The Oslo II Accord divided the West Bank into three administrative divisions: the
Areas A, B and C. The distinct areas were given a different status, according
to the amount of self-government the Palestinians would have over it through
the Palestinian Authority, until a final status accord would be established.
Divisions = Area A=
Area A: circa 3% of the West Bank, exclusive East Jerusalem.
This area includes eight Palestinian cities and their surrounding areas, with
no Israeli settlements. Entry into this area is forbidden to all Israeli
citizens. The Israel Defense Forces occasionally enters the area to conduct
raids to arrest suspected militants. = Area B=
Area B: circa 23-25%. This area includes some 440 Palestinian
villages and their surrounding lands, and no Israeli settlements.
= Area C= Area C: circa 72-74%. Under the Wye
River Memorandum, Israel would further withdrawal from some additional 13% From
Area C to Area B, which officially reduced Area C to circa 61% of the West
Bank. Israel, however, withdrew from only 2% and during Operation Defensive
Shield, it reoccupied all territory. According to Danny Rubinstein:
'Much land in Area C is undeveloped. Israel, however, does not permit
Palestinian construction for residential, commercial or industrial
purposes.' 70 percent of the area is defined as
within settler municipal boundaries, where permits for development are denied
to Palestinians. The World Bank estimates that the effect has been to
cause a potential loss of $14 billion of revenue for the Palestinian economy.
Note: In negotiations, Israel has maintained the view that annexed East
Jerusalem, no-man’s land and the Palestinian part of the Dead Sea are not
part of Area C. This would decrease the proportional share of Area C, compared
to the other Areas. On the other hand, an arbitrary square kilometer of the
West Bank would comprise a higher percentage of the total area of the West
Bank. Oslo II defines Area C as:
″areas of the West Bank outside Areas A and B, which, except for the issues that
will be negotiated in the permanent status negotiations, will be gradually
transferred to Palestinian jurisdiction in accordance with this Agreement″.
The issues that will be negotiated, according to Article XVII, are
″Jerusalem, settlements, specified military locations, Palestinian
refugees, borders, foreign relations and Israelis; and ... powers and
responsibilities not transferred to the Council″. Parts of Area C are military
area closed for Palestinians. Transfer of Area C
Part of Area C was intended to be handed to Palestinians by the end of 1999.
Israel promised to redeploy its troops from Areas A and B before the elections.
After the inauguration of an elected Palestinian parliament, the Israeli
Civil Administration would be dissolved and the Israeli military government be
withdrawn. The Council would get some powers and responsibilities.
Within 18 months from the date of inauguration, Israel would further
redeploy military forces from Area C in three phases, however, without transfer
of any sovereignty to the Palestinians: ″The Council will assume powers and
responsibilities for civil affairs, as well as for public order and internal
security, according to this Agreement″. ″1. Israel shall transfer powers and
responsibilities as specified in this Agreement from the Israeli military
government and its Civil Administration to the Council in accordance with this
Agreement. Israel shall continue to exercise powers and responsibilities not
so transferred.″″5. After the inauguration of the Council, the Civil
Administration in the West Bank will be dissolved, and the Israeli military
government shall be withdrawn. The withdrawal of the military government
shall not prevent it from exercising the powers and responsibilities not
transferred to the Council.″ The military forces would be redeployed
in "specified military locations" in the West Bank, to be negotiated in the
permanent status negotiations within 18 months. The Legislative Council was
elected in January 1996. Use of Area C
Area C, 99% of which is excluded from Palestinian use, contains most of the
West Bank’s natural resources and open spaces, access to which, according to
the World Bank, would enable the Palestinians to halve their budget
deficit and lead to an expansion of their economy by a third.
Area C includes all Israeli settlements. In 1972, there were 1,000 Israeli
settlers living in what is now Area C. 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 farmers, constituting 5% of
the Palestinian population on 60% of the land, who are cut off from services
available to other Palestinians in Areas A and B.
According to a 2013 EU report, Israeli policies in the area have undermined the
Palestinian presence there, with a deterioration in basic services such as
water supplies, education and shelter. Nearly 70% of the Palestinian villages
are not connected to the water network that serves settlers, which accounts for
the fact that Palestinians in the zone use only a quarter to a third of the pro
capita consumption of settlers. Palestinians cannot build in Area C
without an army permit; however, building applications are expensive and
have a 5% approval rate. As a result, most Palestinians who build there do so
illegally. Israel demolishes about 200 buildings per year in Area C.
Alleged violation of the Accords 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.
Religious sites The Palestinian side 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, 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 Palestinian territories
Sharm el-Sheikh Memorandum Israel's unilateral disengagement plan
References External links
Palestinian Communities in Area C. OCHAoPt, March 2010
Area C and Palestinian State Building - Redress Information