Editing Palestinian Authority (section)

==Government and politics==
{{More citations needed section|date=March 2016}}
{{main|Politics of the Palestinian National Authority}}
[[File:Mahmoud Abbas.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Mahmoud Abbas]] (Abu Mazen), President of the Palestinian Authority since 2005 (disputed since 2009)]]

The politics of the Palestinian Authority take place within the framework of a [[semi-presidential system|semi-presidential]] [[multi-party system|multi-party]] republic,<ref name="cavatorta">{{Cite journal |last1=Cavatorta |first1=Francesco |last2=Elgie |first2=Robert |date=2009-09-16 |title=The Impact of Semi-Presidentialism on Governance in the Palestinian Authority |url=https://academic.oup.com/pa/article/63/1/22/1435241 |journal=Parliamentary Affairs |volume=63 |issue=1 |pages=22–40 |doi=10.1093/pa/gsp028}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Løvlie |first=Frode |date=2013-03-26 |title=Explaining Hamas's Changing Electoral Strategy, 1996–2006 |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/government-and-opposition/article/abs/explaining-hamass-changing-electoral-strategy-19962006/0FE783C313D78768A112C4E090D63A71 |journal=Government and Opposition |language=en |volume=48 |issue=4 |pages=570–593 |doi=10.1017/gov.2013.3 |issn=0017-257X|hdl=11250/2474841 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> with the [[Palestinian Legislative Council]] (PLC), an executive [[President of the Palestinian National Authority|president]], and a [[Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority|prime minister]] leading a Cabinet. According to the Palestinian Basic Law which was signed by Arafat in 2002 after a long delay, the current structure of the PA is based on three separate branches of power: executive, legislative, and judiciary.<ref name="Ref_o">{{Citation|title=Palestine in Brief |publisher=POGAR.org |url=http://www.pogar.org/countries/index.asp?cid=14 |access-date=19 February 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060216044037/http://pogar.org/countries/index.asp?cid=14 |archive-date=16 February 2006 }}</ref> The PA was created by, is ultimately accountable to, and has historically been associated with, the [[Palestine Liberation Organization]] (PLO), with whom Israel negotiated the [[Oslo Accords]].<ref name="icj_wall_palestine_written"/>

The PLC is an elected body of 132 representatives, which must confirm the Prime Minister upon nomination by the President, and which must approve all government cabinet positions proposed by the Prime Minister. The Judicial Branch has yet to be formalized. The President of the PA is directly elected by the people, and the holder of this position is also considered to be the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. In an amendment to the Basic Law approved in 2003, the president appoints the Prime Minister who is also chief of the security services in the Palestinian territories. The Prime Minister chooses a cabinet of ministers and runs the government, reporting directly to the President.{{citation needed|date=September 2015}}

Parliamentary elections were conducted in January 2006 after the passage of an overhauled election law that increased the number of seats from 88 to 132.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RL33269.pdf |title=Palestinian Elections |date=9 February 2006 |author=Aaron D. Pina}}</ref> The Chairman of the PLO, [[Yasser Arafat]], was elected as President of PA in a [[landslide victory]] at the [[1996 Palestinian general election|general election]] in 1996.

Arafat's administration was criticized for its lack of democracy, widespread corruption among officials, and the division of power among families and numerous governmental agencies with overlapping functions.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Balousha |first=Hazem |title=Report Highlights Corruption in Palestinian Institutions – Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East |url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/05/report-corruption-palestine-institutions-gaza.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20140814083620/http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/05/report-corruption-palestine-institutions-gaza.html |archive-date=14 August 2014 |access-date=14 August 2014 |website=Al-Monitor }}</ref> Both Israel and the US declared they lost trust in Arafat as a partner and refused to negotiate with him, regarding him as linked to terrorism.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4002497.stm | publisher=BBC News | title=Mid-East press reflects on Arafat legacy | date=11 November 2004}}</ref> Arafat denied this, and was visited by other leaders around the world up until his death. However, this began a push for change in the Palestinian leadership. In 2003, [[Mahmoud Abbas]] resigned because of lack of support from Israel, the US, and Arafat himself.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/09/06/mideast/ | publisher=CNN| title=Breaking News | date=6 September 2003}}</ref> He won the presidency on 9 January 2005 with 62% of the vote. Former prime minister [[Ahmed Qureia]] formed his government on 24 February 2005 to wide international praise because, for the first time, most ministries were headed by experts in their field as opposed to political appointees.<ref name="Ref_2005a">{{Citation | title=New Palestinian Cabinet Sworn In | publisher=CBS News | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-palestinian-cabinet-sworn-in/ | access-date=19 February 2006 | date=24 February 2005 | archive-date=12 September 2005 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050912200245/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/02/24/world/main676172.shtml | url-status=live }}</ref>

The presidential mandate of Mahmoud Abbas expired in 2009 and he is no longer recognised by Hamas, among others, as the legitimate Palestinian leader. According to Palestinian [[Palestine Papers|documents]] leaked to the Al Jazeera news organization, the United States has threatened to cut off funding to the Palestinian Authority should there be a change in the Palestinian leadership in the West Bank.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Seumas Milne  |author2=Ian Black  |name-list-style=amp |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jan/24/us-threat-palestinians-leadership-funds |title=US threat to Palestinians: change leadership and we cut funds (The Guardian, 24 January 2011) |work=The Guardian |location=London |date=24 January 2011}}</ref> In February 2011, the Palestinian Authority announced that parliamentary and presidential elections would be held by September 2011.<ref>{{cite news|author=Ben Quinn and agencies in Ramallah |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/feb/13/palestine-elections-mahmoud-abbas |title=Palestinians promised general elections by September (The Guardian, 13 February 2011) |work=The Guardian |location=London |date=13 February 2011}}</ref>

On 27 April 2011, Fatah's [[Azzam al-Ahmad]] announced the party's signing of a memorandum of understanding with Hamas' leadership, a major step towards reconciliation effectively paving the way for a [[Coalition government|unity government]].<ref name="cnnunity">{{Cite news|title=Rival Fatah, Hamas movements reach unity deal|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/04/27/gaza.hamas.fatah/index.html?hpt=T2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501020816/http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/04/27/gaza.hamas.fatah/index.html?hpt=T2|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 May 2011|publisher=CNN|date=27 April 2011|access-date=28 April 2011}}</ref> The deal was formally announced in Cairo, and was co-ordinated under the mediation of Egypt's new intelligence director [[Murad Muwafi]].<ref name="ch6n">{{Cite news|author=BNO News |title=Fatah and Hamas agree to Palestinian unity government |url=http://channel6newsonline.com/2011/04/fatah-and-hamas-agree-to-palestinian-unity-government/ |newspaper=Channel 6 News |date=27 April 2011 |access-date=28 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723130510/http://channel6newsonline.com/2011/04/fatah-and-hamas-agree-to-palestinian-unity-government/ |archive-date=23 July 2011 }}</ref> The deal came amidst an international campaign for [[Sovereign state|statehood]] advanced by the Abbas administration, which is expected to culminate in a request for admission into the [[United Nations General Assembly|General Assembly]] as a member state in September.<ref>{{Cite news|title=A step towards statehood|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4061557,00.html|newspaper=Ynetnews|publisher=Yedioth Internet|date=27 April 2011|access-date=28 April 2011}}</ref> As part of the deal, the two factions agreed to hold [[2011 Palestinian general election|elections]] in both territories within twelve months of the creation of a transitional government.<ref name="ruvr"/> In response to the announcement, Israeli prime minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu|Netanyahu]] warned that the Authority must choose whether it wants "peace with Israel or peace with Hamas".<ref name="cnnunity"/><ref name="ch6n"/>

