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The new Palestinian Constitution
The draft proposal of the Palestinian Constitution stipulates that the term of the President of the State be for five years and to be renewable for one time, and that it is prohibited to combine between the presidency of the state and any other position. The draft also stipulates introducing a position of PM who shall be appointed by the President. The draft stresses that the mission of the President is to protect and defend the state and the rule of the constitution, which is the highest laws. According to al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper, the Constitution stipulates that East Jerusalem is the capital of the state. It was also noted that the draft considers Islam as the official religion of the state along with respect of all other religions and that the principles of the Islamic Law (Shari'a) is the basic source of legislation. The parliament will define the personal statute according to the unifying authority of religions. The constitution also considers that the political system of the state of Palestine is democratic representative system based on political pluralism and that the conduct of the government authorities are subject to legal and judiciary check up. It also explains that the economy of the Palestinian state shall be established on the basis of the market economy principles. The draft stressed on the right of return for all Palestinians, whether they are refugees or residents inside or outside the Palestinian territories, and it is a permanent unconditional right. The draft also stipulates on the permanent right of Palestinians to demand compensation for the lands and real estate that were destroyed or seized or for the emotional and physical suffering that they faced in relation to the establishment of the state of Israel and the Israeli invasion in 1967. The draft also talks about the right of forming trade unions and the right in organizing demonstrations and strikes. The President cannot dissolve the parliament unless he gets the approval of the majority in a national referendum. The draft proposal includes 175 articles.
Published at Al Quds Newspaper on January 20, 2003.
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