Jordan Cedes Claims of West Bank to PLO

In July 1988, Jordan officially ceded its claims to the West Bank to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), retaining only guardianship over the Haram al-Sharif. This significant political move came after Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, territories previously held by Jordan and Egypt, respectively. Following the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel began establishing settlements in these areas, leading to complex administrative challenges. The Israeli Civil Administration, under the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, managed the Arab population, alongside local municipal councils that had existed prior to the Israeli takeover. In 1980, Israel opted to freeze elections for these councils, instead creating Village Leagues, which were intended to be pro-Israeli local governance structures. However, this model proved ineffective, and the Village Leagues began to disband, culminating in the dissolution of the last league, the Hebron League, in February 1988. The cession of claims by Jordan marked a pivotal moment in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, reshaping the political landscape and the future of Palestinian self-determination.