Why does palestine think the west bank is theirs?

There are several historical, political, and legal factors that contribute to the Palestinian claim over the West Bank and East Jerusalem. These include:

Historical Connection: The West Bank, including the city of East Jerusalem, is part of the historical region known as Palestine, which has been inhabited by the Palestinian people for thousands of years. The Palestinians, who are ethnically Arab and culturally distinct, view the West Bank and East Jerusalem as their ancestral homeland.

Ottoman Rule and British Mandate: Before the First World War, the West Bank and East Jerusalem were part of the Ottoman Empire. After the war, the League of Nations established the British Mandate for Palestine, with the purpose of creating a Jewish homeland in Palestine. The British authorities divided the mandate into several administrative districts, including the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which were predominantly populated by Arab Palestinians.

The 1948 Arab-Israeli War and the Partition Plan: In 1947, the United Nations proposed a partition plan to divide Palestine into two states, one for the Jews and one for the Arabs. The plan allocated the West Bank and East Jerusalem to the Arab state. However, the plan was rejected by the Arab leadership and led to the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. During the war, Israeli forces occupied East Jerusalem and most of the West Bank.

Israeli Occupation and the 1967 Six-Day War: In the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel captured the remaining parts of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, from Jordan. Israel's occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem has continued since then, despite international calls for Israel to withdraw from the occupied territories.

The Oslo Accords and the Palestinian Authority: In the early 1990s, Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) signed the Oslo Accords, which established the Palestinian National Authority (PA). The PA was granted limited self-governance in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, while Israel retained control over security, borders, and settlements. The Oslo Accords raised Palestinian hopes of establishing an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Israeli Settlements: Israel has established numerous settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which are considered illegal under international law. These settlements have expanded over the years, taking up significant amounts of land and limiting Palestinian development.

Unresolved Final-Status Negotiations: The final status of the West Bank and East Jerusalem is a subject of ongoing negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. The Palestinian Authority seeks full control over the West Bank and East Jerusalem as part of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel, on the other hand, wants to retain control over key security areas in the West Bank and has not agreed to discuss the status of East Jerusalem.

Overall, the Palestinian claim to the West Bank and East Jerusalem is rooted in historical, political, and legal considerations that are complex and deeply tied to the broader conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.