President Abbas Issues Decree Establishing Interim Constitution Drafting Committee

Ramallah: President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday evening issued a presidential decree establishing a committee to draft the interim constitution. President Abbas took this step in the context of preparations for holding general elections following the cessation of Israeli genocidal aggression on the Gaza Strip, the withdrawal of the occupation forces from the Strip, and after the State of Palestine assumes responsibility in the Strip in the process of transition to Palestinian statehood. According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the committee shall serve as the legal authority entrusted with drafting the interim constitution, in conformity with the Declaration of Independence, the principles of international law, the United Nations resolutions, international human rights conventions, and relevant international treaties. This step is intended to lay the foundations for the establishment of the State of Palestine and its institutions through preparing a draft constitution that enshrines the constit utional principles of a democratic system of governance based on the rule of law, the separation of powers, the respect for and protection of rights and public freedoms, and the peaceful alternation of power. President Abbas issued a decision appointing the chair and members of the committee, which comprises a number of national, political, and societal figures, alongside distinguished legal and constitutional experts, with due consideration for the representation of civil society and gender. The decree provides for the establishment of specialized technical subcommittees in the fields of their respective work and regulates their composition, functions, and meetings as per internal bylaws. The decree also provides for setting up an electronic platform to receive proposals from all segments of the Palestinian society in the territories of the State of Palestine and abroad to come up with the most representative interim constitution for the Palestinian people. The committee shall be chaired by Mohammad Al-Haj Qasem, and comprise the following members: Ziad Abu Amr; Ahmad Majdalani; Bassam Al-Salhi; Mohammad Shtayyeh; Mahmoud Al-Habbash; Wael Lafi; Farid Al-Jallad; Mohammad Al-Shalaldeh; Mousa Hadid; Iman Nasser Al-Din; Fadi Abbas; Mitri Raheb; Ammar Dwaik; Assem Khaleel; Sanaa Al-Sarghali; Lubna Katebeh; with Munir Salameh serving as Secretary of the Committee.