Megan Brooks
The Israeli occupation of the West Bank is a highly contentious issue, with over 5.5 million Palestinian subjects living in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967. Despite not annexing the West Bank, Israel has established settlements in the region, with over 580,000 Jewish settlers living among 3.3 million Palestinians. While Palestinians are subject to Israeli military laws and cannot vote in Israeli elections, Jewish settlers in the West Bank can vote in Israeli polls, even though they reside outside of sovereign Israeli territory. This exception reflects Israel's ambiguous claim to the territory and has been a source of criticism, with some arguing that it contradicts Israel's democratic ideals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Jewish settlers in the West Bank | 500,000 |
| Number of Palestinians in the West Bank | 3.3 million |
| Number of Jewish settlers in the West Bank with the right to vote | 650,000 |
| Number of Palestinians in the West Bank with the right to vote | 24% of the 6,463,000 Palestinians living under Israeli rule |
| Number of settlements in the West Bank | 200+ |
| Number of settlers in the West Bank who are Israeli citizens | 10% of all Jews living under the regime |
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What You'll Learn
Jewish settlers can vote in Israeli elections
Jewish settlers in the West Bank can vote in Israeli elections, despite living outside of sovereign Israeli territory. This is an exception to the rule that citizens living abroad cannot vote absentee. The ability of Jewish settlers to vote reflects Israel's ambiguous and contentious claim to the territory, which has been under military occupation for almost half a century.
The right of Jewish settlers to vote in Israeli elections is based on the argument that Israel is the "legal authority" in the West Bank and, therefore, its citizens living there must be subject to Israeli laws. This claim is disputed by the Palestinian Authority, which views the settlements as illegal. The international community also largely considers the settlements to be illegal.
The situation in the West Bank is further complicated by the presence of Palestinian communities, who are subject to Israeli military laws and governance but do not have the right to vote in Israeli elections. While Israel has established a separate legal system for Palestinians, governed by Israeli military rule, they are effectively excluded from the political process and have no representation in the institutions that dictate their lives.
The disparity in voting rights between Jewish settlers and Palestinians in the West Bank has been characterised as apartheid, with critics arguing that the arrangement contradicts Israel's democratic ideals. The bloodshed and escalating violence in the region have further intensified these tensions, threatening to engulf the entire region.
The Israeli government's support for settlements in the West Bank, including the establishment of Israeli schools and nurseries, has emboldened settlers and their political allies. The expansion of settlements and the application of Israeli laws and governance in the West Bank have created a complex and contentious situation, with far-reaching implications for both Jews and Palestinians living in the region.
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Palestinians cannot vote in Israeli elections
Israel has never annexed the West Bank, partly due to the demographic complications of incorporating its more than 2 million Palestinians. Annexation would have meant giving the Palestinians in the West Bank citizenship and the right to vote in Israeli elections, threatening Israel's Jewish majority.
The West Bank has been governed undemocratically by the Israeli military since it occupied the territory in 1967. Prime Minister Netanyahu has vowed that Israel will not give up military control over the West Bank. In that territory, over which Israel plans to rule in perpetuity, live more than 2,623,000 Palestinians—over 2,953,000 including East Jerusalem Palestinians—who do not have the right to vote in Israeli elections.
While Palestinians are not entitled to participate in Israeli elections, eastern Jerusalem Palestinians can vote in the city's municipal elections and even run for city council. Israeli policy makes full citizenship available to eastern Jerusalem Palestinians who wish to apply, which would allow them to vote and run in national elections as naturalized Israelis. However, the vast majority do not apply.
The Palestinians are ultimately governed by Israeli military rule, while Israel's criminal and civilian laws apply to more than 350,000 Jewish settlers in a way they cannot apply to Israeli ex-pats. The Palestinians "have no way of voting and electing those people who are making decisions about their future," said Sarit Michaeli, from the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem.
The Palestinian Authority has kept postponing elections for years. Palestinians can only vote in elections held by the Palestinian Authority, which has limited autonomy in parts of the West Bank.
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The West Bank is under military occupation
The Israeli settlement project in the West Bank has been characterised by incremental expansion. Initially, paramilitary encampments for army personnel were set up, which slowly transformed into civilian settlements. This strategy, known as "dunam after dunam, goat after goat," involved establishing "facts on the ground" before the adversary realised the extent of the occupation. The settlements were strategically placed to exert control and prevent the contiguity of any future Palestinian state.
The West Bank is home to approximately 3.5 million Palestinians, who are subject to Israeli military rule and governance. They are denied the right to vote in Israeli elections and are governed by the Palestinian Authority, which has limited autonomy. The Palestinian Authority's ability to hold elections has been repeatedly challenged by the Islamic Hamas movement, further complicating the political situation.