===Officials===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
|+ Main office holders
|-
! Office
! Name
! Party
! Since
|-
|rowspan=2 |[[President of the Palestinian Authority|President]]
|[[Mahmoud Abbas]]
|[[Fatah]]
|26 January 2005 – '''incumbent'''
|-
|[[Yasser Arafat]]
|Fatah
|5 July 1994 – 11 November 2004
|-
| rowspan="10" |[[Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority|Prime Minister]]
|[[Mohammad Mustafa (economist)|Mohammad Mustafa]]
|[[Independent politician|Independent]]
|31 March 2024 – '''incumbent'''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-30 |title=19th Palestine government led by Mohammad Mustafa: Majority technocrats |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/19th-palestine-government-led-by-mohammad-mustafa-majority-technocrats/3178859 |access-date=2024-09-18 |website=[[Anadolu Agency]]}}</ref>
|-
|[[Mohammad Shtayyeh]]
|Fatah
|14 April 2019 – 31 March 2024<ref>{{Cite news|title=Hamas further sidelined by appointment of new PA premier Shtayyeh|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/hamas-further-sidelined-by-appointment-of-new-pa-premier-shtayyeh/|work=[[The Times of Israel]]|access-date=10 March 2019|date=10 March 2019|author=Joe Dyke}}</ref>
|-
|[[Rami Hamdallah]]
|Fatah
|2 June 2014 – 14 April 2019
|-
|Rami Hamdallah
|Fatah
|6 June 2013 – 2 June 2014 (disputed)
|-
|[[Salam Fayyad]]
|Independent
|14 June 2007 – 6 June 2013
|-
|[[Ismail Haniyeh]]
|[[Hamas]]
|19 February 2006 – 14 June 2007
|-
|[[Ahmed Qurei]]
|Fatah
|24 December 2005 – 19 February 2006
|-
|[[Nabil Shaath]]
|Fatah
|15 December 2005 – 24 December 2005
|-
|Ahmed Qurei
|Fatah
|7 October 2003 – 15 December 2005
|-
|Mahmoud Abbas
|Fatah
|19 March 2003 – 7 October 2003
|}

===Political parties and elections===
{{elect|List of political parties in the State of Palestine|Elections in Palestine}}
From the establishment of the Palestinian Authority in 1993 until the death of [[Yasser Arafat]] in late 2004, only one election had taken place. All other elections were deferred for various reasons.

A single [[1996 Palestinian legislative and presidential election|election]] for president and the legislature took place in 1996. The next presidential and legislative elections were scheduled for 2001 but were delayed following the outbreak of the [[Al-Aqsa Intifada]]. Following Arafat's death, [[2005 Palestinian presidential election|elections for the President]] of the Authority were announced for 9 January 2005. The PLO leader [[Mahmoud Abbas]] won 62.3% of the vote, while Dr. [[Mustafa Barghouti]], a physician and independent candidate, won 19.8%.<ref name="Ref_p">{{Citation | title=PLO Chairman Abbas officially Wins Palestinian Presidential elections | publisher=PNA.gov.ps | url=http://www.pna.gov.ps/subject_details2.asp?DocId=1697 | access-date=19 February 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051217154505/http://www.pna.gov.ps/subject_details2.asp?DocId=1697 |archive-date = 17 December 2005}}</ref>
{{Main|2005 Palestinian presidential election}}
{{#section-h:2005 Palestinian presidential election|Results}}

On 10 May 2004, the Palestinian Cabinet announced that municipal elections would take place for the first time. Elections were announced for August 2004 in [[Jericho]], followed by certain municipalities in the [[Gaza Strip]]. In July 2004 these elections were postponed. Issues with voter registration are said to have contributed to the delay. Municipal elections finally took place for council officials in [[Jericho]] and 25 other towns and villages in the [[West Bank]] on 23 December 2004. On 27 January 2005, the first round of the [[2005 Palestinian municipal election|municipal elections]] took place in the [[Gaza Strip]] for officials in 10 local councils. Further rounds in the West Bank took place in May 2005.

Elections for a new [[Palestinian Legislative Council]] (PLC) were scheduled for July 2005 by Acting Palestinian Authority President [[Rawhi Fattuh]] in January 2005. These elections were postponed by [[Mahmoud Abbas]] after major changes to the Election Law were enacted by the PLC which required more time for the [[Palestinian Central Elections Committee]] to process and prepare. Among these changes were the expansion of the number of parliament seats from 88 to 132, with half of the seats to be competed for in 16 localities, and the other half to be elected in proportion to party votes from a nationwide pool of candidates.

{{main|2006 Palestinian legislative election}}
{{#section-h:2006 Palestinian legislative election|Results}}

The following organizations, listed in alphabetic order, have taken part in recent popular elections inside the Palestinian Authority:
* [[Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine]] (''Al-Jabhah al-Dimuqratiyah Li-Tahrir Filastin'')
* [[Fatah]] or [[Liberation Movement of Palestine]] (''Harakat al-Tahrâr al-Filistini'')
* [[Hamas]] or [[Islamic Resistance Movement]] (''Harakat al-Muqawamah al-Islamiyah'')
* [[Palestine Democratic Union]] (''al-Ittihad al-Dimuqrati al-Filastini'', FiDA)
* [[Palestinian National Initiative]] (''al-Mubadara al-Wataniya al-Filistiniyya'')
* [[Palestinian People's Party]] (''Hizb al-Sha'b al-Filastini'')
* [[Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine]] (''Al-Jabhah al-sha'abiyah Li-Tahrir Filastin'')

October 2006 polls showed that [[Fatah]] and [[Hamas]] had equal strength.<ref name="Ref_q">{{Cite web|title=Israel National News – Arutz Sheva|url=https://www.israelnationalnews.com/|access-date=2023-02-20|publisher=Arutz Sheva}}</ref>

On 14 June 2007, after the [[Battle of Gaza (2007)]], Palestine president [[Mahmoud Abbas]] dismissed the Hamas-led government, leaving the government under his control for 30 days, after which the temporary government had to be approved by the Palestinian Legislative Council.<ref name="edition2007">{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/06/14/gaza/index.html |publisher=CNN|title=Gaza |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725120721/http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/06/14/gaza/index.html |archive-date=25 July 2008 }}</ref>

===Administrative divisions===
{{main|Governorates of Palestine}}
{{see also|Municipality (Palestinian Authority)|List of cities administered by the Palestinian Authority|West Bank areas in the Oslo II Accord}}

