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{{for|the Palestine Liberation Organization's declared state|State of Palestine}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2012}}
{{Update|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox country
|conventional_long_name=Palestinian National Authority
|native_name={{lang|ar|السلطة الفلسطينية}}<br/>''{{transl|ar|as-Sulṭa al-Filasṭīnīya}}''
|common_name=Palestine
|image_flag=
|image_coat=
|symbol_width=
|image_map=Zones A and B in the occupied palestinian territories.svg
|map_width=250px
|map_caption= Map showing areas of Palestinian Authority control or<br/>joint control (red<!--not identified on image: within Areas A and B-->) as of 2006.
|capital_type= Administrative center
|capital= ]<br>{{smaller|{{coord|31|54|N|35|12|E|display=inline}}}}
|largest_city= ]<br>{{smaller|{{coord|31|31|N|34|27|E|display=inline}}}}
|official_languages=]
|government_type= ] {{small|(])<ref>Elections not held between 2006-2012 ({{cite news |title=The Palestinian Authority |url=http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/organizations/p/palestinian_authority/index.html | work=The New York Times | first=Jodi |last=Rudoren}}).</ref>}}
|leader_title1=]
|leader_name1=]
|leader_title2=]
|leader_name2=]
|legislature=]
|area_km2=
|area_sq_mi=
|area_footnote=<span style=white-space:nowrap;><br>&nbsp;- ]: 5,860&nbsp;km{{smallsup|2}}<br>&nbsp;- ]: 360&nbsp;km{{smallsup|2}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gz.html |title=The World Factbook: Middle East: Gaza Strip |website=cia.gov |archive-url=//web.archive.org/web/20140608204417/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gz.html |archive-date=8 June 2014|publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |date=12 May 2014 |accessdate=8 June 2014 |deadurl=no}}</ref></span>
|percent_wate
|population_estimate=4,682,467<ref>{{cite web |title=Estimated Population in the Palestinian Territory Mid-Year by Governorate,1997-2016 |accessdate=8 June 2014 |website=Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics |url=http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_Rainbow/Documents/gover_e.htm |archive-url=//web.archive.org/web/20140608204943/http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_Rainbow/Documents/gover_e.htm |archive-date=8 June 2014 |publisher=State of Palestine |deadurl=no}}</ref>
|population_estimate_rank=123rd
|population_estimate_year= 2015
|population_density_km2 =
|population_density_rank =
|population_density_sq_mi =
|population_census_year=
|GDP_PPP={{nowrap|$11.95 billion<sup>a</sup>}}
|GDP_PPP_rank=–
|GDP_PPP_year=2008<sup>b</sup>
|GDP_PPP_per_capita=$2,900
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank=–
|sovereignty_type = ] from ]i administration
|established_event1=]
|established_date1= {{nowrap|13 September 1993}}
|established_event2=]
|established_date2=1994
|established_event3=]
|established_date3= 1995
|established_event4=]
|established_date4= 2007
|established_event5= ] ]
|established_date5=29 November 2012
|Gini_year=2009
|Gini_change=<!--increase/decrease/steady-->
|Gini=35.5
|Gini_ref=<ref>{{cite web |title=GINI Index: West Bank and Gaza |accessdate=8 June 2014 |website=The World Bank: Data |url=http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI/ |archive-url=//web.archive.org/web/20140608054636/http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI |archive-date=8 June 2014 |deadurl=no}}</ref>
|Gini_rank=
|HDI_year=2013<!-- Please use the year to which the data refers, not the publication year-->
|HDI_change=steady<!--increase/decrease/steady-->
|HDI=0.686<!--number only, between 0 and 1-->
|HDI_ref = <ref name="HDI">{{cite web |url=http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/hdr14-summary-en.pdf |title=2014 Human Development Report Summary |date=2014 |accessdate=27 July 2014 |publisher=United Nations Development Programme | pages=21–25}}</ref>
|HDI_rank=107th
|currency= {{unbulleted list |] (]) |] (ILS) |] (JOD)<ref>According to . The Protocol allows the Palestinian Authority to adopt multiple currencies. In the ], the Israeli new sheqel and Jordanian dinar are widely accepted; while in the ], the Israeli new sheqel and Egyptian pound are widely accepted.</ref>| <small>(see also ])</small>}}
|country_code=PLE
|time_zone=&#8203;<!--prevents formatting inconsistency, please do not remove.-->
|utc_offset=+2
|utc_offset_DST=+3
|date_format=dd/mm/yyyy<!--numeric dates (dd-mm-yyyy, yyyy.mm.dd, etc.) plus era (CE, AD, AH, etc.)-->
|calling_code=]
|cctld=]
|iso3166code=PS
|footnote_b=Population and economy statistics and rankings are based data of the ].
}}

{{Politics of Palestine}}
The '''Palestinian National Authority''' ('''PA''' or '''PNA'''; {{lang-ar|السلطة الوطنية الفلسطينية}} ''{{transl|ar|as-Sulṭa al-Waṭanīya al-Filasṭīnīya}}'') is the interim self-government body<ref>. Encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com (2012-04-11). Retrieved on 2013-08-25.</ref> established to ] the ] and ] of the ], as a consequence of the 1993 ].<ref>{{cite news |title=The Palestinian Authority |url=http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/organizations/p/palestinian_authority/index.html | work=The New York Times | first=Jodi |last=Rudoren}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://archives.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/meast/04/05/palestinian.explainer/index.html |title=The Palestinian government |publisher=CNN |date=5 April 2001 |accessdate=26 November 2012}}</ref> Following ] and the subsequent ] between the ] and ] parties, its authority had extended only in areas A and B of the West Bank. Since January 2013, the ]-controlled Palestinian Authority uses the name "State of Palestine" on official documents.<ref name="aljazeera.com">. Al Jazeera English. Retrieved on 2013-08-25.</ref><ref>WAFA – Palestine News & Information Agency, . 8 January 2013</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Associated Press |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/palestinian-authority-officially-changes-name-to-state-of-palestine.premium-1.492065 |title=Palestinian Authority officially changes name to 'State of Palestine' |work=Haaretz Daily Newspaper |date=5 January 2013 |accessdate=}}</ref>

The Palestinian Authority was formed in 1994, pursuant to the Oslo Accords between the ] (PLO) and the government of ], as a five-year ]. Further negotiations were then meant to take place between the two parties regarding its final status. According to the Oslo Accords, the Palestinian Authority was designated to have exclusive control over both security-related and civilian issues in Palestinian urban areas (referred to as "]") and only civilian control over Palestinian rural areas ("]"). The remainder of the territories, including ], the ] region and bypass roads between ] communities, were to remain under Israeli control ("]"). ] was excluded from the Accords. Negotiations with several Israeli governments had resulted in the Authority gaining further control of some areas, but control was then lost in some areas when the ] (IDF) retook several strategic positions during the ]. In 2005, after the Second Intifada, Israel withdrew ] from its settlements in the Gaza Strip, thereby expanding Palestinian Authority control to the entire strip.{{clarify|date=November 2013}}

In the ] on 25 January 2006, ] emerged victorious and nominated ] as the Authority's Prime Minister. However, the national unity Palestinian government effectively collapsed, when a violent conflict between Hamas and Fatah erupted, mainly in the Gaza Strip. After the ] on 14 June 2007, the Authority's Chairman ] dismissed the ] and appointed ] as ], dismissing Haniyeh. The move wasn't recognized by Hamas, thus resulting in two separate administrations - the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and a rival ] in the Gaza Strip. The ] to unite the Palestinian governments achieved some progress over the years, but had failed to produce a re-unification.

