West Bank: Country Profile - Freedom House

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Israel’s military occupation of the West Bank entails onerous physical barriers and constraints on movement, demolition of homes and other physical infrastructure, restrictions on political rights and civil liberties, and expanding Jewish settlements that are widely considered to constitute a violation of international law. Jewish settlers in the West Bank are Israeli citizens and enjoy the same rights and liberties as other Jewish Israelis. They also enjoy relative impunity for violence against Palestinians. Most of the West Bank’s Palestinian residents fall under the administrative jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority (PA), which operates under an expired presidential mandate and has no functioning legislature.

Research & Recommendations

iconmonstr-arrow-25 (5) Created with Sketch. iconmonstr-arrow-25 (5) Created with Sketch. Freedom in the World Freedom in the World 2025

West Bank*

Not Free 22 100

PR Political Rights	4 40
CL Civil Liberties	18 60

Last Year's Score & Status 22 100 Not Free A country or territory’s Freedom in the World status depends on its aggregate Political Rights score, on a scale of 0–40, and its aggregate Civil Liberties score, on a scale of 0–60. See the methodology. * Indicates a territory as opposed to an independent country.

Overview

Israel’s military occupation of the West Bank entails onerous physical barriers and constraints on movement for Palestinians, demolition of Palestinian homes and other physical infrastructure, restrictions on Palestinians’ political rights and civil liberties, and expanding Jewish settlements that are widely considered to constitute a violation of international law. Jewish settlers in the West Bank are Israeli citizens and have access to the same rights and liberties as other Jewish Israelis. They also enjoy relative impunity for violence against Palestinians. Most of the West Bank’s Palestinian residents fall under the administrative jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority (PA), which operates under an expired presidential mandate and has no functioning legislature. The PA governs in an authoritarian manner, engaging in repression against journalists and activists who present critical views on its rule. East Jerusalem Palestinians are governed directly by Israeli civilian authorities; while a small minority of them have Israeli citizenship, most have a special residency status that denotes a restricted set of rights compared with those of Israeli citizens.

Read the full West Bank Report Previous Reports: 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 Freedom in the World 2025 Policy Recommendations Read all recommendations Prioritize strengthening the rule of law and delivering economic dividends in the aftermath of political transitions

In countries where democratic forces have come to power after periods of antidemocratic rule, the new governments should pursue an agenda that protects and expands freedoms even as it delivers tangible economic and social benefits to citizens.

In countries emerging from war or the collapse of authoritarian regimes, focus on safety, reconciliation, reform

These countries must act swiftly to release all political prisoners, build or revitalize democratic institutions, reform police and other security forces, organize and hold competitive multiparty elections, and ensure accountability for past human rights violations.

Bolster checks and balances to mitigate the threat of democratic backsliding

In countries where there has been significant erosion of political rights and civil liberties, policymakers, legislators, jurists, civic activists, and donor communities should work to strengthen institutional guardrails and norms that serve to constrain elected leaders with antidemocratic or illiberal aims.

Learn more about Freedom House's work in the Middle East iconmonstr-arrow-25 (5) Created with Sketch.

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Country Facts

Basic Facts

Freedom in the World Score22 / 100Not FreeRelated Territories: Related Countries/Territories Gaza Strip Israel

Internet Facts

StatusNot Tracked

Election Facts

StatusNot Tracked

Transnational Repression

Status Not Tracked

NOTE:Freedom in the World reports assess the level of political rights and civil liberties in a given geographical area, regardless of whether they are affected by the state, nonstate actors, or foreign powers. Disputed or occupied territories are sometimes assessed separately if they meet certain criteria, including boundaries that are sufficiently stable to allow year-on-year comparisons. For more information, see the report methodology and FAQ.

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