Hailey Johnson
The West Bank is a territory that emerged after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, which was occupied and annexed by Jordan. It has been a central issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with Palestinians considering it a part of their envisioned state. The West Bank's borders and status have been contested, with various resolutions and agreements shaping its governance. The Oslo Accords, for instance, divided the West Bank into areas of Palestinian and Israeli control, with the Palestinian Authority seeking to establish statehood. Israel has constructed settlements in the West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law. The region's history, political status, and ongoing conflicts make the question of whether the West Bank is part of Palestine a complex and highly contested issue.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| History | The area now known as the West Bank was under Turkish rule as part of Ottoman Syria from 1517 to 1917. In 1920, the victorious Allies of World War I allocated the area to the British Mandate of Palestine (1920-1948). After the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the West Bank was occupied and annexed by Jordan until the 1967 Six-Day War, when it was occupied by Israel. Since then, Israel has administered the West Bank, excluding East Jerusalem, and considered it part of the Judea and Samaria Area. |
| Current Status | The West Bank is considered part of the Occupied Palestinian Territories, which also include the Gaza Strip. It is recognized by 147 out of 193 UN member states as part of the State of Palestine, officially proclaimed in 1988. |
| Governance | The West Bank is governed in part by the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority (PA), which was established in 1994 as part of the Oslo Accords. The PA has gained partial recognition and works towards establishing an independent government in the West Bank. |
| Population | The West Bank has an estimated population of 4,026,000 as of 2024, excluding Israeli settlements, which house over 670,000 Israeli settlers. |
| Geography | The West Bank stretches across the eastern border of Israel along the west banks of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea. It borders Jordan to the east and has a total land area of approximately 5,660 square kilometers (2,320 square miles). |
| Economy | Israeli protectionist policies have impacted trade relations, with 90% of West Bank imports coming from Israel as of 1996. Palestinian firms in the West Bank face restrictions on selling their products in Israel, and Palestinian residents struggle with obtaining land permits and accessing basic services such as water and healthcare. |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The West Bank's history
The West Bank is an area of the former British-mandated territory of Palestine, west of the Jordan River. From 1517 to 1917, the area was under Turkish rule as part of Ottoman Syria. In 1920, the victorious Allies of World War I allocated the area to the British Mandate of Palestine (1920-1948). During the Mandate period, Britain had no right of sovereignty, which was held by the people under the mandate.
In 1947, the United Nations designated the area as part of a proposed Arab state by the Partition Plan for Palestine. The Arab state, however, never came into being. Following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the West Bank was occupied and annexed by Jordan. The 1949 Armistice Agreements defined the interim boundary between Israel and Jordan, reflecting the battlefield after the war.
Jordan ruled the West Bank until the 1967 Six-Day War, when it was occupied by Israel. Since then, Israel has administered the West Bank (except for East Jerusalem, which was effectively annexed in 1980) as the Judea and Samaria Area. Jordan continued to claim the territory as its own until 1988. The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) declared independence in 1988, and in 1993, it signed the Oslo Accords with Israel, creating limited PLO governance in the West Bank and Gaza Strip through the Palestinian Authority (PA).
The mid-1990s Oslo Accords split the West Bank into three regional levels of Palestinian sovereignty: Area A (PNA), Area B (PNA and Israel), and Area C (Israel, comprising 60% of the West Bank). The West Bank remains central to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with Palestinians considering it the heart of their envisioned state, along with the Gaza Strip.
ITMs: The Future of Banking?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is an ongoing dispute over land and self-determination within the territory of former Mandatory Palestine. The conflict has its roots in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with the emergence of political Zionism and the arrival of Zionist settlers in Palestine. The Zionist movement, founded by Theodor Herzl, advocated for the creation of a Jewish homeland in Palestine, which was recognised by Britain in the 1917 Balfour Declaration. This declaration contributed to the end of Ottoman rule in the region and laid the groundwork for competing national claims in Palestine.
During the early 20th century, Arab nationalism also grew within the Ottoman Empire. In an attempt to gain support from Arab nationalists in the war against the Ottomans, Britain promised to support the formation of an independent Arab state in Palestine in the McMahon-Hussein correspondence. However, the British and French governments secretly agreed in 1916 not to allow the formation of such a state in the Sykes-Picot Agreement.
