Reforming the Palestinian Authority

Seven years after Strenghtening Palestinian Public Institutions, The Independent Task Force of the US/Middle East Project published in April 2006 a concluding report entitled Reforming the Palestinian Authority. The report identifies the primary goals of capacity building in the Palestinian Authority: constitutional government; political accountability and judicial review; transparent and accountable management of public resources; rule of law and citizens’ right; democratic participatory politics and pluralist civil society; and effective and responsive public administration. The Independent Task Force analyses the status of Palestinian Authority governance, its achievements and failures in developing an effective system of government. While it points to internal flaws such as the weakness of work ethic, corruption and political will, it also stresses the role of external factors, namely the Israeli occupation and the pressure from the international donor community. The authors of the report conclude that while the Palestinian Authority has failed so far to develop a coordinated government system, Palestinians have the structures, frameworks and skills to build a sound system of government and a viable state.