Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas received a draft copy of the "Interim Constitution" aimed at establishing the foundations of a Palestinian state, Palestinian media reported last week.
The presentation of the 70-page draft constitution occurred during Abbas’ meeting with the committee tasked with drafting the provisional Palestinian constitution, headed by committee chairman Mohammed al-Hajj Qassem, and its members, the Palestinian Authority-affiliated WAFA news agency reported. The draft was finalized after seven months of consultations, and three months of intensive work, including 54 meetings by the constitutional committee.
The draft constitution will first be submitted to the Palestinian Liberation Organization’s Executive Committee for review, before being shared publicly, The Times of Israel reported, citing a Palestinian official.
While the Palestinian Authority often refers to itself as a full-fledged state in official and international statements, it has been operating under a set of basic laws drafted after the PA was formed as part of the Oslo Accords.
Abbas stated, "This year is the year of democracy. We have set a date for the Palestinian National Council elections, both within Palestine and abroad, as well as for the eighth Fatah conference, in addition to holding local elections next April.”
The draft constitution is intended to provide a legal foundation for political institutions and to modernize the legislative framework of the Palestinian Authority ahead of an expected announcement of an independent Palestinian state.
The receipt of the draft constitution by PA President Abbas comes amid a growing movement in the international community to recognize a Palestinian state as a means of pressuring Israel into accepting the two-state solution proposed under the Oslo Accords.
According to Palestinian media, the draft constitution seeks to establish a “modern constitutional and legal framework with both national and international legitimacy.”
In radio statements, Dr. Ahmed Majdalani, a member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), emphasized that the draft constitution aims to establish a democratic, pluralistic, and civil state. He also claimed its provisions draw upon the latest global and Arab constitutional developments.
Constitutional committee chairman Mohammed al-Hajj Qassem claimed that the draft “preserves political pluralism and the separation of powers, while also empowering the legislative branch to exercise oversight and legislative authorities.”
Arab media cited anonymous Palestinian officials who claimed that the draft constitution will serve as a legal roadmap for ending divisions among several Palestinian factions and addressing other internal issues, in order to prepare for comprehensive general elections.
The draft is expected to be presented to various national groups and political figures within the Palestinian factions for approval or amendment before its official adoption.
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