The PA received financial assistance from the ] and the United States (approximately US$1 billion combined in 2005). All direct aid was suspended on 7 April 2006, as a result of the ] victory in parliamentary elections.<ref name="Ref_2006">{{Citation|title=US suspends aid to Palestinians|publisher=BBC News|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4889668.stm|accessdate=7 April 2006 | date=7 April 2006}}</ref><ref name="Ref_2006a">{{Citation|title=Abbas warns of financial crisis|publisher=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4730568.stm|accessdate=19 February 2006 | date=20 February 2006}}</ref> Shortly thereafter, aid payments resumed, but were channeled directly to the offices of ] in the West Bank.<ref name=Haaretzaid>{{Citation|title=U.S. to allow PA funds to be channeled through Abbas office|author=Akiva Eldar|work=Haaretz|url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=712624}}</ref> Since 9 January 2009, when Mahmoud Abbas' term as President was supposed to have ended and elections were to have been called, Hamas supporters and many in the Gaza Strip have withdrawn recognition for his Presidency and instead consider ], who served as the speaker of the house in the ], to be the acting President until new elections can be held.<ref name=Globe>{{Citation|title=Fancy that, a moderate in Hamas|author=Patrick Martin|url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/mideast-notebook/fancy-that-a-moderate-in-hamas/article1200923/|date=18 July 2009|accessdate=3 August 2009|work=The Globe and Mail |location=Toronto }}</ref><ref name=Manar>{{Citation|title=Hamas Says Dweik 'Real President' until Elections are Held|url=http://www.almanar.com.lb/NewsSite/NewsDetails.aspx?id=91562&language=en|date=25 June 2006|accessdate=3 August 2009|publisher=]}}</ref>

In 2011, representatives of the Authority failed to have their ] (UN) status upgraded, although their ] status was upgraded to state representation. In July 2012, the Hamas government in Gaza was reported as considering a declaration of the independence of the Gaza Strip, with the support of neighboring ].<ref name="english.alarabiya.net">{{cite web|author=<!--> <!--> |url=http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/07/31/229595.html |title=Report of possible Gaza independence stirs debate |publisher=Al Arabiya |date=31 July 2012 |accessdate=26 November 2012}}</ref> In November 2012, however, the ] voted to recognize Palestine as a non-member UN observer state.<ref name="Gharib">{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/12/20/u-n-adds-new-name-state-of-palestine.html |title=U.N. Adds New Name: "State of Palestine" |last=Gharib |first=Ali |date=20 December 2012 |accessdate=10 January 2013 |publisher=] |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/20130101145115/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/12/20/u-n-adds-new-name-state-of-palestine.html |archivedate=1 January 2013 }}</ref><ref name="un.int">. Un.int. Retrieved on 2013-08-25.</ref><ref name="unispal1">{{cite web|url=http://unispal.un.org/unispal.nsf/0080ef30efce525585256c38006eacae/181c72112f4d0e0685257ac500515c6c?OpenDocument |title=A/67/L.28 of 26 November 2012 and A/RES/67/19 of 29 November 2012|publisher=Unispal.un.org |date= |accessdate=2 December 2012}}</ref>

==History==

{{Expand section|date=October 2015}}
===Establishment===
{{for|the history of the area controlled by the Palestinian Authority prior to its establishment|History of Palestine}}
], ] and ] at the ] signing ceremony on 13 September 1993.]]

The ] were signed on 13 September 1993 between the ] (PLO) and Israel. The ] was signed on 4 May 1994 and included an Israeli withdrawal from ] area, partially from the Gaza Strip and detailed the creation of the Palestinian Authority and the ]. <ref name="algemeiner-PA" /> This was an interim organization created to administer a limited form of Palestinian self-governance in the ] in the ] and ] for a period of five years, during which final-status negotiations would take place.<ref name="Ref_f">], Article I</ref><ref name="Ref_g">Oslo Accords, Article V</ref><ref name="Ref_h">], Article XXIII, Section 3</ref> The ], itself acting on behalf of the ] of the PLO, implemented this agreement in a meeting convened in ] from 10–11 October 1993, making the Palestinian Authority accountable to the ].<ref name="icj_wall_palestine_written">Pages 44–49 of the , 29 January 2004, in the ] on the , by U.N. General Assembly resolution A/RES/ES-10/14 (A/ES-10/L.16) adopted on 8 December 2003 at the 23rd Meeting of the Resumed Tenth Emergency Special Session.</ref>

The administrative responsibilities accorded to the PA were limited to civil matters and internal security and did not include external security or foreign affairs.<ref name=Eurp521>{{harvnb|Eur|2003|p=521}}</ref> Palestinians in the ] and ] were not eligible to vote in elections for the offices of the Palestinian Authority.<ref name=Rothsteinp63>{{harvnb|Rothstein|1999|p=63}}</ref> The PA was legally separate from the ] (PLO), which continues to enjoy ] as the sole legitimate representative of the ], representing them at the United Nations under the name "]".<ref name=Brownp49>{{harvnb|Brown|2003|p=49}}</ref><ref name=Watsonp62>{{harvnb|Watson|2000|p=62}}</ref>

General elections were held for its first legislative body, the ], on 20 January 1996.<ref name="icj_wall_palestine_written"/> The expiration of the body's term was 4 May 1999, but elections were not held because of the "prevailing coercive situation".<ref name="icj_wall_palestine_written"/>

===Second Intifada===

On 7 July 2004, the ] of Middle East mediators informed ], ] of the PA from 2003 to 2006, that they were "sick and tired" of the Palestinians failure to carry out promised reforms: "If security reforms are not done, there will be no (more) international support and no funding from the international community"<ref name="Ref_i">{{Citation | title=Mediators tell Palestinians to reform or lose aid | work=China Daily | url=http://www2.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-07/08/content_346590.htm | accessdate=19 February 2006 }}</ref>

On 18 July 2004, United States President ] stated that the establishment of a Palestinian state by the end of 2005 was unlikely due to instability and violence in the Palestinian Authority.<ref name="Ref_j">{{Citation | title=Bataille pour le trésor de l'OLP |work=Le Figaro | url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/ | accessdate=6 February 2005 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041109092145/http://www.lefigaro.fr/ |archivedate=9 November 2004 }}</ref>

Following Arafat's death on 11 November 2004, ], leader of the ] became ] of the Palestinian Authority as provided for in Article 54(2) of the Authority's Basic Law and Palestinian Elections Law.<ref name="Ref_k">{{Citation | title=The Basic Law | publisher=miftah.org | url=http://www.miftah.org/Display.cfm?DocId=790&CategoryId=10 | accessdate=29 May 2006 }}</ref>

On 19 April 2005, ] the president of Russia agreed to aid the Palestinian Authority stating, "We support the efforts of President Abbas to reform the security services and fight against terrorism If we are waiting for President Abbas to fight terrorism, he cannot do it with the resources he has now. We will give the Palestinian Authority technical help by sending equipment, training people. We will give the Palestinian Authority helicopters and also communication equipment."<ref name="Ref_2005">{{Citation | title= Putin offers to help Palestinians |publisher=BBC | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4496273.stm | accessdate=19 February 2006 | date=29 April 2005}}</ref>

The Palestinian Authority became responsible for civil administration in some rural areas, as well as security in the major cities of the ] and the ]. Although the five-year interim period expired in 1999, the final status agreement has yet to be concluded despite attempts such as the ], the ], and the unofficial ].

] ] map of areas governed by the Palestinian Authority, July 2008.]]
In August 2005, ] ] began his ], ceding full effective internal control of the Strip to the Palestinian Authority but retained control of its borders including air and sea (except for the Egyptian border). This increased the percentage of land in the Gaza Strip nominally governed by the PA from 60 percent to 100 percent.

===Hamas–Fatah conflict===
{{main|Hamas-Fatah conflict|Governance of the Gaza Strip}}
] took place on 25 January 2006. ] was victorious and ] was nominated as Prime Minister on 16 February 2006 and sworn in on 29 March 2006. However, when a Hamas-led Palestinian government was formed, the ] (United States, Russia, United Nations, and European Union) conditioned future foreign assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA) on the future government's commitment to non-violence, recognition of the State of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements. Hamas rejected these demands,<ref>CRS Report for Congress, 27 June 2006, </ref> which resulted in the Quartet suspension of its foreign assistance program and ] imposed ].

In December 2006, ], Prime Minister of the PA, declared that the PA will never recognize Israel: "We will never recognize the usurper Zionist government and will continue our jihad-like movement until the liberation of Jerusalem."<ref name="Ref_2006b">{{Citation|date=8 December 2006|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-12-08-palestinian-pm_x.htm?POE=NEWISVA|title=Palestinian prime minister vows not to recognize Israel|agency=Associated Press | work=USA Today | accessdate=21 May 2010}}</ref>

In an attempt to resolve the financial and diplomatic impasse, the Hamas-led government together with Fatah Chairman ] agreed to form a ]. As a result, Haniyeh resigned on 15 February 2007 as part of the agreement. The unity government was finally formed on 18 March 2007 under Prime Minister ] and consisted of members from Hamas, Fatah and other parties and independents. The situation in the Gaza strip however quickly deteriorated into an open feud between the Hamas and Fatah, which eventually resulted in the ].