The presence of Israeli settlers in the West Bank adds a layer of complexity to the occupation. Settlers are allowed to vote in Israeli elections, even though they reside outside of sovereign Israeli territory. This exception reflects Israel's ambiguous and contentious claim to the territory. The Israeli government provides support and funding for the settlements, and they are defended by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
The situation in the West Bank is highly contentious, with critics arguing that the denial of voting rights to Palestinians contradicts Israel's democratic ideals. The expansion of settlements and the denial of Palestinian voting rights have been characterised as a form of apartheid, with Israel's policies aimed at cementing the supremacy of Jews over Palestinians. The ongoing occupation and the increasing presence of settlers have intensified attacks on Palestinians and contributed to growing racism and militarism in the region.
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The Israeli claim to the territory is highly contentious
The Israeli claim to the territory of the West Bank is highly contentious. The West Bank, including East Jerusalem, has been under military occupation by Israel since 7 June 1967, when Israeli forces captured the territory from Jordan during the Six-Day War. Israel has never annexed the West Bank due to intense international opposition and the demographic challenge of incorporating over 2 million Palestinians, which would threaten Israel's Jewish majority.
Despite not annexing the territory, Israel has established numerous Jewish settlements throughout the West Bank, which are considered a "flagrant violation of international law" by the United Nations Security Council. The International Court of Justice has also ruled that the establishment of these settlements is illegal under international law, and Israel's occupation was deemed illegal in an advisory opinion in 2024. The expansion of settlements often involves the confiscation of Palestinian land, leading to the displacement of Palestinian communities and creating a fragmented territory that hinders economic development and freedom of movement for Palestinians.
The Israeli claim to the West Bank is rooted in historic rights stemming from the Balfour Declaration, security grounds, and the area's symbolic value for Jews. The Likud Party, led by Menachem Begin, promoted the idea of the West Bank becoming "the bedrock of Jewish national identity". They advocated for the immediate annexation of the West Bank, marking the peak of Israel's ethnocratic project.
The settlement enterprise in the West Bank has been characterized by incremental expansion. One technique employed was setting up tower-and-stockade outposts, gradually establishing "facts on the ground" before adversaries could react. This approach, known as "dunam after dunam, goat after goat," involved establishing settlements in a checkered pattern around and between Palestinian villages. By 2017, Israel had established 237 settlements, housing approximately 580,000 settlers.
The situation is further complicated by the separate legal systems operating in the West Bank. While Israeli settlers are subject to Israeli criminal and civilian laws, Palestinians are governed by a combination of Israeli military rule and the Palestinian Authority, which has limited autonomy in certain areas. The denial of voting rights to the majority of Palestinians in the West Bank, while allowing Israeli settlers to participate in Israeli elections, reinforces the contentious nature of Israel's claim to the territory.
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The Israeli government supports settlements in the West Bank
Since 1967, the Israeli government has invested significant resources in establishing and expanding settlements in the West Bank. This has resulted in approximately 380,000-500,000 Israeli citizens living in settlements on the West Bank, including those in East Jerusalem. The Israeli government's initial priority was security, and one strategy was to establish the Jordan River as Israel's eastern security border. Another was to encircle the large Palestinian population in the mountain range running north-south through the West Bank's center and widen the approach to Jerusalem.
The Israeli government has implemented a consistent and systematic policy intended to encourage Jewish citizens to migrate to the West Bank. One of the tools used to this end is to grant financial benefits and incentives to citizens, both directly and through Jewish local authorities. The purpose of this support is to raise the standard of living of these citizens and to encourage migration. The cost of housing for Israeli citizens living in Israeli settlements is significantly lower compared to the cost of housing and living in Israel proper. Government spending per citizen in the settlements is double that spent per Israeli citizen in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, while government spending for settlers in isolated Israeli settlements is three times the Israeli national average. Most of the spending goes towards the security of the Israeli citizens living there.
The establishment of settlements on the West Bank violates international humanitarian law, which prohibits an occupying power from transferring citizens from its territory to occupied territory. The settlements also lead to the infringement of international human rights law. In addition to the 144 settlements sanctioned by the Israeli government, there are at least 196 Israeli outposts in the West Bank that have not been authorized by the Israeli government. These outposts are considered illegal even under Israeli law but are defended by the IDF.
The Israeli government's support for settlements in the West Bank has been a highly contentious issue, with critics arguing that it contradicts Israel's view of itself as a democracy. The settlements are viewed as illegal by the Palestinians and the international community. Despite this, the Israeli government has continued to prioritize the expansion of settlements in the West Bank, reflecting its ambiguous claim to the territory.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, West Bank settlers can vote in Israeli elections, even though they do not live on what is considered sovereign Israeli territory.
There are around 650,000 Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, and they are eligible to vote in Israeli elections.
No, Palestinians in the West Bank are not allowed to vote in Israeli elections. They are only allowed to vote in elections held by the Palestinian Authority, which has limited autonomy in parts of the West Bank.
