The Coalition for Integrity and Accountability-AMAN held a consultation meeting on causes of corruption and citizens’ perceptions of anti-corruption efforts. The call for the meeting was triggered by the results of opinion polls conducted by AMAN and other local research centers, which indicated that the number and percentage of Palestinians who believe that prevalence of corruption in the Palestinian public sector not only did not decline, but at times increased. This was despite the anti-corruption efforts exerted by formal and civil parties, as revealed in their reports.
Executive Director of AMAN, Majdi Abu-Zeid, opened the meeting stating that AMAN, few years ago, has prepared a group of indicators (an index) relating to the integrity and anti-corruption system in Palestine, in order to measure the level of integrity in the management of public funds. This index is one of the references used for AMAN’s reports and studies. According to the mentioned index, an improvement was registered in regard to the integrity system. However, opinion polls that were conducted during the same period reflected an increase in people’s perceptions of the prevalence of corruption in the public sector despite the anti-corruption efforts exerted. These perceptions were very negative and express a growing concern about this phenomenon, which seems, as viewed by them, rampant in spite of efforts to combat it. Abu-Zeid also indicated that the purpose of this discussion is an attempt to understand, analyze, and come up with recommendations in this regard.
Dr. Azmi Shuaibi, Advisor to AMAN’s Board on Anti- Corruption Affairs, stated that judging by reality on the ground on the issue of corruption and anti-corruption efforts, and also by results of reports conducted on the subjects, which all indicate that there is improvement in many areas regarding anti-corruption efforts exerted. However, there seems to be no correlation between the anti-corruption efforts exerted and opinion of citizens. Dr. Shuaibi considers one of the reasons for this disparity is the lack of trust and credibility in the relationship between the citizen and official bodies, as well as lack of citizens’ conviction in the anti-corruption efforts exerted. He also pointed out that it is of vital importance that the Palestinian leadership takes these indicators seriously even if they may seem extreme or far out. He also said that duty and interest necessitate the need to understand the circumstances and reasons that led to these results.
Within the same context, Sa’id Shihadeh, General Director at the Anti-Corruption Commission, stated that there is real development and improvement in the role of regulatory institutions in Palestine. He said that presently people talk of corruption without fear or hesitation, which is contrary to what use to happen in the past, where talking of corruption took place behind closed doors. However, he stressed that the Anti-Corruption Law does not provide a clear definition of corruption, but rather presents various forms and acts that indicate corruption.
Rasha Amarneh, General Director of Legal Affairs at the Anti-Corruption Commission, pointed out that there are several factors which contributed to the gap between the actual size of existing corruption and that which is perceived by citizens; where citizens perceive it twice its size. And at the same time, anti-corruption efforts is viewed much less than it actually is, hence the wrong picture is given of the size of corruption and anti-corruption effort in Palestine. Amarneh believes that one of the factors contributing to the mentioned gap is the misconception of corruption among citizens where the concept is expanded and taken out of context. This is in addition to the anti-corruption efforts described as a two edged sword that gives the reversed reality of the existence of corruption, especially as it relates to trial and pursuing the corrupt, which gets circulated in the media.
For his part, Hassan Salim, General Director of the PLO’s Affairs at the President’s office, asserted that corruption is linked to the political stance of the Authority, which was more noticeable during the years of the internal division.
In another context, Ayoub Ayoub, director of a center for opinion polls, confirmed accuracy of opinion poll results that pointed to the existence of corruption. He said it is possible however to add a number of detailed questions concerning improvement in the case of anti-corruption, especially since opinion polls are affected by surrounding circumstances such as economic and political conditions.
Lamees Hantouli, MIFTAH’s Program Director, said that results of opinion polls should be taken seriously regardless of how questions were worded or put forth, especially since these results and attitudes are repeated year after year. She emphasized the need, for institutions concerned with corruption and combating it, to study and analyze these numbers in order to better understand these results and their ramifications.
For his part, Mustafa Khawaja, representative from the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, indicated that opinion polls don’t only aim at revealing the phenomenon of corruption, but also to monitor the trend of society as well. He also said that regardless of the percentage of the existence of corruption revealed by opinion polls, there remains a problem of concern. In addition, Khawaja said that the responsibility of combating corruption is a collective one and it is the responsibility of the government to take the lead.
