West Bank

The West Bank is a rugged, landlocked territory covering approximately 5,655 square kilometers (2,183 sq mi) of land area, with an additional 220 square kilometers (85 sq mi) of water in the Dead Sea. It is bordered by Israel to the west, north, and south, and by Jordan to the east, across the Jordan River. Major Palestinian cities include Ramallah (the de facto administrative capital of the Palestinian Authority), Nablus, Hebron, Bethlehem, and Jenin. Its population is predominantly Palestinian Arabs, with a significant and growing number of Israeli settlers residing in communities established since 1967. East Jerusalem, although annexed by Israel and often treated separately, is internationally considered part of the West Bank. Historically part of the Ottoman Empire, the West Bank came under British Mandate rule following World War I. After the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, it was annexed by Jordan, though this annexation was only recognized by a few countries. In the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel captured the West Bank from Jordan and has maintained military occupation over the territory ever since. This occupation is largely viewed by the international community, including the United Nations, as a violation of international law, specifically the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits an occupying power from transferring its own population into occupied territory. Following the Oslo Accords in the 1990s, parts of the West Bank were divided into Areas A, B, and C. Area A is under full civil and security control of the Palestinian Authority (PA), Area B is under PA civil control and joint Israeli-Palestinian security control, and Area C, comprising over 60% of the West Bank, remains under full Israeli civil and security control. Area C is where most Israeli settlements are located. These settlements, home to hundreds of thousands of Israelis, are a major point of contention, seen by Palestinians and most international bodies as obstacles to peace and a contiguous Palestinian state. The Israeli government, however, views them as legitimate, often citing historical and security reasons. The ongoing occupation has profound implications for the Palestinian population. Restrictions on movement, including checkpoints and a separation barrier (often referred to as the 'apartheid wall' by Palestinians), fragmentation of territory, and limited access to natural resources like water have significantly impacted the Palestinian economy and daily life. The status of East Jerusalem, with its holy sites for Jews, Christians, and Muslims, is particularly sensitive. It was unilaterally annexed by Israel after 1967, a move not recognized internationally, and Palestinians envision it as the capital of their future state. The West Bank remains a flashpoint for violence and a core issue in the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with ongoing disputes over land, resources, and the right to self-determination. The international community overwhelmingly considers the Israeli presence in the West Bank, beyond the 1967 'Green Line' armistice boundary, to be an occupation and the settlements illegal. Numerous UN Security Council resolutions have affirmed this position. Efforts to achieve a two-state solution, which envisions an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel, have largely focused on the West Bank as its territorial core. However, the expansion of settlements, lack of contiguous territory, and unresolved status of Jerusalem continue to present significant challenges to a lasting peace agreement.