The governorates ({{langx|ar|محافظات}} ''muhafazat'') of the Palestinian Authority were founded in 1995 to replace the 8 Israeli military districts of the [[Israeli Civil Administration|Civil Administration]]: 11 governorates in the West Bank and 5 in the Gaza Strip. The governorates are not regulated in any official law of decree by the Palestinian Authority<ref name=AFD>{{cite web|quote=The governorates (or muhafazat) make up the regional level. They are under the direct supervision of the Ministry of the Interior and are led by directors nominated by the President of the Palestinian Authority. They are characterized by true legal ambiguity insomuch as no text of law or decree from the Palestinian Authority regulates their activities. In practice, however, the regional governors (muhafiz) are in charge of the Palestinian police force within their administrative jurisdictions. They are also responsible for coordinating some state services (health, education, transportation, etc.) at the regional level. Management of the conflicting interests or priorities of various deconcentrated services is handled by the Prime Minister's office...These administrative divisions serve as electoral constituencies.|last1=Singoles|first1=Aude|title=Local Government in Palestine |url=http://www.afd.fr/jahia/webdav/site/afd/shared/PUBLICATIONS/RECHERCHE/Scientifiques/Focales/02-VA-Focales.pdf |publisher=[[French Development Agency]]|access-date=12 September 2016}}</ref> but they are regulated by Presidential decrees, mainly Presidential Decree No. 22 of 2003, regarding the powers of the governors.<ref>{{cite web|title=Update of Diagnostic Report for the Local Governance System in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) PART 1 Update on Major Interventions in the Local Governance Sector since 2004|url=http://www.undp.ps/en/newsroom/publications/pdf/other/lgsp.pdf|publisher=United Nations Development Programme/Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (UNDP/PAPP), Local Governance Support Programme (LGSP) in the Occupied Palestinian territory (oPt.)|access-date=13 September 2016|page=21|date=June 2009|quote=Governorates are mainly regulated by Presidential decrees, mainly the PD No., (22) of 2003 regarding the competences of governors.|archive-date=12 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012085411/http://www.undp.ps/en/newsroom/publications/pdf/other/lgsp.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The regional governors ({{langx|ar|محافظ}} ''muhafiz'') are appointed by the President. They are in charge of the Palestinian police force in their jurisdiction as well as coordinating state services such as education, health and transportation. The governorates are under the direct supervision of the [[Interior Minister of the Palestinian National Authority|Interior Ministry]].<ref name=AFD/>

The governorates in the West Bank are grouped into [[Palestinian enclaves|three areas per the Oslo II Accord]]. Area A forms 18% of the West Bank by area, and is administered by the Palestinian Authority.<ref name="Zahriyeh2014">{{cite news|last=Zahriyeh|first=Ehab|title=Maps: The occupation of the West Bank|url=http://america.aljazeera.com/multimedia/2014/7/west-bank-security.html|date=4 July 2014|publisher=[[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]]|access-date=8 August 2014|archive-date=16 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716232147/http://america.aljazeera.com/multimedia/2014/7/west-bank-security.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Gvirtzman">{{cite web |last= Gvirtzman |first= Haim |url=http://www.biu.ac.il/SOC/besa/books/maps.htm |title=Maps of Israeli Interests in Judea and Samaria|publisher=[[Bar-Ilan University]]|access-date=8 August 2014|url-status=live|archive-date=11 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111015009/http://www.biu.ac.il/SOC/besa/books/maps.htm}}</ref> Area B forms 22% of the West Bank, and is under Palestinian civil control, and joint Israeli-Palestinian security control.<ref name="Zahriyeh2014"/><ref name="Gvirtzman"/> [[Area C (West Bank)|Area C]], except [[East Jerusalem]], forms 60% of the West Bank, and is administered by the [[Israeli Civil Administration]], except that the Palestinian Authority provides the education and medical services to the 150,000 Palestinians in the area.<ref name="Zahriyeh2014"/> 70.3% of Area C (40.5% of the West Bank) is off limit to Palestinian construction and development. These areas include areas under jurisdiction of Israeli settlements, closed military zones, nature reserves and national parks and areas designated by Israel as "state land".<ref>{{cite web|title=Taking control of land and designating areas off-limits to Palestinian use|url=http://www.btselem.org/area_c/taking_over_land|publisher=[[B'tselem]]|access-date=11 September 2016|date=30 October 2013}}</ref> There are about 330,000 Israelis living in [[Israeli settlement|settlements]] in Area C,<ref name="CBS2010">{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/group-israel-controls-42-of-west-bank/|title=Group: Israel Controls 42% of West Bank|publisher=[[CBS News]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|access-date=8 August 2014|archive-date=8 August 2014|date=6 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808220117/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/group-israel-controls-42-of-west-bank/|url-status=live}}</ref> in the [[Israeli-occupied West Bank]]. Although Area C is under [[martial law]], Israelis living there are judged in Israeli civil courts.<ref name="CERD1416">{{cite report|url=http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cerd/docs/CERD.C.ISR.CO.14-16.pdf|title=Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 9 of the Convention|date=9 March 2012|page=6|publisher=UN [[Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination]]|access-date=8 August 2014|url-status=live|archive-date=18 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718223839/http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cerd/docs/CERD.C.ISR.CO.14-16.pdf}}</ref>
{{legend|lightyellow|Cities in the West Bank}}
{{legend|#D2FFD2|Cities in the Gaza Strip}}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Name !! Area<ref>{{cite web|title=Palestine |url=http://www.geohive.com/cntry/palestine.aspx |website=GeoHive |publisher=Johan van der Heyden |access-date=3 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714162009/http://www.geohive.com/cntry/palestine.aspx |archive-date=14 July 2014 }}</ref> !! Population !! Density !! ''muhfaza'' or district capital
|-bgcolor="lightyellow"
| '''[[Jenin Governorate|Jenin]]''' || 583 || 311,231 || 533.84 || [[Jenin]]
|-bgcolor="lightyellow"
| '''[[Tubas Governorate|Tubas]]''' || 402 || 64,719 || 160.99 || [[Tubas (city)|Tubas]]
|-bgcolor="lightyellow"
| '''[[Tulkarm Governorate|Tulkarm]]''' || 246 || 182,053 || 740.05 || [[Tulkarm]]
|-bgcolor="lightyellow"
| '''[[Nablus Governorate|Nablus]]''' || 605 || 380,961 || 629.68 || [[Nablus]] 
|-bgcolor="lightyellow"
| '''[[Qalqilya Governorate|Qalqiliya]]''' || 166 || 110,800 || 667.46 || [[Qalqilya]]
|-bgcolor="lightyellow"
| '''[[Salfit Governorate|Salfit]]''' || 204 || 70,727 || 346.7 || [[Salfit]]
|-bgcolor="lightyellow"
| '''[[Ramallah Governorate|Ramallah & Al-Bireh]]''' || 855 || 348,110 || 407.14 || [[Ramallah]]
|-bgcolor="lightyellow"
| '''[[Jericho Governorate|Jericho & Al Aghwar]]''' || 593 || 52,154 || 87.94 || [[Jericho]]
|-bgcolor="lightyellow"
| '''[[Jerusalem Governorate|Jerusalem]]''' || 345 || 419,108<sup>a</sup> || 1214.8<sup>a</sup> || [[Jerusalem]] ([[Positions on Jerusalem|''De Jure'' and disputed]])
|-bgcolor="lightyellow"
| '''[[Bethlehem Governorate|Bethlehem]]''' || 659 || 216,114 || 927.94 || [[Bethlehem]]
|-bgcolor="lightyellow"
| '''[[Hebron Governorate|Hebron]]''' || 997 || 706,508 || 708.63 || [[Hebron]]
|-bgcolor="#D2FFD2"
| '''[[North Gaza Governorate|North Gaza]]''' || 61 || 362,772 || 5947.08 || [[Jabalya]]
|-bgcolor="#D2FFD2"
| '''[[Gaza Governorate|Gaza]]''' || 74 || 625,824 || 8457.08 || [[Gaza City]]
|-bgcolor="#D2FFD2"
| '''[[Deir al-Balah Governorate|Deir Al-Balah]]''' || 58 || 264,455 || 4559.56 || [[Deir al-Balah]]
|-bgcolor="#D2FFD2"
| '''[[Khan Yunis Governorate|Khan Yunis]]''' || 108 || 341,393 || 3161.04 || [[Khan Yunis]]
|-bgcolor="#D2FFD2"
| '''[[Rafah Governorate|Rafah]]''' || 64 || 225,538 || 3524.03 || [[Rafah]]
|}

a. Data from Jerusalem includes occupied [[East Jerusalem]] with its Israeli population