After World War I, Mandatory Palestine was established as a British mandate. Increasing Jewish immigration led to tensions between Jews and Arabs, which escalated into intercommunal conflict. In 1936, an Arab revolt broke out, demanding an end to British rule and support for Zionism. The revolt was suppressed by the British, but tensions continued to rise, leading to the United Nations' adoption of a partition plan in 1947, which triggered a civil war.
During the 1948 Palestine War, more than half of the mandate's predominantly Palestinian Arab population fled or were expelled by Israeli forces. By the war's end, Israel had established itself on most of the former mandate's territory, while the Gaza Strip and West Bank came under the control of Egypt and Jordan, respectively. Since the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel has occupied the West Bank and Gaza Strip, collectively known as the Palestinian territories.
The conflict has resulted in multiple uprisings, including the first and second intifadas in 1987 and 2000, respectively, with Palestinians protesting against Israeli occupation and discrimination. Israel's occupation has led to the construction of illegal settlements, the denial of Palestinian refugees' right of return, and violations of human rights, drawing international condemnation. Despite a consensus among the international community regarding a two-state solution, the conflict remains unresolved, with ongoing violence and disputes over borders, security, and the status of Jerusalem.
POD: Banking's Secret Weapon for Secure Transactions
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Oslo Accords and administrative divisions
The Oslo Accords were a series of agreements signed between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) from 1993 to 1999. The goal of the accords was to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by May 1999 and achieve a "just, lasting and comprehensive peace". The accords established the Palestinian Authority (PA) to govern Palestinians in parts of the occupied West Bank and Gaza under Israeli control.
The Oslo Accords divided the Palestinian West Bank into three administrative zones: Area A, Area B, and Area C. Area A, comprising about 18% of the West Bank, is under the full civil and security control of the Palestinian Authority. Area B, making up around 22% of the West Bank, is under Palestinian civil control, but Israeli security control. Area C, constituting some 60% of the West Bank, is under exclusive Israeli military and civilian control.
The Oslo Accords stipulated that during the first phase of redeployment, jurisdiction over Areas A and B would be transferred to the Palestinian Council. This would be followed by the dissolution of the Israeli Civil Administration and the withdrawal of the Israeli military government. The Council would assume powers and responsibilities for civil affairs, public order, and internal security.
The administrative divisions established by the Oslo Accords remain in force today, despite the breakdown of the Oslo process. The West Bank continues to be divided into Areas A, B, and C, with the Israeli Civil Administration still functioning in Area C. The Palestinian Authority, established by the Accords, also remains in place.
The Oslo Accords were a major turning point in relations between Israelis and Palestinians, marking the beginning of a bilateral negotiations process overseen by the US government. However, they failed to achieve the intended peace and instead established a new system of Israeli oppression, with Israel exploiting the negotiations to cement its control over occupied territories.
Wells Fargo in Tennessee: Branch Availability
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Israeli settlements and occupation
The West Bank has been under Israeli military occupation since 7 June 1967, when Israeli forces captured the territory, then ruled by Jordan, during the Six-Day War. The status of the West Bank as a militarily occupied territory has been affirmed by the International Court of Justice and, with the exception of East Jerusalem, by the Israeli Supreme Court. The West Bank, excluding East Jerusalem, is administered by the Israeli Civil Administration, a branch of the Israeli Ministry of Defence.
Israel has established settlements in the West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law. These settlements are overwhelmingly inhabited by Jews and are protected by the Israeli military. The presence of these settlements has led to the displacement of Palestinian communities and has created a fragmented Palestinian territory, hindering economic development and freedom of movement for Palestinians. As of 2023, there are 144 Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including 12 in East Jerusalem. In addition, there are at least 196 Israeli outposts (not sanctioned by the Israeli government) in the West Bank. In total, over 500,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank, excluding East Jerusalem, with an additional 220,000 Jewish settlers residing in East Jerusalem.
The establishment of these settlements is considered a violation of international law and has been criticised as an obstacle to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. The United Nations Security Council has repeatedly affirmed that settlements in the West Bank are a "flagrant violation of international law", most recently in 2016 with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334. The International Court of Justice has also ruled that Israel's occupation is illegal and that the country has an "obligation to cease immediately all new settlement activities and to evacuate all settlers" from the occupied territories.
