Green Line, Demarcation line in Jerusalem, Israel
The Green Line is a 320-kilometer demarcation line between Israel and the West Bank, marked by checkpoints and physical barriers throughout its length. It crosses through Jerusalem and runs from the coast to the Jordan Valley, passing through several settlements and urban areas along the way.
This boundary emerged in 1949 from armistice agreements between Israel and its Arab neighbors following the first Arab-Israeli War of 1948. The course of the line followed the positions of military forces at the moment when fighting stopped.
The name of this boundary comes from the green pencil that negotiators used to mark the armistice line on maps during talks. Today travelers encounter this division at checkpoints, where they present documents and receive clearance before moving from one territory to another.
Travelers need valid identification documents and any required travel permits at official crossings that separate the two territories. Waiting times at checkpoints vary depending on the time of day, weekday, and current security measures, so allow extra time for passage.
The entire boundary was drawn on maps in a matter of weeks during armistice talks, without surveyors visiting the ground. This meant it sometimes ran through existing neighborhoods, cutting off streets and dividing whole communities along its path.
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