Stunning pictures of Israel from space posted by NASA astronaut

Stunning pictures of Israel taken from space were posted on Friday to the Facebook of the International Space Station.

The photos, taken by commander of the current Expedition 41 to the ISS Barry Wilmore, were shot as the ISS passed over Israel from a height of 431 kilometers (268 miles) and appeared with a caption: "Israel -- completely clear -- on Christmas morning from the International Space Station. Astronaut Barry Wilmore woke up early on Christmas to reflect upon the beauty of the Earth and snap some images to share with the world."

The first image was taken from the south and shows the contrast between the desert and green Israel. The image shows the country without a cloud in the sky, which enable the nation's natural borders to be spotted easily: Inside the Green Line, everything is green, while outside it, the prominent color is brown.

The second picture, taken directly above the Dead Sea, shows how the world's saltiest body of water is shrinking. The southern part of the Dead Sea -- where the Dead Sea Works is located -- has already dried up.

The third picture was taken above the Sea of Galilee and the lake is shown amid green fields and orchards.

Thousands of visitors to the page have seen the photos, and an argument sprang up between Israelis and Palestinians after the latter demanded that the entire area shown be called "Palestine."

One visitor tried to broker a compromise, proposing that it be called neither Israel nor Palestine, but rather "Mother Earth."

"Learn to love, not hate," he admonished the others.

An additional picture taken with a wider-angle lens was photographed over Jordan. To the right, a "burnt" area made up of volcanic boulders can be seen, a reminder that the entire region was shaped by volcanic eruptions millions of years ago.

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