East Jerusalem is administered as part of the [[Jerusalem District]] of Israel, but is claimed by Palestine as part of the [[Jerusalem Governorate]]. It was annexed by Israel in 1980,<ref name="Zahriyeh2014"/> but this annexation is not recognised by any other country.<ref>{{cite book |first=Tobias|last=Kelly |title=Rules of Law and Laws of Ruling: On the Governance of Law- Laws of Suspicion:Legal Status, Space and the Impossibility of Separation in the Israeli-occupied West Bank |editor1-first=Franz|editor1-last=Von Benda-Beckmann |editor2-first=Keebet|editor2-last=Von Benda-Beckmann |editor3-first=Julia M.|editor3-last=Eckert |publisher=[[Ashgate Publishing]] |date=May 2009 |page=91 |isbn=978-0-7546-7239-5}}</ref> Of the 456,000 people in East Jerusalem, roughly 60% are Palestinians and 40% are Israelis.<ref name="Zahriyeh2014"/><ref name="ChoshenEtKorach2010">{{cite report|url=http://jiis.org/.upload/facts-2010-eng%20%281%29.pdf|title=Jerusalem, Facts and Trends 2009/2010|page=11|publisher=[[Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies]]|access-date=8 August 2014|archive-date=2 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702001634/http://jiis.org/.upload/facts-2010-eng%20%281%29.pdf|url-status=dead|year=2010}}</ref>

===Foreign relations===
{{main|Foreign relations of the Palestinian National Authority}}
{{see also|List of diplomatic missions of Palestine|List of diplomatic missions to Palestine}}

The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) foreign relations are conducted by the [[Foreign Affairs Minister of the Palestinian National Authority|minister of foreign affairs]]. The PNA is represented abroad by the [[Palestine Liberation Organization]] (PLO), which maintains a network of missions and embassies.<ref>{{cite web|author=Stiftung, Konrad Adenauer|title=Palestine Liberation Organization (structure)|url=http://www.kas.de/wf/doc/kas_2041-1442-1-30.pdf?101018163243|publisher=Auslandsbüro Palästinensische Autonomiegebiete|date=August 2010|access-date=29 January 2011}}</ref> In states that recognise the State of Palestine it maintains [[Embassy|embassies]] and in other states it maintains "delegations" or "missions".<ref name=un>[http://www.un.int/wcm/content/site/palestine/pid/11548 Palestine Embassies, Missions, Delegations] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905005549/https://www.un.int/wcm/content/site/palestine/pid/11548 |date=5 September 2012 }}, Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations. Retrieved 11 June 2010.</ref>

Representations of foreign states to the Palestinian Authority are performed by "missions" or "offices" in [[Ramallah]] and [[Gaza city|Gaza]]. States that recognise the [[Palestine|State of Palestine]] also accredit to the PLO (as the [[government-in-exile]] of the State of Palestine) non-resident ambassadors residing in third countries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foreignaffairs.gov.mw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=56 |title=Malawi Missions Abroad – Overview |publisher=Foreignaffairs.gov.mw |date=19 April 2010 |access-date=5 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130206075304/https://www.foreignaffairs.gov.mw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=56 |archive-date=6 February 2013 }}</ref>

On 5 January 2013, [[United Nations General Assembly resolution 67/19|following the 2012 UNGA resolution]], Palestinian president Abbas ordered all Palestinian embassies to change any official reference to the Palestinian Authority into State of Palestine.<ref>[http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=553741 "Abbas instructs embassies to refer to State of Palestine" Ma'an News Agency, 6 January 2013] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130417193545/http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=553741 |date=17 April 2013 }}: "No amendment should be made to references to the PLO, which remains Palestinians' legal representative on the world stage, the presidential order said."</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wafa.ps/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130110022853/http://www.wafa.ps/arabic/index.php?action=detail&id=145913|url-status=dead|title=Wafa|archive-date=10 January 2013|website=wafa.ps}}</ref>

The Palestinian Authority is included in the European Union's [[European Neighbourhood Policy]] (ENP), which aims at bringing the EU and its neighbours closer.

====Palestinian Authority passport====
{{main|Palestinian Authority passport}}
In April 1995, the Palestinian Authority, pursuant to the Oslo Accords with the State of Israel, started to issue passports to Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip and West Bank. The appearance of the passport and details about its issuance are described in Appendix C of Annex II (Protocol Concerning Civil Affairs) of the Gaza-Jericho Agreement signed by Israel and the PLO on 4 May 1994. The Palestinian Authority does not issue the passports on behalf of the proclaimed State of Palestine.<ref name=Kapitanp231>{{Cite book
|editor-last=Kapitan|editor-first=Tomis
|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kvExBpKOVFMC&pg=PA231
| first = Jerome M. | last = Segal
| chapter= The State of Palestine: The Question of Existence
| pages =221–243
|title=Philosophical Perspectives on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict|date=1997|publisher=M.E. Sharpe|isbn=978-0-7656-3944-8}}</ref>{{rp|231}} The passports bear the inscription: "''This passport/travel document is issued pursuant to the Palestinian Self Government Agreement according to Oslo Agreement signed in Washington on 13/9/1993''".<ref>"United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, Palestine/Occupied Territories: Information On Passports Issued By The Palestine National Authority, 17 December 1998, PAL99001.ZCH, available at: [http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/3df0b9914.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811031142/http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/3df0b9914.html|date=11 August 2011}}" . Retrieved 24 August 2010.</ref> By September 1995, the passport had been recognised by 29 states, some of them (e.g. the United States) recognise it only as a travel document (see further details below): Algeria, Bahrain, Bulgaria, People's Republic of China, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, India, Iran, Jordan, Malta, Morocco, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.<ref name=Eurp933>Eur, 2004, p. 933.</ref>

While the U.S. Government recognises Palestinian Authority passports as travel documents, it does not view them as conferring citizenship, since they are not issued by a government that they recognise. Consular officials representing the Governments of Egypt, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, when asked by the Resource Information Center of [[UNHCR]] in May 2002, would not comment on whether their governments viewed PA passports as conferring any proof of citizenship or residency, but did say that the passports, along with valid visas or other necessary papers, would allow their holders to travel to their countries.<ref name=UNHCR>{{cite web|url=http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/pdfid/402d150c4.pdf|title=Palestinian Territory, Occupied|date=20 May 2002|author=INS Resource Information Center|publisher=United Nations High Commission for Refugees|access-date=24 January 2009}}</ref>

The Palestinian Authority has said that anyone born in Palestine carrying a birth certificate attesting to that can apply for a PA passport. Whether or not Palestinians born outside Palestine could apply was not clear to the PA Representative questioned by UNHCR representatives in May 2002. The PA representative also said even if those applying met the PA's eligibility criteria, the Israeli government placed additional restrictions on the actual issuance of passports.<ref name=UNHCR/>

