A Short Introduction To The Philately Of Palestine

Post and Telecommunications

In general, the post system consists of post offices and agencies, post boxes, internal and external mails, while the telecommunication system consists primarily of the main telephone lines, mobiles, telex services, and internet services.

Table 4.1 which represents mail arrived in Gaza Strip shows that 328 abroad telegrams, 752 inland telegrams, 1,124 abroad parcels, 26,205 registered mail, 1,078,384 regular and air mail, 1,016 express mail, were in Gaza Strip in 1996 and the total material of mail during this year consisted of 1,107,809 pieces.
Table 4.2 shows that in the same year 321,323 mails were dispatched from Gaza Strip of which 619 were inland telegrams, 29,499 registered mail, and 291,205 regular and air mail.
Table 4.3 shows that 2,222,604 mail letters and parcels arrived in the Remaining West Bank in 1996 distributed as follows: 2,121,071 regular and air mail, 4,494 registered quick mail, 779 abroad telegrams, 2,521 inland telegrams, 2,131 aboard parcels, 85,608 registered mail.
Table 4.4 shows that the dispatched pieces of mail from the Remaining West Bank in the same year were 175,379 distributed as follows: 118,085 regular and air mail, 376 aboard telegrams, 2,522 inland telegrams, 54,396 registered mail.

The data obtained form ICBS sources, about the arrived and dispatched mail in Gaza Strip covers the 1968-1971 period, only, and coincides with data available from the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, but no data is available for the Remaining West Bank.
Data on mail in Gaza Strip covers a complete time series from 1967-1996, but data related to the Remaining West Bank does not. It is worthy to mention that the above data does not cover the post services provided by private institutions, but it is restricted to the services provided by the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications only.

Mail Received in the RWB consisted of 2,500,095 postal materials in 1998, with a monthly average of 208,341 pieces. The percentage distribution of these materials shows that the majority were regular letters, where they formed 87.9%. The percentage of printed matters was 9.2%, while the percentage of registered letters was 2.4%, and the remaining percentage (0.5%) covered express mail, parcels, telegrams, and small packets (Fig. 12 & Table 25).

The maximum number of postal materials was in December, where there were 290,955 postal materials, and the minimum number of these materials was in May, where there was 131,091 pieces.

Regarding dispatched mail from the RWB in 1998, there were 1,131,294 postal materials, with a monthly average of 94,275 pieces. The fact that telephone bills are considered as regular letters made them a majority of postal materials (94.4%). The percentage of registered mail was 3.2%, and that of printed matters formed 2.1%, while the remaining (0.3%) was classified as other postal materials which contain express mail, parcels, telegrams, and small packets.

The maximum number of these materials was in December 1998, where there were 178,494 pieces, and the minimum value of these materials (61,403) was in May (Table 26). Fig. 13 illustrates the percentage distribution of material dispatched from the RWB.

The total number of postal materials received in GS was 1,049,386 in 1998, with a monthly average of 87,449. Regular letters and regular printed matters formed 96.6% of the total materials. This was due to the consideration of telephone bills as regular letters. Registered letters and registered printed matters formed only 2.8%, while the rest (remaining postal materials which contain express mail, parcels, telegrams, and small packets) formed only 0.6% (Fig. 14).

The maximum number of these materials was 131,092 and this was in December, while the minimum number was 60,955 and this was in May (Table 27). The dispatched mail from GS in the same year was 561,768 postal materials, averaging 46,814 pieces per month. The maximum number of these materials was in February (105,728), while the minimum number was in May (26,477).

The percentage distribution of dispatched mail shows that regular letters together with printed matters form 93.9%, while both registered letters and printed matters form only 6.1% (Table 28). It is worth mentioning that there is no data available in GS regarding dispatched express mail, parcels, telegrams, and small packets.

3.4 The Post:

Mail Received in the RWB consisted of 2,786,000 postal materials in 1999, with a monthly average of 232,167 pieces (Table 23). The percentage distribution of these materials shows that the majority were regular letters, where they formed 86.8%. The percentage of printed matters was 9.8%, while the percentage of registered letters was 2.8%, and the remaining percentage (0.6%) covered express mail, parcels, telegrams, and small packets (Fig. 11).

