West Bank

West Bank
الضفة الغربية
הגדה המערבית
Location of the West Bank within the claimed territory of the State of Palestine
Location of the West Bank within the claimed territory of the State of Palestine
Coordinates: 32°00′N 35°21′E / 32.000°N 35.350°E / 32.000; 35.350
Area
 • Total5,655 km2 (2,183 sq mi)
Population
 • Total2,949,246(est., July 2021)
LanguagesArabic, Hebrew
ReligionIslam, Judaism, Christianity, Samaritanism
CurrencyIsraeli shekel (ILS)
Jordanian dinar (JOD)
Map of the West Bank
Archaeological site at Sebastia, the location of Samaria.
Sign of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority at the archaeological site of Samaria.
Flags near Har Brakha in the North, including that of the Samaria Regional Council.
Four Palestinian boys in the West Bank.

The West Bank is a territory in the Middle East. The State of Palestine claims the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as part of its land. However, the territory has been under Israeli military occupation since the 1967 Six-Day War. The international community views it as an illegally occupied territory, while Israel considers it a "disputed territory".

The West Bank is referred to as Judea and Samaria by most Israelis. Since the 1993 Oslo Accords, the Israeli government and Palestinian leaders have had many talks to decide the future of the territory and the Gaza Strip.

Most people in the West Bank are Palestinians, but there are also many Jewish settlers living in Israeli settlements. The international community considers these settlements to be illegal under international law. Because West Bank Palestinians are not Israeli citizens, they are not allowed to vote in Israeli elections.

Geography

The West Bank borders Israel to the west and Jordan to the east. It touches the Dead Sea and the River Jordan.

Hills or desert make up most of its landscape. Summers are hot and dry, while winters are cooler and rainy.

Regions

The West Bank is divided into 165 Palestinian enclaves that are under partial Palestinian rule. The rest of the West Bank, including 200 Israeli settlements, is under full Israeli control.

Laws

Israeli settlers and civilians living in the West Bank (or traveling through it) are subject to Israeli law, and are represented in the Knesset. On the other hand, Palestinian civilians (who are mostly stuck in or confined to scattered enclaves), are subject to martial law and are not permitted to vote in Israel's national elections.

Names

The occupied West Bank is called "Judea and Samaria" by some right-wing Israeli settlers.{{}}

Other websites

Notes

  1. ↑ Over 670,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank as of 2022; approximately 227,100 Israeli settlers live in East Jerusalem as of 2019.
  2. ↑ While Arab citizens of Israel, most of whom are ethnically Palestinian, can vote in Israeli national elections and live under civilian not military rule, very few live in the West Bank settlements, whose funding and purpose is directed at promoting Jewish residency.

Sources

  1. ↑ "West Bank". Central Intelligence Agency. 17 October 2023. Archived from the original on 22 July 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2023 – via CIA.gov.
  2. ↑ Israel's control of the airspace and the territorial waters of the Gaza Strip Archived 5 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ Harrison, Rebecca (2 October 2007). ""Amen" for Israel, say Christian Zionists". Reuters. Reuters. Retrieved 24 March 2024.