The West Bank, known in Arabic as “Al-Defah Al-Gabria” (الضفة الغربية), is a geopolitical region situated in historical Palestine. It is named the West Bank due to its location west of the Jordan River.

This article serves as a gateway to understanding the West Bank, its size, its vital components, and the aspirations of its people, who seek to establish a Palestinian state. Furthermore, it touches upon the unique challenges faced by Palestinians living in the West Bank when it comes to international travel.

Size of the West Bank5,860 square kilometers
Population of West Bank2,747,943 Palestinians
Largest city in the West BankHebron
Year of West Bank occupation1967
Number of Governorates in the West Bank11
Division of the West BankA 18% of the total area of ​​the West Bank
B 18.3% of the total area of ​​the West Bank.
C 61% of the total area of ​​the West Bank.

Size of the West Bank? 

The West Bank encompasses approximately 21% of the total area of the Mandate of Palestine, which extended from the river to the sea, covering about 5,860 square kilometers.

What does the West Bank include? 

This area comprises the Nablus Mountains, the Jerusalem Hills, the Hebron Mountains, and the western Jordan Valley, collectively forming the remaining Palestinian Territories alongside the Gaza Strip, following Israel’s establishment on the rest of Palestine in 1948.

The West Bank and Gaza Strip came under Israeli occupation in 1967 after the Six-Day War. Israel refers to the West Bank as Judea and Samaria.

The West Bank is the largest part

The West Bank represents the most significant portion of the territory envisioned for the future Palestinian state, alongside East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. Palestinians aspire to realize this state within the framework of the two-state negotiations conducted by the Palestine Liberation Organization in 1991.

How Palestinians in the West Bank Travel?

The sole gateway for West Bank residents to access the outside world via Jordan is the Al-Karama crossing, also known as the King Hussein Bridge. This border crossing has been under Israeli control since 1967 when Israel gained authority over all Palestinian Territories, including the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Does the Palestinian Authority have Full Control over the West Bank?

In 1995, after the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) took the control of the region, the West Bank was divided into 11 governorates: Tubas, Tulkarm, Nablus, Qalqiliya, Salfit, Ramallah, Al-Bireh, Jericho, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Hebron, which houses the biggest city in the West Bank.

As dictated in the Oslo II Accord, which was signed in September 1995 between the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Israel,

The West Bank is divided into three areas:

  • Areas A Areas under the full control of the Palestinian Authority (security and administrative) which consists of 18% of the total area of ​​the West Bank.
  • Areas B Areas in which the responsibility for public order lies with the Palestinian Authority. Israel has full control over security matters. Areas B consist of 18.3% of the total area of ​​the West Bank.
  • Areas C Areas under the full control of the Israeli government, constituting 61% of the total area of ​​the West Bank.

Summary

In conclusion, the West Bank stands as a critical piece of the historical puzzle that is Palestine. Since coming under Israeli occupation in 1967, it has been at the center of ongoing geopolitical discussions and aspirations for statehood.

Its significance in the quest for a Palestinian state, alongside East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, cannot be overstated. While the Al-Karama crossing remains the sole gateway for West Bank residents to access the world beyond, the journey towards lasting peace and self-determination for the Palestinian people continues. The West Bank, with its diverse landscapes and complex history, symbolizes both the challenges and the enduring hopes of those who call it home.

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