The maximum number of postal materials was in November, where there were 328,151 postal materials, and the minimum number of these materials was in May, where there was 139,898 pieces (Table 23).

Regarding dispatched mail from the RWB in 1999, there were 1,366,621 postal materials, with a monthly average of 113,885 pieces (Table 24).

The fact that telephone bills are considered as regular letters made them a majority of postal materials (93.3%). The percentage of registered mail was 4.1%, and that of printed matters formed 2.3%, while the remaining (0.3%) was classified as other postal materials which contain express mail, parcels, telegrams, and small packets (Fig. 12).

The maximum number of these materials was in December 1999, where there were 177,944 pieces, and the minimum value of these materials (70,793) was in May (Table 24).

The total number of postal materials received in GS was 740,136 in 1999, with a monthly average of 61,678. Regular letters and regular printed matters formed 95.1% of the total materials. This was due to the consideration of telephone bills as regular letters. Registered letters and registered printed matters formed only 4.1%, while the rest (remaining postal materials which contain express mail, parcels, telegrams, and small packets) formed only 0.8% (Fig. 13).

The maximum number of these materials was 88,821 and this was in July, while the minimum number was 29,108 and this was in February (Table 25).

The dispatched mail from GS in the same year was 510,532 postal materials, averaging 42,544 pieces per month. The maximum number of these materials was in February 79,984, while the minimum number was in January 21,547 (Table 26).

The percentage distribution of dispatched mail shows that regular letters together with printed matters form 93.1%, while both registered letters and printed matters form only 6.9% (Table 26). It is worth mentioning that there is no data available in GS regarding dispatched express mail, parcels, telegrams, and small packets.

3.4 The Post:

Mail Received in the RWB consisted of 4,203,706 postal materials in 2000, with a monthly average of 350,309 pieces (Table 26). The percentage distribution of these materials shows that the majority were regular letters, where they formed 92.3%. The percentage of printed matters was 5.0%, while the percentage of registered letters was 1.9%, and the remaining percentage (0.8%) covered express mail, parcels, telegrams, and small packets (Fig. 13).

The maximum number of postal materials was in July, where there were 579,136 postal materials, and the minimum number of these materials was in October, where there was 130,708 pieces (Table 26).

Regarding dispatched mail from the RWB in 2000, there were 3,107,891 postal materials, with a monthly average of 258,991 pieces (Table 27).

The fact that telephone bills are considered as regular letters made them a majority of postal materials (96.1%). The percentage of registered mail was 2.1%, and that of printed matters formed 1.4%, while the remaining (0.4%) was classified as other postal materials which contain parcels, telegrams, and small packets (Fig. 14).

The maximum number of these materials was in July 2000, there were 472,205 pieces in this month, and the minimum number of these materials (78,706) was in October (Table 27).

The total number of postal materials received in GS was 1,009,469 in 2000, with a monthly average of 84,122. Regular letters formed 95.0% of the total materials. This was due to the consideration of telephone bills as regular letters. Printed matters formed 3.4%. Registered letters formed only 1.2%, while the rest (remaining postal materials which contain express mail, parcels, telegrams, and small packets) formed only 0.4% (Fig. 28).

The maximum number of these materials was 156,421 in July, while the minimum number was 29,790 in June (Table 28).

The dispatched mail from GS in the same year was 702,385 postal materials, averaging 58,532 pieces per month. The maximum number of these materials was in July 117,024 while the minimum number was in October 15,011 (Table 29).

The percentage distribution of dispatched mail shows that regular letters formed 96.3%, Printed materials formed 2.3%. Registered letters formed 1.3%, while the rest (remaining postal materials which contain telegrams, and small packets) formed only 0.1%. (Table 29).

