Saturday, January 24, 2009

Jessica Alba

Jessica Alba has been exposed. Last week we showed you her new Campari Calendar where she looked sexy and flawless. Now we are showing you the real deal. You didn’t think that she was that perfect did you? But I must admit she does come pretty darn close.

Jessica Alba looks gorgeous baring her post-baby body in these pictures for Campari’s 2009 Calendar. She said being a part of it let her “play out this sort of bombshell.” Uh, “sort of” bombshell?

It’s the 10th anniversary of the calendar and celebrities, by invitation only, will walk the red carpet for the celebration. The Campari Calendar is an international limited edition and considered a collectible luxury for the few that are able to get it.

There are only 9,999 copies of the calendar and will be available at year’s end. Most of Jessica’s photos were done by famed photographer Mario Testino.

Pixs Of Jessica Alba With Baby Honor In OK! Magazine

As reported last week, pictures of Jessica Alba, Cash Warren and baby Honor Marie can be seen in the latest issue of OK! Magazine; you can see more from the issue below…

The three of them make such a cute family. Honor is 6 weeks old already and looks a lot like her daddy.

Daddy Cash wanted his little girl to look like him:

The two agree their daughter looks more like dad than mom, which is a big relief to Cash. “I want her to look like me, because a daughter looking like Jessica, I’d kill myself!” he jokes.

Pixs Of Jessica Alba With Baby Honor In OK! Magazine

The couple were meant to be parents:

It sounds like both Jessica and Cash were born to be parents. “Cash is such a good husband and father,” Jessica says. “I’m so proud of him.” As for the actress, she’s “always had a motherly quality,” Cash says.

Pixs Of Jessica Alba With Baby Honor In OK! Magazine

Jessica loves being a mom:

“I just want to squeeze her and hug her so tight,” Jessica gushes

Pixs Of Jessica Alba With Baby Honor In OK! Magazine

More kids for Jess and Cash?

“We definitely want more kids — within the decade!” Cash exclaims.

Pixs Of Jessica Alba With Baby Honor In OK! Magazine

The First Pics of Jessica Alba’s Baby Are Out!

Posted on 16 July 2008 by CeCe

After making a stink about deciding not to sell their baby pictures…and then changing their minds, Jessica Alba and Cash Warren gave the exclusive rights to OK! magazine to publish the first photos of their baby girl, Honor Marie.

The First Pics of Jessica Alba’s Baby Are Out!

Here is some of the interview from the proud parents:

On giving birth: “I didn’t scream. It was really Zen. The labor was more like meditation, I did yoga breathing. I was focused.”

On baby Honor Marie Warren: “It hasn’t totally sunk in. She dreams, she smiles, and coos and does all these things, but she hasn’t seen enough of the world yet to understand any of that stuff. So I still feel like she’s connected to the other world, or something. There’s no other way to explain it. It’s a miracle.”

The First Pics of Jessica Alba’s Baby Are Out!

On getting back into shape: “I started working out last Thursday, but for 20 minutes. I do cardio on my own. I’m doing it slow. Now I’m starting to eat more healthy. Because after working out, having fried chicken and mashed potatoes is a little counteractive.”

So who does Honor look more like?

“She looks like a girl version of me,” Cash says. “She has my nose, my eyebrows and my…”
“Forehead and dimples,” Jessica finishes, adding, “She has my mouth when I was a baby. And my ears.”
“Maybe Honor is a mixture,” Cash reconsiders. “I want her to look like me, because a daughter looking like Jessica, I’d kill myself!”
The First Pics of Jessica Alba’s Baby Are Out!

Awww… the baby is cute! I bet they are glad they sold the pics, ya know, in case Jessica wants to retire from acting or something.

For the full interview and more pictures, you can pick up the mag on newsstands today!

Kirsty Gallacher

Biography
Kirsty Jane Gallacher was born on January 20, 1976, in Edinburgh, Scotland. The daughter of golf star Bernard Gallacher, she traveled with her father frequently and, even though her entire family had an interest in the sport, her career ambitions pointed elsewhere.

Early on, Kirsty Gallacher wanted to work in the fashion arena and, in order to reach that goal, she studied at the London College of Fashion. At a dinner event for her father, producers from Sky Television were there and they asked her to do a screen test for their upcoming sports channel, even though she balked at the idea of being in the world of televised sports. Nevertheless, she was hired by the station as a production assistant and later moved up to working in the editorial department.

kirsty gallacher hosts sky sports news and kirsty's home videos

After seasoning her skills in the editorial department, Kirsty Gallacher joined Sky Sports News as a presenter. Her beauty and enthusiasm on the job got her similar gigs for TV and radio shows like Kirsty and Phil and Soccer AM, as well as additional airtime from Sky One.

