What is the West Bank?

The West Bank, also known as Judea and Samaria, is a geographic and political region in the Middle East that borders Jordan to the east and Israel to the west. It is a landlocked territory that covers an area of approximately 5,860 square kilometers (2,263 square miles) and has a population of around 2.8 million Palestinians.

Geographically, the West Bank is a rugged and mountainous region, with a terrain characterized by hills, valleys, and desert landscapes. The region is divided into three main geographic areas: the mountainous north, the central highlands, and the Jordan Valley in the east.

Historically, the West Bank was part of the Ottoman Empire until it was occupied by the British during World War I. After the British mandate ended in 1948, the area was annexed by Jordan, but in 1967, it was occupied by Israel during the Six-Day War. Since then, the West Bank has been a contested territory, with the Palestinian National Authority exercising partial administrative control over certain areas, while Israel maintains military control over the region.

Today, the West Bank is home to numerous Palestinian cities, including Nablus, Hebron, and Ramallah, which serves as the administrative center of the Palestinian National Authority. The region is also home to several Israeli settlements, which are considered illegal under international law.

For those interested in learning more about the West Bank, I recommend checking out the following resources:

• "A History of the Palestinian People" by Baruch Kimmerling and Joel S. Migdal
• "The West Bank and Gaza Strip: A Geography of Occupation" by Jan de Jong
• "Palestine: A Personal History" by Karl Sabbagh

Additionally, organizations like Oxfam and Amnesty International provide valuable information and resources on the humanitarian and human rights situation in the West Bank.