1. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
Fragmentation of the West Bank
August 2007

2. Region and OCHA offices
UN-OCHA
Miles 30 15

3. Fragmentation of the West Bank
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.
Customs revenu:
20% of the stock of the withheld clearance revenues from March 2006 to June 2007 has been paid to the PA.

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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
Permanent
Checkpoints
Partial
Tunnels
(As of March 2007)
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Note:
Checkpoints straddle settler roads
Palestinian movement from one enclave
to another via checkpoints or tunnels
under settler roads
Note:
Roads, settlements, other infrastructure
fragment West Bank
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Israeli military bases-off-limits for Palestinians
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Effect is a series of corridors for settler traffic,
but obstacles for Palestinian movement
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Roadblocks and checkpoints physically prevent
Palestinian vehicles accessing settler roads
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Areas A and B (Palestinian control)
mirror fragmentation.
Note:
Permits are required to access areas behind Barrier
Permit difficult to obtain
(except Gush Etzion)
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Green Line (1949 Armistice)
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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
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Nature reserves mostly off-limits to Palestinian entry
No grazing or development
Note:
Roads primarily for Settler use
Palestinian access banned or restricted on majority of roads

5. Humanitarian Response
Key Points
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
For more information see