Chapter 5 : The Palestine Authority Stamps
Introduction
Discussions held during the months of April and May 1994 between representatives of Israel and the PLO , formulated an agreement of delegation of powers to the Pal. Auth. , including provisions of postal services . In this agreement , inter alia , number of clauses which deal with thee issuance of postage stamps . It was determined that the Pal. Auth. may issue stamps and postmarks subject to the following provisions :
( see original document [Link 1] )
1. The stamps will include only the term " Palestine Authority” , denomination and subject .
2. The currency will appear only with one which is currently used in the Gaza Strip and Jericho .
In this section , will be presented stamps issued in the early years of the P.A. , with emphasis on the controversial stamps which caused friction and disputes between the sides
The first printed stamps
. In light of the agreement with Israel , the Pal. Auth. examined number of European agents about the option to print the stamps , and chose the German Proposal . During Aug.-Oct. 1994 several series of stamps were printed in Germany .The Flag stamp series - 15.Aug.1994
The eagles (official) stamp series - 15.Aug.1994
The Landscapes stamp series - 1. Sep.1994
Gaza and Jericho Peace agreement s/s - 7.Oct.1994
The postage stamps ordered by the Pal. Auth. , contradicted certain clauses of the agreement reached with Israel . The currency on all stamps was expressed in " Mils” - a currency not existing since the end of the British Mandate in 1948 in Palestine . The printing aimed at presenting a false image of the Pal. Auth. as a continuous state of the " Palestine” Mandate . In addition , on the eagles series of stamps , the word "Palestine” appeared instead of "Pal Auth. " which was again against the agreement . Israel protested against the violations , and did not approve the use of these stamps .
Matching the stamps with the spirit of the agreement
In response to the Pal. Auth. appeal , Mr. Y. Rabin ,Prime minister ,promised Yasser Arafat to legitimate the problematic stamps if the currency will be changed from
Mils to Fils by an overprint
( see original document [Link 2] )
. As a result , the Pal. Auth. ordered in Germany ,
a reprint of the early series of stamps with the appropriate overprint .
Thus the Mils was hidden under Fils overprint . The new series of stamps appeared on 10.Apr. 1995
The Flag " Fils” set of stamps
The Landscapes "Fils” set of stamps
The Gaza-Jericho S/S peace agreement Fils block
The "Jericho Locals"
As a safety measure , in case the revised Series of " Fils” stamps
will not arrive in time , the Pal. Auth . prepared a small rubber
cachet with the word "Fils” . The intention was , to mark the existing stock of stamps ,
manually and thus overcome the currency problem . Eventually , the the revised "Fils: stamps appeared in time and No neccesity was for the rubber cachet .
The manager of Jericho used the "Fils:” rubber cachet as a gesture
and applied it certain sets of the Mils” issues .
Part of them were used to frank envelopes which were posted at various posts offices
in Jericho and Gaza strip . The "Fils” cacheted stamps appear in three colors :
violet , red, and black All originate from Jericho and thus called " Jericho Locals " .
They were accepted for postage by all sides , on posted covers from P.A. Territory
and those which went outside the area.
(see detailed description of the stamps [Link 3])
Posted covers, carrying the local Jericho stamps
Other deviation of issued stamps
On May 17.1995 Pal. Auth. issued another set of three stamps dedicated to the theme "stamp on stamp” .They depict the pre 1948 Palestine Mandate stamps . . As they carry the word "Palestine” ,
Israel refused to approve them , and banned their use . .
Sale of partial sets at P.A post counters
The P.A. stamps which were printed in Germany , could be purchased fromthe German Agent who represented the P.A. printing press and
at P.A. post office counters . However , the second option was not always possible .
For some reason , not all the stamps were available for sale e at the post offices
( details in Article [Link 4] )