West Bank

West Bank, territory in southwestern Asia, bounded on the north, west, and south by Israel and on the east by Jordan. It is located on the western bank of the Jordan River in the northeast, and on a portion of the Dead Sea in the southeast. The West Bank covers about 5,860 sq km (2,263 sq mi). Once part of Palestine, the West Bank, was occupied by Israel in 1967. Israel continues to maintain control over the West Bank, which today is populated by a large Palestinian majority and Israeli minority. Following a Palestinian intifada (uprising) that began in 2000, however, Israeli forces resumed control of a number of West Bank cities.