AMAN Calls on Council of Ministers to Abolish Security Clearance Requirement and Adopt Certificate of Non-Conviction
Ramallah - The Coalition for Accountability and Integrity (AMAN) sent a letter to the Council of Ministers calling for the necessary measures to abolish the security clearance requirement for accessing rights and public services and obtaining employment. It also called for adherence to the legally established requirements, foremost among them the Certificate of Non-Conviction issued by the Ministry of Justice.
AMAN recommended that the Certificate of Non-Conviction be adopted as the official means of demonstrating “good conduct” wherever this requirement appears in legislation, regulations, instructions, and government decisions, and that any security-related conditions or requirements lacking a legal basis be abolished.
AMAN’s letter followed advocacy requests it received from a number of citizens alleging interventions attributed to the General Intelligence Service and Preventive Security Service. According to the applicants, these interventions affected their access to certain rights, services, or opportunities, while the security clearance requirement also continues to be applied in a number of areas.
The advocacy request documented 28 different cases in which individuals reported being denied or facing security-related obstacles that prevented them from accessing rights, services, or opportunities. This prompted AMAN to follow up on the issue and call for it to be addressed at the government level.
AMAN explained that the continued application of the security clearance requirement is inconsistent with the High Court of Justice’s 2012 ruling and the subsequent Council of Ministers decision abolishing the requirement and replacing it with the Certificate of Non-Conviction issued by the Ministry of Justice. AMAN stressed that imposing security requirements outside the legal framework undermines the principles of fairness and equality in access to public services and employment and subjects citizens to conditions that are not prescribed by law when exercising their rights or accessing public services and opportunities.
As part of its follow-up on the issue, AMAN conducted a legislative review of the “good conduct” requirement contained in Council of Ministers decisions, regulations, instructions, implementing bylaws, and government circulars. The requirement is used as a condition for appointment to public and quasi-governmental positions or for obtaining licenses and official services.
The review found that this requirement appears in different forms across a number of laws and regulations governing employment, licensing, and services. These cover public institutions and bodies, professions and economic activities, licenses related to transportation, fuel, and securities, as well as certain licensing requirements for private educational institutions.
AMAN noted that some of these laws and regulations merely stipulate a “good conduct” requirement, while others require applicants to submit a “certificate of good conduct” or a “certificate of good conduct and absence of a criminal record.” AMAN maintains that the varying formulations underscore the need for a single legal standard for demonstrating compliance with this requirement. Responsibility should rest exclusively with the legally competent authority - the Ministry of Justice - through the Certificate of Non-Conviction, thereby preventing the imposition of security requirements that lack a clear legal basis.
AMAN reiterated the recommendations contained in its 2025 study, “The Security Clearance as a Condition to Obtain Rights and Public Services Undermines the Government’s Integrity.” The study called on the Council of Ministers to issue clear instructions to realign public employment and service policies with established legal requirements, foremost among them the Certificate of Non-Conviction issued by the Ministry of Justice. It also recommended adopting the certificate as the official means of demonstrating good conduct wherever that requirement appears in legislation and abolishing all security-related conditions that lack a legal basis.
