Ramallah: President Mahmoud Abbas has issued a presidential decree mandating the publication of the first draft of the Interim Constitution of the State of Palestine. The draft will be accessible for public review through an electronic platform established by the National Committee for Drafting the Constitution, along with other means of publication as determined by the Committee.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the decree is designed to enhance community involvement in the drafting process of the Interim Constitution. It invites citizens, civil society organizations, political factions, experts, and academics to provide their feedback and proposals on the draft within a sixty-day period following the decree's publication.
The Coordination and Drafting Committee, part of the Interim Constitution Preparation Committee, is tasked with managing the feedback process. It will classify the feedback into substantive observations on constitutional principles and technical suggestions regarding wording and organization. This is to ensure that necessary amendments serve both the public interest and national consensus.
The Committee is also responsible for compiling a comprehensive report on the feedback and recommendations, which will be submitted to President Abbas for further discussion and approval before the final draft of the constitution is completed.
The decree stipulates that relevant authorities are tasked with executing its provisions. It took effect immediately upon issuance and is set to be published in the Official Gazette.