There are eight criteria accepted by the international community used to determine whether an

entity is an independent country or not. A country need only fail on one of the eight criteria to
not meet the definition of independent country status. Palestine (and I shall consider either or
both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank in this analysis) does not meet all eight criteria; it fails
somewhat on one of the eight criteria...
1. Has space or territory that has internationally recognized boundaries (boundary disputes are OK):
Somewhat. Both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank have internationally recognized boundaries.
However, these boundaries are not legally fixed.
2. Has people who live there on an ongoing basis: Yes, the Gaza Strip's population is 1,710,257 and the
population of the West Bank is 2,622,544 (as of mid-2012).
3. Has economic activity and an organized economy. A country regulates foreign and domestic trade and
issues money: Somewhat. The economies of both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank are disrupted by
conflict, especially in Hamas-controlled Gaza only limited industry and economic activity is possible.
Both regions have exports of agricultural products and the West Bank exports stone. Both entities utilize
the new Israeli shekel as their currency.
4. Has the power of social engineering, such as education: Somewhat. The Palestinian Authority does
have social engineering power in fields such as education and health care. Hamas in Gaza also provides
social services.
5. Has a transportation system for moving goods and people: Yes; both entities have roads and other
transportation systems.
6. Has a government that provides public services and police or military power: Somewhat. While the
Palestinian Authority is permitted to provide local law enforcement, Palestine does not have its own
military. Nonetheless, as can be seen in the latest conflict, Hamas in Gaza does have control of a
extensive militia.
7. Has sovereignty. No other State should have power over the country's territory: Somewhat. The West
Bank and Gaza Strip do not yet have full sovereignty and control over their own territory.
8. Has external recognition. A country has been "voted into the club" by other countries: No. Despite the
super-majority of United Nations members approving United Nations General Assembly resolution
67/19 on November 29, 2012, giving Palestine non-member state observer status, Palestine is not yet
eligible to join the United Nations as an independent country. While dozens of countries recognize
Palestine as independent, it has not yet attained full independent status, despite the UN resolution. If
the UN resolution had allowed Palestine to join the United Nations as a full member state, it would have
immediately been recognized as an independent country.