West Bank
West Bank
الضفة الغربية הגדה המערבית | |
|---|---|
.svg) 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 | |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5,655 km2 (2,183 sq mi) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 2,949,246(est., July 2021)[a] |
| Languages | Arabic, Hebrew |
| Religion | Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Samaritanism |
| Currency | Israeli shekel (ILS) Jordanian dinar (JOD) |
The West Bank is a territory in the Middle East. The State of Palestine claims the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. However, Israel and some other nations disagree and claim the West Bank is an Israeli territory.
The West Bank, known as Judea and Samaria by Israelis, has been under Israeli sovereignty since 1967. Since 1990, the Israeli government and the Palestinians have had many talks about what will happen in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in the future.
Most people in the West Bank are Palestinians, but there are also many Jewish settlers in settlements. The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank to be illegal under international law. Palestinians living in the West Bank, despite living under occupation by Israel are not allowed to vote in Israeli elections.
Geography
[change | change source]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
[change | change source]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.[2]
Laws
[change | change source]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.[b]
Names
[change | change source]The occupied West Bank is called "Judea and Samaria" by some right-wing Israeli settlers.[3]{{}}
Related pages
[change | change source]Other websites
[change | change source]
Notes
[change | change source]- ↑ 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.[1]
- ↑ 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
[change | change source]- ↑ "West Bank". Central Intelligence Agency. 17 October 2023. Archived from the original on 22 July 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2023 – via CIA.gov.
- ↑ Israel's control of the airspace and the territorial waters of the Gaza Strip Archived 5 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ Harrison, Rebecca (2 October 2007). ""Amen" for Israel, say Christian Zionists". Reuters. Reuters. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
