What is the Civil Administration?

In 1980, the Regional Commanders of the Israeli army (IDF) in the Gaza Strip and West Bank issued a military order that established a Civil Administration, one in the Gaza Strip and one in the West Bank, in order to administer the civilian life of Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).

The Civil Administration  was operating under the authority of the respective Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Regional Commanders. It stopped operating in the Gaza Strip after the signing of the Oslo Agreements and also reduced its scope of authority in the West Bank. In the West Bank some civil authorities, as in the fields of education and welfare, have completely been passed to the Palestinian Authority, even in areas where Israel retains full civilian and military control (area C).

Read more about the Oslo Agreements

To Wikipedia with more information about the Palestinian Authority

IDF soldiers and civilians work in the Civil Administration. IDF officers are appointed as heads of different departments in the Civil Administration, such as water, electricity, infrastructure, planning, etc. Their authority is currently limited to area C.

Some authorities encompass both the Palestinian communities and Israeli settlers that live in the oPt. However, policies discriminately favor the settlers' community over the Palestinians.

The Legal Advisor of the West Bank regularly reviews the decisions made by IDF commanders and administrative departments of the Civil Administration, especially in cases where Palestinians are refused entry and exit permits and cases of administrative objections to requsition of land due to the construction of the Wall.

Land of Bil'in village located in the area between the Wall and the Green Line, seized for the construction of a new Israeli settlement, Matityahu. January 2006.
Photo: Matilda Svensson, EAPPI