Hailey Johnson
The West Bank is a territory that stretches across Israel's eastern border along the Jordan River's west banks and most of the Dead Sea. The West Bank, along with the Gaza Strip, was seized by Israel during the Six-Day War in 1967. Since then, there has been a constant struggle for control of the territory between Israelis and Palestinians, with Israel exercising significant control over the area. The West Bank is divided into three administrative divisions, with varying degrees of control shared between Palestinian and Israeli authorities. The Palestinian Authority, a governing body, officially controls about 11% of the West Bank, known as Area A, while Area B is under joint Israeli-Palestinian military and Palestinian civil control. Area C, which covers over 60% of the West Bank, is under full Israeli control. The complex power dynamics in the West Bank have led to ongoing tensions and conflicts between Israelis and Palestinians.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Territories in the West Bank | The Gaza Strip and the West Bank |
| Who controls the territories? | A mix of authorities, including the Palestinian Authority, the militant group Hamas, and the state of Israel |
| Who officially represents Palestinians worldwide at international forums? | The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) |
| Who is supposed to govern most of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip? | The Palestinian Authority (PA), a newer institution led by a PLO faction known as Fatah |
| Who controls the entry and exit requirements for the West Bank? | Israel |
| Who controls the movement of goods and people in Area B? | Israel |
| Who controls the West Bank's surveillance system? | Israel |
| Who controls the Jordan Valley and the Judean Desert? | Israel |
| Who controls East Jerusalem? | Israel |
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What You'll Learn
The West Bank's history
The West Bank is a Palestinian territory that was captured by Israel during the Six-Day War in 1967. The West Bank stretches across the eastern border of Israel along the west banks of the Jordan River and most of the Dead Sea, hence its name. The holy city of Jerusalem is considered by international law as part of the West Bank, with East Jerusalem being claimed as the capital by both Israelis and Palestinians.
Prior to the Six-Day War, the West Bank had been under Jordan's control since 1948, and Jordan did not officially relinquish its claim to the area until 1988. In 1961, the IDF drew up plans for the conquest and retention of the West Bank, and in 1963, southern Lebanon up to the Litani River was included in these plans.
Following the Six-Day War, Israel maintained control of the West Bank, and in 1982, as a result of the Egypt-Israel peace treaty, direct military rule was transformed into a semi-civil authority under the Israeli Ministry of Defense. The West Bank was divided into three areas: Area A, Area B, and Area C. Area A, consisting of most of Gaza and about 17-18% of the West Bank, is designated as fully Palestinian-controlled, including for civil affairs and internal security issues. Area B, covering about a quarter (25-28%) of the West Bank, is subject to joint Israeli-Palestinian military control and Palestinian civil control. Area C, covering about 60-62% of the West Bank, is under full Israeli control.
The Palestinian Authority, established in 1993, officially controls a geographically non-contiguous territory comprising approximately 11% of the West Bank, known as Area A. However, Israel has exercised significant control over the West Bank, and the Palestinian Authority believes that the presence of Israeli military control is a violation of their right to rule. The United Nations and the United States State Department refer to the West Bank as "Israeli-occupied territories".
As of 2017, excluding East Jerusalem, 382,916 Israelis have settled in the West Bank, with 40% living outside the major settlement blocs. Israel controls all access to the West Bank, and Palestinians living there are subject to Israeli restrictions and often depend on aid for food, water, and supplies.
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Israel's control of the West Bank
Following the 1993 Oslo Accords, the West Bank was divided into three administrative areas: Area A, Area B, and Area C. Area A, comprising approximately 11% of the West Bank, is under the civil control of the Palestinian Authority and includes Palestinian towns and rural areas. Area B, making up around 25-28% of the territory, is jointly controlled by Israeli and Palestinian military forces, with the Palestinian Authority managing civil affairs. Area C, the largest section, constitutes about 60-62% of the West Bank and is under full Israeli control. This area includes Israeli settlements, buffer zones, and valuable natural resources.
The Palestinian Authority, established as a governing body for the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, believes that Israeli military control infringes on their right to rule. They argue that the West Bank should be part of their sovereign nation. The United Nations and the United States State Department refer to the West Bank as "Israeli-occupied territories," indicating their recognition of Israeli control in the region. Israel, however, disputes the term "occupied territories," claiming that only territories captured from a recognised sovereign are considered occupied.
