Judea and Samaria

The Civil Administration's Economy Department is entrusted with coordinating the economic activity of the Palestinian Authority with the State of Israel. Within this framework, the department works to develop economic projects, aimed at improving the welfare and quality of life of the residents of Judea and Samaria.

The Economy Department operates through several channels, including dialogue with representatives of the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian businesspeople and merchants, in order to formulate a deep understanding of the region's economy, identify specific needs, and respond accordingly. The department actively provides guidance and assistance for economic ventures such as the construction of factories and companies, among other projects.

The department also handles the bureaucratic procedures necessary to ensure reciprocal economic relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. As such, the department handles foreign trade procedures, including the registration of companies, the distribution of import licenses, and the release of goods through importers and customs agents.

In addition, the Civil Administration examines measures intended to aid and stimulate the economy, such as lowering the age requirement for employment in Israel, coordinating internships for young professionals in the hi-tech field, increasing the number permits provided for merchants, and coordinating the transfer of merchandise.

In recent years, the Economy Department, in collaboration with the staff officers of the Civil Administration and government ministries, worked to extend employment cycles and reduce the high unemployment rates in the Palestinian Authority.

In 2019, the Israeli government increased the quota for employment of Palestinian workers in Israel. Additionally, tens of thousands of Palestinian employees work in Israeli settlement areas and industrial zones. This activity provides a significant boost to the Palestinian economy, given that Palestinian workers' salaries in Israel and the settlements are significantly higher than those in the Palestinian Authority. 

Areas of Responsibility and Services

• Creation of status reports on the Palestinian economy, processing of economic information, analysis of economic barriers, and development of recommendations for action steps to remove such barriers
• Arrangement of meetings with Palestinian Authority officials and businesspeople to promote projects
• Concentration of committee and forum activity, including that of the Committee for the Approval of Economic Enterprises, The Enterprise Forum, Employment Exceptions Committee, etc.
• Promotion of economic projects while strengthening Israeli, Palestinian, and international coordination and cooperation
• Improvement of regularity and continuity of imports/exports in Judea and Samaria, and enhancement of access roads to Judea and Samaria with involvement and influence on the crossings' activity