Infant and child mortality in the West Bank and Gaza Strip has steadily reduced since 1967, even though fertility has remained extremely high. In this paper the determinants of infant and child mortality are discussed, with particular emphasis on the role of consanguineous marriages, short birth spacing and maternal education. It is shown that short birth spacings and type of marriage are more important determinants of infant mortality than maternal education. Moreover, the relative role of consanguineous marriages appears to increase with time.