In October 2007, a Japanese Justice Ministry official said, "Given that the Palestinian Authority has improved itself to almost a full-fledged state and issues its own passports, we have decided to accept the Palestinian nationality." The decision followed a recommendation by a ruling party panel on nationality that Palestinians should no longer be treated as stateless.<ref>{{Cite press release 
| agency= Kuwait News Agency 
| date = 5 October 2007
|title=Japan to recognize Palestinian nationality
|url=https://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=1846153&language=en|access-date=2023-02-20}}{{pb}}{{ cite news
| via=Japan News Review
| newspaper= Yomiuri Shimbun
| title=Government to recognize Palestinian 'nationality'
| date = 6 October 2007 |url=http://www.japannewsreview.com/society/national/20071006page_id=2302 
 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718101636/http://www.japannewsreview.com/society/national/20071006page_id%3D2302 |archive-date=18 July 2011}}
</ref>

====Legal action against PNA====
In February 2015 in [[Sokolow et al v. Palestine Liberation Organization et al|a civil case considered by a US federal court]] the Palestinian Authority and [[Palestine Liberation Organization]] were found liable for the death and injuries of US citizens in a number of terrorist attacks in Israel from 2001 to 2004. However, on 31 August 2016, the Second US Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan dismissed the lawsuit on the grounds that US federal courts lacked overseas jurisdiction on civil cases.<ref name="Reuters 31 August 2016">{{cite news|last1=Stemple|first1=Jonathan|title=US court voids $655 million verdict against PLO over Israel attacks|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-palestinians-decision-idUSKCN1161UU?il=0|access-date=8 September 2016|work=Reuters|date=31 August 2016}}</ref><ref name="Sullcrom">{{cite web|title=Sokolow v. Palestinian Liberation Organization|url=https://www.sullcrom.com/siteFiles/Publications/SC_Publication_Sokolow_v_Palestine_Liberation_Organization.pdf|website=Lexology|publisher=Sullivan & Cromwell LLP|access-date=8 September 2016|archive-date=14 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914154700/https://www.sullcrom.com/siteFiles/Publications/SC_Publication_Sokolow_v_Palestine_Liberation_Organization.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=NYT2016>{{Cite news|last=Weiser|first=Benjamin
|date=31 August 2016
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160905004004/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/01/nyregion/appeals-court-terror-verdict-plo-palestinian-authority.html?_r=0 |archive-date=5 September 2016
|title=Court Throws Out $655.5 Million Terrorism Verdict Against Palestinian Groups|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/01/nyregion/appeals-court-terror-verdict-plo-palestinian-authority.html|access-date=2023-02-20|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

===Law===
{{main|Palestinian law}}

====Human rights====
{{main|Human rights in the State of Palestine}}
In theory the Palestinian Authority has guaranteed [[freedom of assembly]] to the Palestinian citizens residing in its territory. Nevertheless, the right to demonstrate for opponents of the PA regime or of PA policy has become increasingly subject to police control and restriction and is a source of concern for human rights groups.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/dd/report8/report8j.htm#israel |title=Israel |access-date=30 July 2006 |year=1998 |work=Politics in Public: Freedom of Assembly and the Right to Protest |publisher=Democratic Dialogue |archive-date=1 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180601200155/http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/dd/report8/report8j.htm#israel |url-status=dead }}</ref> In August 2019, the Palestinian Authority banned LGBTQ organizations from operating in the West Bank, targeting the group [[Al Qaws]].<ref name="JPost">{{cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/PA-bans-LGBT-activities-in-West-Bank-598980|newspaper=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|date=19 August 2019|access-date=20 August 2019|title=Palestinian Authority bans LGBTQ activities in West Bank}}</ref>

The [[Fatah–Hamas conflict]] has further limited the freedom of the press in the PA territories and the distribution of opposing voices in Hamas-controlled Gaza and the West Bank where Fatah still has more influence. According to the Ramallah-based Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms, in 2011, there were more assaults on Palestinian press freedom from the PA than from Israel.<ref>{{cite news|last=Eglash |first=Ruth |url=http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=260884 |title=More assaults on media by Palestinians than Israel |work=The Jerusalem Post}}</ref> In July 2010, with the easing of the [[2007–present blockade of the Gaza Strip|blockade of the Gaza Strip]], Israel allowed the distribution of the pro-Fatah newspapers [[Al-Quds (newspaper)|al-Quds]], [[Al-Ayyam (Ramallah)|al-Ayyam]] and [[al-Hayat al-Jadida]] to Gaza, but Hamas prevented Gazan distributors from retrieving the shipment. The [[Palestinian Centre for Human Rights]] (PCHR) condemned the Hamas restrictions of distribution of the West Bank newspapers in Gaza, and also condemned the Fatah-led government in the West Bank for restricting publication and distribution of the Gazan newspapers {{ill|al-Resala|ar|الرسالة (صحيفة)}} and [[Falastin]].<ref>{{cite web| title=Latest Repercussions of Fragmentation: Prevention of Publication and Distribution of Palestinian Newspapers in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip| url=http://www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6820:latest-repercussions-of-fragmentation-prevention-of-publication-and-distribution-of-palestinian-newspapers-in-the-west-bank-and-the-gaza-strip-&catid=36:pchrpressreleases&Itemid=194| access-date=12 July 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100903030319/http://www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6820:latest-repercussions-of-fragmentation-prevention-of-publication-and-distribution-of-palestinian-newspapers-in-the-west-bank-and-the-gaza-strip-&catid=36:pchrpressreleases&Itemid=194| archive-date=3 September 2010| url-status=dead}}</ref>

Women have full suffrage in the PA. In the 2006 elections, women made up 47 percent of registered voters. Prior to the elections, the election law was amended to introduce a quota for women on the national party lists, resulting in 22 percent of candidates on the national lists being women. The quota's effectiveness was illustrated in comparison with the district elections, where there was no quota, and only 15 of the 414 candidates were women.<ref>[http://domino.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/db942872b9eae454852560f6005a76fb/236f02cf539aa9418525710600587785!OpenDocument "Statement of Preliminary Conclusions and Findings: Open and well-run parliamentary elections strengthen Palestinian commitment to democratic institutions"]; European Union Election Observation Commission, West Bank and Gaza 2006, 26 January 2006 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123032020/http://domino.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/db942872b9eae454852560f6005a76fb/236f02cf539aa9418525710600587785!OpenDocument |date=23 January 2009 }}</ref>

Selling land or housing to Israeli Jews is punishable by death, and some high-profile cases have received high media coverage.<ref>{{cite news |title=Palestinians Face Death For Selling Land to Jews (6 May 1997) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/05/06/world/palestinians-face-death-for-selling-land-to-jews.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=6 May 1997 |access-date=8 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Abu Toameh |first1=Khaled |title=PA: Death penalty for those who sell land to Jews (1 April 2009) |newspaper=The Jerusalem Post |url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/pa-death-penalty-for-those-who-sell-land-to-jews |access-date=8 December 2022}}</ref> Although president [[Mahmoud Abbas]] has never ratified a death sentence in such cases, as late as December 2018 a [[Ramallah]] court sentenced the [[Palestinian Americans|Palestinian-American]] Isaam Akel, a resident of [[East Jerusalem]], to life in prison with hard labor for having sold land in the [[Old City of Jerusalem]] to Israeli Jews. His family maintained his innocence.<ref>{{cite web |title=Family surprised by life sentence for Palestinian-American over land sale |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/family-surprised-by-life-sentence-for-palestinian-american-over-land-sale/ |work=[[The Times of Israel]] |access-date=8 December 2022}}</ref> The Palestinian governor of [[East Jerusalem]], Adnan Gheith, was arrested twice by Israeli authorities in connection with the case.<ref>{{cite web |title=Palestinian sentenced to life for selling land to Israelis|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/12/31/palestinian-sentenced-to-life-for-selling-land-to-israelis |publisher=[[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]] |access-date=8 December 2022}}</ref>