After the ] on 14 June 2007, Palestinian Authority Chairman Abbas dismissed the government and on 15 June 2007 appointed ] ] to form a new government. Though the new government's authority is claimed to extend to all Palestinian territories, in effect it became limited to the Palestinian Authority controlled areas of the ], as Hamas hasn't recognized the move. The Fayyad government has won widespread international support. Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia said in late June 2007 that the West Bank-based Cabinet formed by Fayyad was the sole legitimate Palestinian government, and Egypt moved its embassy from Gaza to the West Bank.<ref name="Ref_l">{{cite web|last=Associated |first=The |url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/874106.html |title=ACTUAL ARTICLE TITLE BELONGS HERE! |work=Haaretz |location=Israel |date=4 May 2012 }}</ref> Hamas, which ] has an effective control of the Gaza Strip since 2007, faces international diplomatic and economic isolation.

In 2013, political analyst Hillel Frisch from ]’s BESA Center, noted that "The PA is playing a double game...with regards to battling Hamas, there’s coordination if not cooperation with Israel. But on the political front, the PA is trying to generate a popular intifada."<ref></ref>

===Two administrations (2007–2014)===
Since the Hamas-Fatah split in 2007, the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority, based in areas of the West Bank had stabilized, though no significant economic growth had been achieved. Politically, until 2012, there had also been no progress in promotion of PNA status in the UN, as well as no progress in negotiations with Israel. Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority stayed out of the ] in 2008–2009, which followed the six-month ]<!--truce explained in "Background" section, in other articles on topic, and in the sources provided -->, between Hamas and Israel which ended on 19 December 2008.<ref name="bjt-tip-point-cross-border-figthing">{{Citation|url=http://www.jewishtimes.com/index.php/jewishtimes/news/jt/cover_story/tipping_point/9631|title=Tipping Point After years of rocket attacks, Israel finally says, ‘Enough!’|last=Jacobs|first=Phil |date=30 December 2008|publisher=Baltimore Jewish Times|accessdate=7 January 2009}}</ref><ref name=NYTimes-truce>{{Citation | last = New York Times | title = Israel Agrees to Truce with Hamas on Gaza | work = The New York Times | accessdate =28 December 2008 | date = 18 June 2008 | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/18/world/middleeast/18mideast.html?_r=1&fta=y | archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5dSojRrRE| archivedate=30 December 2008 }}</ref><ref name="Ref_2009">{{Citation|title=TIMELINE&nbsp;– Israeli-Hamas violence since truce ended|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKTRE50423320090105|agency=Reuters | date=5 January 2009}}</ref> Hamas claimed that Israel broke the truce on 4 November 2008,<ref name="Ref_m">, ], 5 November 2008.</ref><ref name="Ref_n">, ], 4 January 2008.</ref> though Israel blamed Hamas for an increasing ] directed at southern Israeli towns and cities.<ref name="Ref_2008">{{Citation|title=Hamas declares Israel truce over|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7791100.stm|publisher=BBC News | date=22 December 2008 | accessdate=3 January 2010}}</ref> The ] began on 27 December 2008 (11:30 ] local time; 09:30&nbsp;]).<ref name="Harel2008">{{Citation|url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1050405.html|title=ANALYSIS / IAF strike on Gaza is Israel’s version of ‘shock and awe’ |last=Harel|first=Amos|date=27 December 2008|publisher=Ha’aretz|accessdate=27 December 2008}}</ref> Though condemning Israel over attacks on Gaza, the Palestinian Authority erected no actions during the conflict of Israel with Hamas.

The ] between Fatah and Hamas reached intermediate results by the two governments, most notably the agreement in Cairo on 27 April 2011, but with no final solution. Though the two agreed to form a unity government,<ref name="cnnunity"/> and to hold ] in both territories within 12 months of the establishment of such a government,<ref name="ruvr">{{Cite news|author=Staff writers|title=Fatah, Hamas agree general elections|url=http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/04/27/49559693.html|newspaper=The Voice of Russia|date=27 April 2011|accessdate=28 April 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|author=Levy, Elior; Somfalvi, Attila|title=Fatah, Hamas sign reconciliation agreement|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4061418,00.html|newspaper=Ynetnews|publisher=Israel News; Yedioth Internet|date=27 April 2011|accessdate=28 April 2011}}</ref> it had not been implemented. The 2011 deal also permitted the entry of ] into the ] and holding of elections to its ] decision-making body,{{citation needed|date=May 2015}} not implemented as well. The deal was further ratified in the 2012 ], which was made with the background of Hamas relocation from Damascus, due to the simmering ]. In 2011, PNA representatives failed to upgrade their status in the UN, receiving state status only in UNESCO.

Since late August 2012, Palestinian National Authority has been swept with ] aiming against the cost of living. The protesters targeted the Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, calling for his resignation. Some anti-government protests turned violent.<ref name=bbc1109/> On 11 September, Palestinian Prime Minister issued a decree on lowering the fuel prices and cutting salaries of top officials.<ref name=bbc1109>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19556951 |title=Palestinian PM unveils measures to calm protests |publisher=BBC |date=11 September 2012 |accessdate=26 November 2012}}</ref>

In July 2012, it was reported that ] was considering to declare the independence of the Gaza Strip with the help of Egypt.<ref name="english.alarabiya.net"/> On August 2012, Foreign Minister of the PNA Riyad al-Malki told reporters in Ramallah, that PNA would renew effort to upgrade the Palestinian(PLO) status to 'full member state' at the U.N. General Assembly on 27 September 2012.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web |author=<!--> <!--> |url=http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/08/04/230378.html |title=Palestinians to renew U.N. statehood drive in September |publisher=Al Arabiya |date=4 August 2012 |accessdate=26 November 2012}}</ref> By September 2012, with their application for full membership stalled due to the inability of Security Council members to 'make a unanimous recommendation', Palestine had decided to pursue an upgrade in status from "observer entity" to ]. On 27 November it was announced that the appeal had been officially made, and would be put to a vote in the General Assembly on 29 November, where their status upgrade was expected to be supported by a majority of states. In addition to granting Palestine "non-member observer state status", the draft resolution "expresses the hope that the Security Council will consider favourably the application submitted on 23 September 2011 by the State of Palestine for admission to full membership in the United Nations, endorses the two state solution based on the pre-1967 borders, and stresses the need for an immediate resumption of negotiations between the two parties."

On Thursday, 29 November 2012, In a 138-9 vote (with 41 abstaining) ] passed, upgrading Palestine to "non-member observer state" status in the United Nations.<ref name="aljazeera.com"/><ref name="unispal1"/> The new status equates Palestine's with that of the ]. The change in status was described by '']'' as "de facto recognition of the sovereign state of Palestine".<ref name="UNStatehoodBid2012accepted">{{cite news |title=Israel defies UN after vote on Palestine with plans for 3,000 new homes in the West Bank|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israel-defies-un-after-vote-on-palestine-with-plans-for-3000-new-homes-in-the-west-bank-8372494.html|publisher=The Independent|date=1 December 2012|location=London|first=Dan|last=Williams}}</ref>

The vote was a historic benchmark for the ] ] and its citizens, whilst it was a diplomatic setback for Israel and the United States. Status as an observer state in the UN allows the State of Palestine to join treaties and international organizations, such as the International Civil Aviation Organisation,<ref></ref> the Law of the Seas Treaty and the International Criminal Court. It permits Palestine to claim legal rights over its territorial waters and air space as a sovereign state recognised by the UN, and allow the Palestinian people the right to sue for control of their territory in the International Court of Justice and to refer relevant crimes committed in Palestinian territory to the ] for investigation and possible prosecution, if Palestine is unwilling or unable to pursue prosecution.<ref>{{cite news |title=Palestinians’ UN upgrade to nonmember observer state: Struggles ahead over possible powers |url=http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/11/29/palestinians-un-upgrade-to-nonmember-observer-state-struggles-ahead-over/|publisher=]|date=30 November 2012}}</ref>

