Hailey Johnson
The West Bank, which has been under Israeli occupation since 1967, is a complex and highly contested region with a long history of conflict and tension between Israelis and Palestinians. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has resulted in restrictions on the movement of Palestinians, with Israel citing security concerns and taking measures such as implementing a permit system and establishing checkpoints to control the entry of Palestinians into Israeli territories. On the other hand, Israeli civilians have been placed in certain areas of the West Bank to solidify Israel's control and influence over the region. This has led to the establishment of Israeli settlements, which has further exacerbated tensions and contributed to the complex dynamics of the region. Understanding the nuances of who is allowed to enter and reside in the West Bank requires exploring the perspectives of both Israelis and Palestinians, as well as the ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict and reach a peaceful coexistence.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Israeli occupation of the West Bank | Ongoing since 1967 |
| Number of settlements | 127 recognized settlements |
| Number of Jewish residents in settlements | 370,000 |
| Number of Arab residents in settlements | 573 in Ariel, a few dozen in Maale Adumim, Kfar Etzion, and Giv’at Ze’ev |
| Israeli civilian communities in territories | Not under Israeli sovereignty |
| Israeli control | Through civilian settler population |
| Israeli military tactics against Palestinians | Use of tear gas, rubber-coated steel bullets, live ammunition, skunk spray, stun grenades, water cannons, pepper spray, etc. |
| Israeli restrictions on Palestinians | Movement, commerce, access to roads, education, healthcare, and humanitarian aid |
| Israeli checkpoints in the West Bank | 60 permanent checkpoints, 18 in Hebron |
| Israeli response to International Court of Justice (ICJ) orders | Consistently defied |
| Australian Government travel advice | Reconsider travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories |
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What You'll Learn
Israeli settlements in the West Bank
The first decade of Israel's occupation of the West Bank saw the establishment of 32 settlements, primarily in the Jordan Valley and around Jerusalem. The Israeli government administers the West Bank as the Judea and Samaria Area, which does not include East Jerusalem. The settlement policy was derived from the Allon Plan, which implied Israeli annexation of major parts of the Israeli-occupied territories, especially East Jerusalem, Gush Etzion, and the Jordan Valley. The first settlement was Kfar Etzion, in the southern West Bank. Many settlements began as Nahal settlements, which were established as military outposts and later expanded and populated with civilian inhabitants. As of January 2023, there are 144 Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including 12 in East Jerusalem, with over 450,000 Israeli settlers residing in the West Bank, excluding East Jerusalem. There are also at least 196 Israeli outposts, which are settlements that have not been authorized by the Israeli government.
The presence and ongoing expansion of existing settlements by Israel, as well as the construction of outposts, are frequently criticized as obstacles to peace. The UN and Palestinian rights groups have warned that the plan to expand settlements would divide Palestinian territory and make any two-state solution untenable. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) found that Israel's settlements and the West Bank barrier violate international law. Most of the world considers settlements to be illegal under international law, and according to the Fourth Geneva Convention, the transfer of a civilian population into occupied territory constitutes a war crime.
In defense of the settlements, Israel cites security concerns and the need to defend against terrorist attacks. The establishment of civilian Jewish communities in strategic regions of the West Bank was intended to solidify Israel's control and ensure the territory's political future aligned with its security needs. Religious Zionist ideology has also played a significant role in the settlement movement, based on the belief that it is a religious imperative for Jews to settle the entire Land of Israel.
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Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories
Israel has occupied Palestinian territories since the Six-Day War of 1967, making it the longest military occupation in modern history. The West Bank, including East Jerusalem, has been under Israeli military administration since then. Israel has also occupied the Golan Heights of Syria and previously occupied the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt and southern Lebanon.
The Israeli occupation of the West Bank has resulted in severe restrictions on the daily movement and commerce of Palestinians. Israel enforces these restrictions through a system of checkpoints, the West Bank Barrier, and road usage prohibitions. The number of permanent checkpoints inside the West Bank has been reported to be as high as 60, with 18 in the city of Hebron alone. These checkpoints subject Palestinians to prolonged checks and often ban them from passing without special permits.
Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are a key aspect of the occupation. Settlements are Israeli civilian communities, overwhelmingly inhabited by Jews, in territories acquired by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War that are not under Israeli sovereignty. The first decade of Israel's occupation saw the establishment of 32 settlements, primarily in the Jordan Valley and around Jerusalem. Over time, religious ideology became a significant driver of the settlement movement, with the notion that it is a religious imperative for Jews to settle in the Land of Israel. As of 2023, there are 127 recognized settlements, with 64 established for religious reasons and 63 built to provide a high quality of life.
The United Nations (UN) and other international bodies have condemned Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and its treatment of Palestinians. The UN Special Rapporteur has determined that Israel has imposed a system of racial oppression and discrimination that constitutes apartheid, a crime against humanity. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli government officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The ongoing Israeli military operation in the Occupied West Bank since January 2025 has resulted in the killing of over 70 Palestinians, the destruction of residential buildings and critical infrastructure, and the forced displacement of over 40,000 Palestinians.
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Israeli travel restrictions on Palestinians
Israel imposes several restrictions on Palestinian movement within the West Bank and travel between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, into East Jerusalem, Israel, and abroad. These restrictions have been in place since the beginning of the Second Intifada in September 2000, and have been described as the strictest so far implemented by Israel.
One such restriction is the permanent closure policy, which requires residents of Gaza to obtain a personal exit permit to travel within Israel or the West Bank. In March 1993, Israel imposed an overall closure on the Gaza Strip, with newly built checkpoints. These closures were imposed following the killing of nine Israeli civilians and six security forces personnel by Palestinian residents. Israel claims that these closures protect Israeli citizens and prevent Palestinian political violence. However, critics argue that they are used as a political weapon to force Palestinians to accept short-term economic improvements instead of long-term territorial and political solutions.