Israel has exerted significant influence over the West Bank through strict border control, surveillance, and restrictions on movement. They control access to the region, including checkpoint crossings, and impose security-related closures. Additionally, Israel has utilised surveillance systems, such as military drones, spyware, and a database containing detailed information on Palestinians in the West Bank. These measures have been criticised for their invasive nature and their impact on the Palestinian population.
The future of Israel's control over the West Bank remains uncertain. Efforts have been made to negotiate and establish a permanent peace treaty, but the ongoing conflict and differing claims to the land have hindered progress. The Palestinian Authority's ability to govern effectively and the potential for a Palestinian state are ongoing points of contention.
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The Oslo Accords
The Oslo II Accord, or Taba Agreement, divided the West Bank into separate areas under Israeli or Palestinian control, with the former controlling the majority of the land. The West Bank was divided into three areas: Area A, Area B, and Area C. Area A, approximately 11% of the West Bank, was under full Palestinian civil control, while Area B, approximately 28%, was under joint Israeli-Palestinian military and Palestinian civil control. Area C, approximately 61%, was under full Israeli control.
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Area A, B, and C divisions
The West Bank is divided into three administrative divisions or areas—Area A, Area B, and Area C—which fall under varying degrees of administrative and security control between Palestinian and Israeli authorities. This division was established by the 1993 and 1995 Oslo Accords, which were signed by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Israel. The accords led to the establishment of an interim Palestinian government, the Palestinian Authority (PA), which was granted limited powers of governance in Areas A and B.
Area A, constituting approximately 18% of the West Bank's territory, is under the full administrative and police control of the Palestinian Authority. It includes eight Palestinian cities and their surrounding areas, such as Nablus, Jenin, Tulkarm, and Ramallah, with no Israeli settlements. About 2.8 million Palestinians live in Area A, which is the most densely populated of the three areas.
Area B, constituting about 21-22% of the West Bank, is under the administrative control of the Palestinian Authority, but it shares security control with Israeli authorities. This area includes some 440 Palestinian villages and their surrounding lands, with no Israeli settlements. The PA controls sectors such as education, health, and the economy in Area B.
Area C, constituting about 60-63% of the West Bank, is under full Israeli civil and security control. It contains all Israeli settlements, roads accessing the settlements, buffer zones, and valuable natural resources like forests, water springs, and nature reserves. An estimated 300,000 Palestinians live in 500+ residential areas in Area C, alongside approximately 400,000 Israeli settlers in 230+ settlements. Israel has restricted Palestinians from building on or accessing much of the land in Area C, denying requests for building permits and issuing home demolition orders.
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The future of the West Bank
The West Bank is currently divided into three administrative divisions or areas: Area A, B, and C. Area A, consisting of about 17% of the West Bank, is under full Palestinian civil and security control. Area B, approximately 25-28% of the West Bank, is under joint Israeli-Palestinian military control, with the Palestinian Authority managing civil affairs. Area C, making up about 60-62% of the West Bank, is under full Israeli control and includes all Israeli settlements and buffer zones.
The Palestinian Authority, established by the Oslo Accords in 1993, is supposed to govern most of the West Bank. However, Israel has exercised significant control over the West Bank, both de facto and officially. The Palestinian Authority believes that the presence of Israeli military control is a violation of their right to rule.
The complex mix of authorities governing the West Bank and the ongoing conflict have resulted in restricted movement and access to resources for Palestinians. The Palestinian Authority's ability to govern effectively is also impacted by the conflict and scrutiny about its role in administering Gaza if Israel destroys Hamas, which controls the territory.
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Frequently asked questions
The West Bank is divided into three administrative divisions, which fall under varying degrees of administrative and security control between Palestinian and Israeli authorities. The Palestinian Authority, a governing body, officially controls a geographically non-contiguous territory comprising approximately 11% of the West Bank, known as Area A. Area B, approximately 28%, is under joint Israeli-Palestinian military and Palestinian civil control. Area C, approximately 61%, is under full Israeli control.
The Oslo Accords ceded nominal control of a small amount of the West Bank to a Palestinian Authority, with a provisional division of the land into three areas: Area A, Area B, and Area C.
The West Bank was captured by Israel in 1967 during the Six-Day War. Since then, there has been a constant tension between Israelis and Palestinians living in the territories, often resulting in violence. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has resulted in a mix of authorities governing the 5.5 million Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Israel controls all access to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Strict border control policies may prevent entry and exit, even for those with valid permits. Israeli authorities may deny entry to the West Bank, and specific visas and permits are required for foreign nationals.
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