There are six main administrativedistricts of Israel,known inHebrewasmekhozot(מְחוֹזוֹת;sing.מָחוֹז,makhoz) and inArabicasmintaqah.There are also 15 subdistricts of Israel, known in Hebrewnafot(נָפוֹת;sing.נָפָה,nafa) and in Arabic asqadaa.Each subdistrict is further divided into natural regions,[1][2]which in turn are further divided into council-level divisions: whether they might becities,municipalities,orregional councils.
| Districts of Israel מְחוֹזוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל (Hebrew) مناطق اسرائيل(Arabic) | |
|---|---|
| Category | Unitary state |
| Location | State of Israel |
| Number | 6 |
| Populations | 1,032,800 (Haifa) – 2,196,900 (Central District) |
| Areas | 190 km2(72 sq mi) (Tel Aviv) – 14,190 km2(5,477 sq mi) (Southern District) |
| Government |
|
| Subdivisions | |
The present division into districts was established in 1953, to replace thedivisions inherited from the British Mandate.It has remained substantially the same ever since; a second proclamation of district boundaries issued in 1957—which remains in force as of 2023—only affirmed the existing boundaries in place.
The figures in this article are based on numbers from theIsraeli Central Bureau of Statisticsand so include all places underIsraelicivilian rule including thoseIsraeli-occupied territorieswhere this is the case. Therefore,Golan Subdistrictand its four natural regions are included in the number of subdistricts and natural regions even though it is not recognized by theUnited Nationsor the international community as Israeli territory. Similarly, the population figure below for the Jerusalem District was calculated includingEast Jerusalemwhose annexation by Israel is similarlynot recognizedby the United Nations and the international community. TheJudea and Samaria Area,however, is not included in the number of districts and subdistricts as Israel has not applied its civilian jurisdiction in that part of theWest Bank.
Administration
The districts have no elected institutions of any kind, although they do possess councils composed of representatives of central government ministries and local authorities for planning and building purposes. Their administration is undertaken by a District Commissioner[3]appointed by theMinister of the Interior.Each district also has aDistrict Court.
Since the District Commissioners are considered part of the Ministry of the Interior's bureaucracy, they can only exercise functions falling within the purview of other ministries if the appropriate Minister authorizes them.[3]This authorization is rarely granted, as other government ministries and institutions (for example, the Ministry of Health[4]and the Police[5]) establish their own divergent systems of districts.
Jerusalem District
Jerusalem District(Hebrew:מְחוֹז יְרוּשָׁלַיִם,Mehoz Yerushalayim)
Natural regions:
Northern District
Northern District(Hebrew:מְחוֹז הַצָּפוּן,Mehoz HaTzafon)
- Area: 4,473 km2[6]
- Population (EoY2018): 1,448,100[7]
- District capital:Nof Hagalil
Subdistricts and natural regions:
- Safed (Tzfat) Subdistrict– population: 121,200
- Kinneret Subdistrict– population: 112,900
- 221Kinerot
- 222Eastern Lower Galilee
- Yizre'el Subdistrict– population: 520,100
- Akko Subdistrict– population: 643,300
- 241Shefar’am Region
- 242Karmi’el Region
- 243Yehi’am Region
- 244Elon Region
- 245Nahariyya Region
- 246Akko Region
- Golan Subdistrict[b]– population: 50,600
- 291Hermon Region
- 292Northern Golan
- 293Middle Golan
- 294Southern Golan
Haifa District
Haifa District(Hebrew:מְחוֹז חֵיפָה,Mehoz Heifa)
Subdistricts and natural regions:
- Haifa Subdistrict– population: 583,400
- 311Haifa Region
- Hadera Subdistrict– population: 449,300
Central District
Central District(מְחוֹז הַמֶּרְכָּז,Mehoz HaMerkaz)
Subdistricts and natural regions:
- HaSharon Subdistrict– population: 477,400
- 411Western Sharon
- 412Eastern Sharon
- Petah Tikva Subdistrict– population: 754,300
- Ramla Subdistrict– population: 351,700
- 431Modi’in Region
- 432Ramla Region
- Rehovot Subdistrict– population: 612,600
Tel Aviv District
Tel Aviv District(Hebrew:מְחוֹז תֵּל־אָבִיב,Mehoz Tel Aviv)
Natural regions:
- 511Tel Aviv Region
- 512Ramat Gan Region
- 513Holon Region
Southern District
Southern District(Hebrew:מְחוֹז הַדָּרוֹם,Mehoz HaDarom)
Subdistricts and natural regions:
- Ashkelon Subdistrict– population: 551,200
- 611Mal’akhi Region
- 612Lakhish Region
- 613Ashdod Region
- 614Ashqelon Region
- Be'er Sheva Subdistrict– population: 750,700
Formerly theHof Aza Regional Councilwith a population of approx. 10,000 Israelis was a part of this district, but theIsraeli communitiesthat constituted it were evacuated when thedisengagement planwas implemented on theGaza Strip.Since the withdrawal, theCoordination and Liaison Administrationoperates there.[citation needed]
Judea and Samaria Area
Judea and Samaria Area(Hebrew:אֵזוֹר יְהוּדָה וְשׁוֹמְרוֹן,Ezor Yehuda VeShomron)
- Area: 172 km2
- Israeli population (EoY2018): 427,800[7]
- Arab/Bedouinpopulation: 40,000. (excludes Area A and Area B).
- Largest city:Modi'in Illit
The nameJudea and Samariafor this geographical area is based on terminology from theHebrew Bibleand other sources relating to ancientIsraelandJudah/Judea.The territory has been under Israeli control since the 1967Six-Day Warbut not annexed by Israel, pending negotiations regarding its status. It is part ofhistoric Israel,which leads to politically contentious issues. However, it is not recognized as part of theState of Israelby theUnited Nations.
There are no subdistricts or administratively declared "natural regions" in the Judea and Samaria Area.[1]
See also
Notes
- ^a:This district includes areas captured in the 1967Six-Day Warand annexed to Israel in theJerusalem Law.
- ^b:Occupied in the 1967Six-Day Warand internationally unrecognized annexed by Israel'sGolan Heights Law.
References
- ^abKey to the Codes in the Maps - Districts, Sub-Districts and Natural Regions 2018,Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, 2021
- ^Districts, Sub-Districts and Natural Regions 2018,Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, 2021
- ^ab"Transfer of Power (District Commissioners and District Officers) Law, 5724-1964, Laws of the State of Israel vol. 18 no 38. (pp. 70-71)"(PDF).
- ^"Polio Vaccination Centers across Israel".Ministry of Health Israel.Retrieved2022-04-27.
- ^"Maps".www.police.gov.il(in Hebrew).Retrieved2022-04-27.
- ^abcdefStatistical Abstract – Geography(PDF)(Report) (in Hebrew).Israel Central Bureau of Statistics.2016. p. 15 (PDF p. 9).RetrievedDecember 24,2017.
- ^abcdefg"Localities and Population, by District, Sub-District, Religion and Population Group"(PDF).Israel Central Bureau of Statistics.2019. p. 1.RetrievedJuly 24,2020.
External links
- Central Bureau of StatisticsArchived2020-08-06 at theWayback Machine– detailed breakdown of each district, subdistrict, and natural region.