The following is the official translation of the Palestinian National Unity Government’s program:
Based on the Palestinian people’s inalienable rights; in keeping with the National Conciliation Agreement; in light of the Letter of Appointment; and in view of the fact that we are still undergoing the stage of liberation and construction, the program of the National Unity Government is based on the following:
First: On the Political Level
1. The Government affirms that the key to security and stability in the region lies in ending the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories and recognizing the right to self determination of the Palestinian people. The government will work with our Arab brethren and the international community towards ending the occupation and restoring the legitimate rights of our people, foremost of which is the establishment of an independent state that exercises full sovereignty over all the lands occupied in 1967, with Jerusalem as its capital, in order that we can lay a solid foundation for peace, security and prosperity in the region and its successive generation.
2. The Government is committed to the higher national interests of the Palestinian people and vows to protect these rights and preserve and develop their achievements and work towards realizing their national goals as ratified by the resolutions of National Councils and the articles of the Basic Law and the National Conciliation Agreement and the resolutions of Arab summits. Based upon this, the government honors the decisions of international legitimacy and the agreements that have been signed by the PLO.
3. The Government will devote special efforts to encourage all Palestinian parties to expedite implementation of the Cairo Agreement concerning the PLO.
4. The Government rejects the so-called state with provisional borders proposed by the American-Israeli plan.
5. To affirm and adhere to the right of return, and to invite the international community to implement the provisions of Resolution 194 pertaining to Palestinian refugees’ right to return to the lands and properties from which they were evicted, and to compensation.
6. The Government vows to work diligently for the sake of liberating the heroic women and men prisoners from the Israeli occupation’s prisons, as well as working towards the release of abducted PLC members, ministers, and heads and members of local councils.
7. The Government commits itself to confront the occupation’s measures on the ground: assassinations, arrests, invasions, military checkpoints; as well as dealing with the issue of crossing points, the siege, and closures.
8. To consolidate relations with Arab, Islamic, and other friendly countries and peace- and justice-loving forces, and to cooperate with the regional and international arenas on the basis of mutual respect.
Second: Jerusalem
1. The formation of a higher committee for Jerusalem affairs in coordination with the Executive Committee of the PLO in order to follow up issues having to do with steadfastness in Jerusalem, and for earmarking a transparent governmental budget for Jerusalem within the general budget.
2. To confront Israeli policies concerning Jerusalem’s land, people, and holy places, and to work towards securing sufficient resources in the budget to support the steadfastness of our people in Jerusalem; to expose the occupation’s practices concerning the city and in the al-Aqsa Mosque; to reactivate the Jerusalem issue in all regional and international forums; to invite the Arab and Islamic people to shoulder their responsibilities in defending Jerusalem and supporting its people politically and in the media.
Third: On the Level of Confronting the Occupation
1. The Government affirms that all forms of resistance, including popular mass (nonviolent) resistance to the occupation, is a legitimate right of the Palestinian people as guaranteed by all international norms and charters; the Palestinian people have the right to defend themselves against the continuous Israeli aggression.
2. The Government will work, through national conciliation, on consolidating and enhancing the calm (ceasefire) so it will become comprehensive, reciprocal, and concurrent, in return for the commitment of the Israeli occupation to halt its measures on the ground: to cease assassinations, arrests, incursions, home demolitions, leveling of lands, and excavation works in Jerusalem; to remove military checkpoints; open crossing points; lift all restrictions on movement; and set a time frame for the release of prisoners.
3. The Government affirms what has been noted in the National Conciliation Agreement concerning the conduct of negotiations; these are the prerogative of the PLO and the President of the Palestinian National Authority, based on adherence to and realization of Palestinian national goals, and based on the protection of Palestinian rights. Any political agreement that is arrived at must be presented to the new Palestinian National Council for ratification, or be put before a general referendum of the Palestinian people inside and abroad, based on legislation governing it.
4. The Government will work towards, and encourages relevant parties to exert efforts in expediting the resolution of the imprisoned Israeli soldier’s case in the context of an honorable agreement for the exchange of prisoners and the return of deported persons.
