The Ottomans enforce sharia in the towns and settled countryside of Palestine, but in the desert customary tribal law also is recognized.

Because of the unitary nature of Islamic law—encompassing religious, social, civil, and economic life—it is inconceivable that it could be applied to non-Muslims.

The Ottoman regime uses the millet system, which accords non-Muslim communities the right to manage their personal affairs according to their own religious laws.

The European powers also conclude separate treaties (capitulations) with the Porte whereby their consuls receive extraterritorial legal jurisdiction over their citizens and clients in the Ottoman Empire.

In addition, France claims the special right to protect the sultan's Roman Catholic subjects, and Russia to protect the sultan's more numerous Orthodox subjects.

At every level of the Ottoman system, administration is essentially military in character.

On the East Bank, however, Ottoman rule is lax and garrisons are small.

Ottoman officials are satisfied as long as order is preserved, military levies are provided when called for, and taxes are paid.

These goals, however, are not easily achieved.