Is the West Bank in Israel?

During the Oslo Peace Process, the Palestine Liberation Organization was permitted to create the Palestinian Authority, to run Palestinian affairs and to work to establish an independent, viable, and sovereign state on this land, on the condition that it would uphold recognition of and mutual co-existence with Israel. However there was continual contention over whether actual events and conditions proved that there was greater acceptance of Israel's existence by Palestinian leaders. Eventually, Hamas won a majority in the Palestinian Legislative Council, where it remains the majority party. It openly calls for the destruction of Israel, and seeks to create a Palestinian state encompassing all of Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza Strip. This has greatly impeded any diplomatic progress, as Israel declines any contact with Hamas, as long as the latter calls for the destruction of Israel.

Most Palestinians accept the West Bank and Gaza Strip as at least a part of the territory of their future state. Most Israelis also accept this solution. An attempt to achieve this solution was seen in the Oslo peace process, where Israel and the PLO negotiated, unsuccessfully, to come to a mutual agreement. Vocal minorities on both sides advocate other solutions, most of which contradict the goal of 'two states for two peoples.' In both communities, some individuals and groups advocate total removal or transfer of the other community. A small minority advocates a one state solution, where all of Israel/Palestine would become a bi-national state, providing equal citizenship to all of its current residents.[2]

One central question of this conflict is the degree to which Palestinians are willing and able to accept the right of Israel to exist, and are willing to uphold acceptance of this principle. Similarly, another central question is the degree to which Israel feels conditions exist in which it is possible to allow Palestinians to achieve sovereignty.

Israel asserts that one major condition of Palestinian sovereignty must be acceptance of mutual co-existence and elimination of terrorism. Some Palestinian groups, notably Fatah, a political party founded by PLO leaders, claim they are willing to foster co-existence if Palestinians are steadily given more political rights and autonomy. However, Hamas, which is currently the majority ruling party in the Palestinian Legislative Council, openly states that it completely opposes Israel's right to exist.

Okay, here it is in a nutshell. The "West Bank" was once part of the nation of Palestine. When Palestine ceased to exist in 1948, the WB was absorbed by Jordan (the remainder of Palestine became Israel.) In the 1968 war, the West Bank was seized by Israel. However, the late King Hussein of Jordan (of which the WB was officially a part of) ceded the land to the Palestinian people. It in no way, shape, of form belongs to Israel, nor is it IN Israel. It's a small chunk of what was originally Palestine between Israel and Jordan....you can locate it on a map. To say (as Samsoona does) that it under military "supervision" is laughable; it is under Israeli military OCCUPATION. Yes, it's a piece of land----one where Palestinians lived and thrived. Israel has been in violation of United Nations mandate 242 since 1968 requiring them to give the land back to the rightful owners. Israel, however, continues to build illegal settlements there. There you are, no religious mumbo-jumbo, just the facts :) Edit: I stand in awe of Duane's amswer, and I bow down to him :)

The Israelis and the Palestinians fight the West Bank but Israel is controlling it.

Israel controls the West Bank but the Palestinians feel it belongs to them.

Some Palestinians feel they are entitled to all of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. Israel says it is justified in not ceding all this land, due to security concerns, and also because the lack of any valid diplomatic agreement at the time means that ownership and boundaries of this land is open for discussion. Israel considers this land to be in dispute, and feels the purpose of negotiations is to define what the final borders will be.

Other Palestinian groups, such as Hamas, insist that Palestinians must control not only the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem, but also all of pre-1967 Israel. Israel feels that it cannot negotiate with a group that demands its dissolution.

Yes, that is the question that has created a great deal trouble. Until it is decided there will be more. I think it is only in Israel because every time someone else runs it, they drop bombs on Israel so for now some of it is and some of it isn't.

It is all part of Israel so is the made up "country" of Jordan both sides of the Jordan River are Israel. No such place as Palistine.

Yes dear, there are banks all over Israel.

The west bank is the crappy hole in the wall the Jew's, with there strong sense of generosity gave to the Palestinians to live so that they can be close to their "real" homes that have been taken away from them from the Jews in the first place.

For now it is controlled by Israel.

No...the border between Israel and the West Bank is demarcated by the Green Line. Although the whole issue of settlements and such complicates this matter...