The Role of Palestinian Institutions to Inhance Participation and Activate Political Development

The Role of Palestinian Institutions to Inhance Participation and Activate Political Development PDF

Abdelkarim Said Asad Ismail

Supervisor(s)

Dr. Nayef Abu Kalaf -

Discussion Commity

282 صفحة

Abstract :

Abstract Universal discussion concerning relationships between local institutions and governments has always raised many issues. Among those are the roles of these institutions for enhancing political, economic and financial participation and development, and the roles of establishing democracy through political representation. The relations between local institutions, people and the government mainly is formed on election basis, functions of local institutions in harmony with governmental policy. Therefore, centralization or decentralization is connected with the degree of understanding between local bodies and the governments, If the political authority claims the scarce of sources to politicize people, decentralization aims at detailing and motivating political role in the geographical areas. This is an international model, which means to create decentralized bodies, which can establish political initiatives in the far areas and can take control over these areas including legislation, ability construction and dispute reconciliations and other social concerns. Local institutions in Palestine constitute a limestone for the future Palestinian state. The establishment of powerful local institution based on decentralization in management and operation has become a priority in the Palestinian areas. In this way, it can serve the people of Palestine, not foreign countries under which these institutions used to be financed. Palestine was under the Ottoman rule from 1517-1917, then under British mandate from 1917-1948. After 1948, it was forcedly divided into two parts under two different sovereignties: the West Bank under the Jordanian rule and Gaza strip under the Egyptian rule. Henceforth, the Israeli state was established on the largest part of Palestine until 1967 war when Israel decided to rule over the West Bank and Gaza strip. The successive rules over the Palestinian areas established local bodies who served their interests not the inhabitants. Therefore, the main purpose of these institutions was to keep it dependent and undeveloped. Sometimes they were used to work against people. The successive rules purpose of building up these bodies was force people pay taxes to the government with less services offered. In 1994, much has changed. The Palestinian National Authority decided to establish the Ministry of Local government, which concerns about administering, financing, developing and organizing local service through democracy and decentralization. Much authority has been given to the instititutions after the ratification of local council's law and the process of their elections. The Palestinian Authority tried to make a significant change in the local government philosophy and the organizational framework. They replaced local management with what is currently known as local institutional management. This new form assumes the embrace of the three authorities together: legislative, legal, and executive. The Palestinian Authority encountered great challenges to rebuild what has been destroyed so far as a result of continuous invasions against Palestinian civil institutions. The political instability delayed many vital projects as a result of Israeli strict measures during Infidel Al-Aqsa, the destruction of Palestinian infrastructure and the siege. All these increased the burden of the Palestinian Authority to move forward with developing projects for the interest of the people. The need was then urgent for root reforms to the Palestinian governmental institutions and support democracy and taking part in the future of the state. The study reached a number of recommendations that should be accomplished. 1- Focus on the individual as a center for efforts to achieve integrity between development and economic-social affordability whether this is under occupation or within resistance atmosphere, or during the establishment of the state. 2- Dare and responsible revision for institutions performance, especially during the last four years. That period revealed the disability of these institutions to stand against the hard circumstances the Palestinians are living represented by the day-to-day siege. 3- The importance of administrative reforms as recommended by a number of local and international organizations. 4- Confidence erection between the citizen and the Palestinian Authority, especially after nine years of elections delay which caused a crises by inappropriate series of assignments that burdened the budget. 5- Failure of centralization adapted by the Palestinian Authority. To outgrow this crisis, there should be social participation to make the individuals hold responsibilities and play a significant role in the establishment of Palestinian independent state through wide role taking in this national project. 6- Giving actual concepts of reality to the local and social government. Opportunities should be given to younger generation to strengthen local institutions and move up with the policies of development. 7- Adaptation of democratic and well-organized legislative frame to determine duties and responsibilities and give more opportunities to the local bodies to train its members to the best and supply them with qualifications to be able to lead these institutions.

Full Article