1. Country profile
 

Capital: Ramallah/Gaza (provisional) since East-Jerusalem is claimed to be the legitimate capital
Population: 4.1 million 
Ethnic groups: West Bank: Palestinian Arab 83%, Jewish 17%; Gaza Strip: Palestinian Arab 99,3% Others 0,7%
Religions: West Bank: Muslim 75%, Jewish 17%, Christian 8% Gaza Strip: Muslims 99,3%, 0,7% Christian
 
Regime Type: Parliamentary Democracy
Head of state:  Mahmoud Abbas (Fatah, Contested by Hamas) ,
Head of Government:  Salam Fayyad; (Exercising authority in the Gaza Strip: Ismail Haniyah (Hamas))
Parliament: Palestinian Legislative Council (Last elections; 2006)
Hamas (Islamist-Fundamentalist, 74) Fatah (Left Wing, 45) Martyr Abu Ali Mustafa/ Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, (Marxist-Leninist, Communist, 3) al-Badeel / The Alternative (Socialist, 2) Palestinian National Initiative (Socialist, 2) Third Way (Centrist, 2), Independents (4)
 
Freedom House Ranking: not free
 
GDP / Capita (2008): 1,485 US$  
Literacy Rate:  94%
Unemployment Rate: Westbank: 16.5% Gaza: 40%
Human Development Index (2009): 0,737 (110th) 
 

Affected by regional protests

2. Political situation
 
Based on the two-year state-building plan of Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and in lack of progress in the peace process, President Mahmoud Abbas submitted an application for UN membership of Palestine on 23rd September 2011. This request provoked strong opposition by Israel and the US and failed in the UN Security Council.
 
The President continues following his policy of non-violence, negotiations and state-building.
 
Fatah and Hamas signed a reconciliation deal on 4th May 2011 in Cairo. However, no national unity government has been found so far. On the basis of this agreement, parliamentary (PLC) and presidential elections should be held by May 2012.
 
3. Key issues
 
• State-building and the international recognition of the Palestinian state
 
• The reconciliation of the various factions and the setting up of a national unity government
 
• Presidential and parliamentary (PLC) elections
 
• The resumption of direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, based on the timetable proposed by the Quartet and on the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as the capital of both states.
 
4. EU / oPt  relations
 
The occupied Palestinian Territory is part of the Euro-Med process and has since 1997 an Interim Association Agreement with the EU that provides preferential access to EU markets for Palestinian goods.
 
The EU is the largest single donor of humanitarian aid and development assistance to Palestinians. On 6 May 2011, the European Commission decided to provide an additional financial package worth €85 million for the oPT under the 2011 budget. This comes in addition to the €100 million already approved from ENPI. EU support to Palestinians averages a yearly €500 million since 2007.
 
5. Like-minded partners
 
S&D President Martin Schulz visited the occupied Palestinian Territory in early November 2011 and met with key partners in the country.
 
Sister parties
 
Two Palestinian parties are members of the Socialist International: Fatah and Al Mubadara-Palestinian National Initiative.
The S&D Group signed a partnership agreement with Fatah in 2010.
 
Civil society organisations
 
The S&D Group is in permanent cooperation with various Palestinian civil society organisations.
 
Updated 14.12.11