Administrative divisions of the Oslo Accords
The Oslo II Accord created three temporary distinct administrative divisions in the West Bank, the Areas A, B and C, until a final status accord would be established. The areas are not contiguous, but rather fragmented depending on the different population areas as well as Israeli military requirements.
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Divisions [edit]
Area A [edit]
Area A (full civil and security control by the Palestinian Authority): circa 3% of the West Bank, exclusive East-Jerusalem (first phase, 1995).[1][2] In 2011: 18%.[3][4] This area includes all Palestinian cities and their surrounding areas, with no Israeli settlements. Entry into this area is forbidden by Israeli law to all Israeli citizens.[citation needed] The Israel Defense Forces maintain no presence, but sometimes conducts raids to arrest suspected militants.
Area B [edit]
Area B (Palestinian civil control and joint Israeli-Palestinian security control): circa 25% (first phase, 1995).[1][2] In 2011: 21%.[3][4] Includes areas of many Palestinian towns and villages and areas, with no Israeli settlements.
Area C [edit]
Area C (full Israeli civil and security control, except over Palestinian civilians): circa 72% (first phase, 1995).[1][2] In 2011: 61%.[3][4] These areas include all Israeli settlements (cities, towns, and villages), nearby land, most roadways that connected the settlements (and which are exclusively for Israeli use) as well as strategic areas described as "security zones."[3] There were 1,000 Israeli settlers living in Area C in 1972. By 1993, their population had increased to 110,000. As of 2012 they number more than 300,000 – as against 150,000 Palestinians, the majority of whom are Bedouin and fellahin.[5]
Alleged violation of Accords [edit]
Area B is defined as land under Palestinian civil control and Israeli military control. According to Dror Etkes, Israeli settlers have violated the accords by spreading into Area B and seizing private Palestinian land for cultivation and settlement. Examples he cites are the Amona settlement, overlooking Ofra, where he argues that land belonging to villagers of Deir Dibwan has been taken for redevelopment; the settlement of Itamar he says has seized control of land and resources belonging to the Area B villages of Yanun, Awarta and Einabus; he states that settlers have seized Area B land near Esh Kodesh and Mitzpeh Ahiya east of Shilo; and he states that settlers of Ma'ale Rehav'am have built in a nature reserve established under the Wye River Memorandum.[6]
Religious Sites [edit]
The Palestinian side (later to become the Palestinian National Authority) agreed to ensure free access to a specific list of Jewish religious sites located in Areas 'A' and 'B' as specified in the 1995 Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip,[7] but due to the uncertain security situation, the Israel Defense Forces limits visits by Jews to rare occasions. In Area 'C', Palestinians were given the right to visit al-Maghtas on the Jordan River and to Nabi Musa.
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ a b c Gvirtzman, Haim. "Maps of Israeli Interests in Judea and Samaria Determining the Extent of the Additional Withdrawals". (this study was funded by the Settlement Division of the Zionist Organization)
- ^ a b c Map No. 1 - First Phase of Redeployment
- ^ a b c d New York Times, 23 July 2012, Israel Seeks Army Use of West Bank Area
- ^ a b c 2011 map
- ^ Diab, Khaled (6 September 2012). "Bedouin kids' school of hard knocks". Haaretz. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
- ^ Haaretz, Akiva Eldar, West Bank outposts spreading into Area B, in violation of Oslo Accords. 18 February 2012.
- ^ Interim Agreement Annex III: Protocol Concerning Civil Affairs.
