The decree was published on March 2, one week after it was secretly approved by the PA government
THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY is facing criticism for issuing a decree that allows it to tighten its grip on Palestinian civil society organizations, effectively turning them into government-controlled departments.
The decree was published on March 2, one week after it was secretly approved by the PA government.
Palestinian civil society organizations said they learned about the decree only when it was published in the PA’s official gazette.
Critics described the decree as a vicious assault on public freedoms ahead of the Palestinian general elections.
The new decree obligates civil society organizations to present to the PA government an annual action plan and estimated budget for the new fiscal year.
“This means that these groups will be working for Palestinian ministries and not in accordance with their own vision, mission, goals or programs,” several Palestinian society organisations said in a joint statement.
“In other words, the civil society organisations will be treated as government departments of ministries, to whom they will report. This undermines the professionalism, independence and freedom of civic activity, including the organisations’ monitoring role over the performance of the executive authority and their objective to hold this authority accountable for its violations.”
FULL STORY Palestinians fume over PA decree targeting civil society groups(Jerusalem Post)
Photo: Protest against US President Donald Trump's proposed Middle East peace plan, near the US Embassy in Amman, Jordan, January 31, 2020 (Reuters)
