Newsletters
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a presidential decree on Monday ordering the publication of the first draft of the interim constitution project, according to the official Palestinian News Agency (WAFA).
The decree also called on Palestinian citizens to submit their comments and proposals, WAFA reported.
Abbas instructed that the draft be made available for public review through the electronic platform designated for the National Committee for Drafting the Constitution.
He also directed that it be published through any additional channels decided by the competent committee.
The agency said the decision aims to broaden public participation in drafting the constitutional document by engaging citizens, civil society institutions, political forces, experts and academics.
The period for submitting feedback is set at 60 days from the date the decision is published.
A coordination and drafting committee stemming from the committee tasked with preparing the interim constitution will receive the comments and organize and study them.
It will classify them into substantive remarks related to constitutional principles and technical remarks related to wording and structure, in preparation for introducing the necessary amendments.
The draft constitution consists of 162 articles. The committee that drafted it includes 16 members, headed by Mohammed Al-Haj Qassem, in addition to a secretary for the committee.
Anadolu Agency reported that the draft is based on the philosophy and spirit of the Declaration of Independence adopted by the Palestine Liberation Organization in 1988.
It stipulates respect for U.N. resolutions, international legitimacy, the principles of international law, and human rights.
The draft also affirms pride in Palestinian identity, considers the Palestinian people the source of authority and legitimacy, and regards the rule of law as the primary safeguard of freedom.
It stresses that the interim constitution represents the beginning of the path toward independence and sovereignty, not its endpoint.
Palestinian legal expert Ahmad al-Ashqar described the draft as “excellent,” calling for the swift collection of public and institutional feedback.
He urged that the draft then be put to a general public referendum among Palestinians in the homeland and the diaspora, as stipulated in Article 162 of the draft.
In a post on Facebook, Ashqar noted a number of minor formal and structural observations, as well as some shortcomings in constitutional organization.
In contrast, Ghassan Jaber, a leader in the Palestinian National Initiative, expressed reservations about Article 155 of the draft, arguing that it poses real risks to democracy.
The article allows the head of state or one-third of members of parliament to request amendments to one or more provisions of the interim constitution.
Jaber said the logic of the article grants the executive authority, especially the president, the power to determine the mechanisms and timing of amendments, including the possibility of obstructing or bypassing a public referendum.
He warned against excluding the people from a decision that affects the core political contract.
Jaber added that the constitution should not be a vehicle for political compromise among elites, stressing that any amendment affecting the form of the state, rights, or the powers of the authorities must be subject to the people’s direct approval.
The publication of the draft comes amid broader political moves, including Abbas’s announcement last October that he had tasked the relevant bodies with completing an interim constitution within three months.
He said it would serve as a foundation for the transition from an authority to a state.
At the beginning of this month, Abbas also issued a presidential decree calling for public participation in electing the Palestinian National Council in November 2026.
These developments coincide with Arab, regional and international calls for political reforms within the institutions of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization, as international recognition of the State of Palestine increases.
During the U.N. General Assembly meetings last September, 11 countries recognized it, raising the number of recognizing states to 159 out of 193 U.N. member states.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
4 min read