On 23 April 2014 ], the prime minister of Hamas, and a senior ] delegation dispatched by Palestinian President ] signed the ] at ] in an attempt to create ] in the ].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Beaumont|first1=Peter|last2=Lewis|first2=Paul|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/23/plo-hamas-agree-unity-pact-form-government|title=Fatah and Hamas agree landmark pact after seven-year rift|newspaper=The Guardian|date=24 April 2014|accessdate=24 April 2014}}</ref> It stated that a unity government should be formed within five weeks, ahead of a presidential and parliamentary election within six months.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.france24.com/en/20140423-fatah-hamas-agree-palestinian-unity-government/|title=Fatah, Hamas agree to form Palestinian unity government|publisher=France 24|date=23 April 2014|accessdate=23 April 2014}}</ref>The ] formed on 2 June 2014 as a national and ] under ] ]. The European Union, the United Nations, the United States, China, India, Russia and Turkey all agreed to work with it.<ref>(6 March 2014) ]</ref><ref>Panda, Ankit (4 June 2014) ]</ref><ref>Wroughton, Lesley and Zengerle, Patricia (2 June 2014) ]</ref><ref name=h20140603>{{cite news|title=Amid wave of endorsements, PM 'troubled' by U.S. decision to work with Palestinian gov't|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.596907|publisher=Haaretz|date=3 June 2014}}</ref> The ] condemned the unity government because it views Hamas as a terrorist organization.<ref>{{cite news|title=Palestinian unity government sworn in by Mahmoud Abbas|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27660218|accessdate=2 June 2014|work=BBC News|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|date=2 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Rudoren|first1=Jodi|last2=Kershner|first2=Isabel|title=With Hope for Unity, Abbas Swears In a New Palestinian Government|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/03/world/middleeast/abbas-swears-in-a-new-palestinian-government.html|accessdate=2 June 2014|work=The New York Times|publisher=The New York Times Company|date=2 June 2014}}</ref> The Palestinian unity government first convened in Gaza on 9 October 2014 to discuss the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip following the ]. On 30 November 2014, Hamas declared that the unity government had ended with the expiration of the six-month term.<ref>http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Hamas-rejects-Abbas-claim-that-it-colluded-with-Israel-and-says-unity-government-is-over-383264</ref><ref>http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=743683</ref> But Fatah subsequently denied the claim, and said that the government is still in force.<ref>http://www.timesofisrael.com/fatah-official-denies-unity-government-mandate-has-ended/</ref>

===2013 Name change===
The UN has permitted the Palestine National Authority to title its representative office to the UN as 'The Permanent Observer Mission of the '''State of''' Palestine to the United Nations',<ref name="un.int"/> and Palestine has started to re-title its name accordingly on postal stamps, official documents and passports,<ref name="aljazeera.com"/><ref>Khoury, Jack. (2013-01-05) . Haaretz. Retrieved on 2013-08-25.</ref> whilst it has instructed its diplomats to officially represent 'The State of Palestine', as opposed to the 'Palestine National Authority'.<ref name="aljazeera.com"/> Additionally, on 17 December 2012, UN Chief of Protocol Yeocheol Yoon decided that "the designation of 'State of Palestine' shall be used by the Secretariat in all official United Nations documents".<ref name="Gharib"/>

==Geography==
{{main|Administrative divisions of the Oslo Accords|Palestinian territories|West Bank}}

The Palestinian Territories refers to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank (including East Jerusalem). The Palestinian Authority currently administers some 39% of the West Bank. 61% of the West bank remains under direct Israeli military and civilian control. East Jerusalem was unilaterally annexed by Israel in 1980, prior to the formation of the PA. Since 2007 Gaza has been governed by the ].

==Politics and internal structure==
{{main|Politics of the Palestinian National Authority}}
] (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 ] ] republic, with the ] (PLC), an executive ], and a ] 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 |accessdate=19 February 2006 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/20060216044037/http://pogar.org:80/countries/index.asp?cid=14 |archivedate=16 February 2006 }}</ref> The PA was created by, is ultimately accountable to, and has historically been associated with, the ] (PLO), with whom Israel negotiated the ].<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.{{fact|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>https://fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RL33269.pdf</ref> The Chairman of the PLO, ], was elected as President of PA in a ].

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|author=Hazem Balousha Contributor,&nbsp;Palestine Pulse |url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/05/report-corruption-palestine-institutions-gaza.html |title=Report Highlights Corruption In Palestinian Institutions - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East |publisher=Al-Monitor |date= |accessdate=2014-08-14}}</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 | work=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, ] 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/ | work=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 ] 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=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/02/24/world/main676172.shtml | accessdate=19 February 2006 | date=24 February 2005}}</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 ] 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|author=Seumas Milne and Ian Black |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/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=http://www.guardian.co.uk/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 ] announced the party's signing of a memorandum of understanding with Hamas' leadership, a major step towards reconciliation effectively paving the way for a ].<ref name="cnnunity">{{Cite news|author=Staff writers|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|publisher=CNN|date=27 April 2011|accessdate=28 April 2011}}</ref> The deal was formally announced in Cairo, and was co-ordinated under the mediation of Egypt's new intelligence director ].<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 |accessdate=28 April 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/20110723130510/http://channel6newsonline.com/2011/04/fatah-and-hamas-agree-to-palestinian-unity-government/ |archivedate=23 July 2011 }}</ref> The deal came amidst an international campaign for ] advanced by the Abbas administration, which is expected to culminate in a request for admission into the ] 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|accessdate=28 April 2011}}</ref> As part of the deal, the two factions agreed to hold ] in both territories within twelve months of the creation of a transitional government.<ref name="ruvr"/> In response to the announcement, Israeli Prime Minister ] 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 |]
|]
|]
|5 July 1994 – 11 November 2004
|-
|]
|]
|26 January 2005&nbsp;– '''incumbent'''
|-
| rowspan=6 |]
|]
|] (Former official at the International Monetary Fund)
|14 June 2007 (]) – '''incumbent'''
|-
|]
|]
|19 February 2006 – 14 June 2007
|-
|]
|]
|24 December 2005 – 19 February 2006
|-
|]
|]
|15 December 2005 – 24 December 2005
|-
|]
|]
|7 October 2003 – 15 December 2005
|-
|]
|]
|19 March 2003 – 7 October 2003
|}

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

A single ] 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 ]. Following Arafat's death, ] of the Authority were announced for 9 January 2005. The PLO leader ] won 62.3% of the vote, while Dr. ], 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 | accessdate=19 February 2006 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20051217154505/http://www.pna.gov.ps/subject_details2.asp?DocId=1697 |archivedate = 17 December 2005}}</ref>
{{Main|Palestinian presidential election, 2005}}
{{Palestinian presidential election, 2005}}

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 ], followed by certain municipalities in the ]. 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 ] and 25 other towns and villages in the ] on 23 December 2004. On 27 January 2005, the first round of the ] took place in the ] for officials in 10 local councils. Further rounds in the West Bank took place in May 2005.

Elections for a new ] (PLC) were scheduled for July 2005 by Acting Palestinian Authority President ] in January 2005. These elections were postponed by ] after major changes to the Election Law were enacted by the PLC which required more time for the ] 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|Palestinian legislative election, 2006}}
{{Palestine legislative election, 2006}}
The following organizations, listed in alphabetic order, have taken part in recent popular elections inside the Palestinian Authority:
*] (''Al-Jabhah al-Dimuqratiyah Li-Tahrir Filastin'')
*] or ] (''Harakat al-Tahrâr al-Filistini'')
*] or ] (''Harakat al-Muqawamah al-Islamiyah'')
*] (''al-Ittihad al-Dimuqrati al-Filastini'', FiDA)
*] (''al-Mubadara al-Wataniya al-Filistiniyya'')
*] (''Hizb al-Sha'b al-Filastini'')
*] (''Al-Jabhah al-sha'abiyah Li-Tahrir Filastin'')

October 2006 polls showed that ] and ] had equal strength.<ref name="Ref_q"> {{wayback|url=http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=113212 |date=20140813152306 |df=y }}</ref>

On 14 June 2007, after the ], Palestine president ] 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 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/20080725120721/http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/06/14/gaza/index.html |archivedate=25 July 2008 }}</ref>

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

===Human rights===
{{main|Human rights in the Palestinian territories}}
In theory the Palestinian Authority has guaranteed ] 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 |accessdate=30 July 2006 |year=1998 |work=Politics in Public: Freedom of Assembly and the Right to Protest |publisher=Democratic Dialogue}}</ref>

