Palestine, a former British mandate in southwest Asia at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea, has an area of 10,160 sq. mi. (26,315 sq. km.). It included Israel and that part of Jordan lying west of the Jordan River. Ancient Palestine (the territory owned in biblical times by the kingdoms of Israel and Judah) was somewhat larger, including lands east of the Jordan River. ,Because of its position as part of the land bridge connecting Asia and Africa, Palestine was invaded and conquered by virtually all the historic powers of Europe and the Near East. From 1519 to 1917, it was held by the Ottoman Empire. In 1917, it was conquered by the British under Allenby and assigned as a British mandate, effective 1922. The British ruled Palestine until 1948, and succeeded in satisfying neither the Arab nor the Jewish population. The United Nations recommended the establishment of separate Jewish and Arab states in Palestine. ,, ,The British left Palestine on May 14, 1948, and the State of Israel was proclaimed. In 1950, the Kingdom of Jordan annexed the west bank of the Jordan River. This was seized by Israel during the 1967 war, bringing the entire former mandate under Israeli administration.,, Rulers:,,, ,British, 1917-1948,, Monetary System:,,, ,1 Pound = 1000 Mils,,