Hamas has begun enforcing some Islamic standards of dress for women in the PA; women must don headscarves in order to enter government ministry buildings.<ref name="autogenerated2">{{Cite web |title=Palestinans pull folk tales from schools |url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070305/ap_on_re_mi_ea/palestinians_book_ban_1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311213701/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070305/ap_on_re_mi_ea/palestinians_book_ban_1 |archive-date=11 March 2007}}</ref> In July 2010, Hamas banned the smoking of [[hookah]] by women in public. They claimed that it was to reduce the increasing number of divorces.<ref>{{cite news|work=The Daily Telegraph|date= 18 July 2010 |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/7897218/Women-banned-from-smoking-hookah-pipes-in-Gaza.html |title= Women banned from smoking hookah pipes in Gaza |access-date=18 July 2010 | location=London | first=Adrian | last=Blomfield}}</ref>

In June 2011, the Independent Commission for Human Rights published a report whose findings included that the Palestinians in the [[West Bank]] and the [[Gaza Strip]] were subjected in 2010 to an "almost systematic campaign" of human rights abuses by the Palestinian Authority and [[Hamas]], as well as by Israeli authorities, with the security forces belonging to the PA and Hamas being responsible for torture, arrests and arbitrary detentions.<ref>{{cite news|last=Abu |first=Khaled |url=http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=224143 |title=PA bans journalists from reporting human rights abuses |work=The Jerusalem Post  }}</ref>

===Police forces===
{{main|Palestinian Security Services}}
The creation of a Palestinian police force was called for under the Oslo Accords.<ref name=Eurp521/> The first [[Palestinian Security Forces|Palestinian police force]] of 9,000 was deployed in [[Jericho]] in 1994, and later in [[Gaza City|Gaza]].<ref name=Eurp521/> These forces initially struggled to control security in the areas in which it had partial controlled and because of this Israel delayed expansion of the area to be administered by the PA.<ref name=Eurp521/> By 1996, the PA security forces were estimated to include anywhere from 40,000 to 80,000 recruits.<ref name="Ref_d">David Hirst, "The New Oppressor of the Palestinians", Guardian (London), 6 July 1996, reprinted in World Press Review, October 1996, p. 11. Hirst suggests that there are 40,000–50,000 security officers. For Israeli press reports about there being 40,000 officers, see Steve Rodan, "Gov't: PA Has 16,000 More Policemen than Permitted by Oslo," Jerusalem Post (international edition), 2 May 1998, p. 3. According to [[The Jerusalem Post]], Israeli defense sources said in September 1996 that the number of armed men in the PA had risen to 80,000. See Steve Rodan, "Palestinians Have 80,000 Armed Fighters", ''The Jerusalem Post'', 27 September 1996, p. 5.</ref> PA security forces employ some armored cars, and a limited number carry automatic weapons.<ref name="Ref_e">{{Citation | title=The Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip | publisher= JewishVirtualLibrary.org | url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Peace/iaannex1.html|access-date=19 February 2006}}</ref> Some Palestinians opposed to or critical of the peace process perceive the Palestinian security forces to be little more than a proxy of the State of Israel.<ref name=Eurp521/>

===Crime and law enforcement===

====Violence against civilians====
The [[Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring Group]] reports that through "''everyday disagreements and clashes between the various political factions, families and cities that a complete picture of Palestinian society is painted. These divisions have during the course of the al Aqsa Intifada also led to an increasingly violent 'Intrafada'. In the 10-year period from 1993 to 2003, 16% of Palestinian civilian deaths were caused by Palestinian groups or individuals''."<ref name="Ref_r">{{Citation |title=The 'Intra'fada |publisher=PHRMG.org |url=http://www.phrmg.org/intrafada.htm |access-date=19 February 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040606055755/http://www.phrmg.org/intrafada.htm |archive-date=6 June 2004 }}</ref>

Erika Waak reports in ''[[The Humanist]]'' "''Of the total number of Palestinian civilians killed during this period by both Israeli and Palestinian security forces, 16 percent were the victims of Palestinian security forces.''" Accusations of collaboration with Israel are used to target and kill individual Palestinians:
"''Those who are convicted have either been caught helping Israelis, spoken out against Arafat, or are involved in rival criminal gangs, and these individuals are hanged after summary trials. Arafat creates an environment where the violence continues while silencing would-be critics, and although he could make the violence impossible, he doesn't stop it.''"

[[Freedom House]]'s annual survey of political rights and civil liberties, Freedom in the World 2001–2002, reports "''Civil liberties declined due to: shooting deaths of Palestinian civilians by Palestinian security personnel; the summary trial and executions of alleged collaborators by the Palestinian Authority (PA); extrajudicial killings of suspected collaborators by militias; and the apparent official encouragement of Palestinian youth to confront Israeli soldiers, thus placing them directly in harm's way.''"<ref name="Waak2003">{{Citation |author=Waak, Erika |year=2003 |title=Violence among the Palestinians |work=Humanist |url=http://articles.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1374/is_1_63/ai_96417155 |archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110713085751/http://articles.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1374/is_1_63/ai_96417155 |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 July 2011 |access-date=19 February 2006 }}</ref>

Palestinian security forces have, as of March 2005, not made any arrests for the October 2003 killing of three American members of a diplomatic convoy in the [[Gaza Strip]]. [[Moussa Arafat]], head of the Palestinian Military Intelligence and a cousin of the former Palestinian Authority Chairman [[Yasser Arafat]] has stated that, regarding the United States pressure to arrest the killers; "They know that we are in a very critical position and that clashing with any Palestinian party under the presence of the occupation is an issue that will present many problems for us". Since the October 2003 attack, United States diplomats have been banned from entering the Gaza Strip.<ref name="Ref_s">{{Citation | title= PA: We can't arrest those behind deadly strike on U.S. convoy |work=Haaretz |location=Israel | url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/480576.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041009145241/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/480576.html | archive-date=9 October 2004 | access-date=22 August 2004 }}</ref>

====Violence against officials (2001–2004)====
On 22 April 2001, [[Jaweed al-Ghussein]], former chairman of the Palestine National Fund, was abducted from Abu Dhabi, UAE, flown to Arish, Egypt, and driven across the border to Gaza, where he was held hostage by the Palestinian Authority. The Minister of Justice, Freh Abu Mediane, protested and resigned over the illegality. [[Haider Abdel Shafi]], Chief Delegate in the Madrid Peace Process and leading Palestinian, protested at his incarceration and demanded his immediate release. The PCCR (Palestinian Commission on Citizens Rights) took the case up. The Attorney General Sorani declared there was no legality. The Red Cross was denied access to him. Amnesty International asked for his release. The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention determined he was being held 'manifestly with no legal justification' and appointed a Special Rapporteur on torture.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/7B874EAB39CFFE5D85256E6F004B90D3 |title=E/CN.4/2003/68/Add.1 of 27 February 2003 |publisher=United Nations |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512113623/http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/7B874EAB39CFFE5D85256E6F004B90D3 |archive-date=12 May 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/wgad/31-2001.html |title=University of Minnesota Human Rights Library |publisher=.umn.edu |access-date=5 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://services.parliament.uk/hansard/Lords/ByDate/20091110/mainchamberdebates/contents.html |title=Main Chamber Debates|publisher=Parliament of the United Kingdom|access-date=10 March 2011 }}{{dead link|date=March 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

On 15 October 2003, three members of a United States diplomatic convoy were killed and additional members of the convoy wounded three kilometers south of the Erez Crossing into the Gaza Strip by a [[Palestinian terrorism|terrorist]] bomb. The perpetrators remain at large.

