Fragmentation of the West Bank Bantustans in the West Bank Palestinians are ghettoized on 12% of their original land. The West Bank is divided up into 70 isolated cantons with no physical movement between them without Israeli permission. There are over 500 military check points where Palestinians have to wait hours to travel short distances. Israeli settlers travel on Israeli only super highways and face no restrictions. This disposition is reminiscent of Apartheid in South Africa, which set aside 13% of the land as "Bantustan" homelands for black South Africans. The situation in Israel/Palestine is very complicated. Below are a number of highly credible documents, maps and power points to help provide a context for understanding the fragmentation of the West Bank The most powerful document we have found on the fragmentation of the West Bank was created by The United Nation's Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, and is exclusively available Here. Here is OCHA's comprehensive 2006 article on the fragmentation of the West Bank. View interactive map on Palestinian loss of land from 1948 to present: If you want more maps, go to the OCHA Map Center or the B'Tselem Map Center. Here are a few of our other favorite maps: This map shows graphically how the security fence (Apartheid wall) deviates from the green line and divides and fragments the West Bank Click on the map to expand and open it as a downloadable PDF file At the center of the occupation and the apartheid system in the West Bank are Israeli settlements. Almost one half million Israelis (460,000) illegally and permanently live in 244 West Bank settlements. These settlements fragment Palestinian territory, bring thousands of Israeli soldiers, hundreds of check points and other restrictions to the Palestinian people. The map below shows Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Settlements are in dark blue and other Israeli controlled lands are in light blue. [download] The map below shows how the West Bank is incorporated into Israel through a series of Israeli only roads. West Bank Palestinians are not allowed to use these roads and, in many cases, even cross them. These Israeli only roads create a way for Israelis to travel to and from the illegal settlements in the West Bank. They also create two systems, separate and unequal (apartheid), and fragment the West Bank. [download] The map below shows permanent check points in the West Bank. As of October, 2007 (according to OCHA), there were 572 check points and barriers in the West Bank. [download] If the separation wall, sometimes called the annexation wall or apartheid wall, went along the Green Line (the internationally recognized boarder), it would be legal under international law. Unfortunately, it dips deep into the occupied West Bank, creating a no-man's land (seam zone) between the wall and the green line where tens of thousands of Palestinians live with little access to either Israel or the West Bank. They are often cut off from their families, jobs, school and health care. Check out the separation barrier in the West Bank: Expand / Download   See Our Posters Choose one FREE Sticker

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