5 Middle Eastern Countries That Share Borders with Israel

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Israel as a state was established in 1948, on the land of Palestine, a British colony. Israel shared borders with several Middle Eastern countries, as well as the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea.

With an area of 22,072-kilometer square, Israel shares a border with several countries, including Palestine. Israel has been accused of committing genocide of Palestinians at the International Court of Justice and has continued its aggression in Palestine’s Gaza Strip.

Below is the list of five countries that share borders with Israel:

1. Palestine

Palestinian territories, including the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, have been the center of hostilities with Israel enforcing a military occupation in the West Bank and a siege in Gaza.

The dispute between Israel and Palestine could be traced back to 1948, when the Nakba, or catastrophe in Arabic, occurred. Palestinians have fought for their liberation under Israeli occupation for decades, with the recent escalation of hostilities displacing most Palestinians in Gaza from their homes and killing tens of thousands.

In its fight for self-determination, Palestine has been recognized as a sovereign country by 138 out of 193 UN members, while Israel has been recognized by 165 countries.

2. Lebanon

Lebanon is located on the north border of Israel, with Beirut as its capital city. Diverging from other Middle Eastern countries, Lebanon has a Mediterranean climate with a hot summer and wet winter. The country is known for its rich cultural heritage, including ancient Rome ruins, mesmerizing mosques, and mouthwatering food.

Similar to other Middle Eastern countries, however, Lebanon is also involved in conflict with Israel since 1948. Citing Nations Online, Israel treats Lebanon as an "enemy state." Israeli citizens are banned from visiting Jordan without permission. Travelers who hold passports that contain visas or entry/exit stamps for Israel will likely be denied entry into Lebanon.

3. Syria

Syria is one of the oldest countries in the world with Damascus as its capital city, bordering with Israel in its northeastern parts. Syria gained its independence in 1946 and has since been involved in conflicts with its neighbor Israel.

Israel and Syria have been in a state of war since the establishment of the State of Israel. Syria has never recognized Israel and does not accept Israeli passports for entry into Syria. Israel regards Syria as an enemy state and bans its citizens from visiting the country without permission.

4. Jordan

Jordan bordered Israel in the east and has Amman as its capital city. The country has a severely dry climate with a river that stretches through the country to the Dead Sea.

Jordanians have lived in the area for more than 2,000 years, but the country gained its independence in 1946. Since then, the country has been involved in several conflicts with Israel, but a 1994 peace treaty led to official diplomatic relations between the two countries.

According to Nations Online, Wadi Araba Crossing and Jordan River Crossing are international border crossings between Jordan and Israel. The Allenby Bridge near Jericho connects the West Bank with Jordan; it is the only exit/entry point for West Bank Palestinians traveling abroad.

5. Egypt

With Cairo as a capital city, Egypt bordered the southwestern parts of Israel. Egypt houses the longest river in the world, the Nile, and the historical Giza pyramid complex.

The peace between Egypt and Israel has lasted now for forty years. But only in January 1980, full diplomatic relations between Israel and Egypt were established. Egypt has an embassy in Tel Aviv; Israel has an embassy in Cairo. There are two official Isreal-Egypt border crossings, one at Taba in the south and one at Nitzana.

However, the Arab-Israeli conflict keeps relations between the countries subdued, and anti-Israeli incitement is prevalent in the Egyptian media. On the other hand, Internet incitement against Arabs in Israel is on the rise.

RIZKI DEWI AYU | NATIONS ONLINE

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