Jericho's Location: Understanding Its Position in the West Bank

Jericho is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, but its modern geopolitical location often causes confusion. Let's clarify exactly where Jericho is situated.

Geopolitical Location

Jericho is located in the West Bank, which is internationally recognized as part of the State of Palestine. It is not located within the internationally recognized borders of Israel, though it has been under Israeli military occupation since 1967.

Geographic Setting

• Region: Jordan River Valley
• Elevation: ~258 meters (846 feet) below sea level - lowest city on Earth
• Proximity: ~10 miles (16 km) north of the Dead Sea
• Coordinates: 31°51′N 35°27′E
• Distance to major cities:
  • Jerusalem: ~25 km (15.5 miles) southwest
  • Ramallah: ~22 km (13.5 miles) northwest
  • Amman, Jordan: ~50 km (31 miles) east

Historical Context

• Pre-1948: Part of British Mandate Palestine
• 1948-1967: Under Jordanian administration
• 1967-present: Israeli military occupation following Six-Day War
• 1994: Palestinian Authority civil control (Area A) under Oslo Accords

Current Administrative Status

Under the Oslo Accords framework:

• Area A: Jericho city center - Palestinian civil and security control
• Area C: Surrounding areas - Israeli civil and security control
• Palestinian Authority administers daily municipal affairs
• Israeli military controls entry/exit points and perimeter security

Significance

• Archaeological: Tell es-Sultan (ancient Jericho) - 10,000+ years of habitation
• Agricultural: Major date, banana, and citrus production from spring irrigation
• Tourism: Mount of Temptation, Hisham's Palace, Dead Sea access
• Strategic: Key Jordan Valley location, Allenby Bridge crossing to Jordan nearby

Visiting Considerations

• Entry: Accessible from Jerusalem via Route 90 (check current checkpoint status)
• Currency: Israeli Shekel (ILS) and Jordanian Dinar (JOD) both circulate
• Population: ~20,000 residents (2017 PCBS)
• Climate: Hot desert - summer highs often exceed 40°C (104°F)

Understanding Jericho's location requires recognizing both its ancient geographic reality in the Jordan Valley and its modern status as a Palestinian city in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.