Representatives of Palestinian political parties and civil organizations, and members of the Legislative Council, stressed in a meeting the right of the civil society to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Participants in the meeting disapproved of the recent repeated assaults against civil institutions in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, in particular the campaigns of incitement against civil institutions and AMAN, and accusing them of treason.

The meeting was organized by AMAN Coalition last Wednesday in its premises in Ramallah. More than 40 participants met to discuss a civil society joint action strategy in order to confront the defamation campaigns against AMAN and against all civil society institutions in Palestine which were accused of working for the interest of foreign agendas and described as “dubious” and corrupt institutions.

Ghada Zughayar: “Joint action strategy to confront tendentious incitement campaigns.”

 AMAN’s Executive Director Ghada Zughayar welcomed the participants and pointed out that the aim of the meeting was to draw lessons, look into cooperation mechanisms and find means to confront the incitement campaigns and mounting violations against civil society institutions. Civil society institutions have been recently prohibited from holding a protest meeting in St Andrews Anglican Church in Ramallah, and AMAN has been the subject of abrasive attack and the threat of closure for supporting a government decision to withdraw government vehicles. Zughayar gave participants an idea about the assault against AMAN that has been going on since its inception, highlighting at the same time the interests of some influential persons in charge of the attack. She reprobated the departure from the traditions of union action by some influential persons who have been harmed by the decision of the government as a result of the decision to withdraw government vehicles.

Azmi Shuaibi: “No to pouncing on civil society institutions and no to intellectual terrorism.”

 AMAN's Commissioner for Combating Corruption Dr. Azmi Shuaibi referred to a serious phenomenon that has manifested itself afresh in the Palestinian society, namely, the infringement on civil liberties, freedom of expression and civil work, by people outside the framework of official authority but who use the tools of the authority and their influence to control, dominate and impose intellectual terrorism. Dr. Shuaibi stated that people with influence should not ride roughshod the civil work, stressing that civil work should be independent, and that reform and anti-corruption demand enormous national efforts and supporting public opinion.

Qais Abu Leila: “The absence of control of the Legislative Council has contributed to the propagation of corruption.” 

Legislative Council member Qais Abu Leila stressed the importance of continued combat against corruption, considering the subject of government vehicles an indicator of corruption that is not related to persons but to the existence of a structure that requires reconsideration because it leaves room for the exploitation of public office, hence the existence of manifestations of corruption. Abu Leila added that corruption is a phenomenon that is rampant in all sectors and therefore it must be combated by voicing opposition especially at this time in which the Legislative Council is not functioning and control is absent. Corruption, he concluded, is a danger that threatens the entire society and demands a collective position.     

Khalida Jarrar: “Officials in senior positions are behind the attack on freedoms and the right to assembly.” 

Legislative Council member Khalida Jarrar stressed the need for better communication among Legislative Council members and members of political parties, civil institutions, and the private sector. She called for unceasing internal democratic struggle in order to secure rights and liberties in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Jarrar advocated a civil society free of corruption, a society that combats corruption by means of a memorandum of understanding and code of conduct.

Bassam Salhi: “There is need to adopt an anti-corruption national strategy.”

 Legislative Council member Bassam Salhi said the government’s role is to implement the decision on government vehicles following AMAN’s disclosure of the issue. Salhi recommended the need to address corruption because it is a very sensitive issue for the Palestinian public, and to find a formula whereby all parties will be bound to combat corruption. Additionally, Salhi recommended launching preparations for holding a national conference to discuss issues of corruption and come out with a comprehensive national strategy to combat it.

Representatives of civil institutions: “The civil society has to muster up its power and recover its pioneering role in building a democratic system.”

 Representatives of civil institutions noted the deterioration of the pillars of the Palestinian system that has lost its legitimacy in light of the absence of the active role of the Legislative Council. He also pointed to the deterioration that has taken place regarding respect of liberties, the cancelation of elections, and the attempts to involve the security and the military services and abuse their power in order to circumvent the core of the problem. Representatives of civil institutions recommended the activation of the elements of power in civil society and marshaling them toward the implementation of reform. They also called for reconsidering the mechanisms of networking among civil society institutions, such as the revival of previously formed Liberties Forum, and intensifying communication and coordination between members of the Legislative Council and the government.

 The meeting concluded with a set of recommendations. First, participants recommended the preparation of a work paper on the propositions and ideas put forth during the meeting as a preliminary step for developing an action strategy on the subject of enhancing the role of the civil society in defending freedoms and strengthening reform and anti-corruption efforts. In addition, participants recommended inviting all parliamentary blocs to discuss the issue of the absence of the role of the Legislative Council and develop action mechanisms to make up for this absence in the sphere of controlling the Executive Authority and respecting public freedoms. Finally, participants recommended establishing a strong networking system among civil society institutions for solidarity in basic issues relating to the establishment of a Palestinian democratic system and good governance.