Palestinian National Authority

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The Palestinian National Authority (PNA or PA; Arabic: السلطة الوطنية الفلسطينية As-Sulta Al-Wataniyya Al-Filastiniyya Hebrew: הרשות הפלסטינית Harashut Hafalastinit) is an interim administrative organization that nominally governs parts of the West Bank and all of the Gaza Strip (which it calls "the Palestinian Territories"). It was established in 1994, pursuant to the Oslo accords between the PLO and Israel, as a 5-year transitional body during which final status negotiations between the two parties were to take place. According to the Accords, the Palestinian Authority was designated to have control over both security-related and civilian issues in Palestinian urban areas (referred to as "Area A"), and only civilian control over Palestinian rural areas ("Area B"). The remainder of the territories (including Israeli settlements, the Jordan Valley region, and bypass roads between Palestinian communities) were to remain under exclusive Israeli control ("Area C").

Related Topics:
Arabic - Hebrew - West Bank - Gaza Strip - Palestinian Territories - Oslo accords - PLO - Israel

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The Palestinian Authority enjoys some international recognition as the organization representing the Palestinian people (albeit a limited one). Under the name "Palestine", it has an observer status in the United Nations, and receives considerable financial assistance from the European Union, as well as some from the United States and few other donor countries. The Gaza International Airport was built by the PA in the southern Gaza Strip, but operated for only a brief period before being razed by Israel following the outbreak of Al-Aqsa Intifada in 2000. A sea port was also being constructed in Gaza but was never completed (see below).

Related Topics:
United Nations - European Union - United States - Gaza International Airport - Gaza Strip - Al-Aqsa Intifada - 2000

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The PA maintains an official uniformed armed service which various sources estimate to include anywhere from 40,000 to 80,000 recruits (1) employing some armored cars, and a limited number carry automatic weapons http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Peace/iaannex1.html. Officially termed a "police force", it is accused by some of violating the Oslo Accords which limit the force to 30,000 recruits.

Related Topics:
1 - Oslo Accords

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Many Palestinians are dependent on access to the Israeli job market. During the 1990s, Israel however began to replace Palestinians with foreign guest workers. They were found to be economical and also were useful as a means limiting dependence on Palestinians as a source of cheap labor due to security concerns. This hurt the Palestinian economy, reducing the popularity of the PA.

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