Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has announced that areas under his control should from now on be referred to in official documents as “Palestine.”
Arafat’s office said this week in a statement that the West Bank would be called the Northern District and the Gaza Strip would be referred to as the Gaza District.
The terms “Gaza Strip” and “West Bank” are remnants from British control of the region, the statement said, adding that the new names would reflect the realities of Palestinian self-rule.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.