One of Kirsty Gallacher's new shows from Sky One came in 2000. It was called Kirsty's Home Videos, a variation on the similarly themed America's Funniest Home Videos. Based on videos that were sent in by viewers, the show quickly gained popularity and maintained a place on the network, even after new episodes were canceled. It also established Kirsty Gallacher as someone who could host other genres besides sports. In 2002, she added to her repertoire with gigs on the morning show RI:SE and the 2004 game show Simply the Best.

kirsty gallacher appears on the games and hosts gladiators

The year 2005 marked another milestone for Kirsty Gallacher -- she traded in hosting duties for contestant duties and joined the popular reality show The Games. Based on an Olympic model, the show features 10 celebrities competing against each other in a series of sports. When all was said and done, Kirsty Gallacher walked away with the gold medal and, as a result of her efforts, she was invited back for the following season as a cohost.

In 2008, Kirsty Gallacher cohosted another popular show on Sky1 -- this time it was Gladiators, a no-holds-barred battle between male and female contestants. Kirsty Gallacher cohosted the proceedings with Ian Wright, but despite popular ratings and an exciting format, she felt that the show wasn't a good match for her and quit after the conclusion of the first season. As she has too much talent to go away, Kirsty Gallacher will quickly turn up on another show and keep us smiling with her chipper demeanor and ample good looks.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

After historic day, Obama set to tackle agenda

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Barack Obama, fresh from the pageantry of his historic inauguration, will turn on Wednesday toward his goals of rescuing the economy, charting a new course for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and shaping his approach to the Middle East conflict.

Obama has pledged bold and swift action to deal with the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. He has also asked Americans for patience in grappling with challenges both foreign and domestic that will take time to resolve.

With financial markets reeling and job losses mounting, Obama will meet with his economic advisers, who are working with the Democratic-led Congress on an $825 billion fiscal stimulus package.

He also is seeking fresh approaches to repair the battered financial system and is mulling a host of ideas, including the creation of a government-run bank that would buy up toxic assets from ailing U.S. banks.

The aim is to rekindle the flow of the credit to the economy so businesses and consumers can get access to loans.

Iraq and Afghanistan will dominate Obama's foreign policy agenda, but he has also said he will take an active role to try to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

He may move quickly to name a Middle East envoy and is strongly considering George Mitchell, a former U.S. senator and veteran international troubleshooter, for the job.

In addition to the economic meeting, Obama will also sit down with top military officials to discuss Iraq and Afghanistan.

He has said he favors a 16-month timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and U.S. officials said that in his meeting with military leaders, he would discuss the possibility of accelerating their departure.

Obama also will discuss plans to bolster troops in Afghanistan as he meets with a Pentagon delegation led by Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Gen. David Petraeus, the former Iraq commander credited with pulling the country from the brink of civil war, was to attend Wednesday's meeting after flying back from Afghanistan.

SECRETARY OF STATE

A Senate vote is expected on Wednesday on Obama's nomination of Hillary Clinton as secretary of state.

But he will begin his new administration without a Treasury secretary. His nominee for the job, Tim Geithner, will face questions from a Senate panel about his past failure to pay some taxes.

Geithner has said the tax problem stemmed from an error and several senators have said they thought the issue would not prevent his confirmation.

Obama has found a receptive audience on Capitol Hill for his call for aggressive action to help the economy and hopes to garner bipartisan support for the massive stimulus package.

But Republicans have raised questions about the package, including how quickly the money will be spent and whether certain projects will actually kick-start the economy, which has been in a recession for over a year.

Obama is pressing for passage of the package by mid-February.

(Additional reporting by Matt Spetalnick, Jeremy Pelofsky and David Morgan; Editing by Patricia Zengerle)

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Full text of Obama’s speech

This is the full text of President Obama’s inauguration speech:



My fellow citizens: I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and co-operation he has shown throughout this transition.


Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.


So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.


That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.


These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America’s decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.


Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met.


On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.


On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.


We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.


In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labour, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.


For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and travelled across oceans in search of a new life.


For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and ploughed the hard earth.


For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.


Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.


