West Bank
West Bank as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 66 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Middle East, west of Jordan
15 fieldsLand useshare of 5,860 sq km
Note
International disputes
West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation
Climate
temperate, temperature and precipitation vary with altitude, warm to hot summers, cool to mild winters
Terrain
mostly rugged dissected upland, some vegetation in west, but barren in east
- lowest point:
- Dead Sea -408 m
- highest point:
- Tall Asur 1,022 m
Geographic note
- landlocked;
- highlands are main recharge area for Israel's coastal aquifers;
- there are 202 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the West Bank and 26 in East Jerusalem (August 1995 est.)
People
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1996 est.)
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 45% (male 332,628; female 315,968)
- 15-64 years:
- 51% (male 368,180; female 362,880)
- 65 years and over:
- 4% (male 20,495; female 27,590) (July 1996 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 1.02 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.74 male(s)/female
- all ages:
- 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Government
3 fieldsGovernment note
Under the Israeli-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements ("the DOP"), Israel agreed to transfer certain powers and responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, a Palestinian Legislative Council, elected in January 1996, as part of interim self-governing arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
A transfer of powers and responsibilities for the Gaza Strip and Jericho has taken place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area. A transfer of powers and responsibilities in certain spheres for the rest of the West Bank has taken place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 29 August 1994 Agreement on Preparatory Transfer of Powers and Responsibilities.
A transfer of powers and responsibilities in additional areas of the West Bank has taken place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 28 September 1995 Interim Agreement. The DOP provides that Israel will retain responsibility during the transitional period for external security and for internal security and public order of settlements and Israelis. Permanent status is to be determined through direct negotiations within five years.
Economy
Economic progress in the West Bank has been | hampered by Israeli military administration and the effects of the | Palestinian uprising (intifadah).
20 fieldsEconomic overview
Economic progress in the West Bank has been hampered by Israeli military administration and the effects of the Palestinian uprising (intifadah). Industries using advanced technology or requiring sizable investment have been discouraged by a lack of local capital and restrictive Israeli policies.
Capital investment consists largely of residential housing, not productive assets that would enable local Palestinian firms to compete with Israeli industry. GDP has been substantially supplemented by remittances of workers employed in Israel and Persian Gulf states. Such transfers from the Gulf dropped after Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990.
In the wake of the Persian Gulf crisis, many Palestinians have returned to the West Bank, increasing unemployment, and export revenues have dropped because of the decline of markets in Jordan and the Gulf states. The area's economic situation has worsened since Israel imposed stringent border restrictions in 1995 and 1996.
Labor force
NA; by occupation: construction 28.2%, agriculture 21.8%, industry 14.5%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 12.6%, other services 22.9% (1991) note: excluding Israeli settlers
Industries
- generally small family businesses that produce cement, textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs;
- the Israelis have established some small-scale, modern industries in the settlements and industrial centers
Electricity
- capacity:
- NA kW
- production:
- NA kWh
- consumption per capita:
- NA kWh
note: most electricity imported from Israel; East Jerusalem Electric Company buys and distributes electricity to Palestinians in East Jerusalem and its concession in the West Bank;
the Israel Electric Company directly supplies electricity to most Jewish residents and military facilities; at the same time, some Palestinian municipalities, such as Nabulus and Janin, generate their own electricity from small power plants
Imports
$791 million (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
- commodities:
- food, consumer goods, construction materials
- partners:
- Jordan, Israel
Economic aid
recipient: ODA, $NA note: $410 million (est.) disbursed from international aid pledged in 1995 (includes aid to Gaza Strip)
Exchange rates
- new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1 - 3.1295 (January 1996), 3.0113 (1995), 3.0111 (1994), 2.8301 (1993), 2.4591 (1992), 2.2791 (1991);
- Jordanian dinars (JD) per US$1 - 0.7090 (January 1996), 0.7005 (1995), 0.6987 (1994), 0.6928 (1993), 0.6797 (1992), 0.6808 (1991)
Transportation
4 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 2 in all
Communications
NA
9 fieldsTelephone system
- domestic:
- NA
- international:
- NA
note: Israeli company BEZEK is responsible for communication services in the West Bank
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “West Bank.” The World Factbook 1996. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/west-bank/1996.