Nadene Goldfoot
The Oslo II Accord divided the West Bank into three administrative divisions: the Areas A, B and C. The distinct areas were given a different status, according to the amount of self-government the local Palestinians would have over it through the Palestinian Authority, until a final status accord would be established.
MOST OF geographic Judea and Samaria (60% of the area) is designated Area C, over which Israel has exclusive jurisdiction both administratively and in security matters. Area C's distinguishing characteristic is that it is sparsely populated – by Arab or Jewish inhabitants.
Area C was defined as "areas of the West Bank outside Areas A and B, which, except for the issues that will be negotiated in the permanent status negotiations, will be gradually transferred to Palestinian jurisdiction in accordance with this Agreement."
Area C was initially around 72–74% (first phase, 1995) of the West Bank. Under the 1998 Wye River Memorandum, Israel would further withdraw from some additional 13% from Area C to Area B, which officially reduced Area C to circa 61% of the West Bank. Israel, however, withdrew from only 2%, and during Operation Defensive Shield, it reoccupied all territory.
As of 2013, Area C formally comprised about 63% of the West Bank, including settlements, outposts and declared "state land". Including or excluding East Jerusalem, no-man's land and the Palestinian part of the Dead Sea also determines the percentage.
Arabs are reported to have been building homes in Area C and have not been stopped.
Ariel is one such city. It was just attacked, and the guard, a Russian oleh, was killed while shielding his girlfriend, whom he saved. Ariel is (12 mi) east of the Green Line and (21 mi) west of the Jordan border. it's also (26 mi) east of Tel Aviv to which it is connected by the Highway 5 and (37 mi) northwest of Jerusalem, to which it is connected by Highway 60.
Founded in 1978, from 1978 to 1988, Ariel continued to develop, and established itself as the urban center for the nearby Jewish settlements. In 1980, the prefabricated homes were replaced with permanent housing.
The College of Judea and Samaria, which would later become the Ariel University Center of Samaria, and eventually Ariel University, was founded in 1982. Three elementary schools, a community center, a sports hall, and a synagogue were built. In May 1982, Ariel was connected to the national power grid. They have a population of 20,540.
For comparison, Forest Grove, Oregon in 2010 had about 20,000.
The city has several shopping centres and two industrial zones (divided into light and heavy industry), a library. In July 2008, Israel approved the construction of 27 new factories, which were expected to be completed by September 2009.
Area A comprises approximately 18% of the West Bank and Area B about 22%, together home to some 2.8 million Palestinians.
Resource:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariel_(city)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area_C_(West_Bank)
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