The ] 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 web|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 ], Israel allowed the distribution of the pro-Fatah newspapers ], ] and ] to Gaza, but Hamas prevented Gazan distributors from retrieving the shipment. The ] (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 ] and ].<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 |accessdate=12 July 2010}}</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 per cent 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>; European Union Election Observation Commission, West Bank and Gaza 2006, 26 January 2006 {{wayback|url=http://domino.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/db942872b9eae454852560f6005a76fb/236f02cf539aa9418525710600587785!OpenDocument |date=20090123032020 |df=y }}</ref>

Selling land or housing to Jews is punishable by death, some high-profile cases got high media coverage.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2134245/Former-Palestinian-intelligence-officer-sentenced-death-selling-home-Jews.html |title=Former Palestinian intelligence officer sentenced to death for selling home to Jews &#124; Mail Online |work=Daily Mail |date=24 April 2012 |location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Chris Mitchell |url=http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/insideisrael/2011/July/PA-Law-Selling-Land-to-Jews-Punishable-by-Death/ |title=Selling Land to Jews 'Punishable by Death' – Inside Israel – CBN News – Christian News 24-7 |publisher=CBN.com }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/palestinian-sentenced-death-selling-home-jews_640592.html |title=Palestinian Sentenced to Death for Selling a Home to Jews |work=The Weekly Standard |date=23 April 2012 }}</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> {{wayback|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070305/ap_on_re_mi_ea/palestinians_book_ban_1 |date=20130206074905 |df=y }}</ref> In July 2010, Hamas banned the smoking of ] 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= http://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 |accessdate=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 ] and the ] were subjected in 2010 to an "almost systematic campaign" of human rights abuses by the Palestinian Authority and ], 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 web|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>

==Crime and law enforcement==

===Violence against civilians===
The ] 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| accessdate=19 February 2006 }}</ref>

Erika Waak reports in '']'' "''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.''"

]'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 | accessdate=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 ]. ], head of the Palestinian Military Intelligence and a cousin of then Palestinian Authority Chairman ] 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 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041009145241/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/480576.html | archivedate=9 October 2004 | accessdate=22 August 2004 }}</ref>

===Violence against officials (2001–2004)===
On 22 April 2001, ], former Chairman of the Palestine National Fund, was abducted from Abu Dhabi, UAE flown to Arish, Egypt, 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. ] Chief Delegate in the Madrid Peace Process and leading Palestinian protested at his incaceration 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=http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/7B874EAB39CFFE5D85256E6F004B90D3 |title=E/CN.4/2003/68/Add.1 of 27 February 2003 |publisher=United Nations }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/wgad/31-2001.html |title=University of Minnesota Human Rights Library |publisher=.umn.edu |date= |accessdate=5 January 2013}}</ref><ref> {{dead link|date=January 2013}}</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 ] bomb. The perpetrators remain at large.

In February 2004, ], the mayor of ], 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 | accessdate=19 February 2006 | date=21 January 2005 | first=Alan | last=Johnston}}</ref>

Karen Abu Zayd, deputy commissioner general for the ] 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 |work=The Washington Post | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17536-2004Feb29_2.html | accessdate=19 February 2006 }}</ref>

], the ] Chief of Police, since 1994 has been the target of repeated attacks by ]s. 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 ] of his convoy and ]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 |accessdate=19 February 2006 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/20050308231343/http://www.dawn.com:80/2004/07/17/int6.htm |archivedate=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 ] building in ]:
:Palestinian security officials said that the kidnapping was carried out by the Abu al-Rish Brigades, accused of being linked to Palestinian Authority Chairman ]'s ] 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 | accessdate=17 July 2004 }}</ref>

On 18 July, Arafat replaced ], with his nephew ], sparking violent riots in ] and ] in which members of the ] burned PA offices and opened fire on Palestinian policemen. During the riots at least one Palestinian was killed and 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 ]s who had murdered three members of an American diplomatic convoy traveling in the ] 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 (]) to block further progress in this investigation."

On 21 July, ], 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 |accessdate=19 February 2006 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/20060212234131/http://story.news.yahoo.com:80/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/mideast_dc |archivedate=12 February 2006 }}h</ref>

Regarding the descent into chaos Cabinet minister ] 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=http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Palestinians-Parliament.html }} {{dead link|date=July 2010}}</ref>

On 22 July 2004, The United Nations elevated its threat warning level for the ] 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">{{Citation|title=Worldnews |agency=Reuters |url=http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=5743863 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/20140808062203/http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=5743863 |archivedate=8 August 2014 }}</ref>

On 23 July 2004, an Arab boy was shot and killed by ]s of the ] 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 |accessdate=19 February 2006 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/20051016045307/http://www.israelnn.com:80/news.php3?id=66197 |archivedate=16 October 2005 }}</ref><ref name="Berger2004">{{Citation|title=Group Says New Israeli Expansion Breaks Vow |work=The New York Times |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/23/international/middleeast/23CND-MIDE.html?hp |accessdate=19 February 2006 |first=Joseph |last=Berger |date=23 July 2004 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/20050509140411/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/23/international/middleeast/23CND-MIDE.html?hp |archivedate=9 May 2005 }}</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 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040726043850/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/455377.html | archivedate=26 July 2004 | accessdate=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 | accessdate=19 February 2006 | date=23 July 2004}}</ref>

On 31 July, Palestinian kidnappers in ] 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 ] by the ]. 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 |accessdate=19 February 2006 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/20060212234131/http://story.news.yahoo.com:80/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/mideast_dc |archivedate=12 February 2006 }}</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, ] 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 | accessdate=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 ] 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|accessdate=15 September 2015|work=]|date=11 August 2004|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041011130341/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/462724.html|archivedate=11 October 2011}}</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 ]s and mortar shells on Israeli settlements because of it hurts "Palestinian interests".
Hakham Balawi said:
:"...&nbsp;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 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041011130341/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/462724.html | archivedate=11 October 2004 | accessdate=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 ], 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=http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/mideast_dc |accessdate=19 February 2006 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/20050325180925/http://news.yahoo.com:80/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/mideast_dc |archivedate=25 March 2005 }}</ref>

On 31 August, the ], the armed wing of ], threaten to kill Minister ] 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 |accessdate=19 February 2006 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/20060103194922/http://english.aljazeera.net:80/NR/exeres/52FB3D32-2E49-4481-8809-2C2B2CE2D44F.htm |archivedate=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 | accessdate=19 February 2006 }} {{Dead link|date=January 2009}}</ref>

On 12 October, ], cousin of Yasser Arafat and a top security official in the Gaza Strip, survived a ] 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 | accessdate=19 February 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 governmentals 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 |accessdate=15 September 2015}}</ref>

On 19 October, a group of ] members, led by ], seized buildings belonging to the Palestinian Finance ministry and Palestinian parliament in ].<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| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041021024647/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/490691.html| archivedate=21 October 2004| accessdate=20 October 2004 }}</ref>

According to ], 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 ] victory, the Palestinian interior minister formed an Executive Force for the police. However, the PA president objected and after clashes between Hamas and Fatah, a redeployment of the force was made and efforts started in order to integrate it with the police force.

In 2011, ] 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 ] 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, ] 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 – Haaretz Daily Newspaper &#124; Israel News |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"></ref>

==Administrative divisions==
{{main|Governorates of the Palestinian National Authority}}
{{see also|Municipality (Palestinian Authority)|List of cities administered by the Palestinian National Authority}}

After the signing of the ], the ] and the ] were divided into areas (]) and ]:
:"Area A" refers to the area under PA security and civilian control.
:"Area B" refers to the area under ] civilian and Israeli security control.
:"Area C" refers to the area under full Israeli control such as settlements.

