Below is a list of cities under the administration of the Palestinian National Authority. Following the 1995 Interim Agreements, the Palestinian National Authority assumed civil administration in both Areas A and B, where most Palestinian population centers are located (except those located within the municipal boundaries of East Jerusalem). The Israel Defense Forces are responsible for security in Area B.
Following the 2007 conflict between the two main Palestinian factions, Fatah andHamas, the Palestinian National Authority was divided, with Fatah controlling the Palestinian government in the West Bank and Hamas controlling the Gaza Strip. The Israeli occupation forces are responsible for security in Area B of the West Bank, and have full control over the localities in Area C.
Definition of a Palestinian city
Local regulations in the Palestinian Authority
The Palestinian Ministry of Local Government is responsible for granting the town the status of a city or municipality. However, there are no specific guidelines for a particular area to achieve Palestinian city status. City status is usually judged by populations of more than 20,000. The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics conducted its last official census in 2007.[1]
Some cities form clusters with other towns or cities. Bethlehem has expanded into the neighbouring cities of Beit Jala [ar] (Arabic: بيت جالا) and Beit Sahour [ar] (Arabic: بيت ساحور). Ramallah (Arabic: رام الله) and Al-Bireh (Arabic: البيرة) have also merged and are often thought of as a single city.
Mixed cities
Hebron is a city where 180,000 Palestinians live as neighbours of a few hundred other Israelis.
2 The Hamas Government in Gaza is not officially recognized by the United Nations, though is recognized as legitimate Palestinian entity by several states.