West Bank

The West Bank is a contested region in the Middle East largely under Israeli control. Also known as Judea and Samaria, the name "West Bank" specifically refers to it being along the western bank of the Jordan River. 

Israel took control of the area from Jordan in 1967 following the Six Day War, but has not annexed it. While home to hundreds of thousands of Israeli settlers living in different settlements, the West Bank also has a huge Palestinian population and is the bulk of what most people envision as a future Palestinian state. 

The status of Israeli settlements is highly controversial and while they are defended by Israel and the US, most of the international community sees them as illegal.

Huckabee: US no longer endorses Palestinian state, can be formed 'elsewhere' in Middle East

Huckabee added that the United States no longer wholeheartedly endorses an independent state for Palestinians, saying he "does not think" the issue remains a US policy.

 US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee​​ takes part in a ceremony at the Tower of David, in the Old City of Jerusalem, June 1, 2025
DF, ISA, and Israel Border Police forces began a counterterrorism operation in Kasbah in Nablus.

IDF kills two terrorists in the West Bank, soldiers lightly wounded during counterterror op.

 Jewish West Bank residents tell all in JPost Asks Anything.

'We're all settlers anywhere we live in Israel': Jewish West Bank residents tell all

 Red signposts warn Israelis not to enter ‘Area A’ – the prohibition is for Jews.

‘Area A’ prohibition is for Jews not just Israelis - comment


Abbas praises October 7 massacre ahead of pro-Palestinian summit

“The attacks shook the foundations of the Israeli entity… revealed its glaring failure,” PA chairman Abbas said in an interview published last week and exposed by PMW.

 Palestinian Authority chair Mahmoud Abbas against backdrop of October 7 destruction and Palestinian flag. (illustration)

IDF takes 'Madleen' flotilla to Port of Ashdod, flotilla's passengers to return to home countries

'Tiny' amount of aid on ship to be transferred to Gaza through real humanitarian channels, foreign ministry says • GHF to open aid distribution center in Rafah

 A drone view shows the Gaza-bound aid ship Madleen, organized by the international NGO Freedom Flotilla Coalition, anchored off the coast of Catania, Italy, on June 1, 2025.

IDF, Shin Bet foil imminent terror attack in northern West Bank

Authorities say the arrest of Muslim Mazarwa, a key figure in the Jenin terror network, could deal a significant blow to planned attacks in the region.

A Glock handgun seized from Muslim Mazarwa, key figure in the Jenin terror network.

This week in Jewish history: Anne Frank’s first diary entry, Israel bombs Iraqi nuke reactor

A highly abridged weekly version of Dust & Stars – Today in Jewish History.

 Anne Frank diary in Madame Tussauds museum on April 25, 2017 in Amsterdam Netherlands.

Israel's paralyzing politics squander historic opportunities across Middle East - opinion

Can Benjamin Netanyahu's government turn strategic failures across the Middle East into opportunities for the Jewish State?

  Israel Air Force, April 14, 2024.

Palestinian arrested for kidnapping Israeli to West Bank over financial dispute

The police stated that the reason for the alleged kidnapping was a financial dispute.

 The Israeli police pointing towards the inside of a car.

Israeli faith in lasting peace with Palestinians at lowest in over a decade - poll

Israeli faith in lasting peace with Palestinians and the possibility of a two-state solution is at the lowest since 2013, a Pew poll shows.

Palestinian and Israeli flags overlook Dome of Rock and Western Wall

West Bank mayor urges action as illegal entries into Area A endangers lives - analysis

"Failure to enforce the law that prohibits Israelis from entering Area A could lead to the next attack, which I want to prevent," the mayor of Karnei Shomron said.

 Israeli police officers and a soldier stand guard, in the area near Allenby Bridge Crossing between the West Bank and Jordan, September 8, 2024.

'Red stop' 24-hour crackdown: Israel police arrest nine suspects, seize weapons, vehicles

Israel Police, in a joint 24-hour crackdown with IDF and Border Police, arrested nine suspects in the West Bank for serious crimes, seizing weapons and stolen vehicles.

 The Israeli police pointing towards the inside of a car.

Two-state solution support hits all-time low as Israeli trust collapses – Pew poll

Only 21% of Israelis believe peaceful coexistence with a Palestinian state is possible; distrust and status of Jerusalem cited as top obstacles.

 Israeli and Palestinian flags side by side. (illustration).

Damascus faces difficult choices in southern Syria in light of Israeli airstrikes - analysis

Tensions flare as rockets from Syria prompt Israeli airstrikes, despite Syria’s new government seeking stability and rejecting hostile acts.

 Members of Syrian security forces stand guard at a damaged site, after Israel carried out an air strike on the Syrian capital Damascus on Thursday, as reported by Syria's state news agency, in Damascus, Syria March 13, 2025