3.4 The Post:

Mail Received in the RWB consisted of 3,090,540 postal materials in 2001, with a monthly average of 257,545 pieces (Table 28). The percentage distribution of these materials shows that the majority were regular letters, where they formed 90.7%. The percentage of printed matters was 6.1%, while the percentage of registered letters was 2.2%, and the remaining percentage (1.0%) covered express mail, parcels, telegrams, and small packets (Fig. 14).

The maximum number of postal materials was in January, where there were 453,572 postal materials, and the minimum number of these materials was in October, where there was 138,258 pieces (Table 28).

Regarding dispatched mall from the RWB in 2001, there were 1,750,905 postal materials, with a monthly average of 145,909 pieces (Table 29).

The fact that telephone bills are considered as regular letters made them a majority of postal materials (96.0%). The percentage of registered mall was 1.5%, and that of printed matters formed 2.2%, while the remaining (0.3%) was classified as other postal materials which contain parcels, telegrams, and small packets (Fig. 15).

The maximum number of these materials was in January 2001, there were 364,481 pieces in this month, and the minimum number of these materials (57,734) was in June (Table 29).

The total number of postal materials received in GS was 912,787 in 2001, with a monthly average of 76,066. Regular letters formed 93.6% of the total materials. This was due to the consideration of telephone bills as regular letters. Printed matters formed 4.7%. Registered letters formed only 1.3%, while the rest (remaining postal materials which contain express mail, parcels, telegrams, and small packets) formed only 0.4% (Fig. 16).

The maximum number of these materials was 138,845 in July, while the minimum number was 24,432 in April (Table 30).

The dispatched mail from GS in the same year was 662,175 postal materials, averaging 55,181 pieces per month. The maximum number of these materials was in July 122,846 while the minimum number was in April 11,717 (Table 16).

The percentage distribution of dispatched mail shows that regular letters formed 96.1 %, Printed materials formed 2.5%. Registered letters formed 1.3%, while the rest (remaining postal materials which contain telegrams, and small packets) formed only 0.1%. (Table 16).

3.4.1 Post Boxes and Mail service Centers:

The total number of post boxes in the RWBGS was 13,970 at the end of 2001, out of which 12,035 were in the RWB, 1,935 were in GS. The number of mall service centers was 357, of which 81 mail service office distributed as 57 in the RWB, and 24 in GS, while it was 276 mail service division in RWB. (Table 32).

3.4 The Post:

Mail Received in RWB consisted of 2,990,911 postal materials in 2002, with a monthly average of 249,243 pieces. The percentage distribution of these materials shows that the majority were regular letters, where they formed 91.8%. The percentage of printed matters was 5.0%, while the percentage of registered letters was 1.8%, and the remaining percentage 1.4% covered express mail, parcels, telegrams, and small packets.

The maximum number of postal materials was in January, where there were 419,967 postal materials, and the minimum number of these materials was in April, zero (Table 28).

Regarding to dispatched mail from RWB in 2002, there were 1,277,625 postal materials, with a monthly average of 106,469 pieces. The fact that telephone bills are considered as regular letters made them a majority of postal materials 93.8%. The percentage of registered mail was 3.3%, and that of printed matters formed 2.4%, while the remaining 0.5% was classified as other postal materials which contain parcels, telegrams, and small packets.

The maximum number of these materials was in January 2002, there were 205,434 pieces in this month, and the minimum number of these materials (zero) was in April (Table 29).

The total number of postal materials received in GS was 767,558 in 2002, with a monthly average of 63,963. Regular letters formed 91.7% of the total materials. This was due to the consideration of telephone bills as regular letters. Printed matters formed 6.3%. Registeredletters formed only 1.5%, while the rest (remaining postal materials which contain express mail, parcels, telegrams, and small packets) formed only 0.5%.

The maximum number of these materials was 136,203 in July, while the minimum number was 23,183 in December (Table 30).

The dispatched mail from GS in the same year was 458,221 postal materials, averaging 38,185 pieces per month. The maximum number of these materials was in January 90,370 while the minimum number was in March 9,742.

