Palestinian Authority

American  

[pal-uhs-tin-ee-uhn uh-thawr-i-tee, uh-thor-i-tee] / ˌpæl əsˈtɪn i ən əˌθɔr ɪ ti, əˌθɒr ɪ ti /

noun

1. a governing body, established in 1994, having partial administrative control over Palestinian areas of the West Bank and also claiming authority over the Gaza Strip.

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Palestinian Authority Cultural  

1. A legal entity, established in 1994, by which Palestinians govern the parts of the Gaza Strip and West Bank that are not attached to Israel. Although divided on several issues, the leadership of the Palestinian Authority is committed to the establishment of a Palestinian state, which, it expects, will grow out of the Palestinian Authority. (See Yasir Arafat, Oslo Accord.)

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Example Sentences

Candidates from the two lists that got the most votes were independents or associated with factions within Fatah, the political party that runs the Palestinian Authority, which organized the elections.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 26, 2026

The Fatah-dominated PLO runs the Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the West Bank not under Israeli control, and has formally claimed to be the legitimate government in Gaza despite exercising no effective control there.

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2026

It was staffed by Palestinian Authority border and custom agents, who inspected everyone’s suitcases while being supervised by monitors from the European Union Border Assistance Mission.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2026

The NCAG, headed by former Palestinian Authority deputy minister Ali Shaath, is expected to enter the Gaza Strip once the Rafah crossing reopens.

From Barron's • Feb. 1, 2026

Gaza Strip Economic output in the Gaza Strip - under the responsibility of the Palestinian Authority since the Cairo Agreement of May 1994 - declined by about one-third between 1992 and 1996.

From The 2004 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency