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In the Oslo II agreement of 1995, the West Bank was divided into three Areas: A, under
full Palestinian Authority control; B, under Palestinian civil control but joint Israeli-
Palestinian security; and C, under full Israeli control. Although Area A was intended to
expand until it included all of the West Bank except Israel’s settlements, its military
facilities and East Jerusalem - whose status would then be negotiated - in fact the
division became a permanent feature. Area A comprises 18% of the West Bank, B
another 22%, leaving a full 60%, Area C, including most of Palestinian farmland and
water, under exclusive Israeli control. These areas, comprising 64 islands, shape the
contours of the "cantons" Sharon has proposed as the basis of the future Palestinian state.
Taken together with Gaza, which Israel will relinquish, the emerging Bantustan will
consist of five truncated cantons - a northern one around Nablus and Jenin; a central one
around Ramallah; a southern one around Bethlehem and Hebron; enclaves in East
Jerusalem; and Gaza. In this scheme Israel will expand from its present 78% to 85-90%,
with the Palestinian state confined to just 10-15% of the country.
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Webmaster:
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Datum: 23.07.06
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