The percentage distribution of dispatched mail shows that regular letters formed 96.0%, Printed materials formed 1.7%. Registered letters formed 2.2%, while the rest (remaining postal materials which contain telegrams, and small packets) formed only 0.1%. (Table 31).

3.4.1 Post Boxes and Mail service Centers:

The total number of post boxes in RWBGS was 14,030 at the end of 2002, out of which 11,960 were in RWB, 2,070 were in GS. The number of mail service centers was 355, of which 79 mail service office distributed as 57 in RWB, and 22 in GS, while it was 276 mail service divison in RWB. (Table 32).

3.4 The Post office data:

International received mail in RWB consisted of 656,863 postal materials in 2003, with a monthly average of 54,739 pieces. The percentage distribution of these materials shows that the majority was regular letters, as they formed 73.4%. The percentage of printed materials was 22.0%, while the percentage of registered letters was 2.9%, and the remaining percentage 1.7% covered express mail, parcels, telegrams, and small packets.

The highest number of postal materials was in June, where there was 126,047 postal materials, and the lowest number of these materials was in November, where there was 18,316 pieces (Table 23).

Regarding to international dispatched mail from RWB in 2003, there was 44,861 postal materials, with a monthly average of 3,738 pieces. The percentage distribution of these materials shows that the majority was regular letters, where they formed 80.3%. Registered mail was 6.9%, and that of printed materials formed 11.3%, while the remaining 1.5% was classified as other postal materials which contain parcels, telegrams, and small packets.

The highest number of these materials was in December 2003, there was 6,419 pieces in this month, and the lowest number of these materials (1,882) was in November (Table 23).

The total number of postal materials received in GS was 127,239 in 2003, with a monthly average of 10,603 material. Regular letters formed 62.2% of the total materials. Printed materials formed 31.4%. Registered letters formed only 3.9%, while the rest (remaining postal materials which contain express mail, parcels, telegrams, and small packets) formed only 2.5%.

The highest number of these materials was 14,739 in May, while the lowest number was 6,772 in August (Table 24).

The dispatched mail from GS in the same year was 37,599 postal materials, average 3,133 pieces per month. The highest number of these materials was in May 4,402 while the lowest number was in August with 1,950 material.

The percentage distribution of dispatched mail shows that regular letters formed 60.1%, Printed materials formed 31.7%. Registered letters formed 7.0%. while the rest (remaining postal materials which contain telegrams, and small packets) formed only 1.2%. (Table 24).

The total number of postal materials in RWB was 2,025,991 in 2003, with a monthly average of 168,833. The percentage distribution of Domestic dispatched mail shows that regular letters formed 98.4%. This was due to the consideration of telephone bills as regular letters, printed materials formed 0.5%. Registered letters formed 1.0%. while the rest (remaining postal materials which contain telegrams, and small packets) formed only 0.1%. (Table 25).

The total number of domestic postal materials in GS was 733,373 in 2003, with a monthly average of 61,114. The fact that telephone bills are considered as regular letters made them a majority of postal materials 98.9%, printed materials formed 0.4%. Registered letters formed 0.7%, while the rest (remaining postal materials which contain telegrams, and small packets) formed less than 0.1% (Table 25).

3.4.1 Post Boxes and Mail service Centers:

The total number of post boxes in RWBGS was 14,000 at the end of 2003, out of which 12,065 were in RWB, 1,935 were in GS. The number of mail service centers was 350, out of them 85 mail service office and 265 mail service divison (Table 26).

3.4 The Post office data:

International received mail in RWB consisted of 519,133 postal materials in 2004, with a monthly average of 43,261 pieces. The percentage distribution of these materials shows that the majority was regular letters, as they formed 69.3%. The percentage of printed materials was 21.2%, while the percentage of registered letters was 3.3%, and the remaining percentage 6.2% covered express mail, parcels, telegrams, and small packets.

The highest number of postal materials was in December, where there was 52,668 postal materials, and the lowest number of these materials was in April, where there was 21,380 pieces (Table 23).

