United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

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

2. UN-OCHA 0 15 30 Miles Region and OCHA offices

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.

4. Please wait while slide is loading 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 Checkpoints Tunnels (As of March 2007) Note: Israeli Settlements growing at 5.5% a year Illegal under international law Note: Permits are required to access areas behind Barrier Permit difficult to obtain (except Gush Etzion) Note: Green Line (1949 Armistice) Note: Interim agreement of 1994 Oslo process Areas A and B (40% of area) under Palestinian authority Area C under Israeli authority Note: 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 Note: Roadblocks and checkpoints physically prevent Palestinian vehicles accessing settler roads Note: Roads, settlements, other infrastructure fragment West Bank Note: Checkpoints straddle settler roads Palestinian movement from one enclave to another via checkpoints or tunnels under settler roads Note: Areas A and B (Palestinian control) mirror fragmentation. Note: Israeli military bases-off-limits for Palestinians Note: Effect is a series of corridors for settler traffic, but obstacles for Palestinian movement

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 www.ochaopt.org