This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.


For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology’s wonders to raise health care’s quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.


Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.


What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public’s dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.


Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favours only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.


As for our common defence, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience’s sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.


Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.


We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the spectre of a warming planet. We will not apologise for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.


For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.


To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society’s ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.


To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world’s resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.


As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.


For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the fire-fighter’s courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent’s willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.


Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.


This is the price and the promise of citizenship.


This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.


This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.


So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have travelled. In the year of America’s birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people: “Let it be told to the future world…that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive…that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it].”


America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children’s children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God’s grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.


SUmber: Independent

Monday, January 19, 2009

Beyonce






Biography

Born on September 4, 1981, to a loving family in Houston, Texas, Beyonce (rhymes with fiance) Giselle Knowles showed an aptitude for music before she could even talk. As a young girl, she would drown out everyone, including the choir, on Sundays at church. Every weekend, she tuned her voice by doing soulful hymns with the congregation and then moved on to opera classes, in which she was classically trained.

beyonce in destiny's child

A normal childhood was not in the books for Beyonce. At 8 years old, she met LaTavia Robertson while auditioning for a girl musical group and Matthew Knowles, Beyonce's manager and father, later paired the two with LeToya Luckett. In 1992, cousin Kelly Rowland joined the group, and they performed together on Star Search.

Small gigs and much label-shopping later, the four beauties cemented their relationship by calling themselves Destiny's Child. In 1997, "No, No, No" became their first official single, and they got off to a big start as the track went multiplatinum. The girls were instantly popular in the media and impressed all with their self-titled debut.

If critics were impressed with this new R&B group's success, they were absolutely floored when The Writing's on the Wall hit stores in 1999. DC, led by the incomparable Beyonce, had three top 10 hits within the year: "Jumpin, Jumpin," "Say My Name" and "Bills, Bills, Bills." They became one of the best-selling female groups of recent memory after this second album sold more than 9 million units worldwide. At the same time, it was announced that their single "Independent Women Part 1," off the Charlie's Angels soundtrack, had reached the largest audience ever in the recorded radio airplay -- 140.4 million pairs of ears.

beyonce's grammys

Shortly after the announcement of five Grammy nominations at the 2001 awards show and the excitement of the unbelievable record sales, LeToya and LaTavia left the group amid management struggles. Legal problems ensued, but Destiny's Child became whole again with the arrival of Michelle Williams, and, for a short stint only, backup singer Farrah Franklin. At the Grammys, DC took home two awards, Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group, both for "Say My Name."

As a trio, Destiny's Child's third album, Survivor, which debuted in the spring of 2001, garnered a whole new set of hits, like "Bootylicious" and the title track. The success of Survivor resulted in another Grammy for the group in February 2002. In fact, the American Music, MTV, Soul Train, and Image Awards all showered the group with more hardware and praise.

beyonce in austin powers

After all this success, the group's three talented "sistas" decided to try their hands at solo careers before investing their time in another Destiny's Child album. To no one's surprise, Beyonce captured the bulk of the spotlight with her sex appeal and strong vocals. Even before her first album was organized, she had a hit with Jay-Z called "Bonnie and Clyde '03" and was cracking up audiences with her big-screen debut alongside Mike Myers in Austin Powers in Goldmember

(2002). This simply prepared fans for what was to come with Dangerously In Love, released in June 2003.

In 2003, Beyonce ventured onto the big screen again in the musical/comedy The Fighting Temptations alongside Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr.

beyonce's crazy in love

Beyonce displayed a versatile style with this solo effort, creating the club hit "Baby Boy," the pop success "Crazy In Love" and the soulful "The Closer I Get To You" with Luther Vandross. Like her work in Destiny's Child, Beyonce wrote or cowrote many of the tracks and performed her heart out on award shows to get the word out to a huge audience. She has emerged as a diva, making the best videos, catchiest songs and creating the most headlines. At 2004's Grammy ceremony, Beyonce took away five awards and was the biggest winner of the night (a feat Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys and Norah Jones each accomplished in previous years). It was also during this time that Beyonce become involved with her "Crazy In Love" duet partner, Jay-Z.

In 2006, Beyonce hit the big screen again in The Pink Panther with comedic icon Steve Martin. The movie debuted at No. 1 on its opening weekend, and further solidified Beyonce as a double threat in the industry.

beyonce releases b'day

Beyonce's second solo effort, B'Day, was released in September 2006 with much success, selling 3,116,000 copies worldwide (and released on her 25th birthday). The singles "Deja Vu," "Ring the Alarm" and "Irreplaceable" all hit No. 1 on the charts, and the album was nominated for an outstanding five Grammy Awards in 2007.