Regarding to international dispatched mail from RWB in 2004, there was 60,606 postal materials, with a monthly average of 5,050 pieces. The percentage distribution of these materials shows that the majority was regular letters, where they formed 85.8%. Registered mail was 5.4%, and that of printed materials formed 6.5%, while the remaining 2.3% was classified as other postal materials which contain parcels, telegrams, and small packets.

The highest number of these materials was in November 2004, there was 11,435 pieces in this month, and the lowest number of these materials 2,750 was in June (Table 23).

The total number of postal materials received in GS was 122,636 in 2004, with a monthly average of 10,219 material. Regular letters formed 59.0% of the total materials. Printed materials formed 34.0%. Registered letters formed only 3.2%, while the rest (remaining postal materials which contain express mail, parcels, telegrams, and small packets) formed only 3.8%.

The highest number of these materials was 19,410 in December, while the lowest number was 3,263 in September (Table 24). The dispatched mail from GS in the same year was 35,337 postal materials, average 2,944 pieces per month. The highest number of these materials was in February 5,164 while the lowest number was in September with 972 material.

The percentage distribution of dispatched mail shows that regular letters formed 57.9%, Printed materials formed 34.5%. Registered letters formed 6.7%, while the rest (remaining postal materials which contain telegrams, and small packets) formed only 0.9%. (Table 24).

The total number of postal materials in RWB was 2,289,522 in 2004, with a monthly average of 190,793. The percentage distribution of Domestic dispatched mail shows that regular letters formed 98.7%, this was due to the consideration of telephone bills as regular letters, printed materials formed 0.3%. Registered letters formed 0.8%. while the rest (remaining postal materials which contain telegrams, and small packets) formed only 0.2%. (Table 25).

The total number of domestic postal materials in GS was 736,354 in 2004, with a monthly average of 61,362. The fact that telephone bills are considered as regular letters made them a majority of postal materials 98.6%, printed materials formed 0.5%. Registered letters formed 0.6%, while the rest (remaining postal materials which contain telegrams, and small packets) formed 0.3% (Table 25).

3.4.1 Post Boxes and Mail service Centers:

The total number of post boxes in RWBGS was 14,340 at the end of 2004, out of which 12,315 were in RWB, 2,025 were in GS. The number of mail service centers was 354, out of them 88 mail service office and 266 mail service divison (Table 26).

3.4: The Post office data

International received mail in RWB consisted of 425,541 postal materials in 2005, with a monthly average of 35,461 pieces. The percentage distribution of these materials shows that the majority was regular letters, as they formed 70.3%. The percentage of printed materials was 19.4%, while the percentage of registered letters was 3.8%, and the remaining percentage 6.5% covered express mail, parcels, telegrams, and small packets.

The highest number of postal materials was in December, where there was 45,467 postal materials, and the lowest number of these materials was in March, where there was 15,722 pieces (Table 23).

Regarding to international dispatched mail from RWB in 2005, there was 61,549 postal materials, with a monthly average of 5,129 pieces. The percentage distribution of these materials shows that the majority was regular letters, where they formed 87.2%. Printed materials formed 5.9%, and that of Registered mail was 4.8%, while the remaining 2.1% was classified as other postal materials which contain parcels, telegrams, and small packets.

The highest number of these materials was in December 2005, there was 9,471 pieces in this month, and the lowest number of these materials 2,309 was in March (Table 23).

The total number of postal materials received in GS was 155,472 in 2005, with a monthly average of 12,956 material. Regular letters formed 56.1% of the total materials. Printed materials formed 37.3%. Registered letters formed only 2.4%, while the rest (remaining postal materials which contain express mail, parcels, telegrams, and small packets) formed only 4.2%.

The highest number of these materials was 20,397 in October, while the lowest number was 6,365 in February (Table 24).

The dispatched mail from GS in the same year was 35,120 postal materials, average 2,927 pieces per month. The highest number of these materials was in April 6,027 while the lowest number was in August with 698 material.

The percentage distribution of dispatched mail shows that regular letters formed 61.7%, Printed materials formed 31.5%. Registered letters formed 5.9%, while the rest (remaining postal materials which contain telegrams, and small packets) formed only 0.9%. (Table 24).

