Editing West Bank (section)

===Education===
[[File:Wikipedia education program birzeit university 2016 ceremoney 15.jpg|thumb|Palestinian students at [[Birzeit University]] in 2016]]
Seven universities are operating in the West Bank:
*[[Bethlehem University]], a [[Roman Catholic]] institution of the [[Brothers of the Christian Schools|Lasallian]] tradition partially funded by the [[Holy See|Vatican]],<ref>{{cite web |author=Alexánder González |title=Generalate – International Board of Regents of Bethlehem University Meets in Rome |url=https://www.bethlehem.edu/BUinNews/2017-02-21-generalate-international-board-of-regents-of-bethlehem-university-meets-in-rome |website=Bethlehem University in the Holy Land |publisher=Bethlehem University Foundation |access-date=1 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201093104/https://www.bethlehem.edu/BUinNews/2017-02-21-generalate-international-board-of-regents-of-bethlehem-university-meets-in-rome |archive-date=1 December 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> opened its doors in 1973.<ref>{{cite web |author=Philip Daoud |url=http://www.bethlehem.edu/about/history.shtml |title=Bethlehem University – History |publisher=Bethlehem.edu |date=3 October 1973 |access-date=3 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119075900/http://www.bethlehem.edu/about/history.shtml |archive-date=19 January 2008}}</ref>
*In 1975, Birzeit College (located in the town of [[Bir Zeit]] north of [[Ramallah]]) became [[Birzeit University]] after adding third- and fourth-year college-level programs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.birzeit.edu/about_bzu/p/2542 |title=Birzeit University History |publisher=Birzeit.edu |access-date=22 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010233509/http://www.birzeit.edu/about_bzu/p/2542 |archive-date=10 October 2012}}</ref>
*An-Najah College in [[Nablus]] likewise became [[An-Najah National University]] in 1977.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.najah.edu/page/63 |title=History of An-Najah National University |publisher=Najah.edu |date=25 June 2000 |access-date=22 May 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511103114/http://www.najah.edu/page/63 |archive-date=11 May 2011}}</ref>
*[[Hebron University]] was established as College of Shari'a in 1971 and became Hebron University in 1980.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hebron.edu/index.php/en/about-hu/-facts-a-figures.html |title=Hebron University facts and figures |publisher=Hebron.edu |access-date=22 May 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718143608/http://www.hebron.edu/index.php/en/about-hu/-facts-a-figures.html |archive-date=18 July 2011}}</ref>
*[[Al-Quds University]] was founded in 1995, unifying several colleges and faculties in and around East Jerusalem.<ref>{{cite web |title=General Information |url=http://old.alquds.edu/gen_info/index.php?page=overview |archive-url=https://archive.today/20101105184751/http://old.alquds.edu/gen_info/index.php?page=overview |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 November 2010 |publisher=Al-Quds University |access-date=22 May 2011}}</ref>
*In 2000, the [[Arab American University]] – the only private university in the West Bank – was founded outside of [[Zababdeh]], with the purpose of providing courses according to the [[Education in the United States|American system of education]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aauj.edu/AAUJ_WEBSITE/index.php |title=The Arab American University |publisher=Aauj.edu |access-date=22 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524141551/http://www.aauj.edu/AAUJ_WEBSITE/index.php |archive-date=24 May 2011}}</ref>
*[[Ariel University]] is located in the [[Israeli settlement]] of [[Ariel (city)|Ariel]] and was granted full university status on 17 July 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18879786 |title=Israel's first settlement university stirs controversy |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=17 July 2012 |access-date=12 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328155414/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18879786 |archive-date=28 March 2014}}</ref> It was established in 1982.

Most universities in the West Bank have politically active student bodies, and elections of student council officers are normally along party affiliations. Although the establishment of the universities was initially allowed by the Israeli authorities, some were sporadically ordered closed by the Israeli Civil Administration during the 1970s and 1980s to prevent political activities and violence against the [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]]. Some universities remained closed by military order for extended periods during years immediately preceding and following the first Palestinian Intifada, but have largely remained open since the signing of the Oslo Accords despite the advent of the Al-Aqsa Intifada (Second Intifada) in 2000.

The founding of Palestinian universities has greatly increased education levels among the population in the West Bank. According to a Birzeit University study, the percentage of Palestinians choosing local universities as opposed to foreign institutions has been steadily increasing; as of 1997, 41% of Palestinians with bachelor's degrees had obtained them from Palestinian institutions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://home.birzeit.edu/dsp/research/publications/2002/49e.pdf |title=Education and Human Development |publisher=Birzeit University |year=2002 |access-date=9 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926023114/http://home.birzeit.edu/dsp/research/publications/2002/49e.pdf |archive-date=26 September 2007}}</ref> According to UNESCO, Palestinians are one of the most highly educated groups in the Middle East "despite often difficult circumstances".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=17238&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20050928211016/http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=17238&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 September 2005 |title=UNESCO &#124; Education – Palestinian Authority |publisher=UNESCO |access-date=9 October 2008}}</ref> The literacy rate among Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip according to the [[Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics]] (PCBS) is 94.6% for 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_pcbs/PressRelease/Illiteracy_2010E.pdf |title=On the Eve of the International Illiteracy day, 8th of September |publisher=Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics |date=7 September 2010 |access-date=3 March 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510022249/http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_pcbs/PressRelease/Illiteracy_2010E.pdf |archive-date=10 May 2011}}</ref>