Beyonce was no stranger to award nominations in 2007, however, as her role in the musical Dreamgirls (2006) garnered the star her first official nomination as an actress by none other than the prestigious Golden Globes. She was also awarded the International Artist Award at the 2007 American Music Awards.

beyonce is named no. 14 in 2008 top 99

Beyonce has gained a lot of recognition on AskMen.com. She was voted as the No. 1 Most Desirable Woman of 2007, so it's understandable why she has a high ranking on our Top 99 list of 2008. With fame, fortune and the most bootylicious booty out there, we just can't seem to get enough of Beyonce.

beyonce releases i am... sasha fierce

After touring extensively, Beyonce released her third album entitled I Am... Sasha Fierce, using her "alter-ego" (or her "stage personality" Sasha Fierce) for inspiration. The album had several number one hits. She plans on touring starting in the spring of 2009.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Gaza Strip

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008


Map of Gaza Strip

Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
Introduction Gaza Strip Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
The September 1993 Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements provided for a transitional period of Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Under a series of agreements signed between May 1994 and September 1999, Israel transferred to the Palestinian Authority (PA) security and civilian responsibility for Palestinian-populated areas of the West Bank and Gaza. Negotiations to determine the permanent status of the West Bank and Gaza stalled following the outbreak of an intifada in September 2000, as Israeli forces reoccupied most Palestinian-controlled areas. In April 2003, the Quartet (US, EU, UN, and Russia) presented a roadmap to a final settlement of the conflict by 2005 based on reciprocal steps by the two parties leading to two states, Israel and a democratic Palestine. The proposed date for a permanent status agreement was postponed indefinitely due to violence and accusations that both sides had not followed through on their commitments. Following Palestinian leader Yasir ARAFAT's death in late 2004, Mahmud ABBAS was elected PA president in January 2005. A month later, Israel and the PA agreed to the Sharm el-Sheikh Commitments in an effort to move the peace process forward. In September 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew all its settlers and soldiers and dismantled its military facilities in the Gaza Strip and withdrew settlers and redeployed soldiers from four small northern West Bank settlements. Nonetheless, Israel controls maritime, airspace, and most access to the Gaza Strip. A November 2005 PA-Israeli agreement authorized the reopening of the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt under joint PA and Egyptian control. In January 2006, the Islamic Resistance Movement, HAMAS, won control of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). The international community refused to accept the HAMAS-led government because it did not recognize Israel, would not renounce violence, and refused to honor previous peace agreements between Israel and the PA. HAMAS took control of the PA government in March 2006, but President ABBAS had little success negotiating with HAMAS to present a political platform acceptable to the international community so as to lift economic sanctions on Palestinians. The PLC was unable to convene throughout most of 2006 as a result of Israel's detention of many HAMAS PLC members and Israeli-imposed travel restrictions on other PLC members. Violent clashes took place between Fatah and HAMAS supporters in the Gaza Strip in 2006 and early 2007, resulting in numerous Palestinian deaths and injuries. ABBAS and HAMAS Political Bureau Chief MISHAL in February 2007 signed the Mecca Agreement in Saudi Arabia that resulted in the formation of a Palestinian National Unity Government (NUG) headed by HAMAS member Ismail HANIYA. However, fighting continued in the Gaza Strip, and in June, HAMAS militants succeeded in a violent takeover of all military and governmental institutions in the Gaza Strip. ABBAS dismissed the NUG and through a series of Presidential decrees formed a PA government in the West Bank led by independent Salam FAYYAD. HAMAS rejected the NUG's dismissal and has called for resuming talks with Fatah, but ABBAS has ruled out negotiations until HAMAS agrees to a return of PA control over the Gaza Strip and recognizes the FAYYAD-led government. FAYYAD and his PA government initiated a series of security and economic reforms to improve conditions in the West Bank. ABBAS participated in talks with Israel's Prime Minister OLMERT and secured the release of some Palestinian prisoners and previously withheld customs revenue. During a November 2007 international meeting in Annapolis Maryland, ABBAS and OLMERT agreed to resume peace negotiations with the goal of reaching a final peace settlement by the end of 2008.
Geography Gaza Strip Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Israel
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
31 25 N, 34 20 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Middle East
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 360 sq km
land: 360 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 62 km
border countries: Egypt 11 km, Israel 51 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
40 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
flat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Auda) 105 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
arable land, natural gas
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 29%
permanent crops: 21%
other: 50% (2002)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
150 sq km; note - includes West Bank (2003)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
droughts
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
desertification; salination of fresh water; sewage treatment; water-borne disease; soil degradation; depletion and contamination of underground water resources
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
strategic strip of land along Mideast-North African trade routes has experienced an incredibly turbulent history; the town of Gaza itself has been besieged countless times in its history
People Gaza Strip Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,500,202 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 44.7% (male 343,988/female 325,856)
15-64 years: 52.7% (male 403,855/female 386,681)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 16,196/female 23,626) (2008 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 17.2 years
male: 17 years
female: 17.4 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.422% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
