Palestine (Latin: Syria Pal�stina; Hebrew: פלשתינה Palestina, ארץ־ישראל Eretz Yisrael; Arabic: فلسطين Filasṭīn), is a region in the Middle East extending inland from the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. Its political status is hotly disputed. See Palestine (region).

As even the term "Palestine" is open to many interpretations and has political connotations, its meaning varies tremendously across differing points of view on the political situation in the area.  : For varying definitions, see definitions of Palestine.

The origin of the term as a geographical description appears to be Latin, when Romans renamed the province of Judea Syria Pal�stina. This term was based on the Aegean people known as Philistines that lived in the coastal areas in pre-Roman times. Since then, the area has been subject to various administrative divisions and corresponding names.

For further information, see articles related to specific issues:

• History of Palestine
• Proposals for a Palestinian state
• Palestinian refugees
• List of Palestinian refugee camps
• Zionism
• Eretz Yisrael
• Palestinian territories
• British Mandate of Palestine
• State of Palestine
• Palestinians
• Palestinian Authority
• Proposals for a Palestinian state
• Israel
• Arab-Israeli conflict
• Occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem by Jordan
• Occupation of the Gaza Strip by Egypt