There are now technically two entities called the State of Palestine, which have some overlap in leadership but are nevertheless distinct:
• The first State of Palestine was declared by the Palestine Liberation Organization in 1988 and claims sovereign independence (with widespread international diplomatic recognition) despite no de facto control of territory.
• The second State of Palestine was established in 1994 and was originally known as the Palestinian National Authority. It has some actual governing authority but is subordinate to Israel in every important way. This Palestinian government is itself split in two between Fatah in the West Bank and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
• Additionally, some international organizations have admitted the Palestine Liberation Organization itself as a member instead of either Palestinian geopolitical entity.
A former British colony, Palestinian territory was dumped into what is now the State of Israel, located in the Middle East bordering the Mediterranean Sea between Egypt and Lebanon. Based on a mandate given by the United Nations, Palestine awaits delivery of its own territories for the creation of a sovereign state of its own. Currently, Palestine's government holds authority over three districts: Gaza Strip, West Bank and East Jerusalem but patches of the territories are under Israeli occupation.
Governance of Palestine consists of several bureaucratic bodies including the Palestinian National Authority. Legislation is the jurisdiction of the Palestine Legislative Council which stands as a parliamentary body. Administration is the jurisdiction of the President, Prime Minister and appointed cabinet ministers.