37.75 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.53 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 19 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 20.22 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 17.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 73.16 years
male: 71.6 years
female: 74.83 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.19 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: NA
adjective: NA
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Palestinian Arab
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 99.3%, Christian 0.7%
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by many Palestinians), English (widely understood)
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.4%
male: 96.7%
female: 88% (2004 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Definition Field Listing
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Government Gaza Strip Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Gaza Strip
local long form: none
local short form: Qita Ghazzah
Economy Gaza Strip Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
High population density, limited land access, and strict internal and external security controls have kept economic conditions in the Gaza Strip - the smaller of the two areas under the Palestinian Authority (PA)- even more degraded than in the West Bank. The beginning of the second intifada in September 2000 sparked an economic downturn, largely the result of Israeli closure policies; these policies, which were imposed to address security concerns in Israel, disrupted labor and trade access to and from the Gaza Strip. In 2001, and even more severely in 2003, Israeli military measures in PA areas resulted in the destruction of capital, the disruption of administrative structures, and widespread business closures. The Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in September 2005 offered some medium-term opportunities for economic growth, but continued Israeli-imposed crossings closures, which became more restrictive after Hamas violently took over the territory in June 2007, have resulted in widespread private sector layoffs and shortages of most goods.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$5.034 billion (includes West Bank) (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$5.328 billion (includes West Bank) (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-8% (includes West Bank) (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1,100 (includes West Bank) (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 8%
industry: 13%
services: 79% (includes West Bank) (2006 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
267,000 (2006)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 12%
industry: 18%
services: 70% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
34.8% (2006)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $1.149 billion
expenditures: $2.31 billion
note: includes West Bank (2006)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.6% (includes West Bank) (2006)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.73% (31 December 2006)
Stock of money:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.574 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$3.048 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.455 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
olives, citrus, vegetables; beef, dairy products
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
generally small family businesses that produce textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis had established some small-scale modern industries in an industrial center, but operations ceased prior to Israel's evacuation of Gaza Strip settlements
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.4% (includes West Bank) (2005)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
140,000 kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
230,000 kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
90,000 kWh; note - from Israeli Electric Company (2005)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$301 million f.o.b.; (includes West Bank) (2005)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
citrus, flowers, textiles
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Israel, Egypt, West Bank (2006)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$2.44 billion c.i.f.; (includes West Bank) (2005)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
food, consumer goods, construction materials
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Israel, Egypt, West Bank (2006)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$NA
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
new Israeli shekel (ILS)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar - 4.14 (2007), 4.4565 (2006), 4.4877 (2005), 4.482 (2004), 4.5541 (2003)
Communications Gaza Strip Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
350,400 (includes West Bank) (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.026 million (includes West Bank) (2007)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: NA
domestic: Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL are responsible for fixed line services; the Palestinian JAWAL company provides cellular services
international: country code - 970 (2004)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 0, FM 10, shortwave 0 (2008)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
1 (2008)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.ps; note - same as West Bank
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
355,500 (includes West Bank) (2007)
Transportation Gaza Strip Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Heliports:
Definition Field Listing
1 (2007)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
note: see entry for West Bank
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Gaza
Military Gaza Strip Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
in accordance with the peace agreement, the Palestinian Authority is not permitted conventional military forces; there are, however, public security forces (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 337,670 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 291,467 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Definition Field Listing
male: 19,275
female: 18,309 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Transnational Issues Gaza Strip Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation; Israel removed settlers and military personnel from the Gaza Strip in August 2005
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
Definition Field Listing
refugees (country of origin): 1.017 million (Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA)) (2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008