Story perspectives

World Bank Warns West Bank Faces Imminent Collapse

2/13/2026

Center

Palestinians Face Crisis

World Bank warns the occupied West Bank could collapse as unemployment nears 30% and families struggle to afford essentials.
Hanadi Abu Zant, a Palestinian resident who lost her work permit, fears eviction as she struggles to pay rent.
Israel's legislative measures are seen as steps toward annexation, with UN officials condemning them as violations of self-determination.
Settler violence displaces Palestinian communities, raising concerns about the future of a two-state solution.

Left

Israel Implements Controversial Measures

Israel's government introduced a death penalty bill for killings of Israelis with racist motives.
The Israeli cabinet approved measures to facilitate land purchases in the occupied West Bank.
Violence against Palestinian citizens rose, with 252 murders in 2025.
The government began revoking citizenship from Palestinian citizens convicted of terrorism, raising statelessness concerns.

History

Historical Context

The Oslo Accords, signed in 1993, initiated a peace process between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), establishing the Palestinian Authority for limited self-governance in parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Despite initial hopes, ongoing violence and Israeli legislative measures threaten the fragile peace, with unemployment in the West Bank nearing 30%, complicating the pursuit of a two-state solution.

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Palestinians Face Crisis

World Bank warns the occupied West Bank could collapse as unemployment nears 30% and families struggle to afford essentials.
Hanadi Abu Zant, a Palestinian resident who lost her work permit, fears eviction as she struggles to pay rent.
Israel's legislative measures are seen as steps toward annexation, with UN officials condemning them as violations of self-determination.
Settler violence displaces Palestinian communities, raising concerns about the future of a two-state solution.

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