Since the ] most of the Gaza Strip has been in ] of the ], with the Palestinian Authority stating it is officially no longer in control of the Gaza Strip.<ref name="edition2007"/>
]

===West Bank governorates===
The PNA divides its territories into ]:
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]

===Gaza Strip governorates===
Since 2007, a ] rather than the PA has exercised control in the Gaza Strip.
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]

==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 ]. The PNA is represented abroad by the ] (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|accessdate=29 January 2011}}</ref> In states that recognise the State of Palestine it maintains ] and in other states it maintains "delegations" or "missions".<ref name=un>, 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 ] and ]. States that recognise the ] also accredit to the PLO (as the ] 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 |accessdate=5 January 2013}}</ref>

On 5 January 2013, ], Palestinian President Abbas ordered all Palestinian embassies to change any official reference to the Palestinian Authority into State of Palestine.<ref>: "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></ref>

The Palestinian Authority is included in the European Union's ] (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 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>Segal in Kapitan, 1997, .</ref> 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: " . 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 ] 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|format=PDF|url=http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/pdfid/402d150c4.pdf|title=Palestinian Territory, Occupied|date=20 May 2002|author=INS Resource Information Center|publisher=UNHCR|accessdate=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>See Japan to recognize Palestinian nationality, KUNA, 10/5/2007 ; Yomiuri, Government to recognize Palestinian ‘nationality’, Saturday, 6 October 2007; and Japan News Review, Government to recognize Palestinian ‘nationality’, 6 October 2007, </ref>

===Legal action against PNA===
In February 2015 in ] the Palestinian Authority and ] were found liable for the death and injuries of US citizens in a number of terrorist attacks in Israel from 2001 to 2004. The damages are to be $655.5 million.<ref></ref>

==Police forces==
{{main|Preventive Security Force}}
The creation of a Palestinian police force was called for under the Oslo Accords.<ref name=Eurp521/> The first ] of 9,000 was deployed in ] in 1994, and later in ].<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 ], 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," 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|accessdate=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/>

==Economy==
The ] was built by the PA in the city of ], but operated for only a brief period before being destroyed by Israel following the outbreak of ] in 2000. A sea port was also being constructed in Gaza but was never completed.

Some Palestinians are dependent on access to the Israeli job market. During the 1990s, some Israeli companies began to replace Palestinians with foreign workers. The process was found to be economical and also addressed security concerns. This hurt the Palestinian economy, in particular in the Gaza strip, where 45.7% of the population is under the poverty line according to the ], but it also affected the West Bank.

===Budget===
According to the ], the ] in PNA was about $800 million in 2005, with nearly half of it financed by donors. The World Bank stated, "The PA's fiscal situation has become increasingly unsustainable mainly as a result of uncontrolled government consumption, in particular a rapidly increasing public sector wage bill, expanding social transfer schemes and rising net lending."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/MENAEXT/WESTBANKGAZAEXTN/0,,contentMDK:20805063~pagePK:141137~piPK:141127~theSitePK:294365,00.html |title=West Bank & Gaza – The Palestinian Economy and the PA’s Fiscal Situation- Current Status as of February 1, 2006 |publisher=World Bank |date=1 February 2006 |accessdate=2012-11-26}}</ref>

In June 2011, Prime Minister ] stated that the Palestinian Authority is facing a financial crisis because funds pledged by donor nations have not arrived on time. Fayyad said that "In 2011, we have been receiving $52.5 million dollars a month from the ] countries, which is much less than the amount they committed to deliver." <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=392837 |title=Fayyad: Promised donor aid not arriving |agency=Ma'an News Agency |date=11 May 2011 |accessdate=26 November 2012}}</ref>

In June 2012, the Palestinian Authority was unable to pay its workers' salaries as a result of their financial issues, including a cutback in aid from foreign donors, and Arab countries not fulfilling their pledges to send money to the Palestinian Authority, in which the Palestinian Authority is heavily dependent. Finance Minister Nabil Kassis called the crisis "the worst" in three years.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/03/palestinian-authority-salaries_n_1646032.html | work=Huffington Post | title=Palestinian Authority Can't Pay Salaries | date=3 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/citing-crisis-palestinians-pay-salaries-16702998 |title=International News |publisher=ABC News |date=21 November 2012 |accessdate=26 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2012/07/03/citing-crisis-palestinians-cant-pay-salaries |title=Citing crisis, Palestinians can't pay salaries – US News and World Report |publisher=Usnews.com |date=3 July 2012 |accessdate=26 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canada.com/business/Palestinian+Authority+delays+June+government+salaries+worst+money/6875910/story.html |title=Article |publisher=canada.com |accessdate=26 November 2012}}</ref> Adding to the complications are the fact that in the same month, the head of the ], ], stated that the Palestinian Authority reached the maximum limit of borrowing from Palestinian banks.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=494054 |title=Monetary chief: PA bank borrowing reaches limit |agency=Ma'an News Agency |accessdate=26 November 2012}}</ref>

In July 2012, Prime Minister Salam Fayyad urged Arab countries to send the money they promised, which amounts to tens of millions of dollars, as they have not made good on their pledges, while ] donors have.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.yahoo.com/palestinian-pm-urges-arabs-send-promised-cash-100713941.html | work=] | title=Palestinian PM urges Arabs to send promised cash | location=]}}</ref> The Palestinian labor minister ] also warned of the consequences of a shortfall in the delivery of aid from Arab donor nations.<ref>{{cite web|author=<!--> <!--> |url=http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/07/01/223836.html |title=Palestinian authority faces ‘worst funds crisis since founding’: Labor minister |publisher=Al Arabiya |date=1 July 2012 |accessdate=26 November 2012}}</ref>

In order to help the Palestinian Authority solve its crisis, Israel sought $1 billion in loans from the ], intending to transfer this loan to the Palestinian Authority who would pay them back when possible. The IMF rejected the proposal because it feared setting a ] of making IMF money available to non-state entities, like the Palestinian Authority, which as a non-state cannot directly request or receive IMF funding.<ref>{{cite web|author=<!--> <!--> |url=http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/07/02/223967.html |title=Israel sought $1 bln IMF loan for Palestinians: report |publisher=Al Arabiya |date=2 July 2012 |accessdate=26 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gEjiMcwlEdyaJBUcYQV58bqnwIZg?docId=CNG.5a68850480a01fb7349833bd9c847954.51 |title=AFP: Israel sought $1 billion IMF loan for Palestinians |publisher=Google |date=2 July 2012 |accessdate=26 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/07/02/palestinians-israel-imf-idINL6E8I24JH20120702 | agency=Reuters | title=Israel sought bln IMF loan for Palestinians | date=2 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/israel-sought-1-billion-imf-loan-for-palestinians.aspx?pageID=238&nID=24537&NewsCatID=359 |title=INTERNATIONAL – Israel sought $1 billion IMF loan for Palestinians |work=Hürriyet Daily News |accessdate=26 November 2012}}</ref>

In mid-July 2012, it was announced that ] would imminently send $100 million to the Palestinian Authority to help relieve them of their financial crisis. Still, the Palestinian Authority is seeking the support of other countries to send more money to help fix a budget deficit that is approximately $1.5 billion for 2012, and it is estimated that they need approximately $500 million more. ], a Palestinian Authority spokesman, said, "This $100 million is important and significant because it's coming from a leading Arab state, and this hopefully can be an example for other countries to follow... We will remain in need of external funding. Whenever it is affected, then we will be in crisis."<ref name="ReutersSaudi">{{cite news | url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/07/15/uk-palestinians-saudiarabia-aid-idUKBRE86E0BF20120715 | title=Saudis to give $100 million to cash-strapped Palestinians | date=15 July 2012 | agency=Reuters | accessdate=15 July 2012 | author=Browning, Noah}}</ref><ref name="JPostSaudiArabia">{{cite news | url=http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=277545 | title=S. Arabia to transfer $100m. to PA to avert crisis | work=The Jerusalem Post | date=15 July 2012 | accessdate=15 July 2012 | author=Toameh, Khaled Abu}}</ref>

By 15 July 2012, Palestinian Authority workers received only 60% of their salaries for June, which caused discontent against the government.<ref name="JPostSaudiArabia" />

In a "goodwill gesture" to the Palestinian Authority to renew dialogue with Israel, Israeli Prime Minister ] and Finance Minister ] decided to give Ramallah an NIS 180 million advance on tax money it transfers on a monthly basis. The Israeli government’s economic cabinet also decided to increase the number of Palestinian construction workers allowed in Israel by approximately 5,000. One Israeli official said that the money helped the Palestinian Authority pay its salaries before ], and it was part of Israel’s policy of helping to "preserve the Palestinian economy."<ref name="180 NIS to P.A.">{{cite web | url=http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=278536 | title=Israel advances PA NIS 180m. to ease financial crisis | work=The Jerusalem Post | date=23 July 2012 | accessdate=23 July 2012 | author=Keinon, Herb}}</ref>

