West Bank

When Jewish immigrants established Israel in 1948, many Palestinians fled to nearby countries including the Jordanian-controlled West Bank. In 1967, Israel captured this territory during the Six-Day War. Palestinians who stayed in the newly Israeli-occupied West Bank struggled for many years to regain self-government of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. For decades, people on the West Bank were under military occupation. Palestinians were subject to curfew, travel and employment restrictions. Both Palestinians and Israelis call the West Bank their own.

The complex relationships of all the Middle East are lived out in the West Bank. Difficult negotiations are ongoing to determine the future of this area slightly smaller than Delaware. This bit of land is home to over 1.5 million people, 75% Muslim, and 17% Jews. Faced with a high unemployment rate and continued Israeli control over the economy, this economy is struggling. Agriculture is 33% of the economy, with olives, fruits and vegetables as the important crops. The industries are generally small family businesses that produce cement, textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl crafts.

Links to country facts and maps:
Lonely Planet: Israel
Lonely Planet: Jordan