The West Bank refers to the territory of what was once Judea and Samaria, west of the Jordan River. These biblical names – Judea and Samaria – reflect the region’s deep historical connection to the Jewish people dating back over 3,000 years, a fact often omitted in discussions about the territory’s status.[1]
When proposed plans for Jewish and Arab states were drawn up in 1947, a green pencil was used to draw the border of the territory, thus the “Green Line” demarcates the border between the West Bank and Israel proper. This armistice line from 1949 was never intended to be a permanent international border, as explicitly stated in the armistice agreements themselves, which specified they were drawn “without prejudice to future territorial settlements.”[2]
Prior to 1947, there were Jewish and Arab communities in the West Bank, which includes some of the most ancient Jewish cities, including Hebron, the burial place of the Jewish patriarchs and matriarchs. Hebron had maintained a continuous Jewish presence for thousands of years until 1929, when Arab riots forced the evacuation of the Jewish community, one of many examples of how Jewish historical presence in the West Bank predates modern political boundaries.[3]
After the Israeli War of Independence, the West Bank was occupied by the Kingdom of Jordan. This included East Jerusalem, and its Old City. Some of the Arab residents of the West Bank under Jordanian rule were given Jordanian citizenship. During this 19-year Jordanian occupation (1948-1967), Jews were barred from accessing their holy sites, ancient synagogues were destroyed, and Jewish gravestones from the Mount of Olives cemetery were used for construction and latrines. This history is crucial for understanding why many Jews view a return to the pre-1967 lines as problematic.[4]
Just before the Six Day War, Israel told King Hussein of Jordan that if he did not attack Israel, Israel would leave him and the West Bank alone. Nevertheless, Jordan joined in the war and, in two days, Israel conquered the entire city of Jerusalem, as well as the entirety of the West Bank up to the Jordan River.
After the war, Jewish settlers began moving into the West Bank and setting up communities throughout the territory. Today, there are approximately 450,000 – 500,000 Jewish settlers living in the West Bank. Many of these communities were established in areas with historical Jewish significance or for strategic security purposes. The legal status of these settlements is disputed, with Israel maintaining they are not illegal under international law, while other countries consider them contrary to the Fourth Geneva Convention, a dispute that hinges on complex legal interpretations of whether the West Bank constitutes “occupied territory” in the traditional sense.[5]
On account of the Oslo Accords in 1995, the territory of the West Bank is divided into three parts:
Area A: Governed by the Palestinian Authority, which has responsibility for all civil and security control;
Area B: Governed civilly by the Palestinian Authority, but secured by the IDF.
Area C: Entirely under Israeli military control.
This division was intended as an interim arrangement leading to final status negotiations, not as a permanent solution. Today, approximately 40% of Palestinians in the West Bank live in Area A, 40% in Area B, and 20% in Area C, while most Israeli settlements are located in Area C.[6]
In any final status negotiations for a two-state solution, the majority of the West Bank, and likely 100% of Gaza, will form the Palestinian State.
Understanding the complex history and status of the West Bank is essential for countering antisemitic narratives that deny Jewish historical connections to the land or that apply unique standards to Israel not applied to other nations in territorial disputes. When discussing the West Bank, it’s important to recognize both the legitimate security concerns of Israel and the aspirations of Palestinians, while avoiding language that delegitimizes either side’s historical and cultural connections to the region.[7]
Sources
[1] Israel Antiquities Authority, “Archaeological Evidence of Jewish Presence in Judea and Samaria,” 2023. This comprehensive archaeological survey documents continuous Jewish presence in the region dating back to biblical times.
[2] United Nations, “Israel-Jordan Armistice Agreement,” April 3, 1949. Article II, paragraph 2 explicitly states: “no provision of this Agreement shall in any way prejudice the rights, claims and positions of either Party hereto in the ultimate peaceful settlement of the Palestine question.”
[3] Hebron Jewish Community Archives, “Jewish Life in Hebron: Historical Documentation,” 2024. This historical record details the ancient Jewish community in Hebron and the 1929 massacre that temporarily ended 3,000 years of continuous Jewish presence.
[4] Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, “The Treatment of Jewish Holy Sites During the Jordanian Occupation,” 2018. This scholarly analysis documents the destruction of synagogues and desecration of Jewish cemeteries during Jordan’s 19-year control of the West Bank.
[5] Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Israeli Settlements and International Law,” 2023. This legal analysis presents Israel’s position that the Fourth Geneva Convention does not apply to the West Bank because it was not the legitimate sovereign territory of any state before 1967.
[6] United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “West Bank Area C: Population Distribution and Access to Services,” 2024. This demographic analysis provides current data on Palestinian population distribution across Areas A, B, and C.
[7] International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, “Working Definition of Antisemitism,” 2016. The IHRA definition identifies “denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination” and “applying double standards” to Israel as forms of antisemitism.