United NationsOffice for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

August 2007

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORYOCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

Fragmentation of the West BankFragmentation of the West Bank

Region and OCHA offices

UN-OCHAMiles

0 3015

The West Bank is increasingly fragmented:

Israeli settlements are prevalent throughout the West Bank. They are illegal under international law

Roads primarily for settler use connect the settlements with Israel

Palestinian access to the majority of these roads is prevented or restricted by:

• Checkpoints• Roadblocks• A permit system for vehicles wanting to travel on them

The roads serve as corridors for settlers but barriers for Palestinian movement.

Together with the settlements and other Israeli infrastructure, the West Bank is fragmented into a multitude of small enclaves for Palestinians

Many of these enclaves are connected to adjacent towns only via checkpoints or tunnels built under settler roads.

The Government of Israel insists these restrictions on movement are necessary to protect its citizens.

Restrictions on Palestinian movement is the principle cause of the economic decline of the Palestinian economy according to World Bank.

Fragmentation of the West Bank

Areas A and B(Oslo Accords)

149 Israeli settlements,96 outposts

Israeli military closed areas and 27 military bases

Nature Reserves

West Bank Barrier and Areas between the Barrier and the Green Line

Roads used by the settlers

Closures

The effect of the closures

Fragmentation of the West Bank

PermanentCheckpoints

PartialCheckpoints

Tunnels(As of March 2007)

Please wait whileslide is loading

Note:Green Line (1949 Armistice)

Note:Interim agreement of 1994 Oslo process

Areas A and B (40% of area) under Palestinian authority

Area C under Israeli authority

Note:Israeli Settlements growing at 5.5% a year

Illegal under international law

Note:Nature reserves mostly off-limits to Palestinian entry

No grazing or development

Note:Permits are required to access areas behind Barrier

Permit difficult to obtain (except Gush Etzion)

Note:Roads primarily for Settler use

Palestinian access banned or restricted on majority of roads

Note:Roadblocks and checkpoints physically prevent Palestinian vehicles accessing settler roads

Note:Roads, settlements, other infrastructure fragment West Bank

Note:Checkpoints straddle settler roads Palestinian movement from one enclave to another via checkpoints or tunnelsunder settler roads

Note:Areas A and B (Palestinian control) mirror fragmentation.

Note:Israeli military bases-off-limits for Palestinians

Note:Effect is a series of corridors for settler traffic, but obstacles for Palestinian movement

!!‚

Humanitarian Response

Issue of the settlements key to any viable future- expanding 5.5% year

Settlements are at the centre of movement and access restrictions

Oslo Map – only areas A and B are able to be developed by Palestinians

Virtually no permits for building are allocated for Palestinians in Area C.

Demolitions for buildings without permits have increased.

Growing disparity between the political rhetoric and the facts on the ground

Key Points

For more information seewww.ochaopt.org