In the same context, Dr. Fathi Abu-Mughli, advisor at the Palestinian Institute for Studies and Research Development, said one cannot claim that corruption does not exist. As for the public’s mood/perception, it is the result of imposed events and circumstances that affect citizens, and hence epitomized in a frustrated public opinion. In the Palestinian case, such circumstances include the absence of a legislative council and ramifications resulting from that absence. Also the internal political division and its negative consequences play a role in forming these perceptions. Finally, lack of equal opportunities, which by far is the greatest issue that affects citizens’ opinion negatively.
For his part, Author and Director of Masarat Research Center, Hani Al-Masri, confirmed that not only does corruption exist, but it has risen to the level of a phenomenon. While refuting that the problem lies in the definition of corruption, he said that it is attributed to: the absence of the legislative council, and to the executive authority acting as the sole authority, monopoly over power by a small group of individuals in the West Bank and Gaza, which was ingrained further during the years of the political division where each party was more concerned with protecting its people at the expense of the other, all are factors that allow for corruption to flourish.
Journalist Jihad Harb said that perceptions of people, as illustrated in the poll, stems from lack of trust in the political system. This constitutes the most important reason because he believes that what might contribute positively to change these perceptions is the message that the government represents, (i.e., through credibility and transparency in practice).
Dawoud Al-Wa’ri, an instructor at Al-Quds University said that the poll results reflect citizens’ anger and displeasure of services rendered by governmental institutions, where transparency and integrity are lacking. In addition to the need to reform the abovementioned institutions, improving the role of anti-corruption institution is vital. Moreover, there is a need to search for solutions to eradicate corruption in Palestine. This will lessen people’s anger and at the same time improve the quality of services for them.
Abd-Alhamajeed Sweilem, an instructor at Al-Quds University believes that the absence of a transparent and smoothly operating information system in the Palestinian society contributed to the formulation of these perceptions among citizens, (i.e., denying a citizen the right to information regardless of his place of residence or social status). However, Sweilem said that since the beginning of creation, there has not been an authority that is free of corruption. The difference in the Palestinian case is lack of accountably, which is one of the causes for the spread of corruption.
Journalist Mohammad Daraghmeh also stressed the need for information to be circulated freely, confirming that the absence of information leaves an opportunity for perceptions to be formed far worse than what they are in reality, hence leaving long term negative effects on citizens. He further pointed out that although change and development have occurred on anti-corruption efforts, it was accompanied by newly developed forms of corruption that have become smarter and more capable of defiance.
Azis Kayed, researcher, said it is unacceptable to question results of polls and opinions of citizens as a way to avoid addressing corruption. After all, people’s opinions are formed from what they see and live daily, he added.
Rami Wahdan, a journalist, pointed out that it is important not to focus on governmental institutions only, especially since questions addressed by the polls were about the spread of corruption in public Palestinian institutions in general. He also added that anti-corruption tools should be developed to constantly be in line with the development of the forms of corruption. At the same time, it is important to work to solve the underlying reasons of corruption, which will eventually changing perceptions of citizens.
In conclusion, attendees agreed that Palestinian citizens suffer from a crisis of lack of trust concerning a number of public institutions, in the West Bank and Gaza. Several factors contributed to this crisis mainly: the Israeli occupation and its control over Palestinian lives; absence of several democratic aspects, as well as absence of the role of control institutions; weakness in applying the participatory, openness, and transparency approaches in management of public affairs; impact of the internal division and the polarization it caused; some corruption cases that were exposed and circulated on social media concerning appointments of sons and daughters of officials, etc.
Based on the above, attendees found that it is vital for officials to adopt more open and equitable policies, as well as ensure publication of information and combat cases of corruption with zero tolerance.
Furthermore, attendees confirmed the need to strengthen roles of the research and opinion poll centers, and the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics considering them as one of the tools necessary to measure the degree of satisfaction of citizens in regard to anti-corruption efforts being exerted.
Finally, it is worth noting that the meeting was widely attended by relevant parties including formal and civil institutions, journalists, and academics from the various universities, researchers, experts, as well as representatives from opinion poll centers.