5. The Government affirms that the realization of peace and stability in the area depends on the end of occupation and the regaining of the national rights of our people, the dismantling of the apartheid wall and settlements, the cessation of the Judaization of Jerusalem and the policy of annexation and all other forms of racist discrimination, and the restoration of rights to their owners.
Fourth: on the Security Level
The national unity government realizes the difficulty of internal conditions, and believes that its top priority in the coming stage is to control the current security conditions and the status of lawlessness. This requires full cooperation between the Presidency and the Government. In order to realize this, the Government will rely on the following:
1. To call and work for the reconstitution of the Higher National Security Council as a governing body for all security services and the framework that organizes their work and defines their policies.
2. To build the security forces on a professional basis and to provide for their needs; to implement comprehensive reforms that would depoliticize the security forces’ and remove partisan attributes; to remove the forces from political conflict and contestation; to enhance their loyalty to the homeland and the execution of the decisions of the political leadership, and to ensure that the members of the security services execute the tasks entrusted to them.
3. To ensure the execution of laws ratified by the PLC governing the work of the security services.
4. To draw and execute a comprehensive security plan to end all forms of security chaos and infringements of the law; to protect life, honor, and public and private property; to control firearms and provide security to citizens; to work on ending the oppression inflicted on people through the application of the rule of law and support the police to perform its duty in the best manner in the execution of the decisions of the courts.
Fifth: on the Legal Level
1. The Government shall work in full cooperation with the judicial authorities to ensure the reform, activation and protection of the judicial apparatus with all its institutions in a manner that enables it to perform its duties in the context of enhancing justice and fighting corruption and affirming the rule of law and its implementation with transparency, integrity, and neutrality; it will follow up on cases of corruption and assaults upon public property.
2. The Government affirms that it will work according to the Basic Law which organizes the relations between the three authorities on the basis of the separation of powers and that it will respect the authorities granted to each according to the Basic Law.
3- The Government shall assist the President in performing his duties, and will ensure cooperation and complementarity with the Presidency according to the law and will work with the Legislative Council and the judicial authorities towards developing the Palestinian political system with the purpose of having a strong, unified national authority.
Sixth: the Economic Situation
1. The Government shall work on ending the unjust siege in all its forms imposed upon our people.
2. The Government calls for the revision of the Paris Economic Protocols in order to liberate the Palestinian economy from dependency.
3. To give priority to the development of the Palestinian economy, and to provide protection to the productive and service sectors of the economy; to encourage national exports, with the preservation of the support to national products with all possible means; to develop economic and commercial relations with the Arab and Islamic worlds and with the European Union and the rest of the world.
4. To protect the consumer and to encourage the private sector and provide the proper climate for its activity; to strengthen the proper rules governing the relations between the government and the private sector; to end monopolies and to determine the means of handling available resources and their just distribution. The Government will work towards providing an enabling climate of stability and protection for investment projects.
5. The Government encourages economic development that is in keeping with our values and customs and which realizes social justice in a way that serves development, the protection of the private sector, the encouragement of investments and combating unemployment and poverty, and strengthening productive sectors and rebuilding the infrastructure and developing industrial areas, the housing sectors, and modern technology.
6. To re-evaluate investment laws and to put a limit to monopolies between the executive authority and the private sector.
7. To support the agricultural sector and increase the developmental budget allocated to it.
8. To work towards regularizing the payment of salaries of public sector employees, and a commitment to a schedule of payment for unpaid salaries, as well as for the payment of debts owed to the private sector.
9. To pay due attention to workers, farmers and fishermen, and to work towards relieving their suffering through support and specific projects.
Seventh: in the Area of Reform
1. The government adopts a policy for financial and administrative reform, and will cooperate with the PLC in developing legislation that will enhance reform and combat corruption.
2. To develop administrative structures and work procedures in governmental institutions in order to ensure the effectiveness of their work and its conformity with the law.
3. To draw a plan for the rationalization of government spending in all areas.
4. To fight corruption and strengthen the values of integrity and transparency, to prevent the exploitation of public monies, and to develop a Palestinian strategy for administrative development.
