History
What is the West Bank?
EXPLAINED FROM SOURCES
The short answer
The West Bank is Palestinian territory located west of the River Jordan. Israel has militarily occupied it since 1967. Around three million Palestinians live there, alongside hundreds of thousands of Israeli settlers. The West Bank is not simply controlled by one government.
The fuller explanation
The West Bank is Palestinian territory located west of the River Jordan. Israel has militarily occupied it since 1967.
Around three million Palestinians live there, alongside hundreds of thousands of Israeli settlers.
The West Bank is not simply controlled by one government. Under agreements made in the 1990s, it was divided into different administrative areas. The Palestinian Authority governs some Palestinian population centres, while Israel maintains extensive control over the territory.
Palestinians can face checkpoints, roadblocks, permit requirements and other restrictions when travelling between different areas. The UN says this system has fragmented the West Bank into disconnected areas.
Most proposals for an independent Palestinian state envisage the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem forming its territory.