Palestinian Basic Law
About the site
& contact info

The Palestinian Basic Law

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

News & updates

Majority supports decision not to run


Deprecated: Function the_content_rss is deprecated since version 2.9.0! Use the_content_feed() instead. in /home/3/p/palestinianbasic/www/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6078

Warning: Undefined variable $excerpt in /home/3/p/palestinianbasic/www/wp-includes/deprecated.php on line 1714
A majority of Palestinians support President Mahmoud Abbas not to run in future Palestinian elections. This is one of the main findings in a poll conducted by the Palestinian Center ...   More...

Abbas to stay until next vote


Deprecated: Function the_content_rss is deprecated since version 2.9.0! Use the_content_feed() instead. in /home/3/p/palestinianbasic/www/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6078

Warning: Undefined variable $excerpt in /home/3/p/palestinianbasic/www/wp-includes/deprecated.php on line 1714
President Mahmoud Abbas states that he will stay on as President until new elections are held, but repeats that he will not stand for reelection. Elections were originally slated for ...   More...

Alertnet Q&A: Does Abbas really intend to step aside?


Deprecated: Function the_content_rss is deprecated since version 2.9.0! Use the_content_feed() instead. in /home/3/p/palestinianbasic/www/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6078

Warning: Undefined variable $excerpt in /home/3/p/palestinianbasic/www/wp-includes/deprecated.php on line 1714
President Mahmoud Abbas has stated that he does not intend to stand for elections that are scheduled to be held on 25 January 2010. Is he serious? Read: Alertnet,  "Q&A Does ...   More...

Abbas to call elections if negotiations fail


Deprecated: Function the_content_rss is deprecated since version 2.9.0! Use the_content_feed() instead. in /home/3/p/palestinianbasic/www/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6078

Warning: Undefined variable $excerpt in /home/3/p/palestinianbasic/www/wp-includes/deprecated.php on line 1714
In a speech at the first meetiing of the Palestinian National Council (PNC) in 13 years, President Mahmoud Abbas said that he would press ahead with parliamentary and presidential elections ...   More...

– Elections by January 2010


Deprecated: Function the_content_rss is deprecated since version 2.9.0! Use the_content_feed() instead. in /home/3/p/palestinianbasic/www/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6078

Warning: Undefined variable $excerpt in /home/3/p/palestinianbasic/www/wp-includes/deprecated.php on line 1714
Rival Palestinian groups have agreed to hold presidential and legislative elections by January 2010. There are, however, disagreements as to what kind of government would prepare for the polls. The ...   More...

Thousands rally for Abbas’ continuation


Deprecated: Function the_content_rss is deprecated since version 2.9.0! Use the_content_feed() instead. in /home/3/p/palestinianbasic/www/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6078

Warning: Undefined variable $excerpt in /home/3/p/palestinianbasic/www/wp-includes/deprecated.php on line 1714
 Thousands of Palestinians from various factions took to the streets in Nablus on Friday to support President Mahmoud Abbas as the Palestinian president. Hamas argues that  Abbas' term expires on Friday 9 ...   More...

Egypt plans new round of reconciliation talks


Deprecated: Function the_content_rss is deprecated since version 2.9.0! Use the_content_feed() instead. in /home/3/p/palestinianbasic/www/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6078

Warning: Undefined variable $excerpt in /home/3/p/palestinianbasic/www/wp-includes/deprecated.php on line 1714
Egypt will renew its effort to broker a unity deal between the various Palestinian factions and pave way for new elections. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has stated his intention to ...   More...

– Abbas plans elections in April


Deprecated: Function the_content_rss is deprecated since version 2.9.0! Use the_content_feed() instead. in /home/3/p/palestinianbasic/www/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6078

Warning: Undefined variable $excerpt in /home/3/p/palestinianbasic/www/wp-includes/deprecated.php on line 1714
President Mahmoud Abbas plans to call for presidential and parliamentary elections in January, according to senor aide Yasser Abed Rabbo. The elections are scheduled for April. Read: Alertnet, "Abbas wants Palestinian ...   More...

Considers elections in West Bank alone


Deprecated: Function the_content_rss is deprecated since version 2.9.0! Use the_content_feed() instead. in /home/3/p/palestinianbasic/www/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6078

Warning: Undefined variable $excerpt in /home/3/p/palestinianbasic/www/wp-includes/deprecated.php on line 1714
If Hamas prevents the ballot from taking place in Gaza, President Mahmoud Abbas might hold presidential and parliamentary elections in the West Bank alone. Abbas has stated his intentions to hold ...   More...

Abbas reopens referendum issue


Deprecated: Function the_content_rss is deprecated since version 2.9.0! Use the_content_feed() instead. in /home/3/p/palestinianbasic/www/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6078

Warning: Undefined variable $excerpt in /home/3/p/palestinianbasic/www/wp-includes/deprecated.php on line 1714
On a day of mourning for former Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, President Mahmoud Abbas calls for a referendum to decide whether an early parliamentary and presidential poll should be held. Read: ...   More...

Next,

Resources
Search
About

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.