History
Why does Israel say it needs control over parts of the West Bank?
EXPLAINED FROM SOURCES
The short answer
Israel mainly argues that controlling parts of the West Bank is necessary for security. Israel is geographically narrow, and the West Bank contains high ground close to major Israeli cities. Israeli governments have argued that withdrawing completely could make Israel more vulnerable to attacks.
The fuller explanation
Israel mainly argues that controlling parts of the West Bank is necessary for security.
Israel is geographically narrow, and the West Bank contains high ground close to major Israeli cities. Israeli governments have argued that withdrawing completely could make Israel more vulnerable to attacks.
Some Israelis also claim the West Bank for historical, religious or nationalist reasons, often calling it by the biblical names Judea and Samaria.
Palestinians respond that security concerns do not give one country the right to permanently occupy another people’s territory, build civilian settlements there or prevent them from exercising self-determination.
International law makes an important distinction here: a military occupation does not give the occupying country ownership of the land.
In 2024, the International Court of Justice concluded that Israel’s prolonged occupation, settlement expansion and annexation policies had violated Palestinian self-determination and that Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory was unlawful.