Palestine , just as its neighbors to the east, north, south and west, is the birthplace of the world's three major religions. Palestine has been a meeting place for cultures since prehistoric time. Pilgrims have been visiting this land since the beginning of history. This narrow bridge of land nestled on the western end of the Fertile Crescent between Africa and Asia has been influenced by so many civilizations, from Pharononic Egypt , to the Moslem and Christian Arabs, Greeks and Romans. Alexander the Great occupied Palestine after defeating the Persians. The Romans occupied Palestine in 63BC and rules for almost 400 years. Century after century the land of Palestine was conquered and different influences continued to build the local culture. The Arab-Islamic period lasted from the early 7th century right through until 1918. Following World War One, the Turkish rulers were defeated and Palestine was occupied by the Allied Forces as a protectorate of Great Britain . Following World War Two, the United Nations voted to partition of Palestine into two countries – one for the Arabs and one for the Jews. In 1948 when the State of Israel was declared and the fighting that soon followed, the West Bank of the Jordan River fell into Jordanian control while the Gaza Strip was absorbed by Egypt . In 1967, during the course of the "Six Day War," the Israeli armies swept across the West Bank and Gaza and occupied these territories.

Much has been written and much can be said about the modern history of Palestine . Some call May 15, 1948 the day of Israeli independence, while Palestine calls it the Nakba (catastrophe). The Middle East has entered into a period of hope for the future. The Palestinian people are a warm, educated people that welcome the tourist. We hope that by visiting Palestine , you will come away with a love for this land, and that your visit will bring you a new understanding of the Holyland, and will bring peace to the land.