The signing of the Oslo II accords (also known as the 1995 Interim agreements and sometimes called the Taba Agreement) between Israeli Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat, took place on September 28, 1995. The Palestinian National Authority, which was renamed to the State of Palestine in 2013, took control of civil affairs in the West Bank Palestinian enclaves, designated Areas A and B, where most Palestinian population centers are located (and excluding those within the municipal borders of East Jerusalem). Israel Defense Forces are responsible for security in Area B in the West Bank and have full control over localities in Area C.
The Local Government Ministry of the Palestinian National Authority is responsible for granting a town with city or municipality status. However, there is no specific guidelines for a particular locality to achieve the status of Palestinian city. It is mostly judged on the population reaching above 20,000. The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) took its latest official census in 2007.2007 Census Final Results-Summary . Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.
The largest city in the Gaza Strip and all of Palestine was Gaza City prior to the Gaza war, and the largest cities in the West Bank are East Jerusalem and Hebron. Some cities form agglomerations with other towns or cities, such as the Bethlehem metropolitan area with Beit Jala and Beit Sahour. Ramallah and al-Bireh also form an agglomeration and are often considered a single city.
Cities
Note: Salfit is the capital of the Salfit Governorate but due to its low population, it does not have city status
+ Name Governorate JurisdictionPopulation (2007 census) Population (2015 estimate)Abasan al-Kabira عبسان الكبيرةKhan Yunis, Gaza StripArea A18,41323,198Abu Dis أبو ديسJerusalem, West BankArea B10,78212,385Bani Na'im بني نعيمHebron, West BankArea A, Area B20,08425,698Bani Suheila بني سهيلاKhan Yunis, Gaza StripArea A31,70339,941Beit Hanoun بيت حانونNorth Gaza, Gaza StripArea A38,04751,073Beit Jala بيت جالاBethlehem, West BankArea A, Area C11,75814,419Beit Lahia بيت لاهياNorth Gaza, Gaza StripArea A64,45786,526Beit Sahour بيت ساحورBethlehem, West BankArea A15,36718,165Beit Ummar بيت اُمّرHebron, West BankArea B13,54817,335Beitunia بيتونياRamallah and al-Bireh, West BankArea A39,76134,592Bethlehem بيت لحمBethlehem, West BankArea A35,26640,983al-Bireh البيرةRamallah and al-Bireh, West BankArea A58,20267,540Deir al-Balah دير البلحDeir al-Balah, Gaza StripArea A54,43970,045ad-Dhahiriya الظاهريةHebron, West BankArea A28,77636,820Dura دوراHebron, West BankArea A28,26836,170Gaza City غزةGaza, Gaza StripArea A649,221766,331Halhul حلحولHebron, West BankArea A22,12828,313Hebron الخليلHebron, West BankArea A, Area B, Area C263,146308,750Idhna إذناHebron, West BankArea B19,01224,326Jabalia جبالياNorth Gaza, Gaza StripArea A122,998165,110Jenin جنينJenin, West BankArea A99,004115,305Jericho أريحاJericho, West BankArea A18,34622,609Jerusalem القُدسJerusalem, West BankArea C747,600857,800Khan Yunis خان يونسKhan Yunis, Gaza StripArea A142,637179,701Nablus نابلسNablus, West BankArea A216,132239,772Qabatiya قباطيةJenin, West BankArea A36,19740,282Qalqilya قلقيليةQalqilya, West BankArea A41,73950,700Rafah رفحRafah, Gaza StripArea A121,774158,414Ramallah رام اللهRamallah and al-Bireh, West BankArea A97,460104,173Sa'ir سعيرHebron, West BankArea B18,04523,089as-Samu السموعHebron, West BankArea A19,64925,141Surif صوريفHebron, West BankArea B, Area C13,64817,535Tubas طوباسJenin, West BankArea A26,15430,801Tulkarm طولكرمTulkarm, West BankArea A61,30079,114Ya'bad يعبدJenin, West BankArea A23,64026,543al-Yamun اليامونJenin, West BankArea A26,38330,870Yatta يطّاHebron, West BankArea A48,67262,277az-Zawayda الزوايدةDeir al-Balah, Gaza StripArea A16,939 N/A
See also Arab localities in Israel List of cities in the Gaza Strip List of cities in Israel List of Israeli settlements with city status in the West Bank List of towns and villages depopulated during the 1947–1949 Palestine war List of twin towns and sister cities in Palestine List of villages depopulated during the Arab–Israeli conflict Municipality (Palestinian Authority) Palestinian refugee camps Village council (Palestinian Authority)
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References