Another restriction is the magnetic card system, implemented in June 1989 during the First Intifada. Under this system, only those with a magnetic card were allowed to enter Israel from the Gaza Strip. These cards were not issued to released prisoners, former administrative detainees, or people who had been detained and released without charges.
Roadblocks and checkpoints have also been set up in the West Bank, which Israel claims are necessary to protect its citizens from attacks by Palestinian militants. However, these roadblocks have made it complicated for Palestinians to reach medical services, travel to work, transport goods, and visit relatives. The roadblocks split the West Bank into six hardly-connected sections, and the lengthy, non-transparent, and arbitrary bureaucratic process for obtaining travel permits results in a life of constant uncertainty for Palestinians.
In addition to these restrictions, new guidelines for West Bank entry and residency for foreigners were introduced in October 2022, which were amended in December 2022. These guidelines set out detailed procedures for foreigners wishing to teach, study, volunteer, work, or live in the West Bank, making it harder for Palestinians in the West Bank to be with family members who lack a West Bank ID and to engage with foreign nationals. The guidelines have been criticized by Human Rights Watch for further isolating Palestinians and imposing major bureaucratic obstacles to legally remain in the West Bank.
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Israeli military tactics in the West Bank
In 2025, Israeli security forces, backed by helicopters, raided the West Bank city of Jenin, killing at least nine Palestinians. This operation was described by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a "large-scale and significant military operation" against Iranian-backed militants. Israeli forces have also conducted raids and large-scale incursions in Jenin, blocking entrances, setting fire to residences, and issuing evacuation orders.
Israeli tactics in the West Bank also include extrajudicial and preemptive assassinations, with rumours emerging in the press around 1989 of a wanted list, and Israel's first public acknowledgment of this tactic in 2000. The Israeli Supreme Court refrained from endorsing or banning the practice but set forth four conditions, including precaution.
The disparity in military power between Israel and the Palestinians in the West Bank is significant, with Israel possessing advanced armaments such as F-16 fighters, Merkava tanks, Apache helicopters, and Hellfire missiles. The Israeli techniques for dispersing crowds differ based on the ethnicity of the protestors, with a focus on policing approaches when dealing with Jewish settlers.
Israeli military tactics have also been influenced by the presence of extremist settlers in the West Bank, who have been accused of attacking Palestinians and their property. Defense Minister Israel Katz has vowed to eradicate this violence, acknowledging the exhaustion of security forces reservists.
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Israeli apartheid in the West Bank
The Israeli occupation of the West Bank has been described as a form of apartheid by a former head of the Mossad intelligence agency, Tamir Pardo, and other prominent figures. They argue that Israel's mechanisms for controlling the Palestinians, including restrictions on movement and placing them under military law, while governing Jewish settlers in the occupied territories by civilian courts, mirror South Africa's defunct system of racial oppression.
The Israeli occupation of the West Bank began after the 1967 Six-Day War, when Israel proclaimed the West Bank and Gaza Strip as closed military areas. Over time, Israel established civilian Jewish communities in these areas, with the security rationale of defending Israel against terrorist attacks. However, this also served to incorporate a large swathe of West Bank territory, much of which was private Palestinian land. The establishment of these settlements, driven by religious ideology and the promise of a higher quality of life, aimed to ensure that the territory's political future aligned with Israel's security needs and prevented the formation of a Palestinian state.
The impact of the Israeli occupation on Palestinian freedom of movement is significant. Israel enforces restrictions through a system of checkpoints, the West Bank Barrier, and the prohibition of Palestinians from using certain roads. The permanent, temporary, and random checkpoints inside the West Bank often cause prolonged delays, with some soldiers only allowing passage to Palestinians who meet specific gender and age-based criteria or those with special permits. The West Bank Barrier, a security fence initially intended to run 313 kilometers along the Green Line, now extends for 790 kilometers and has cost billions of dollars.
In addition to physical barriers, Israel also implements closure policies that restrict the movement of goods and people between Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. These closures can be general or total, with the latter resulting in a near-complete prohibition on Palestinian movement. While Israel argues that these restrictions are necessary for security reasons, critics view them as a form of apartheid that perpetuates an "apartheid regime" and contributes to the depopulation and displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has concluded that Israel's occupation of the West Bank is unlawful and has called for the evacuation of all settlers, the return of land and property seized, and reparations for those who suffered material damage. The ICJ's advisory opinion has been described as a wake-up call regarding Israeli apartheid in the West Bank and Gaza, with mounting evidence suggesting that Palestinians face grave violence and human rights violations under Israeli control.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Israelis are allowed in the West Bank. However, there are ongoing tensions in the region, and the security situation can deteriorate rapidly.
There are no specific entry requirements for Israelis entering the West Bank, but a valid passport or national ID card is likely required.
There are no official restrictions on movement for Israelis in the West Bank. However, the security situation is volatile and unpredictable, and there may be unofficial restrictions or dangers due to the conflict with Palestine.
Israelis can generally travel freely throughout the West Bank, but there may be areas that are unsafe or inaccessible due to the conflict. Israeli civilians have been placed in certain areas of the West Bank to solidify Israel's control and ensure the territory's political future aligns with the country's security needs.
Yes, there are safety concerns for Israelis travelling to the West Bank due to the ongoing conflict with Palestine. The region has experienced violence, including drone and missile strikes, and the situation can deteriorate rapidly. It is recommended to avoid non-essential travel to the West Bank and stay up to date with travel advisories and security warnings.
