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West Bank

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The West Bank refers to territory on the western bank of the river Jordan which was controlled by Trans-Jordan (now Jordan) prior to the 6 day war in 1967 when it was captured by Israel. Many Israelis and sympathizers of Israel prefer not to use the term "West Bank", but rather call the southern part of this area Judea, and the northern portion Samaria, historical names for these areas.

The boundaries of the West Bank with Israel, often known as the "Green Line", are based on the armistice lines agreed with Jordan after the war of 1949.

The status of the West Bank, together with the Gaza Strip on the Mediterreanean shore, is disputed with those who advocate a Palestian homeland. Often the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been called the "occupied territories", although Israelis often prefer the term "disputed territories" which is seen by some as being a more neutral term.

History

Note: this history should start much further back.

A part of the pre-1948 Mandatory Palestine, the West Bank was reserved by the 1947 Partition Plan (UN General Assembly Resolution 181) to an Arab state (with the exception of Jerusalem and a narrow corridor leading to it which would be considered international territory). In effect, a Palestinian Arab state failed to materialize, but the territory was captured by the neighboring kingdom of Jordan. This occuptation was not recognized by the UN or by the international community. In the Six-Day War of 1967, Israel captured this territory, but the U.N. did not recognize it either and asked for Israel's withdrawal in Resolution 242. In 1988, Jordan withdrew all claims to it.

The 1993 Oslo Accords declared its final status a subject to a forthcoming settlement between Israel and the Palestinian leadership. Following the accords, Israel withdrew its military rule from some parts of West Bank, which was then split into:

  • Palestine-controlled, Palestinian-administered areas
  • Israeli and Palestinian co-controlled, but Palestinian areas
  • Israeli-controlled, Israeli-adminstered areas (the majority of the territory)

However, Israel has continued to construct many settlements in the West Bank. Israel has been criticized for this practice by supporters of the Palestinian cause.

See also Palestine.

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