Transport in Palestinian Authority
Encyclopedia
This article describes transport within the region under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority, which consists of two non-contiguous territories, Gaza
and the West Bank
. Egress and ingress to these territories is controlled by the state of Israel
.
total (2011): 0 km ( track gauge)
The Gaza Strip has a nowadays–dismantled standard gauge railway running 34 kilometers along its length from north to south.
In the West Bank, a narrow gauge railway operated until the 1940s stretching from Jenin
to Tulkarm
to Nablus
which was built during Ottoman
rule, and was connected to the Hejaz Railway.
As part of the Camp David
agreements, repeated in statements made by Israel in 2005 contained a proposal to link the two Palestinian territories with a high speed rail. This would involve extending the Heletz railway
to Tarqumiyah
(thus providing a rail link from Erez Crossing to the West Bank) and building a spur form the future Eastern Railway
to Tulkarm, as well as rebuilding the old railway branch from a renewed Jezreel Valley Railway
to Jenin. These links might be extended later through to Egypt
and Jordan
.
operated until the early 1970s. The narrow gauge Jezreel Valley Railway
branch from Afula
to Jenin operated until the 1940s. Also, until the late 1940s, a gauge break existed in Tulkarm between the Jenin—Tulkarm—Nablus narrow gauge railway and the standard gauge Eastern Railway. All these connections are now defunct.
in 2000.
The Gaza International Airport, opened on 24 November 1998 as part of agreements stipulated in the Oslo II Accord and the 23 October 1998 Wye River Memorandum. The airport was closed in October 2000 by Israeli orders, and its runway was destroyed by the Israel Defense Forces in December 2001. It has since been renamed Yasser Arafat International Airport
.
Note: Yasser Arafat International Airport
, located in the Gaza Strip
, has been closed since 2000.
Gaza
Gaza , also referred to as Gaza City, is a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip, with a population of about 450,000, making it the largest city in the Palestinian territories.Inhabited since at least the 15th century BC,...
and the West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
. Egress and ingress to these territories is controlled by the state of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.
Railways
total (2011): 0 km ( track gauge)
The Gaza Strip has a nowadays–dismantled standard gauge railway running 34 kilometers along its length from north to south.
In the West Bank, a narrow gauge railway operated until the 1940s stretching from Jenin
Jenin
Jenin is the largest town in the Northern West Bank, and the third largest city overall. It serves as the administrative center of the Jenin Governorate and is a major agricultural center for the surrounding towns. In 2007, the city had a population of 120,004 not including the adjacent refugee...
to Tulkarm
Tulkarm
Tulkarem or Tulkarm is a Palestinian city in the northern Samarian mountain range in the Tulkarm Governorate in the extreme northwestern West Bank adjacent to the Netanya and Haifa districts to the west, the Nablus and Jenin Districts to the east...
to Nablus
Nablus
Nablus is a Palestinian city in the northern West Bank, approximately north of Jerusalem, with a population of 126,132. Located in a strategic position between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, it is the capital of the Nablus Governorate and a Palestinian commercial and cultural center.Founded by the...
which was built during Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
rule, and was connected to the Hejaz Railway.
As part of the Camp David
Camp David
Camp David is the country retreat of the President of the United States and his guests. It is located in low wooded hills about 60 mi north-northwest of Washington, D.C., on the property of Catoctin Mountain Park in unincorporated Frederick County, Maryland, near Thurmont, at an elevation of...
agreements, repeated in statements made by Israel in 2005 contained a proposal to link the two Palestinian territories with a high speed rail. This would involve extending the Heletz railway
Heletz railway
The Heletz Railway is a 20 km railway in southern Israel which connects the Railway to Beersheba from a point just south of Kiryat Gat to the Lod–Ashkelon railway near moshav Mavki'im...
to Tarqumiyah
Tarqumiyah
Tarqumiyah is a Palestinian town located twelve kilometers northwest of Hebron.The town is in the Hebron Governorate Southern West Bank. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the town had a population of over 14,357 in 2007....