The ] issued a report in July 2012 that the Palestinian economy cannot sustain statehood as long as it continues to heavily rely on foreign donations and the private sector fails to thrive. The report said that the Palestinian Authority is unlikely to reach fiscal sustainability until a peace deal is achieved that allows the private sector to experience rapid and sustained growth. The World Bank report also blamed the financial issues on the absence of a final status agreement that would allow for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Arab conflict.<ref name="World Bank financial issues">{{cite web | url=http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=278897 | title=Palestinian economy cannot support state | work=The Jerusalem Post | date=25 July 2012 | accessdate=25 July 2012 | author=Lazaroff, Tovah}}</ref>

As of May 2011 the Palestinian Authority spent $4.5 million per month paying Palestinian prisoners. The payments include monthly amounts such as NIS 12,000 ($3,000) to prisoners who have been imprisoned for over 30 years. The salaries, funded by the PA, are given to ], ], and ] prisoners, despite financial hardships by the Palestinian Authority. These payments make up 6% of the PA's budget.<ref name="Budget">{{cite web | url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/cash-strapped-pa-spends-4-5-million-per-month-compensating-security-detainees/ | title=PA spends 6% of its budget paying Palestinians in Israeli jails, families of suicide bombers | work=The Times of Israel | date=3 September 2012 | accessdate=4 September 2012 | author=Ben Zion, Ilan}}</ref>

{{As of|2015|January}}, the PA has a debt of 1.8 bln NIS to the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4620683,00.html |title=Electricity company cuts supply to the PA over NIS 1.8 billion debt |date=29 January 2015 |publisher=Yedioth Internet |accessdate=29 January 2015}}</ref>

===Corruption===
A poll conducted by the ] revealed that 71% of Palestinians believe there is corruption in the Palestinian Authority institutions in the ], and 57% say there is corruption in the institutions of the dismissed Palestinian government in the ]. 34% say that there is no freedom of the press in the West Bank, 21% say that there is press freedom in the West Bank, and 41% say there is to a certain extent. 29% of Palestinians say people in the West Bank can criticize the government in the West Bank without fear.<ref name=PSR>{{cite web|title=Palestinian Public Opinion Poll No. 44|url=http://www.pcpsr.org/survey/polls/2012/p44efull.html#domestic|accessdate=13 July 2012}}</ref><ref name=Ynet>{{cite news|last=Savir|first=Aryeh|title=Arab poll: Palestinian Authority is corrupt|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4244044,00.html|accessdate=13 July 2012|newspaper=Yedioth Ahronot|date=18 June 2012}}</ref><ref name=Congress>{{cite web|title=Testimony of Jim Zanotti, Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs, Congressional Research Service|url=http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/112/HHRG-112-FA13-WState-ZanottiJ-20120710.pdf|work=Chronic Kleptocracy – Corruption within the Palestinian Political Establishment|accessdate=13 July 2012}}</ref>

At a hearing of the ] in the ] on 10 July 2012, titled "Chronic ]: Corruption within the Palestinian Political Establishment," it was stated that there is serious corruption within the political establishment and in financial transactions.<ref name=Congress1>{{cite web|title=Chronic Kleptocracy: Corruption within the Palestinian Political Establishment|url=http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearings/view/?1454|work=Chronic Kleptocracy: Corruption within the Palestinian Political Establishment|accessdate=13 July 2012}}</ref> The experts, analysts, and specialists testified on corruption within financial transactions concerning ], his sons Yasser and Tareq, and the Palestine Investment Fund, among others, as well as on the limiting of freedom of the press, crushing political opposition, and cracking down on protestors. According to Representative ], who testified at the hearing, "Reports suggest that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, like his predecessor Yassir Arafat, has used his position of power to line his own pockets as well as those of his cohort of ], including his sons, Yasser and Tareq. The Palestinian Investment Fund, for example, was intended to serve the interests of the Palestinian population and was supposed to be transparent, accountable, and independent of the Palestinian political leadership. Instead it is surrounded by allegations of ] and ]." Concerning Abbas' children, Chabot stated that "Even more disturbingly, Yasser and Tareq Abbas—who have amassed a great deal of wealth and economic power—have enriched themselves with U.S. taxpayer money. They have allegedly received hundreds of thousands of dollars in ] contracts."<ref name=Congress2>{{cite web|last=Schanzer|first=Jonathan|title=Chronic Kleptocracy: Corruption Within The Palestinian Political Establishment|url=http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/112/HHRG-112-FA13-WState-SchanzerJ-20120710.pdf|work=Chronic Kleptocracy: Corruption within the Palestinian Political Establishment|publisher=House Committee on Foreign Affairs|accessdate=13 July 2012}}</ref><ref name=Congress3>{{cite web|last=Chabot|first=Steve|title=Chronic Kleptocracy: Corruption within the Palestinian Political Establishment|url=http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/112/HHRG-112-FA13-MState-C000266-20120710.pdf|work=Chronic Kleptocracy: Corruption within the Palestinian Political Establishment|accessdate=13 July 2012}}</ref>

In April 2013, the Palestinian organization Coalition for Transparency in Palestine said it was investigating 29 claims of stolen public funds. In addition, they said that that PA "has problems with money laundering, nepotism and misusing official positions." Twelve earlier claims were investigated and sent to the courts for resolution. In response, Palestinian Authority Justice Minister Ali Muhanna said that they have "made large strides in reducing corruption."<ref></ref>

==International aid==
{{see also|International aid to Palestinians|United States security assistance to the Palestinian National Authority|taxation in the Palestinian territories}}

The majority of aid to the Palestinian Authority comes from the United States and ]. According to figures released by the PA, only 22 percent of the $530,000,000 received since the beginning of 2010 came from Arab donors. The remaining came from Western donors and organizations. The total amount of foreign aid received directly by the PA was $1.4 billion in 2009 and $1.8 billion in 2008.<ref name="Ref_ak">{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-12-08/palestinians-lure-banks-with-first-sukuk-bills-islamic-finance.html |title=Palestinians Lure Banks With First Sukuk Bills: Islamic Finance |work=Bloomberg BusinessWeek |date=8 December 2010 }}</ref>

Palestinian leaders stated the Arab world was "continuing to ignore" repeated requests for help.<ref name="Ref_al">{{cite web|last=Abu |first=Khaled |url=http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=187993 |title=Abbas’s plea to Arab states: Show me the money! |publisher=Jpost.com |date=14 September 2010 |accessdate=5 January 2013}}</ref>

The US and the EU responded to Hamas' political victory by stopping direct aid to the PA, while the US imposed a financial blockade on PA's banks, impeding some of the ]'s funds (e.g. Saudi Arabia and Qatar) from being transferred to the PA.<ref name="LemondeA">{{Citation | title=http://www.lemonde.fr/proche-orient/article/2006/05/09/le-quartet-cherche-une-solution-a-la-banqueroute-palestinienne_769645_3218.html| date=9 May 2006 | accessdate=9 May 2006 |work=Le Monde | url=http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-3218,36-769645,0.html|language=fr}}</ref> On 6 and 7 May 2006, hundreds of Palestinians demonstrated in Gaza and the West Bank demanding payment of their wages.

In 2013 there are 150,000 government employees. Income to run the government to serve about 4 million citizens, comes from donations from other countries.<ref>{{Cite news | first= | last= | title=Palestine leader warns of cash crisis | url=http://news.yahoo.com/ap-interview-palestinian-pm-warns-cash-crisis-192032134.html| work= | newspaper=Florida Today | location=Melbourne, Florida | pages= 4A | date=7 January 2013 | id= | accessdate=}}</ref><!---the soft copy article is more extensive than the hard copy one, but this summary is taken from the hard copy--->

===Foreign aid and budget deficit===
After the Oslo Accords and the establishment of the Palestinian National Authority (PA) in 1994, economic growth declined in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and has not recuperated since then. Under previous Israeli control, economic growth was steady and rising among Palestinians. The alleged Israeli "occupation" could not be held responsible for that.<ref name="algemeiner-PA">"Before the PA was established – in other words, when the areas now controlled by the PA were under Israeli control&nbsp;– economic growth was steady and rising among Palestinians. But economic performance tapered off immediately after the PA assumed control in 1994, following the Oslo Accords..."{{cite web|last=Klein|first=Morton A., Michael Goldblatt, Daniel Mandel|title=Romney Is Right: Israel’s Economic Success is Due to Culture|url=http://www.algemeiner.com/2012/08/01/romney-is-right-israels-economic-success-due-to-culture/|publisher=Algemeiner.com|accessdate=2 August 2012}}</ref>