The total number of Domestic postal materials in RWB was 2,492,350 in 2005, with a monthly average of 207,696. The percentage distribution of Domestic dispatched mail shows that regular letters formed 97.7%, this was due to the consideration of telephone bills as regular letters, printed materials formed 0.2%. Registered letters formed 2.0%, while the rest (remaining postal materials which contain telegrams, and small packets) formed only 0.1%. (Table 25).

The total number of domestic postal materials in GS was 808,061 in 2005, with a monthly average of 67,338. The fact that telephone bills are considered as regular letters made them a majority of postal materials 98.0%, printed materials formed 0.5%. Registered letters formed 1.0%, while the rest (remaining postal materials which contain telegrams, and small packets) formed 0.5% (Table 25).

3.4.1: Post Boxes and Mail service Centers

The total number of post boxes in RWBGS was 14,452 at the end of 2005, out of which 12,427 were in RWB, 2,025 were in GS, The number of mail service centers was 306, out of them 99 mail service office and 207 mail service divison (Table 26).

Post and Telecommunications

3.4: The Post office data

International received mail in RWB consisted of 293,224 postal materials in 2006, with a monthly average of 24,435 pieces. The percentage distribution of these materials shows that the majority was regular letters, as they formed 65.2%. The percentage of printed materials was 25.2%, while the percentage of registered letters was 5.2%, and the remaining percentage 4.4% covered express mail, parcels, telegrams, and small packets.

The highest number of postal materials was in May, where there was 37,456 postal materials, and the lowest number of these materials was in Novemper, where there was 9,587 pieces (Table 21).

Regarding to international dispatched mail from RWB in 2006, there was 57,647 postal materials, with a monthly average of 4,804 pieces. The percentage distribution of these materials shows that the majority was regular letters, where they formed 86.9%. Printed materials formed 5.5%, and that of Registered mail was 3.5%, while the remaining 4.1% was classified as other postal materials which contain parcels, telegrams, and small packets.

The highest number of these materials was in March 2006, there was 8,576 pieces in this month, and the lowest number of these materials 3,334 was in June (Table 21).

The total number of postal materials received in GS was 277,748 in 2006, with a monthly average of 18,979 material. Regular letters formed 48.9% of the total materials. Printed materials formed 46.9%. Registered letters formed only 1.4%, while the rest (remaining postal materials which contain express mail, parcels, telegrams, and small packets) formed only 2.8%.

The highest number of these materials was 35,622 in November, while the lowest number was 7,782 in May (Table 22).

The dispatched mail from GS in the same year was 28,986 postal materials, average 2,416 pieces per month. The highest number of these materials was in May 12,602 while the lowest number was in October with 798 material. The percentage distribution of dispatched mail shows that regular letters formed 53.6%, Printed materials formed 37.6%. Registered letters formed 6.8%. while the rest (remaining postal materials which contain telegrams, and small packets) formed only 2.0%. (Table 22).

The total number of Domestic postal materials in RWB was 1,605,100 in 2006, with a monthly average of 133,758. The percentage distribution of Domestic dispatched mail shows that regular letters formed 96.7%, this was due to the consideration of telephone bills as regular letters, printed materials formed 0.6%. Registered letters formed 2.6%, while the rest (remaining postal materials which contain telegrams, and small packets) formed only 0.1%. (Table 23).

The total number of domestic postal materials in GS was 443,886 in 2006, with a monthly average of 36,991. The fact that telephone bills are considered as regular letters made them a majority of postal materials 97.4%, printed materials formed 0.6%. Registered letters formed 1.2%, while the rest (remaining postal materials which contain telegrams, and small packets) formed 0.8% (Table 23).

3.4.1: Post Boxes and Mail service Centers

The total number of post boxes in RWBGS was 14,812 at the end of 2006, out of which 12,802 were in RWB, 2,010 were in GS. The number of mail service centers was 322, out of them 99 mail service office and 238 mail service divison (Table 24).