In the Palestinian Authority, registering vehicles and displaying license plates is mandatory. However, the system is not uniform throughout the region. There are two distinct vehicle registration systems, one for Judea and Samaria and another for the Gaza Strip. In this blog post, we will delve into the unique characteristics of each system and explore the changes they have undergone over the years.
License Plates in Judea and Samaria
In the districts of Judea and Samaria, license plates issued by the Palestinian Authority bear a white background with numbers and a green frame. The plates also feature the Arabic letter “ف” (Fa’) on the right side and the Latin letter “P” below it. These initials represent the word “Palestine” and the “Palestinian Authority,” respectively.
Initially, the registration system was meant to be consistent, but over time, coordination between the two regions weakened, leading to overlapping numbers between Judea and Samaria, and Israel. It was similar in the Gaza Strip as well, until in 2012, all the vehicles in the Strip were renumbered and many numbers identical to the numbers in Israel were added. However, there are no identical numbers between vehicles in Judea and Samaria and the Gaza Strip, this is because the authorities in the Gaza Strip planned the new numbering so that in the future a merger of the two systems would be possible.
It’s worth noting that vehicles with Israeli license plates can move freely within Judea and Samaria, with some exceptions imposed by Israeli law. However, entry to certain areas is restricted for Israelis but permitted for Israeli Arabs and non-Jewish tourists.
In a notable change since 2015, vehicles with Palestinian license plates from Judea and Samaria can now traverse the sovereign territory of Israel, subject to approval from the coordinator of government operations in the territories. This privilege is mainly granted to medical personnel, merchants, and businessmen.
License Plate Structure for Private Vehicles:
Private vehicles in the region bear license plates with a white background and a green frame. The license plate number consists of seven digits, structured as X-XXXX-XX. The first digit indicates the district of registration, as follows:
- Vehicles registered in the Gaza Strip until 1995: 1, from 1995 onward: 3
- Vehicles registered in the districts of Nablus, Tulkarm, Qalqilya, Tubas, and Jenin until 1995: 4, from 1995 onward: 7
- Vehicles registered in the governorates of Ramallah and Al-Bira, Al-Quds (Jerusalem), and Jericho until 1995: 5, from 1995 onward: 6
- Vehicles registered in the districts of Bethlehem and Hebron until 1995: 8, from 1995 onward: 9
The middle four digits of the license plate are variable, while the last two digits usually end with 4X or 9X. However, public transportation vehicles, such as taxis and buses, are designated by the ending “30.”
Before the new system was introduced in July 2018, vehicles registered up to 1995 had the last two digits indicating the registration year.
The New License Plate Numbering System (2018):
As of July 2018, the Ministry of Transportation of the Palestinian Authority implemented a new numbering system for vehicle registration. Under this system, vehicles are assigned a 6-character license number, featuring five digits and one foreign letter. The license plate structure now follows the format X-XXXX-X, with the last letter denoting the city of registration.
- The letter A: Jenin
- The letter B: Tulkarm
- The letter C: Tubas
- The letter D: Nablus
- The letter E: Kalkilia
- The letter F: Selfie
- The letter G: Jericho
- The letter H: Ramallah
- The letter J: Jerusalem
- The letter K: Bethlehem
- The letter L: Hebron
- The letter M: Dora
- The letter N: Ata
Moreover, certain letters were allocated to the Gaza Strip, although it is yet unclear whether the authorities there have adopted this new system:
- The letter P: Jablia
- The letter Q: Gaza
- The letter R: Deir al-Balah
- The letter S: Khan Yunis
- The letter T: Rafih
License Plates in the Gaza Strip
Prior to 2012, license plates in the Gaza Strip followed the same structure as in Judea and Samaria. However, due to management issues with the vehicle registration database, the Gaza Strip authorities required all residents to re-register their vehicles in 2012. The new license plates in the Gaza Strip showcase a Palestinian flag instead of the “P” or “F” letters. These plates have a white background and seven digits, with all numbers beginning with the digit 3, followed by four running numbers.
Different types of vehicles are distinguished by the color of the license plate frame and the suffix:
- Private car: Numbers with a black frame, suffix 0X (where X can be any number).
- Commercial vehicle: Numbers with a green frame, suffix 1X.
- Public vehicle: Numbers with a blue frame, suffix 2X.
- Municipal vehicles: Numbers with a blue frame, suffix 4X.
- Government vehicles: Red numbers with a frame, suffix 5X.
- Personal Government Vehicles: Black numbers with a frame, suffix 5X.
License Plates in the Palestinian Authority
In summary, the license plate systems in the Palestinian Authority offer a fascinating glimpse into the region’s history and administrative evolution. The distinctive features and changes in the registration systems reflect the complexities and unique circumstances of the area.
Disclaimer: This information on license plates in the Palestinian Authority is accurate as of the blog post’s publication date in July 2023. For the most current updates, readers are encouraged to refer to official sources in the Palestinian Authority.