Palestinian Basic Law
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The Palestinian Basic Law

A collection of various propsals and amendments to the Basic Law of Palestine.

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DFLP: Hamas must focus on unity


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DFLP member Nihad Abu Gosh warns Hamas to focus on contingency plans rather than on ensuring the success of reconciliation talks. Hamas has stated that after 9 January, four years ...   More...

Hamas delegation agrees to formation of reconciliation government for Gaza


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This week, a Hamas delegation is meeting with Egyptian officials in Cairo this week in initial preparations for comprehensive unity negotiations in October. According to Maan News, Hamas is willing to ...   More...

Abbas will be “former Palestinian President”


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Hamas spokesperson Fawzi Barhoum states that Mahmoud Abbas will be referred to as «former Palestinian President» when his term according to Hamas' view expires on 9 January 2009. Furthermore, Barhoum ...   More...

Abbas: Deal could avert constitutional crisis


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Palestinian President Mabmoud Abbas stated in an interview with Al-Hayat that a deal between Fatah and Hamas could avert a constitutional crisis when his term ends next January and allow ...   More...

What title for Mahmoud Abbas?


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According to Maan News, Hamas is “currently studying a number of descriptions” for the president should he not step down after 9 January 2009. De facto Interior Minister Sa’id Siyam ...   More...

PCHR condemns raid on PLC members’ office


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On Monday 22 September, members of the Palestinian General Intelligence Service (GIS) raided the office of Samira al-Halaiqa (45), a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) for the Hamas ...   More...

Poll: Majority favors dissolving the PLC


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In a poll conducted by the An Najah National University Center for Opinion Polls and Survey Studies, 61,1 % of the respondents supported dissolving the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). 29,6 % ...   More...

Cooperation with French Ministry of Justice


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Palestinian Minister of Justice, Ali Al-Khashan, has signed an agreement with his French counterpart in Ramallah. The agreement provides for extensive training and cooperation between French and Palestinian judges and ...   More...

Arab capitals ponder Palestinian electoral issue


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Except Hamas and Jihad, all the Palestinian factions that have visited Cairo in relation with the recent meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo have recommended the formation of a ...   More...

Abbas: Law to determine elections


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In a respons to remarks by Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal that the movement will not recognize Mahmoud Abbas as Palestinian president after 9 January, Abbas has stated that he will ...   More...

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Facts about the Basic Law

The Palestinian Basic Law is to function as a temporary constitution for the Palestinian Authority until the establishment of an independent state and a permanent constitution for Palestine can be achieved.

The Basic Law was passed by the Palestinian Legislative Council in 1997 and ratified by President Yasser Arafat in 2002. It has subsequently been amended twice; in 2003 the political system was changed to introduce a prime minister. In 2005 it was amended to conform to the new Election Law. The 2003 reform was comprehensive and affected the whole nature of the Palestinian political system, whereas the 2005 amendment was only minor and affected only a few paragraphs.

A parallel effort has been made to draft a permanent Palestinian constitution for an independent state, but this was shelved in favor of amending the existing Basic Law.


About this site

This website presents a collection of various drafts and amendments related to the Basic Law and other constitutional texts that have been compiled from various other sources.

You can also expect to find links to news items and reports that are of relevance to Palestinian constitutional law, the electoral framework, political reform and the PA branches of government.

The website was created by the Norwegian journalists Erik Bolstad and Tonje M. Viken in February 2008. The site is a private initiative and has no affiliation to any organizations or authorities.

All external links are purely for information purposes and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors of this site.

Information and contact details.