In February 2004, [[Ghassan Shaqawa]], the mayor of [[Nablus]], filed his resignation from office in protest of the Palestinian Authority's lack of action against the armed militias rampaging the city and the multiple attempts by some Palestinians to assassinate him. Gaza's police Chief, General Saib al-Ajez would later say: 'This internal conflict between police and militants cannot happen. It is forbidden. We are a single nation and many people know each other and it is not easy to kill someone who is bearing a weapon to defend his nation."<ref name="Johnston2005">{{Citation | title= Palestinians face crucial Gaza test |publisher=BBC | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4196495.stm | access-date=19 February 2006 | date=21 January 2005 | first=Alan | last=Johnston}}</ref>

Karen Abu Zayd, deputy commissioner-general for the [[UNRWA|UN Relief and Works Agency]] in the Gaza Strip stated on 29 February 2004: "What has begun to be more visible is the beginning of the breakdown of law and order, all the groups have their own militias, and they are very organized. It's factions trying to exercise their powers."<ref name="Ref_t">{{Citation | title=Palestinian Authority Broke and in Disarray |newspaper=The Washington Post| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17536-2004Feb29_2.html | access-date=19 February 2006 }}</ref>

[[Ghazi al-Jabali]], the [[Gaza Strip]] Chief of Police, since 1994 has been the target of repeated attacks by [[Palestinian people|Palestinians]]. In March 2004, his offices were targeted by gunfire. In April 2004, a bomb was detonated destroying the front of his house. On 17 July 2004, he was kidnapped at gunpoint following an [[ambush]] of his convoy and [[wound]]ing of two bodyguards. He was released several hours later.<ref name="Ref_u">{{Citation|title=Gaza police chief kidnapped, freed |work=Dawn|location=Pakistan |url=http://www.dawn.com/2004/07/17/int6.htm |access-date=19 February 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050308231343/http://www.dawn.com/2004/07/17/int6.htm |archive-date=8 March 2005 }}</ref> Less than six hours later, Colonel Khaled Abu Aloula, director of military coordination in the southern part of Gaza was abducted.

On the eve of 17 July, Fatah movement members kidnapped 5 French citizens (3 men and 2 women) and held them hostage in [[Red crescent|Red Crescent Society]] building in [[Khan Yunis]]:
:Palestinian security officials said that the kidnapping was carried out by the Abu al-Rish Brigades, accused of being linked to Palestinian Authority Chairman [[Yasser Arafat]]'s [[Fatah]] faction.<ref name="Ref_v">{{Citation | title= 4 French aid workers, Palestinian officials seized in Gaza |work=Haaretz |location=Israel | url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/452469.html | access-date=17 July 2004 }}</ref>

On 18 July, Arafat replaced [[Ghazi al-Jabali]], with his nephew [[Moussa Arafat]], sparking violent riots in [[Rafah]] and [[Khan Yunis]] in which members of the [[al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades]] burned PA offices and opened fire on Palestinian policemen. During the riots, at least one Palestinian was killed and a dozen more seriously wounded.

On 20 July 2004 David Satterfield, the second-in-charge at the United States Department of State Near East desk stated in a hearing before the Senate that the Palestinian Authority had failed to arrest the [[Palestinian terrorism|Palestinian terrorists]] who had murdered three members of an American diplomatic convoy travelling in the [[Gaza Strip]] on 15 October 2003. Satterfield stated:

:"There has been no satisfactory resolution of this case. We can only conclude that there has been a political decision taken by the chairman ([[Yasser Arafat]]) to block further progress in this investigation."

On 21 July, [[Nabil Amar]], former Minister of Information and a cabinet member and a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, was shot by masked gunmen, after an interview with a television channel in which he criticized Yasser Arafat and called for reforms in the PA.<ref name="Ref_w">{{Citation|title=Israel halts funds for Palestinians, Abbas slams move |work=News. Yahoo.com |url=http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/mideast_dc |access-date=19 February 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050404011204/http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=%2Fnm%2Fmideast_dc |archive-date=4 April 2005 }}h</ref>

Regarding the descent into chaos Cabinet minister [[Qadura Fares]] stated on 21 July 2004:
:"Every one of us is responsible. Arafat is the most responsible for the failure. President Arafat failed and the Palestinian government failed, the Palestinian political factions failed."<ref name="Ref_x">{{Citation|title=AP Palestinians Parliament |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Palestinians-Parliament.html}}{{dead link|date=March 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

On 22 July 2004, The United Nations elevated its threat warning level for the [[Gaza Strip]] to "Phase Four" (one less than the maximum "Phase Five") and planned to evacuate non-essential foreign staff from the Gaza Strip.<ref name="Ref_y">{{Cite news|title=Worldnews |work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=5743863 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050415132218/https://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=5743863 |archive-date=15 April 2005 }}</ref>

On 23 July 2004, an Arab boy was shot and killed by [[Palestinian terrorism|Palestinian terrorists]] of the [[Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades]] after he and his family physically opposed their attempt to set up a Qassam rocket launcher outside the family's house. Five other individuals were wounded in the incident.<ref name="Ref_z">{{Citation |title=Attempted Kassam Launch Leads to the Death of an Arab Child |publisher=IsraelNN.com |url=http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=66197 |access-date=19 February 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051016045307/http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=66197 |archive-date=16 October 2005 }}</ref><ref name="Berger2004">{{Citation|title=Group Says New Israeli Expansion Breaks Vow |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/23/international/middleeast/23CND-MIDE.html|access-date=19 February 2006 |first=Joseph |last=Berger |date=23 July 2004 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417043108/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/23/international/middleeast/23CND-MIDE.html?hp |archive-date=17 April 2009 }}</ref><ref name="Ref_aa">{{Citation | title= Gaza youth shot dead; Arafat says PA not in crisis |work=Haaretz |location=Israel | url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/455377.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040726043850/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/455377.html | archive-date=26 July 2004 | access-date=19 February 2006 }}</ref><ref name="Ref_2004">{{Citation | title= Teen dies in Palestinian clash |publisher=BBC | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3920181.stm | access-date=19 February 2006 | date=23 July 2004}}</ref>

On 31 July, Palestinian kidnappers in [[Nablus]] seized 3 foreign nationals, an American, British and Irish citizen. They were later released. Also, a PA security forces HQ building was burnt down in [[Jenin]] by the [[al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades]]. A leader of Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades said they torched the building because new mayor Qadorrah Moussa, appointed by Arafat, had refused to pay salaries to Al Aqsa members or to cooperate with the group.<ref name="Ref_ab">{{Citation|title=Israel halts funds for Palestinians, Abbas slams move |work=News. Yahoo.com |url=http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/mideast_dc |access-date=19 February 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050404011204/http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=%2Fnm%2Fmideast_dc |archive-date=4 April 2005 }}</ref>

On 8 August 2004 the Justice Minister Nahed Arreyes resigned stating that he has been stripped of much of his authority over the legal system. The year before, [[Yasser Arafat]] created a rival agency to the Justice Ministry and was accused of continuing to control the judiciary and in particular the state prosecutors.<ref name="Ref_ac">{{Citation | title=Palestinian minister quits to protest lack of power |work=The Washington Times | url=http://washingtontimes.com/world/20040807-112344-3852r.htm | access-date=19 February 2006 }}</ref>

