The Green Line
The Green Line is a border that demarcates the sovereign territory of the State of Israel.
Ostensibly.
It's only ostensibly because, in reality, Israeli citizens live both within and outside the Green Line's borders. Both groups—those outside the Green Line and those within it—are citizens of the state. Israeli law applies to everyone, with all the rights and obligations that come with it.
The borders of the Green Line were defined in international agreements and are also known by the israelis as the "1948 borders"—the year Israel was established and declared its independence. Shortly after, in negotiations with its neighbors, the borders were defined, marked in green on maps, and recognized by the UN and all international bodies. Any changes that occurred afterward have not received comprehensive international recognition.
The vast majority of Israeli citizens live within "the Green Line."
The borders of this line, the 1948 lines, are the basis for the state's existence. Within them, the foundations of Israeli society, its economy, its culture, and all its governing systems were forged. Most of the cities and councils, kibbutzim, and moshavim are located within these borders. This is where all the major business centers, government offices, parks and resorts, hotels, and beaches are.
Here they are on the map:
The map on the right: Israel within the 1948 borders - in the lighter color.
Click to enlarge.
On the left: Israel within the 1948 borders - a detailed map with the Green Line marked.
Click to enlarge.
Outside the Green Line borders, approximately half a million more Israeli citizens lead their lives.
They live in territories that were captured after the Six-Day War and are officially called: the territories of Judea and Samaria or "the West Bank" (because they are located on the western side of the Jordan River).
They reside in cities, local and regional councils, and small communities more commonly known as "settlements." Generally, this population consists of religious or traditional secular people, and their political and social affiliation is considered right-wing conservative.
The lifestyle of Israeli citizens in Judea and Samaria is completely identical to the lifestyle in Israel—they have schools, synagogues, and malls, as well as healthcare services (HMOs), public transportation, community centers (MatNas), treatment centers for children and the elderly, and public parks and gardens.
People there speak Hebrew, pay property taxes, electricity and water bills, income tax, and National Insurance; they watch Israeli TV channels, talk on the phone with Israeli cellular companies, and deposit checks at the local bank branch.
They are Israelis in every sense of the word.
And yet, in everyday Israeli discourse, they are defined as people who reside in the area called: "the Territories" (Ha-Shtakhim). This term serves as a kind of "footnote"—a marginal note that indicates a significant classification: these Israelis are categorized as living outside the Green Line, in territories that were captured after a war with the Jordanians and were not officially annexed to the State of Israel.
"The Territories" as a whole is a region of public and political controversy, both in Israel and worldwide. The Israeli (Jewish) communities in Judea and Samaria are located in very close proximity to communities that, in practice, belong to the Palestinian Authority (Palestinian), in a region that is at the heart of the Jewish-Arab conflict and is security-volatile.
It's an area where most Israelis aren't willing to live. And there are also those who would never set foot there for political, social, or security reasons.
The Green Line runs between the original territories of Israel, the '48 lines, and the territories of Judea and Samaria.
Ultimately, the Green Line is essentially a virtual line, with almost no practical manifestation on the ground. Only in a few sections have walls and fences been built. In other parts, which make up most of its course, there is no marking, and only those who are familiar with the area know that this was once a border line.
Here is a map of "the Territories" outside the Green Line's borders:
Link to the numbered landmarks
on an interactive map of Wikivoyage - here.
There is another territory located beyond the original Green Line:
The Golan Heights—a mountainous region in the north of the country, just above the Sea of Galilee (Yam Kinneret) and the Jordan River.
The Golan Heights (or as it is known to Israelis in colloquial Hebrew: "Ha-Rama"— "The Heights") was captured in 1967, during the Six-Day War, about two decades after the Green Line was established.
About 50,000 residents and Israeli citizens live there, half of whom are Druze or Alawites. The area is famous mainly for its ski resort on the snow-capped peak of Mount Hermon, a site that attracts hundreds of thousands of Israelis every year to vacation and relax.
Unlike the territories of Judea and Samaria, the entire area of the Golan Heights underwent an official annexation process and is defined in Israeli law as an inseparable part of the state.
The Israeli consensus regarding the Golan Heights is almost absolute: no Israeli would classify the residents of "the Heights" with a "footnote" and say that they are "living in the Territories." There is also almost complete agreement among the state's Jewish citizens that Israel cannot give up the Golan Heights because of its topography—its commanding position above Israeli communities—and because of its history as a place from which those communities were shelled.
The situation in the world is different: few countries, including the United States, recognize the Golan Heights as an inseparable part of the State of Israel. The UN and most of the international community do not recognize this.
There is no sign that could indicate what was once the Green Line between the Golan Heights and the '48 lines, except on old maps.
On the ground itself, there are no fences or obstacles. Here and there, on the sides of the roads, there are charred skeletons of military vehicles, uncleared minefields, and abandoned Syrian outposts—a reminder of the wars that were fought here between Israel and Syria, at the end of which the Heights were captured and became an inseparable part of Israel.
Here is a map of the Golan Heights (In Hebrew) :
This is part of "The Israeli Story 1948-2025" project
What is The Israeli Story ?
A curated selection of Israeli snapshots, those that were and still are with us. Each one deserves an updated definition with a few words of explanation along with a tiny bit of history. Just a little – and all of them together go into the virtual Israeli Story that will remain online for future generations. You can see what's included in it by clicking on the icon below.
