Do Israel’s actions in the West Bank constitute a military occupation?

Israel’s actions in the West Bank clearly meet the Fourth Geneva Convention’s definition of a military occupation. Since 1967, Israel has imposed Israeli military law on all non-Jews (including Palestinian Christians and Palestinian Muslims) living in the West Bank. Palestinians in the West Bank live under Israeli military law, and they must face the Israeli military justice and detention systems.

Israel has also taken on many other functions of government. Israel controls passports and travel permits. It controls building permits and it controls the import and export of commercial goods. Israel controls water reserves and basic services such as electricity, roads, and schools. In fact, Israel has issued over 2,500 individual regulations that limit and constrain basic rights and freedoms of Palestinians living in the West Bank. In overseeing so many functions of government in the West Bank, as well as stationing thousands of soldiers throughout that territory, Israel is clearly enforcing a military occupation.