Israeli aid to the Palestinians - COGAT update February 2016
Israeli Missions Around The World MFA Foreign Policy Peace Humanitarian Israeli aid to the Palestinians - COGAT update February 2016

Israeli aid to the Palestinians - COGAT update February 2016

  •   A  year of civil steps
  • 2/29/2016
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    There were over 190,000 entrances from the West Bank into Israel for Palestinians receiving medical treatment in Israel and their companions in 2015. There was a 108% increase in the number of trucks entering Gaza.
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    190,000 entrances from the West Bank for Palestinians receiving medical treatment in Israel 190,000 entrances from the West Bank for Palestinians receiving medical treatment in Israel Copyright: COGAT
     
     
    The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Unit (COGAT) is responsible for implementing the government's civilian policy in Judea and Samaria and the Gaza Strip. COGAT is subordinated to the Minister of Defense and is part of the General Staff. It operates in coordination and conjunction with the Prime Minister's Office, other government ministries, the security forces and the IDF General Staff.

    On February 3, 2016, Brig. Gen. Munir Amar replaced Brig. Gen. David Menachem as head of COGAT's Civil Administration in the West Bank.

    Brigadier-General Munir Amar was tragically killed on March 25, 2016, when his light plane crashed into a mountain in the Upper Galilee.

    Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon: "Munir Amar was a symbol of the alliance of life with the Druze community and an example to the youth of the community who enlist in the IDF. Munir's death is first and foremost a tremendous loss for his family, his friends and the Druze community. It also a great loss for the IDF and for the State of Israel."Brigadier-General Munir Amar
    Brigadier-General Munir Amar
    Copyright: IDF Spokesperson


    During the past two and a half years, Brig. Gen. Menachem led constant efforts to improve and develop the economy and infrastructure of Judea and Samaria, assist the local population, and maintain Israel's security. Examples include introducing initiatives to develop the agriculture, hi-tech and export sectors, to increase the number of Palestinian workers in Israel, to facilitate the entrance of Palestinian men over 55 and women over 50 from the West Bank into Israel, and generally increasing cooperation between Israel and the Palestinians.

    Members of the Druze community make up about one third of COGAT's officers both in the Gaza Coordination and Liaison Administration as well as in its Civil Administration in the West Bank. They make an invaluable contribution to the unit, serving as a bridge to the Arabic speaking populations.

     

  • The West Bank (Judea and Samaria)

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    In 2015 COGAT's Civil Administration coordinated more than 15,700,000 crossings of Palestinians from Judea and Samaria into Israel. Most of the crossings were by Palestinians with permits to work in Israel. The higher average salaries they earn in Israel greatly contribute to the Palestinian economy.

    There were over 190,000 entrances from the West Bank into Israel for Palestinians receiving medical treatment in Israel and their companions in 2015.

    There were also 1,700 crossings of Palestinians to participate in professional health care workshops, exhibitions, and seminars in Israel and abroad in 2015. COGAT coordinated 10 professional health care workshops in Israel for Palestinian medical teams, as well as over 190,000 entrances of patients and their companions into Israel over the last year.

    Working closely with international organizations, including the UN and USAID, COGAT's Civil Administration facilitates innovative projects to assist the Palestinian civilian population through cooperative efforts between the Israeli, Palestinian, and international sectors. Fourteen large-scale projects - from infrastructural advancements to agricultural-related construction developments - were completed in the West Bank in 2015.

    The Civil Administration's health coordinator, Ms. Dalia Bassa, facilitated the emergency medical treatment of a three-year-old Palestinian boy with burns covering 100% of his body. Injured by boiling jam, he continues to receive care at Jerusalem's Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital. She also organized a trip to Mt. Hermon for 18 Palestinian children with complicated medical conditions, including cancer and genetic diseases, who are receiving treatment in Jerusalem's Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital. The kids and their parents spent the day dog sledding, tobogganing, and enjoying light-hearted fun. Throughout the year, the team focuses on coordinating medical treatment. Around 3,000 Palestinian cancer patients from the West Bank received treatment in Israel during 2015.

  • The Gaza Strip

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    There are currently 332 large-scale projects are under construction across Gaza, The Gaza Coordination and Liaison Administration (CLA) works closely with various international organizations, governments, and NGOs to facilitate projects across the Gaza Strip to benefit the civilian population.
    With an additional 69 projects already completed, these developments directly impact over a million local Palestinians.

    In 2015 there was a 108% increase in the number of trucks entering Gaza and an increase of over 120% in the amount of goods entering Gaza. In 2015, 139,364 trucks of goods entered Gaza carrying construction materials (over 3.7 tons), medical equipment, and other good for the benefit of Gaza's civilian population.

    The entrance of merchants from Gaza into Israel has grown by 325% in the last year. In addition over 11,500 tons of agricultural goods from Gaza were distributed in Israel, Judea and Samaria, and abroad in 2015.

    The number of diplomatic delegations to enter Gaza has increased by 23% in the last year. With the goal of promoting international projects and improving Gaza's economy, COGAT's Gaza Coordination and Liaison Administration facilitated the entry of 1,182 diplomatic delegations into Gaza in 2015.

    Last year, COGAT's Gaza Coordination and Liaison Administration coordinated the crossing of more than 250 students from Gaza in order to study abroad.