(thus providing a rail link from Erez Crossing to the West Bank) and building a spur form the future Eastern Railway
Eastern Railway (Israel)
The Eastern Railway refers to a railroad in central Israel stretching from Lod to Hadera. As of 2011, the section between Kfar Saba and Lod, as well as a short section just north of Hadera are in use, while the rest of the railway has not been operative since 1969, though there are plans to...
to Tulkarm, as well as rebuilding the old railway branch from a renewed Jezreel Valley Railway
Jezreel Valley railway
The Jezreel Valley railway, or simply the Valley railway refers to a historical railroad in Ottoman and British Palestine, which was part of the larger Hejaz railway and ran along the Jezreel Valley....
to Jenin. These links might be extended later through to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
.
Railway links with adjacent countries
Israel - A standard gauge rail link between Israel and Gaza through Erez CrossingErez Crossing
The Erez Crossing is a pedestrian/cargo terminal on the Israeli Gaza Strip barrier. It is located in the northern end of the Gaza Strip, on the border with Israel.It is part of a complex formerly including the Erez Industrial Park....
operated until the early 1970s. The narrow gauge Jezreel Valley Railway
Jezreel Valley railway
The Jezreel Valley railway, or simply the Valley railway refers to a historical railroad in Ottoman and British Palestine, which was part of the larger Hejaz railway and ran along the Jezreel Valley....
branch from Afula
Afula
Afula is a city in the North District of Israel, often known as the "Capital of the Valley", referring to the Jezreel Valley. The city had a population of 40,500 at the end of 2009.-History:...
to Jenin operated until the 1940s. Also, until the late 1940s, a gauge break existed in Tulkarm between the Jenin—Tulkarm—Nablus narrow gauge railway and the standard gauge Eastern Railway. All these connections are now defunct.
-
- IsraelRail transport in IsraelRail transport in Israel is one of the modes of transport in the country. It includes heavy rail , freight rail and light rail. Excluding light rail, the network consists of of track, and is undergoing constant expansion. All of the lines are standard gauge and as of 2011 are not electrified...
EgyptTransport in EgyptTransport in Egypt is centered in Cairo and largely follow the pattern of settlement along the Nile. The main line of the nation's railway network runs from Alexandria to Aswan and is operated by Egyptian National Railways...
- defunct (Gaza) - Egypt JordanTransport in JordanWith the exception of a railway system, Jordan has a developed public and private transportation system. There are three international airports in Jordan. Railways are not commonly used for passenger transport in Jordan, the only passenger railway is that connecting Amman to Damascus in Syria.-...
- defunct (West Bank) - Jordan
- Israel
- Rail link from GazaGazaGaza , also referred to as Gaza City, is a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip, with a population of about 450,000, making it the largest city in the Palestinian territories.Inhabited since at least the 15th century BC,...
to
West BankWest BankThe West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
- offer made.
Ports and harbors
The strip's one port was never completed after the outbreak of the Al-Aqsa IntifadaAl-Aqsa Intifada
The Second Intifada, also known as the Al-Aqsa Intifada and the Oslo War, was the second Palestinian uprising, a period of intensified Palestinian-Israeli violence, which began in late September 2000...
in 2000.
Airports
Total airports: 3The Gaza International Airport, opened on 24 November 1998 as part of agreements stipulated in the Oslo II Accord and the 23 October 1998 Wye River Memorandum. The airport was closed in October 2000 by Israeli orders, and its runway was destroyed by the Israel Defense Forces in December 2001. It has since been renamed Yasser Arafat International Airport
Yasser Arafat International Airport
Yasser Arafat International Airport , formerly Gaza International Airport and Dahaniya International Airport, is located in the Gaza Strip, in Rafah close to the Egyptian border....
.
Airports - with paved runways (2006)
- Total: 3
- 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
- 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
- Under 914 m: 1
Note: Yasser Arafat International Airport
Yasser Arafat International Airport
Yasser Arafat International Airport , formerly Gaza International Airport and Dahaniya International Airport, is located in the Gaza Strip, in Rafah close to the Egyptian border....
, located in the Gaza Strip
Gaza Strip
thumb|Gaza city skylineThe Gaza Strip lies on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The Strip borders Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the south, east and north. It is about long, and between 6 and 12 kilometres wide, with a total area of...
, has been closed since 2000.