Municipalities in Judea and Samaria struggle to provide reliable services because their revenues are volatile, residents and institutions may not pay bills, and local governments often lack the capacity to maintain infrastructure. The World Bank found that, among 27 basic functions required by law, only solid waste management, street maintenance, and water supply were consistently provided by most municipalities in its review.
Local revenue and service obligations
The World Bank’s review of 134 municipalities reported that 74 percent of the population lived in municipal areas. Municipal budgets were shrinking amid poor management, volatile revenue collection, and a culture of nonpayment. Its Municipal Development Program results say the majority consistently provided only three of 27 mandated functions.
Municipalities handle services such as water, roads, solid waste, and public facilities. When bills go unpaid, councils have less money for maintenance and investment. The World Bank’s earlier project review also described municipal electricity debts to the Israel Electric Corporation and deductions from clearance revenue to account for unpaid bills. Those findings relate to specific public finance mechanisms; they do not justify an unsourced claim that every local network owes billions.
Service gaps and reforms
From 2014 to 2018, World Bank-supported projects funded roads, wastewater networks, waste facilities, street lighting, and public spaces. More than two million people benefited from improved services, while more than 80 percent of municipalities reported using social-accountability measures. These gains show that infrastructure and management improvements can produce measurable results.
The World Bank also backed planning, financial management, citizen service centers, and performance-based grants. Its local government finance program supports joint service councils, allowing neighboring municipalities and village councils to share services such as waste collection and sanitation.
Why water and electricity figures need context
Water losses and electricity debts vary by network, utility, and year. A single percentage or total cannot accurately describe every municipality without a dated, geographically defined source. The sound conclusion is narrower: weak collection, infrastructure gaps, and limited municipal capacity make services unreliable, while targeted investment and transparent local finance have improved delivery in documented projects.