Palestine National Authority

Interim governing body appointed in July 1994 to take over the management of Palestinian affairs from Israel in Palestinian-dominated parts of the newly-liberated Gaza Strip and Jericho, and, later, other areas of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. It comprises an elected Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) and an Executive Authority, which was headed by Yassir Arafat, chair of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), until his death in 2004; he was succeeded by Mahmoud Abbas. The PNA has jurisdiction over the whole of the formerly occupied areas, except Israeli settlers and nationals; Israel retains responsibility for external defence and foreign affairs. Thus, effectively, there is a dual administration.

In December 1994, Israel extended the PNA's remit to include administration of health and the collection of taxes. In 1996 there were elections to an 88-member PLC. Around three-quarters of the electorate of 1 million participated, and most seats were won by al-Fatah. However, Hamas boycotted the polls.

The PLC is integrated into the already existing Palestine National Council (PNC), which is the parliament of the Palestinian people. The PLC was expected to last only until May 1999, but delays in agreeing a final settlement meant that its term was extended. Yassir Arafat was elected president of the executive arm of the PNA. In May 1999, Arafat said that an independent Palestinian state would be declared before the end of the year. However, Arafat repeatedly delayed such a declaration throughout 1999 and 2000, largely for fear of disrupting the peace process.

The PNA has had to contend with militant violence by Palestinian fundamentalist groups within its area of jurisdiction, directed both at Israeli soldiers and at its own police force.

In November 1999, the PNA reacted angrily when a petition signed by 20 prominent West Bankers accused the authority of corruption, and levelled the responsibility at Arafat. The parliamentarians among them were immune from arrest, but other signatories were detained without charge. Outrage at Arafat's reaction increased when one of the signatories was shot.

In February 2001, the European Union announced a €60 million package of economic measures designed to prevent collapse of the Palestinian National Authority. The authority had come under severe pressure from the escalation of violence following the election of Ariel Sharon as Israeli prime minister. In August 2001, in retaliation for a suicide bombing in Jerusalem, Israel took over Orient House, the Palestinian Authority's headquarters in Jerusalem.