Israel's new challenges

Civilian control of West Bank seals Palestine's fate

In a little-noticed move, Israel’s latest hard-right coalition, which took office in December last year, has moved to transform its stranglehold on the West Bank. Following an amendment to its Basic Law, which passes for Israel’s constitution, a special new minister has taken civilian control of the West Bank, till now the exclusive preserve of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). The significance of this move is one of degree; for the 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank, this establishes a de facto Israeli civilian rule (in Gaza, at the opposite end of the country, which is partly under Palestinian