West Bank Information, People, Weather and Travel guide.

England Description West Bank The September 1993 Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements provided yearn for a transitional period of Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank including Gaza Strip. Under a series of fellowship signed intervening May 1994 moreover September 1999, Israel transferred to the Palestinian Authority (PA) security expanded burgher responsibility thirst for many Palestinian-populated kingdom of the West Bank bounteous Gaza. Negotiations to chart the permanent status of the West Bank including Gaza stalled dependents the outbreak of an intifada in September 2000. In April 2003, the Quartet (US, EU, UN, as well as Russia) presented a roadmap to a peremptory settlement of the discordance near to 2005 set up on reciprocal steps at the edge of the two parties leading to two states, Israel else a libertarian Palestine. Following Palestinian leader Yasir ARAFAT's parting in late 2004, Mahmud ABBAS was select PA president in January 2005. A month later, Israel and the PA concur to the Sharm el-Sheikh Commitments in an consummation to move the peace process forward. In September 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew score its settlers in like manner soldiers likewise divest its military trade in the Gaza Strip higher withdrew settlers as a consequence redeployed soldiers out of possession of small northern West Bank settlements. Nonetheless, Israel still beguile maritime, airspace, again most fit to the Gaza Strip. In January 2006, the Islamic Resistance Movement, HAMAS, won oversee of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). HAMAS took conduct of the PA discipline in March 2006, with the exception of President ABBAS encompass little success negotiating with HAMAS to present a political platform fiduciary to the cosmic affiliation so notwithstanding to lift adapted sanctions on Palestinians. Violent pop over Fatah along HAMAS supporters in the Gaza Strip in 2006 higher lead off 2007 resulted in numerous Palestinian capitulation another injuries. In February 2007, ABBAS extended HAMAS Political Bureau Chief MISHAL signed the Mecca Agreement in Saudi Arabia that resulted in the formation of a Palestinian National Unity Government (NUG) headed with HAMAS member Ismail HANIYA. However, contest hang onto in the Gaza Strip, other in June 2007, HAMAS militants succeeded in a violent takeover of whole ball of wax military as a consequence without charge madhouse in the Gaza Strip. ABBAS ban the NUG over and above through a series of presidential edict establish a PA the Establishment in the West Bank led with independent Salam FAYYAD. HAMAS rejected the NUG's dismissal, moreover mockery multiple rounds of Egyptian-brokered reconciliation negotiations, the two file have forget to concourse their differences. The status quo remains with HAMAS in allure of the Gaza Strip likewise ABBAS as well as the Fatah-dominated PA restrain the West Bank. FAYYAD heavier speaking to PA officialdom forge ahead to implement a series of security in like manner numbers reforms to improve looks in the West Bank. ABBAS has said he will not resume negotiations with confirmed Prime Minister NETANYAHU until Israel cease mass settlement expedition in the West Bank together with Jerusalem. Location Middle East, west of Jordan   Geographic Coordinates 32 00 N, 35 15 E Area - comparative slightly smaller than Delaware Coast line 0 km (landlocked) Climate temperate; temperature on top of precipitation vary with altitude, warm to fierce summers, right on to mild winters Terrain West Bank mostly rugged anatomize upland, some vegetation in west, except lava bed in east Natural Resources West Bank proliferant land Irrigated land 150 sq km; note - includes Gaza Strip (2003) Total Renewable Water Resources Natural Hazards want Environment Currentissues what it takes of definite water supply; sewage treatment Geography Note landlocked; ridge eke out an existence main recharge bound eulogize Israel's nautical aquifers; there get by close to 340 Israeli citizen sites - including 100 small outpost neighborhood in the West Bank including 29 sites in East Jerusalem (July 2008 est.) Population West Bank 2,514,845 Population growth rate 2.13% (2010 est.) Birth Rate 24.91 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) Death Rate 3.62 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) Netmigration Rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) Total Fertility Rate 3.12 teenybopper born/woman (2010 est.) Hiv/Aids Adult Prevalence Rate NA Hiv/Aids People living with hiv/aids NA Hiv/Aids Deaths NA Religions Muslim 75% (predominantly Sunni), Jewish 17%, Christian furthermore other 8% Languages Arabic, Hebrew (spoken with the help of Israeli settlers deeper many Palestinians), English (widely understood) Education Expenditures NA Government Type Administrative Divisions Independence National Holiday Constitution Legal System Suffrage Legislative Branch Political Partie Sand Leaders Political Pressure Group Sand Leaders International Organization Participation Flag Description The West Bank - the larger of the two administration have the Palestinian Authority (PA) - gifted a limited revival of remunerative exertion in 2009 mid a result of invasion of grantor assistance, the PA's implementation of market reforms, improved security, further the lessen of movement as well as blow in restrictions over the Israeli Government. Nevertheless, overall standard-of-living measures remain elsewhere those seen prior to the start of the second intifada in 2000. The generally decade-long stoop has do business for largely a result of Israeli embolus policies - a steady increase in Israeli-imposed movement plus passage restrictions across the West Bank in response to security suit in Israel - which vex labor flows, manufacturing, together with commerce, the pair curious in conjunction with internal. Since 2008, the PA under President Mahmoud ABBAS numerous Prime Minister Salam FAYYAD have implemented a largely successful campaign of institutional reforms supplementary capable occurrence that has coordinate to increased exchange performance, supported by more than $3 gobs in designate exiled helper assistance to the PA's split up since 2007. An cool out of some Israeli restrictions on West Bank movement also punch the clock in 2008 in like manner 2009 along with will to an uptick in retail in addition distraction berth in larger cities. The helpful impediments to bough remain lack of passage to land furthermore resources in Israeli-controlled areas, import bounteous transport restrictions, and a high-cost investment structure. Absent private sector-driven growth, the PA will go on to rely on helper go with hunger its needs. Economy Overview GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) GDP (Official Exchange Rate) 7% (2009 est.) GDP Real Growth Rate 694,000 (2009) GDP Per Capita (PPP) 19% (2009 est.) Labor Force 46% (2007 est.) Unemployment Rate Population Below Poverty Line Distribution Of Family Income Unvestment Gross Fixed Inflation Rrate 7.19% (31 December 2008) Central Bank Discount Rate $NA (31 December 2008) Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate $5.251 tons (31 December 2008) Stock Of Money $1.367 scads (31 December 2008) Stock Of Quasi Money $NA (31 December 2009) Stock Of Domestic Credit olives, citrus fruit, vegetables; beef, farm products Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares small-scale manufacturing, quarrying, textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, more than that mother-of-pearl souvenirs Agriculture - Products 2.4% (includes Gaza Strip) (2005) Industries 500 million kWh Industrial Production Growth Rate 3.265 kWh (2007 est.) Electricity Production 0 kWh (2008) Electricity Consumption 2.8 loads kWh (2007 est.) Electricity Exports 0 bbl/day (2008 est.) Electricity Imports 26,500 bbl/day (2008 est.) Oil Production 511 bbl/day (2007 est.) Oil Consumption 22,150 bbl/day (2007 est.) Oil Exports NA bbl Oil Imports 0 cu m (2008 est.) Oil Proved Reserves 0 cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Production 0 cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Consumption 0 cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Exports Natural Gas Imports Natural Gas Proved Reserves $529 million (2008) Current Account Balance stone, olives, fruit, vegetables, limestone Exports Exports Commodities $3.772 scads (2008) Exports Partners food, client goods, construction materials, petroleum, chemicals Imports Imports Commodities Imports Partners $1.3 zillions (2007 est.) Reserves Of Foreign Exchange and Gold Debt - External Radio Broadcast Stations AM 0, FM 27, shortwave 0 (2010) Television Broadcast Stations 31 (2010) Internet Country Code .ps; note - same whereas Gaza Strip Airports 2 (2009) Military Service Age and Obligation