Biodiversity in Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip with the Gaza Strip, Israel, and the West Bank are located at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea, traditionally called the Levant. Israel is bounded on the north by Lebanon and on the northeast by Syria. Jordan lies to the east and southeast of the West Bank and Israel; Israel and the Gaza Strip are bordered on the southwest by the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula and on the west by the Mediterranean Sea. The region is divided into three major climate zones: Alongside the major three, one microclimate zone are present: The climate is determined by the location between the
Syria (region) Syria proper (Coele-Syria) and Phoenice. Sometime between 330 and 350 (likely c. 341), the province of "Euphratensis" was created out of the territory of Syria Coele and the former realm of Commagene, with Hierapolis as its capital. After c. 415 Syria Coele was further subdivided into Syria I, with the capital remaining at Antioch, and Syria II or Salutaris, with capital at Apamea on the Orontes River. In 528, Justinian I carved out the small coastal province Theodorias out of territory from both provinces. The region was annexed to the Rashidun Caliphate after the Muslim victory over the Byzantine Empire