West Bank

West Bank

A disputed territory of southwest Asia between Israel and Jordan west of the Jordan River. Part of Jordan after 1949, it was occupied by Israel in the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. In 1994 an accord between Israel and the PLO was signed, giving Palestinians limited self-rule and requiring measured withdrawal of Israeli troops from the West Bank.

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West Bank

n

(Placename) the. an autonomous Palestinian region in the Middle East on the W bank of the River Jordan, comprising the hills of Judaea and Samaria and part of Jerusalem: formerly part of Palestine: became part of Jordan after the ceasefire of 1949: occupied by Israel since the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. In 1993 a peace treaty between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization provided for the West Bank to become a self-governing Palestinian area; a new Palestinian National Authority assumed control of parts of the territory in 1994-95, but subsequent talks broke down and Israel reoccupied much of this in 2001-02. Pop.: 1 949 000 (2000 est.). Area: 5879 sq. km (2270 sq. miles)

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

West Bank - an area between Israel and Jordan on the west bank of the Jordan river; populated largely by Palestinians Aksa Martyrs Brigades, al-Aksa Martyrs Brigades, Martyrs of al-Aqsa - a militant offshoot of al-Fatah that is the newest and strongest and best equipped faction active in the West Bank; responsible for many deadly attacks in Israel in 2002 Israel, State of Israel, Yisrael, Zion, Sion - Jewish republic in southwestern Asia at eastern end of Mediterranean; formerly part of Palestine Nablus - an ancient city in the West Bank to the north of Jerusalem; the home of Jacob in biblical times Bayt Lahm, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Bethlehem-Judah, Bethlehem - a small town near Jerusalem on the West Bank of the Jordan River; early home of David and regarded as the place where Jesus was born Jericho - a village in Palestine near the north end of the Dead Sea; in the Old Testament it was the first place taken by the Israelites under Joshua as they entered the Promised Land