The vote for Palestinian statehood at the UN this week will represent a critical juncture in history. This is the story of how we got here.
Today at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) will place its bid for an independent State of Palestine, on the June 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital. Mahmoud Abbas, who heads the PNA, will be presenting the bid to the secretary-general, Ban-Ki moon, before going to the Security Council, and then last but not least, the General Assembly.
The bid is based on progress made since the last Ad Hoc Liaison Committee meeting in Brussels in April 2011, but also highlights major achievements over the past two years in the execution of the Program of the 13th Government, titled “Palestine: Ending the Occupation, Establishing the State”, a period that covers the second half of the Palestinian Reform and Development Plan (PRDP) 2008-10, and the first months of the Palestinian National Development Plan (PNDP) 2011-13.
Our conviction that our statehood claim is "firmly founded and backed by solid public institutions and fully-developed governance and administration systems that respect human rights, deliver infrastructure and services to citizens efficiently, and provide a model of good governance. The only barrier to full independence remains Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territory. While there are challenges and obstacles that we continue to face, the present government has worked hard to realise its strategic vision. It has put in place a national effort to consolidate a progressive, democratic state that is open to the world and represents Palestinian social identity and character. Our simultaneous focus is on enhancing our ability to respond to development challenges and building a knowledge-based economy and society in cooperation with the private sector, civil society organisations and local government units.
Although we believe we have already fulfilled the institutional statehood requirements we set out to achieve, our vision continues to be expansive. Even after the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, there will be challenges to overcome because institutional development and reform are continuous processes. After independence, Palestine will have to overcome the legacy of more than four decades of occupation and all its adverse impacts on our economy and society. Addressing these will require more concerted efforts not only nationally, but from the global community.
Let us look at some of the highlights from the last two years that have allowed us to arrive at this point. Over the past two years, the government has made significant progress in advancing the rule of law and human rights. Hundreds more civilians
have been tried at regular civilian rather than the Military Prosecution. The Anti-Corruption Commission has begun its work, reviewing tens of cases and referring several to the newly established Anti-Corruption Court for judicial processing. Incoming and backlog cases are being more speedily settled in the courts.
Efforts to enhance safety and security are producing positive results and efforts made to promote the principles of accountability, implement a human rights-based approach and promote gender equality throughout the security sector are paying dividends. Infrastructure and operational procedures are improving the professional functioning of the Palestinian Civil Police, the Civil Protection, correction and rehabilitation centres, and the Ministry of Interior’s district offices throughout the governorates. The institutional structure and capacity of local government units have been enhanced, amalgamation is on-going, and adjacent municipalities are being encouraged to launch joint services and development projects to increase efficiency. Transparency and community participation are being promoted and accountability is being boosted due to better oversight mechanisms.
Managing the finances
Public financial management reform and fiscal adjustment have led to a substantial and sustained decline in net lending for utility payments and a significant reduction of the recurrent budget deficit in line with medium-term budget targets. However, a severe financial crisis was precipitated by persistent shortfalls in donor contributions to recurrent budget. Obligations to the public sector personnel and the private sector could not be fully met.
The government continues to advance administrative reform and development throughout its structure, and it finalised and published the National Development Plan (NDP) 2011-13 and updated the Palestinian National Early Recovery and Reconstruction Plan for Gaza. The legislation process has been improved, and it has become more participatory, benefiting from an updated legislative drafting manual and a defined process for public consultation on legislation. A draft code of conduct for civil servants has been prepared and an effort is underway to expand e-government services.
The economy continues to be rebuilt to serve as a pillar for viable independence. The investment climate is being improved and partnerships with the private sector are being consolidated. Elections to the Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture were conducted throughout the West Bank and the government will work closely with chamber boards to establish local development councils in the governorates. A national strategy is being drafted to reinvigorate these chambers and support small and medium enterprises.
For the last year, there was hardly any progress in lifting economic restrictions in the West Bank and only a small increase in commercial goods entering Gaza. This, coupled with fiscal retrenchment and political uncertainty, dampened consumer demand and reduced private sector investment. As a result, the growth rate in the West Bank declined to 3.4% in Q1 of 2011, and tax revenues have been lower than anticipated. This is expected to increase the fiscal deficit in 2011 above budget projections, exacerbating the financial crisis caused by shortfalls in donor budget support.
International trade relations continue to be facilitated, accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) continues to be pursued, and bilateral economic ties with other states and economic blocs are being strengthened. Equitable access to public services is a primary concern of the government, especially in the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, “Area C” and rural and marginalised areas affected by the Israeli-built Separation Wall and settlement activity. Social cohesion, fair working conditions and the delivery of quality social services continue to be important national objectives. Social service provision is being enhanced and service delivery is better aligned with economic and social needs, so that social protection, healthcare and education services can be extended to all Palestinians.
