COGAT

COGAT
Agency name	Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories
Native name	מַתְאֵם הַמַּשְׁרָדִים לַאֲזָרִים
Formed	Coordinator established 1978
Jurisdiction	Israel, West Bank, Gaza Strip
Headquarters	Tel Aviv
Minister	Minister of Defense
Chief	Coordinator
Website	Official site

COGAT

The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories is an Israeli defense establishment body responsible for implementing civil policy and administering civilian matters in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. It serves as a liaison between Israeli authorities, Palestinian institutions, international organizations, and third-state actors, coordinating movement, access, humanitarian assistance, and infrastructure projects. The office frequently interacts with actors across regional and global diplomacy, emergency response, and development sectors.

Overview

The office mediates between the Israeli Defense Forces, Ministry of Defense (Israel), Palestinian Authority, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, International Committee of the Red Cross, and diplomatic missions such as the European Union delegations and the United States Embassy in Israel and the Palestinian Territories. It manages permits, crossings, and coordination of goods and personnel for projects involving entities including World Bank, United Nations Development Programme, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and nongovernmental organizations like Médecins Sans Frontières, Oxfam, and Save the Children. The office's work affects major population centers such as Jerusalem, Ramallah, Gaza City, Hebron, and Nablus while engaging with infrastructure projects tied to networks like the Trans-Israel pipeline and regional energy initiatives.

History

The coordinator function evolved from arrangements following conflicts and interim agreements involving Egypt–Israel peace treaty, Oslo Accords, and shifts after operations such as Operation Defensive Shield and events including the Second Intifada. Institutional precedents trace to interactions after the 1967 Six-Day War and administrative adaptations during times of international mediation by actors like United Nations Security Council, Quartet on the Middle East, and states including the United States, Russia, France, and United Kingdom. Over decades, engagements intersected with reconstruction after hostilities involving Hamas, Fatah, and incidents linked to policies debated in forums such as the International Court of Justice and resolutions of the UN General Assembly.

Mission and Responsibilities

Mandates center on coordinating civilian affairs: issuing movement permits, facilitating humanitarian aid, supervising imports and exports, and enabling infrastructure work by actors including United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, International Monetary Fund, and private firms like Bechtel when contracted for projects. The office liaises with municipal authorities in Bethlehem, Jenin, Tulkarm, and with international donors such as USAID, European Commission, and Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to support water, health, and education projects associated with institutions like World Health Organization and UNESCO.

Organizational Structure

The apparatus is embedded within the Ministry of Defense (Israel) framework and coordinates with branches of the Israel Defense Forces, regional administrations, and liaison units attached to embassies including the Embassy of the United States, Tel Aviv and consulates in East Jerusalem. Internal directorates correspond to sectors such as humanitarian coordination, economic affairs, infrastructure, and civil administration, interacting with multinational organizations including International Finance Corporation and bilateral partners like Japan International Cooperation Agency.

Programs and Initiatives

Programs include permit systems for workers and medical patients accessing facilities in Sheba Medical Center, coordination of shipments through crossings such as Kerem Shalom Crossing and Erez Crossing, and facilitation of reconstruction after conflict involving actors like Red Crescent, UNRWA, and contractor consortia. Initiatives have addressed water projects linked to Mekorot collaborations, electricity grid works involving companies such as Israel Electric Corporation, and development projects funded by entities like World Bank Group and European Investment Bank.

International Cooperation and Diplomacy

The office engages in diplomacy with international actors including United Nations, European Union External Action Service, United States Department of State, and regional governments such as Egypt and Jordan to coordinate crossings, ceasefire arrangements, and humanitarian windows brokered in talks involving mediators like Qatar and Turkey. It participates in joint planning with agencies including UNICEF, World Food Programme, and International Organization for Migration to address displacement, health access, and trade facilitation.

Criticism and Controversies

Critics include non-governmental organizations such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and advocacy groups that have raised concerns echoed in reports by bodies like the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and discussions in forums including the European Parliament and UN Human Rights Council. Controversies center on permit denials, restrictions on movement cited by litigants before the Supreme Court of Israel, debates in the Knesset and international criticisms invoking international legal instruments debated at the International Criminal Court. Advocates for affected communities, including representatives from Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics-engaged policymakers and municipal leaders from Hebron Municipality and Gaza City Municipality, have repeatedly called for changes to procedures related to access, trade, and humanitarian relief.

Category:Government agencies of Israel