................................................................................... 36 Non-Religious Holidays ........................................................................................................ 37 Yawm al-Nakba (Day of Catastrophe) ........................................................................... 37 Independence Day .......................................................................................................... 37 Dos and Don’ts ...................................................................................................................... 37 Chapter 3 Assessment ............................................................................................................ 39 CHAPTER 4: URBAN LIFE ........................................................................................................ 40 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 40 Urbanization Problems .......................................................................................................... 40 Work Problems in Urban Areas ............................................................................................. 41 Healthcare .............................................................................................................................. 42 Education and Urban Schools ................................................................................................ 44 Restaurants ............................................................................................................................. 45 Market Place and Street Vendors .......................................................................................... 45 Urban Traffic & Transportation ............................................................................................. 46 Street Crime, Terrorism, and Civil Unrest ............................................................................. 47 Chapter 4 Assessment ............................................................................................................ 48 CHAPTER 5: RURAL LIFE ........................................................................................................ 49 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 49 Palestinian Clan and Bedouin Tribal Distributions ............................................................... 49 Land Distribution ................................................................................................................... 51 Rural Economy ...................................................................................................................... 52 Rural Transportation .............................................................................................................. 53 Rural Healthcare and Education ...........................................................................................