A creative, knowledge-based society continues to be promoted, and it has become better able to absorb, utilise and contribute to scientific and technological advancements. ICT and e-government applications are improving governance, building the capacities and skills of staff and enhancing overall institutional performance and competitiveness. Continued investments in this economic environment will help to absorb skilled labour and newly graduates, and thereby reduce labour migration while strengthening the local economy.
Education infrastructure has received major investment to accommodate high enrolment rates and meet the rising demands of our growing population. Hundreds of new classrooms have been built and furnished, maintenance works in schools are on-going, and fourteen school buildings have been upgraded to serve students with special needs. The national strategy for teacher training continues to build the capacity of the teaching profession. Better and more accessible technical and vocational education and training remains a major investment priority, supported by the construction and maintenance of vocational schools.
Progress continues to be made on a network of healthcare centres and facilities throughout Palestine. Mobile clinics are ensuring access to healthcare services in “Area C” and the seam zone where Israel prevents the PNA from providing basic health services and obstructs the work of international organisations.
Society & Culture
A reformed approach to the social safety net is allowing for an expansion of the scope and coverage of social care and protection services to poor and vulnerable individuals and households. Tens of thousands are benefiting from the government’s new Cash Transfer Programme which is using personal bank accounts to transfer cash assistance. An action plan to promote institutional and human capacities and ensure optimal service delivery is in place.
Efforts to empower Palestinian youth, to fulfil their potential and help them to participate in political, social and economic processes, are making great strides. Infrastructure has been provided for youth clubs and sports activities, summer camps and clubs have been organised, and the spirit of participation, cooperation, and voluntary work continues to be promoted. The empowerment of women and the consolidation of their participation in political, social and economic life remain a key priority and is being ensured through gender policies and programmes in ministries and government bodies. The institutional and legal framework are being reformed to better safeguard women’s rights and protect them against all forms of discrimination.
Palestinian cultural life is being rejuvenated through cultural and artistic festivals that showcase the people, their culture and heritage. Israel retains its tight grip on Palestinian aquifers, but some development of the water sector has been achieved. Palestinians enjoy almost universal connection to water supply networks. A large-scale desalination plant has been approved for construction in Gaza and a number of sewerage networks and wastewater treatment plants are currently under construction across the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A unified electricity tariff system has been put into operation and a hundred thousand prepaid electricity meters provided to electricity distribution companies and municipalities across the West Bank.
Rising housing demands are being met through a public-private partnership to put in place the infrastructure needed for new residential quarters and housing projects. After years of delay by Israel, a second mobile telecommunications operator is now in place, further liberalising the telecommunication market. The transportation sector is being developed and extended, licence revenues are rising and hundreds of kilometres of rural and inter-city roads have been constructed, paved or rehabilitated.
Recognising the challenges
Real impediments, however, remain obvious to us and all donors involved in Palestine. The Israeli occupation remains the major obstacle to establishing the State of Palestine and the territory remains fragmented into areas designated as “A”, “B”, and “C” under the Oslo Accord. There is no territorial link between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, or contiguity within the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Israeli restrictions on movement and access, including their full control of external border crossings into the West Bank and Gaza, continue to be real obstacles to establishing the state. The West Bank’s natural resources, such as land and water, are predominantly out of reach for Palestinians.
The political climate remains unstable, which stifles growth and hampers business confidence. The occupation is curbing foreign investment and business partnerships, which undermines the integration and competitiveness of the local economy. In Gaza, poverty and suffering remain pervasive. Limited measures taken by the government of Israel have done little to alleviate the misery caused by the enduring and entrenched siege. Our international development partners remain constrained in helping us implement our projects and programmes. The capricious control regime imposed by the State of Israel still constitutes a major challenge, undermining the very fabric of our nation.
In the face of these challenges, the Palestinian government continues to build on its achievements. Preparations for statehood are fundamentally complete; and following independence, we will continue to work to overcome the impact of the occupation. When it can exercise full sovereignty, the government is determined to consolidate and expand on the reforms and developments achieved to date through effective local, regional and international networking and partnership. It may be mentioned here that the last AHLC meeting was right to find that the PNA had crossed the infrastructural and institutional threshold of readiness for statehood.
We, Palestinians, are indeed ready to join the world’s community of nations as a modern, progressive and well-functioning state. Thus, the question now has squarely become whether the international community is ready to effectively assume its full moral, legal and political responsibility toward transforming the reality of Palestinian statehood, which we have successfully managed to project, into a fully sovereign state of Palestine on the territory occupied in the 1967 war, with East Jerusalem as its capital and with lasting peace, harmony and security with all of its neighbours, thereby helping bring to fruition our quest for freedom and justice, and with it the realisation and embodiment of the internationally shared vision of the two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
With thanks to His Excellency Shaher Mohammad, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Bangladesh.