During a meeting at his office in Ramallah, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh briefed a group of European ambassadors and representatives on the “new phase of implementing the government reform program,” which includes reforms in the judicial, security, administrative, and financial systems.
Shtayyeh spoke about strengthening the judicial system, making structural changes, implementing laws, addressing the duration of court proceedings, appointing new governors, ending extensions for retirement, and enacting laws to regulate the security sector, among other measures.
During a previous government session, the Prime Minister highlighted the reform program, stating that it was presented to several countries and donors. He also noted President Mahmoud Abbas’ emphasis on the importance of holding general elections as soon as the conditions permit.
In response to Shtayyeh’s announcement, Palestinian analysts were asked by Al Jazeera about the seriousness of the declared reform program, its feasibility, the criteria for determining whether the measures constitute reform or reproduction of the status quo, and the areas that require reform.
Suliman Basharat, a writer and political analyst, pointed out that discussions about reforming Palestinian institutions are not new, but none of the announced plans have been implemented by the Shtayyeh government. He suggested that the announcement comes at a time of increased pressure to introduce administrative reforms and establish a “renewed authority” in preparation for the post-Gaza war period, as well as to appease European and Western demands. He emphasized that these reforms are politically motivated to regain public and international confidence, following a crisis of trust resulting from the government’s weak stance during the Gaza war.
Furthermore, Basharat mentioned that the Palestinian Authority suffers from internal administrative slackness due to accumulated public corruption in various positions and the absence of elections. He pointed out that civil society institutions have become less effective in overseeing the government’s performance.
Issa Amro, a prominent Palestinian activist, highlighted that among the European demands on the Palestinian Authority is administrative reform within its institutions. He stressed the need to combat administrative corruption, favoritism, and intermediaries, engage youth in institutions, reform legislation and dictatorial systems, and conduct elections.
In terms of the judiciary reform, former judge and lawyer Ahmed Al-Ashqar stated that the required reforms include separating the executive authority from judicial affairs. He criticized the interference from the executive authority in the judicial system and the constitutional amendments of 2019, which consolidated executive control over judicial appointments. Al-Ashqar called for the dissolution of the current transitional Supreme Judicial Council, the annulment of the amendments to the Judicial Authority Law (2019), the dismantling of the Constitutional Court, and the rebuilding of the administrative judiciary system.