Israel has cited several reasons for retaining control of the West Bank, including historic rights stemming from the Balfour Declaration, security grounds, and the area's symbolic value for Jews. The occupation has been characterised by an ethos of conflict, with security concerns being a central feature. The Oslo Accords, signed in 1993, created limited PLO governance in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip through the Palestinian Authority (PA). However, Israel retains the right to operate militarily in all three zones, and the PA has been criticised as becoming Israel's subcontractor in the occupation.
How to Get Coin Wrappers From Banks?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
International recognition
The West Bank has been at the centre of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for decades. The area has been occupied and claimed by various countries since the 1500s. From 1517 to 1917, the West Bank was part of the Ottoman Empire, then ruled by Turkey as part of Ottoman Syria. After World War I, the victorious Allies allocated the area to the British Mandate of Palestine, which lasted from 1920 to 1948. During this time, Britain had no right of sovereignty, which was held by the people under the mandate.
In 1947, the United Nations designated the West Bank as part of a proposed Arab state by the Partition Plan for Palestine. The Partition Plan envisioned dividing Palestine into three parts: a Jewish state, an Arab state, and an internationally administered enclave of Jerusalem. However, the Arab state envisioned by the 1947 UN partition plan never came into being. Instead, the West Bank was annexed by Jordan in 1950, although this annexation was only recognized by Great Britain and Pakistan.
In 1967, the West Bank was occupied by Israel during the Six-Day War. Since then, Israel has administered the West Bank, excluding East Jerusalem, as the Judea and Samaria Area. The Oslo Accords of the 1990s further divided the West Bank into three regional levels of Palestinian sovereignty: Area A (administered by the Palestinian Authority), Area B (jointly administered by the Palestinian Authority and Israel), and Area C (administered by Israel).
Despite the establishment of the Palestinian Authority and the Oslo Accords, the international community has continued to recognize the West Bank as occupied Palestinian territory. In 1988, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) declared independence, and the State of Palestine was quickly recognized by many states, including Egypt and Jordan. The UN General Assembly officially acknowledged the proclamation and decided to use the designation "Palestine" instead of "Palestine Liberation Organization." As of 2023, 147 out of 193 UN member states have recognized the State of Palestine.
The international community has also been active in seeking a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In 2002, the Security Council affirmed a vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, and the Arab League adopted the Arab Peace Initiative. In 2003, the Quartet (US, EU, Russia, and the UN) released a Road Map to a two-state solution. However, progress has been slow, and violence and tension between Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank have persisted.
Microsoft Outage: Impact on Banks and Financial Services
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The West Bank is considered part of the State of Palestine, which is officially recognised by 147 out of 193 UN member states. The West Bank is also recognised as part of the Occupied Palestinian Territories, along with the Gaza Strip.
The area now known as the West Bank was under Turkish rule from 1517 to 1917 as part of Ottoman Syria. After World War I, the victorious Allies allocated the area to the British Mandate of Palestine (1920-1948). In 1947, the United Nations designated the West Bank as part of a proposed Arab state by the Partition Plan for Palestine. However, following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the West Bank was captured by Transjordan (later known as Jordan), which ruled the territory until the 1967 Six-Day War when it was occupied by Israel.
Since the 1990s, the West Bank has been divided into three administrative regions: Area A, Area B, and Area C, with varying levels of Palestinian and Israeli control. Area A is administered by the Palestinian Authority, Area C by Israel, and Area B is under joint control. The Palestinian Authority has been working towards establishing itself as an independent government in the West Bank, while Israel has expanded its settlement activity in the territory.
Due to Israeli restrictions and control over access to the West Bank, Palestinians living there are considered to be under military occupation. This has led to challenges in obtaining basic necessities such as food, water, and supplies, with many relying on aid. There have also been reports of difficulties in accessing emergency and healthcare services, as well as limited access to education and employment opportunities.
![Palestine Flag Beads[ 2 Pack] Palestine MAP Large Glass Tasbeeh-Misbaha-Rosary-Jerusalem-Al Aqsa-QUDS Islamic Favor Quran Muslim Gifts Ramadan Decor Eid Decor W Islamic Gifts 123](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/517kIz7b1IL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