Eighth: On the Level of Enhancing Palestinian Values
1. The Government commits itself to consolidate national unity, protect internal peace and strengthen the values of mutual respect, the adoption of the language of dialogue and conflict resolution and an end to all forms of tension, to enhance the culture of tolerance, protect Palestinian life and ban internal fighting.
2. The government affirms the unity of the Palestinian people inside and in the Diaspora.
3. The government shall seek to consolidate national conciliation and internal stability, and will deal with the consequences of the regrettable events through the appropriate mechanisms, while respecting the principle of the rule of law and the provision of protection to citizens and private and public property. It calls upon the families of victims of the regrettable incidents to show restraint and patience, and affirm to them that it stands by them in their time of sorrow and pain.
4. The government is committed to the principle of citizenship through equality in rights and obligations, equality of opportunity, and the enhancement of social justice, especially in the realm of employment and appointments in ministries and other public institutions; it is committed to end discrimination in general rights among all citizens, and the end of all forms of nepotism in civil and security appointments.
5. The government affirms its protection of political pluralism, supports the development of the elections law, the protection of general freedoms, the strengthening of democratic values, the protection of human rights, the strengthening of the principle of justice and equality, the protection of freedom of the press and freedom of opinion and expression, the right to differ, the rights of Palestinian women, a commitment to the peaceful rotation of power, and the completion of the elections for local councils as soon as possible.
6. The government is committed to strengthening political partnership and encourages all parties to embark on a process of dialogue for its achievement.
7. To support and give assistance to the families of prisoners and martyrs and to ensure that they live a dignified life and have their special needs met.
8. The Government is committed to ensure a decent life to citizens, and to provide for basic needs concerning health care, social welfare, and quality health, and to deal with poverty and unemployment through the provision of work opportunities and developmental projects and programs of social security.
9. The Government will develop the education sector and improve the conditions of teachers, encourage scientific research, and preserve the neutrality of the educational system, and supports the establishment of the National Fund for University Education.
10. Utmost attention to youth and sports and the provision of basic needs in this area, and the effort to expand the sports infrastructure, including the expediting of the project for the setting up a sports city and continuing participation in international events, strengthening Palestinian participation in Arab, regional, and international sports forums.
11. The Government will sponsor the implementation of the special law for people with special needs.
12. To protect the rights of women and give them the full opportunity for political participation and decision-,making and participation in the process of building in all institutions in all fields.
13. The Government will encourage and support non-governmental and societal activities, and civil society institutions.
Eighth: International relations
The Government stresses its pride in its Arab and Islamic depth and its appreciation for Arab and Islamic support politically and economically and in the area of the media. The Government is keen to commit itself to invigorating its role in the Arab League and the Islamic Conference Organization, and looks forward to the Arab Summit that will be held in Riyadh at the end of this month and its decisions to end the siege and support and protect the Mecca Accords. The Government is also proud of its varied international relations that have strengthened due to international support of our people and their legitimate rights, and the government will work towards establishing correct and strong relations with all nations of the world, and with international institutions including the United Nations and the Security Council and regional and international organizations and in accordance with what assists our people in achieving its freedom and independence, and contributes to the strengthening of world peace and stability.
The Government affirms its commitment to the civilizational heritage founded upon tolerance, coexistence and dialogue among civilizations, and its respect for international law and international humanitarian law in harmony with our values and customs and traditions. The European Union has extended much assistance to the Palestinian people, and has supported its right to freedom and independence, and expressed serious positions criticizing the policies of the occupation. This is also the policy pursued by Russia, China, and Japan in their foreign policy towards the Palestinian question. The Government is keen on building a strong relationship with the European Union, Russia, the People’s Republic of China, Japan, India, and the countries of Latin America, and expects them to take practical steps to left the siege on our people and exert pressure on the occupation authorities to end the siege and respect the human rights as prescribed by international covenants, to withdraw from our occupied land, and to cease the belligerent and repeated measures taken against our people. The Government is also keen on developing relations with permanent members of the Security Council.
The government invites the American administration to review its policies concerning the Palestinian question and believes that it is necessary for it to respect the choice of the Palestinian people as embodied in the government of national unity, and to cease any form of double standards in its policy. The Government looks forward to good and fruitful relations between the Palestinian and American peoples.
