Israeli Civil Administration
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| Israeli Civil Administration | |
|---|---|
 West Bank July 2008 CIA remote-sensing map.jpg:CIA
derivative work: Sean.hoyland · Public domain · source | |
| Name | Israeli Civil Administration |
| Formed | 1981 |
| Preceding1 | Israeli Military Governorate |
| Jurisdiction | West Bank, Gaza Strip (historical) |
| Headquarters | Beit El (de facto historical), Tel Aviv (related offices) |
| Parent agency | Israel Defense Forces |
| Chief1 position | Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) (operational link) |
Israeli Civil Administration is an administrative body established in 1981 to manage civilian affairs in territories captured by Israel during the Six-Day War of 1967. It operated under the authority of the Israel Defense Forces and in coordination with Israeli ministries such as the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Interior. The Administration's remit intersected with legal frameworks like Military Order No. 947 and with political processes including the Oslo Accords and negotiations involving figures such as Yitzhak Rabin, Yasser Arafat, and Benjamin Netanyahu.
History and Establishment
The Civil Administration was created out of the earlier Israeli Military Governorate structure after the Gaza Strip and West Bank came under Israeli control following the Six-Day War. Its establishment followed doctrinal shifts influenced by events including the Camp David Accords and pressures from actors like the United Nations Security Council and United States administrations such as those of Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter. The Administration evolved through periods marked by the First Intifada, the Oslo Accords process involving Mahmoud Abbas and Shimon Peres, and adjustments after the Second Intifada. Post-1993, implementation of the Oslo II Accord reallocated responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority while retaining Israeli control over security-related civil functions in areas classified under the 1995 Interim Agreement.
Legal and Administrative Structure
Legally, the Administration operated under the aegis of Military Governor Orders and Israeli statutory practice influenced by precedents like the Hague Regulations of 1907 and decisions of the Israeli Supreme Court (including cases involving petitioners such as Adalah and B'Tselem). Administrative control combined military command structures from the Central Command (Israel) with civilian bureaucracies drawn from the Ministry of Defense and liaison offices modeled on institutions like COGAT. The chain of command linked to senior officers from the Israel Defense Forces and ministers including the Minister of Defense, while judicial oversight involved the Jerusalem District Court and appeals to the Supreme Court of Israel in matters concerning administrative actions, land expropriation, and permits.
Jurisdiction and Functions
The Administration's functions included issuing permits, managing land registration and cadastral matters in areas such as Judea and Samaria, regulating movement through crossings tied to Allenby Bridge, overseeing infrastructure projects like water and electricity often in coordination with entities such as the Palestine Liberation Organization-linked authorities, and administering civil services affecting communities including Hebron, Ramallah, Nablus, and Gaza City. It implemented policies impacting settlement activity associated with groups like Gush Emunim, coordinated with agencies such as the Israel Lands Authority, and interacted with international organizations including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Relations with Palestinian Authorities and Residents
Relations involved operational links with the Palestinian Authority established by the Oslo Accords and leadership figures like Arafat and Abbas. The Administration's interactions ranged from cooperative coordination on utilities and humanitarian access to tense encounters during security escalations in events like the Second Intifada and incidents in locales such as Hebron Protocol-related zones. Palestinian civil society organizations such as Al-Haq engaged in legal challenges and advocacy, while Israeli NGOs like B'Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights Israel monitored humanitarian and human rights impacts. Coordination mechanisms included joint committees and liaison offices paralleling structures created under the 1995 Interim Agreement.
Controversies and International Law Issues
Controversies centered on issues raised by the International Court of Justice advisory opinions, United Nations Security Council resolutions, and NGO reports alleging violations of international humanitarian law and human rights treaties such as the Geneva Conventions. Debates implicated Israeli legal doctrines cited by actors including the Israeli Supreme Court and international actors like the European Union and United States Department of State. Contentious practices included land expropriation impacting sites such as East Jerusalem environs, permit regimes affecting movement through checkpoints exemplified by crossings like Qalandiya, and settlement expansion controversies involving blocs like Ma'ale Adumim. Litigation and advocacy were pursued by organizations including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and local bodies such as Adalah.
Security Coordination and Role of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT)
Security coordination involved the Administration working closely with the Israel Defense Forces, the Shin Bet, the Palestinian Security Services, and international stakeholders like the United States and European Union envoys. The operational office of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) became the public-facing unit handling civilian coordination, humanitarian access, and liaison functions with authorities including the Palestinian Authority, United Nations agencies, and aid organizations such as Médecins Sans Frontières. COGAT activities intersected with security policies shaped by events like the Gaza disengagement of 2005 and military operations involving Operation Defensive Shield and subsequent arrangements following negotiations mediated by figures like Tony Blair and administrations such as those of George W. Bush.