===Economic sanctions following January 2006 legislative elections===
{{main|Economic sanctions against the Palestinian Authority}}
Following the ], won by ], the ] (the United States, Russia, the European Union, and the United Nations) threatened to cut funds to the Palestinian Authority. On 2 February 2006, according to the ], the PA accused Israel of "practicing collective punishment after it snubbed US calls to unblock funds owed to the Palestinians." Prime minister ] "said he was hopeful of finding alternative funding to meet the budget shortfall of around 50 million dollars, needed to pay the wages of public sector workers, and which should have been handed over by Israel on the first of the month." The US Department criticized Israel for refusing to quickly unblock the funds. The funds were later unblocked.<ref name="Ref_2006c">{{cite news | title=Palestinian fury at Israeli refusal to unblock funds | agency=Agence France-Presse |date=3 February 2006 | url=http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/business/2006/February/business_February58.xml&section=business&col=}}</ref> However, the ''New York Times'' alleged on 14 February 2006 that a "destabilization plan" of the United States and Israel, aimed against ], winner of the January 2006 legislative elections, centered "largely on money" and cutting all funds to the PA once Hamas takes power, in order to delegitimize it in the eyes of the Palestinians. According to the news article, "The Palestinian Authority has a monthly cash deficit of some $60 million to $70 million after it receives between $50 million and $55 million a month from Israel in taxes and customs duties collected by Israeli officials at the borders but owed to the Palestinians." Beginning March 2006, "the Palestinian Authority will face a cash deficit of at least $110 million a month, or more than $1 billion a year, which it needs to pay full salaries to its 140,000 employees, who are the breadwinners for at least one-third of the Palestinian population. The employment figure includes some 58,000 members of the security forces, most of which are affiliated with the defeated ] movement." Since 25 January elections, "the Palestinian stock market has already fallen about 20 percent", while the "Authority has exhausted its borrowing capacity with local banks."<ref name="Erlanger2006">{{Citation | title=U.S. and Israelis Are Said to Talk of Hamas Ouster |work=The New York Times |date=14 February 2006 | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/14/international/middleeast/14mideast.html?ei=5094&en=d28cff5caa1702fa&hp=&ex=1139979600&partner=homepage&pagewanted=print | first=Steven | last=Erlanger | accessdate=21 May 2010}}</ref>

===Use of European Union assistance===
In February 2004, it was reported that the ] (EU) anti-fraud office (]) was studying documents suggesting that ] and the Palestinian Authority had diverted tens of millions of dollars in EU funds to organizations involved in terrorist attacks, such as the ]. However, in August 2004, a provisional assessment stated that "To date, there is no evidence that funds from the non-targeted EU Direct Budget Assistance to the Palestinian Authority have been used to finance illegal activities, including terrorism."<ref name="Olaf2004">{{cite press release | publisher = OLAF |date=10 August 2004 | title = OLAF Investigation Into EU Budget Assistance for the Palestinian Authority | url = http://europa.eu.int/comm/anti_fraud/press_room/pr/2004/15_en.html}}</ref>

===US foreign aid packages===
] announced a foreign assistance package to the Palestinian Authority that included provisions that would bar the government from receiving aid if it seeks statehood at the UN or includes Hamas in a unity government. The bill would provide $513 million for the Palestinian Authority.<ref>{{cite web|last=Leila |first=Hilary |url=http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=231160 |title=US foreign aid package may put conditions on PA funding |work=The Jerusalem Post |date=27 July 2011 }}</ref>

===Payments to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons===
On 22 July 2004, Salam Fayyad, PA Minister of Finance, in an article in the Palestinian weekly, ''The Jerusalem Times'', detailed the following payments to Palestinians imprisoned by the Israeli authorities:<ref name="Ref_av">{{Citation | title=A settlement for the prisoners | work=Jerusalem-Times.net | url=http://www.jerusalem-times.net/article/news/details/detail.asp?id=449&edition=539 | accessdate=19 February 2006 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20060114065416/http://www.jerusalem-times.net/article/news/details/detail.asp?id=449&edition=539 |archivedate = 14 January 2006}} Subscription only.</ref>

# Prisoner allowances increased between June 2002 and June 2004 to $9.6M USD monthly, an increase of 246 percent compared with January 1995&nbsp;– June 2002.
# Between June 2002 and June 2004, 77M NIS were delivered to Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, compared to 121M NIS between January 1995 and June 2002, which is an increase of 16M NIS yearly. The increase of annual spending between the two periods registers 450 percent, which is much higher than the percentage increase of the number of prisoners.
# Between 2002 and 2004, the PA paid 22M NIS to cover other expenses&nbsp;– lawyers’ fees, fines, and allocations for released prisoners. This includes lawyers’ fees paid directly by the PA and fees paid through the Prisoners Club.
In February 2011, The Jerusalem Post revealed that the PA was paying monthly salaries to members of Hamas who are in Israeli prisons.<ref> '']''. 9 February 2011.</ref>

In March 2009, an extra 800 shekels ($190) was added to the stipends given to Palestinians affiliated with PLO factions in Israeli prisons, as confirmed by the head of Palestinian Prisoner Society in Nablus Ra'ed Amer. Each PLO-affiliated prisoner receives 1,000 shekels ($238) per month, an extra 300 shekels ($71) if they are married, and an extra 50 shekels ($12) for each child.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=208966 |title=Extra 800 shekels added to PLO prisoner payments following Abbas' order &#124; Maan News Agency |agency=Ma'an News Agency |accessdate=26 November 2012}}</ref>

===James G. Lindsay===
] a former ] general-counsel and fellow researcher for ] published a report regarding the use of international aid in the Palestinian Authority. Lindsay argued that internationally funded construction projects in ] should try to minimize foreign labor and maximize the participation of Palestinian workers and management to ensure economic expansion through salaries, job training, and improved infrastructure. Lindsay stated that some financial control should stay in international hands to avoid "nepotism or corruption".<ref name="Ref_">James G. Lindsay ''Washington Institute for Near East Policy'', 19 November 2007</ref>

Lindsay has also argued that in any peace settlement acceptable to Israel "there will be few, if any, Palestinian refugees returning to Israel proper".<ref name="Ref_" />
Lindsay suggested that internationally funded construction projects should try to benefit West Bank refugees who are willing to give up their longstanding demand for a "]". Lindsay also claimed that projects that will improve the living conditions of West Bank refugees could also be seen as part of the reparations or damages to be paid to refugees in any likely Israeli-Palestinian agreement. Lindsay criticized the Palestinian Authority treatment of these refugees:
<blockquote>PA projects are not likely to address refugee needs, however, since the PA has traditionally deferred to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) regarding infrastructure in refugee camps.<ref name="Ref_" /></blockquote>

==See also==
{{Portal|Palestine}}
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==Notes and references==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
*{{Citation|title=Palestinian politics after the Oslo accords: resuming Arab Palestine|first1=Nathan J.|last1=Brown|publisher=University of California Press|year=2003|isbn=9780520241152|url=http://books.google.com/?id=YkstKjWgdqkC&pg=PA49&dq=%22sole+legitimate+representative%22+PLO+PNA&q=%22sole%20legitimate%20representative%22%20PLO%20PNA|ref=harv}}
*{{Citation|title=The Middle East and North Africa 2003|last=Eur|edition=49th, illustrated|publisher=Routledge|year=2003|isbn=9781857431322|url=http://books.google.com/?id=4CfBKvsiWeQC&pg=PA521&dq=%22palestinian+national+authority%22+proxy+police+Israel#v=onepage&q=%22palestinian%20national%20authority%22%20proxy%20police%20Israel|ref=harv}}
* Forbes, Andrew, and Henley, David, ''People of Palestine'' (Chiang Mai: Cognoscenti Books, 2012), ASIN: B0094TU8VY
*{{Citation|title=After the peace: resistance and reconciliation|first1=Robert L.|last=Rothstein|edition=Illustrated|publisher=Lynne Rienner Publishers|year=1999|isbn=9781555878283|url=http://books.google.com/?id=gwKqGbuZu5kC&pg=PA63&dq=palestinian+diaspora+elections+PNA#v=onepage&q=palestinian%20diaspora%20elections%20PNA|ref=harv}}
*{{Citation|title=The Oslo Accords: international law and the Israeli-Palestinian peace agreements|first1=Geoffrey R.|last1=Watson|edition=Illustrated|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2000|isbn=9780198298915|ref=harv}}
{{refend}}

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