West Bank

#WestBank

#JordanRiver

The West Bank and Jordan have a deeply interconnected and complex history, especially in the context of the Arab-Israeli conflict and the broader Middle East political landscape.

What is the West Bank?

• A landlocked territory in the Middle East, located west of the Jordan River.

• Borders:

• East – Jordan (across the Jordan River)

• West/North/South – Israel

• Southeast – The Dead Sea

• Major cities: Ramallah, Nablus, Hebron, Bethlehem, and East Jerusalem (partially claimed by Palestinians)

Jordan and the West Bank: Historical Overview

1948–1967: Jordanian Control

• After the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Jordan captured and annexed the West Bank in 1950, including East Jerusalem.

• Jordan granted citizenship to the Palestinians living in the West Bank.

• Only a few countries (notably the UK and Pakistan) recognized the annexation.

1967: Six-Day War

• Israel captured the West Bank from Jordan during the Six-Day War in June 1967.

• The territory has been under Israeli occupation since then.

• Jordan lost control but retained strong political and religious interests—especially in Jerusalem.

1988: Jordan Renounces Claims

• In 1988, King Hussein of Jordan officially relinquished Jordan’s claims to the West Bank in favor of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

• This move acknowledged the Palestinian right to self-determination and cleared the way for international peace efforts.

Jordan’s Religious and Political Role

Custodianship of Islamic Holy Sites

• Jordan, through the Hashemite monarchy, retains custodianship of Islamic holy sites in East Jerusalem, including:

• Al-Aqsa Mosque

• Dome of the Rock

• This role is recognized in the Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty (1994) and reaffirmed in many international statements.

Peace and Mediation

• Jordan signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994, making it one of only two Arab nations (with Egypt) to do so.

• Jordan supports a two-state solution and continues to advocate for Palestinian sovereignty over the West Bank with East Jerusalem as the capital.

Present-Day Dynamics

• Many Palestinians in Jordan (especially refugees and descendants from 1948 and 1967) maintain strong family and cultural ties to the West Bank.

• Security coordination between Jordan and the Palestinian Authority (PA) remains active.

• Jordan is highly sensitive to Israeli policies regarding settlement expansion, annexation threats, and status quo at Al-Aqsa.

Summary

Aspect Details

1948–1967 Jordan controlled the West Bank and granted citizenship to Palestinians there.

1967–present Israel occupies the West Bank after taking it from Jordan in the Six-Day War.

1988 Jordan formally ceded all claims to the PLO.

Today Jordan supports Palestinian statehood, opposes Israeli annexation, and oversees Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem.

If you’d like, I can show you maps of the West Bank during different periods, or provide more detail on Jordan’s refugee policy, border dynamics, or peace negotiations.