ABSTRACT
The ambiguity and indecisiveness of Labor toward the West Bank was often reflected within the defense establishment. Dayan and his entourage, who represented the Rafi faction of the Labor party, claimed that the territories were under military occupation and should be administered by the Defense Minister. From the beginning of the occupation the Israeli government perceived itself as a permanent, sovereign power, rather than as a de facto occupying power under international law. As the "lawful belligerent occupant" of the West Bank, Israel agreed to comply only with the "humanitarian" provisions of the Hague 1907 and Geneva 1949 Conventions. In November 1981, the Likud government authorized the military administration in the West Bank to proceed with a measure that would allegedly move toward unilateral implementation of autonomy for Arab residents. The measure, Military Order 947, established a "civilian" administration for the area to "look after the civilian affairs of the local inhabitants.".
