Law Implementing Agreement on Gaza and Jericho Areas

The purpose of the law, adopted by the Knesset on 26 December 1994, was to insure compliance with the undertaking of the PLO concerning the restrictions on the activity of the Palestinian Authority to the areas of Gaza and Jericho. This was done to insure that the Palestinian Authority does not engage in political, diplomatic, security or other activities within the area of Israel. Israel thus wanted to prevent the opening of any PLO mission within its borders, mainly in Jerusalem. Text of the law follows:

1. Purpose of the Law:

   The purpose of this law is to ensure compliance with the undertaking of the Palestine Liberation Organization (hereinafter "the PLO") concerning the restriction on the activity of the Palestinian Authority to the areas of Gaza and Jericho in accordance with the agreement and to prevent activity of a political or governmental nature or other similar activity within the area of the State of Israel which does not accord with respect for the sovereignty of the State of Israel by the Palestinian Authority or the PLO, without the agreement of the State of Israel.

2. Definitions:

   "Meeting" - includes a march, assembly or congress;

   "The Agreement" - the Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area, signed at Cairo between the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization on 4 May 1994; "The Palestinian Authority" and "The Areas of Gaza and Jericho" - as defined in the emergency regulations (Judea and Samaria and the Gaza Strip - Jurisdiction over offenses and legal assistance), 1967; "Representative Missions" - includes any institution, office or branch.

3. Restriction on the Palestinian Authority
   1. The Palestinian Authority shall not open or operate a representative mission, and shall not hold a meeting, in the area of the State of Israel unless written permission for this has been given by the State of Israel or by someone authorized by it to do so;

   2. The Minister of Police may, by means of an order, prohibit the opening or operation of a representative mission of the Palestinian Authority, order its closure, or prevent the holding of a meeting, if permission has not been obtained in accordance with sub-paragraph (A).

   3. Orders referred to in sub-paragraph (B) shall be served, insofar as possible, on the owner of the premises, or the occupier, or the organizers, or whoever it seems to the Minister of Police is responsible for the activity which is the subject of the order; where it is not possible to serve the order as aforesaid, the Minister of Police shall give instructions for its publication in a manner which he shall establish; a notice concerning the giving of the order shall be published in the official gazette.

4. Restriction on the Activity of the PLO:
   1. The Government may, by means of an order, prohibit the opening or the operation of a representative mission of the PLO, order its closure, or prevent the holding of a meeting on behalf of the PLO or under its auspices, within the area of the State of Israel.

   2. The provisions of paragraph 3(C) above shall apply, with the necessary changes, to an order referred to in sub-paragraph (A) above.

5. Duration of Order:

   The duration of a closure order issued pursuant to paragraphs 3 or 4 shall not exceed 6 months and may be extended from time to time for an additional period which shall not exceed 6 months at any one time.

6. Ancillary Authorities:

   For the purpose of executing orders pursuant to paragraphs 3 or 4, the Israel Police shall have all the authorities given to it by any law, including the authority to enter into any place, to remove from there any person, to close the place, to disperse any meeting, and to take any action necessary to ensure the execution of the order and to use reasonable force for this purpose.

   For the purpose of this paragraph, "The Palestinian Authority" includes any person acting on its behalf or under its auspices or using its name.

7. Restriction on Licensing:

   Where an order has been issued pursuant to paragraph 3 or 4, prohibiting the opening of or operation of a representative mission, the license required for such activity shall not be granted under any law.

8. Validity and Entry into Force:
   1. This law shall enter into force on 1 January 1995.

   2. This law shall continue in force for the period of the continuance in force of the emergency regulations (Judea and Samaria and the Gaza Strip - Jurisdiction over offenses and legal assistance), 1967, as extended by the law implementing the Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area (Judicial powers and miscellaneous provisions) (Legislative amendments), 1994.

Passed by the Knesset, 26 December 1994.