On 10 August 2004, a report by an investigation committee Palestinian Legislative Council for the reasons for the anarchy and chaos in the PA was published by [[Haaretz]] daily newspaper.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Regular|first1=Arnon|title=Palestinian lawmakers: Arafat evading promises of reform|url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/462724.html|access-date=15 September 2015|work=[[Haaretz]]|date=11 August 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041011130341/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/462724.html|archive-date=11 October 2004 }}</ref> The report put the main blame on Yasser Arafat and the PA's security forces, which "have failed to make a clear political decision to end it".
The report states,
: "The main reason for the failure of the Palestinian security forces and their lack of action in restoring law and order [......] is the total lack of a clear political decision and no definition of their roles, either for the long term or the short."
The report also calls to stop shooting [[Qassam rocket]]s and mortar shells on Israeli settlements because it hurts "Palestinian interests".
Hakham Balawi said:
:"... It is prohibited to launch rockets and to fire weapons from houses, and that is a supreme Palestinian interest that should not be violated because the result is barbaric retaliation by the occupying army and the citizenry cannot accept such shooting. Those who do it are a certain group that does not represent the people and nation, doing it without thinking about the general interest and public opinion in the world and in Israel. There is no vision or purpose to the missiles; the Palestinian interest is more important"<ref name="Ref_ad">{{Citation | title= Palestinian lawmakers: Arafat evading promises of reform |work=Haaretz |location=Israel | url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/462724.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041011130341/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/462724.html | archive-date=11 October 2004 | access-date=11 August 2004 }}</ref>

Despite the criticism against Yasser Arafat, the troubles continued. On 24 August, the Lieutenant Commander of the Palestinian General Intelligence in the [[Gaza Strip]], Tareq Abu-Rajab, was shot by group of armed men. He was seriously injured.<ref name="Ref_ae">{{Citation|title=Israel halts funds for Palestinians, Abbas slams move |work=News. Yahoo.com |url=https://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/mideast_dc |access-date=19 February 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050325180925/http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=%2Fnm%2Fmideast_dc |archive-date=25 March 2005 }}</ref>

On 31 August, the [[Jenin Martyrs Brigades]], the armed wing of [[the Popular Resistance Committees]], threaten to kill Minister [[Nabil Shaath]] for participating in a conference in Italy attended by Israeli foreign minister [[Silvan Shalom]], declaring "He will be sentenced to death if he enters. The decision cannot be rescinded, we call upon his bodyguards to abandon his convoy in order to save their lives."<ref name="Ref_af">{{Citation|title=Nabil Shaath gets death threat |publisher=Al Jazeera|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/52FB3D32-2E49-4481-8809-2C2B2CE2D44F.htm |access-date=19 February 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060103194922/http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/52FB3D32-2E49-4481-8809-2C2B2CE2D44F.htm |archive-date=3 January 2006 }}</ref>

On 8 September, Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, threatens to resign, again. Three weeks have elapsed since he retracted is resignation, originally tendered six weeks ago.<ref name="Ref_ag">{{Citation | title=Egypt mediates between Arafat, Qureia |work=The Washington Times | url=http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040909-080855-4852r.htm | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717113709/http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040909-080855-4852r.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=17 July 2012 | access-date=19 February 2006 }}</ref>

On 12 October, [[Moussa Arafat]], cousin of Yasser Arafat and a top security official in the Gaza Strip, survived a [[car bomb]] assassination attempt. Recently{{when|date=February 2011}} the Popular Resistance Committees threatened Moussa Arafat with retaliation for an alleged attempt to assassinate its leader, Mohammed Nashabat.<ref name="Ref_ah">{{Citation |title=Arafat cousin survives bomb attack |work=China Daily |url=http://www2.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-10/13/content_382066.htm |access-date=19 February 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060303054854/http://www2.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-10/13/content_382066.htm |archive-date=3 March 2006 }}</ref>

On 14 October, Palestinian prime minister Ahmed Qurei stated that the Palestinian Authority is unable to stop the spreading anarchy. While routinely blaming Israel for the PA's problems, he pointed out that the many PA security forces are hobbled by corruption and factional feuding. Due to the lack of governmental reforms demanded by international peace mediators, Palestinian legislators demanded Qurei present a report on the matter by 20 October, at which point they will decide upon holding a no-confidence vote.<ref name="Ref_ai">{{Citation | title= Hasen |work=Haaretz |location=Israel | url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/488826.html |access-date=15 September 2015}}</ref>

On 19 October, a group of [[Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades]] members, led by [[Zakaria Zubeidi]], seized buildings belonging to the Palestinian Finance ministry and Palestinian parliament in [[Jenin]].<ref name="Ref_aj">{{Citation | title= Israeli soldier killed in West Bank shooting attack |work=Haaretz |location=Israel | url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/490691.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041021024647/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/490691.html| archive-date=21 October 2004| access-date=20 October 2004 }}</ref>

According to [[Mosab Hassan Yousef]], the CIA has provided sophisticated electronic eavesdropping equipment to the Palestinian Authority that has been used against suspected Palestinian militants. However, the equipment has also been used against Shin Bet informants.<ref name=yousef17>{{Citation|last=Yousef|first=Mosab|title=Son of Hamas|year=2009|publisher=Tyndale Housing Publisher|page=17}}</ref>

====Palestinian measures to keep law and order====
{{further|United States security assistance to the Palestinian National Authority}}
{{further|Palestinian National Security Forces}}
In 2006, after the [[Hamas]] victory, the Palestinian interior minister formed an Executive Force for the police. However, the PA president objected and after clashes between Hamas and Fatah, redeployment of the force was made and efforts started in order to integrate it with the police force.

In 2011, [[Amira Hass]] reported that in sections of Area B of the West Bank, especially around the towns of Abu Dis and Sawahera, a security paradox was evolving: while the [[Oslo Accords]] stipulate that the Israeli Army have authority to police Area B, they weren't; and though the Palestinian security forces were prepared to deal with criminal activity in this area, they had to wait for Israeli permission to enter, and were thus ineffective. Hass also reported that as a result of this paradox, [[Abu Dis]] and surrounding areas were becoming a haven for weapons smugglers, drug dealers, and other criminals.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hass |first=Amira |url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israel-letting-chaos-rule-in-palestinian-villages-near-jerusalem-1.368453 |title=Israel letting chaos rule in Palestinian villages near Jerusalem |work=Haaretz |location=Israel |date=4 April 2011 }}</ref>

As of 2013, Palestinian security forces continue to coordinate with Israeli troops in tracking Islamic militants in the West Bank.<ref name="Huffington">{{Cite web
| url= https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/07/state-of-palestine_n_2425682.html 
| title= State of Palestine: Palestinians Change Name, Won't Rush To Issue New Passports | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011202654/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/07/state-of-palestine_n_2425682.html |archive-date=11 October 2014
| date = 9 March 2013
| author1-first= Mohammed | author2-first= Karin
| author1-last= Daraghmeh | author2-last= Laub
 | website= [[HuffPost]] | url-status= dead 
}}</ref>
According to Al-Jazeera, in 2024 the Palestinian Authority was attempting to assert its limited authority by cracking down on armed groups in the Jenin refugee camp, according to experts, in order to convince President-elect Donald Trump that it is a beneficial security partner.<ref>{{cite news |title=Palestinian Authority's raid on Jenin appeals to Israeli, Western interests |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2024/12/30/the-pa-crackdown-on-palestinians-appeals-to-israeli-western-interests |date=30 Dec 2024}}</ref>