AMAN's position on the decision to dismiss the Head of the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees and appoint a new one
Decree-Law No. (4) of 2025 amending Decree-Law No. (1) of 2019 on the Palestinian National Economic Empowerment Organization
Since taking office, the current government has announced its reform plans and measures including administrative and financial reforms, especially those related to the management of ministerial and non-ministerial public institutions, with the aim of rationalizing the administrative structure of the PA and its financial costs, including the salary bill.
The administrative and structural reforms included completing job description cards, especially for senior positions, which specify the tasks and specifications required for their occupants, and which do not require granting these senior officials the rank of “minister.” These decisions reverse a number of decrees issued by the PA President in the recent period.
Accordingly, the Coalition for Integrity and Accountability (AMAN) believes that
1) The presidential decree law to appoint the head of the Detainees and Ex-detainees Commission is an infringement on the powers of the Council of Ministers, contradicts the provisions of Article 69 of the Palestinian Basic Law, and ignores the necessary procedures in accordance with the law.
2) The President's policy of transferring some heads of public institutions and those in the highest category, transferring them to special categories, and granting them the rank of “minister” does not respect the job description cards and represents a consistent policy of appeasement and appointments linked to political loyalties and privileges.
3) AMAN Coalition opposes the issuance of Decree Law No. (4) of 2025 amending Decree Law No. (1) of 2019 regarding the Palestinian National Economic Empowerment Foundation issued on 25/1/2025. AMAN considers that these amendments resulted from Israeli blackmail of the Palestinian leadership, with the aim of creating and reinforcing more rifts between the leadership and the Palestinian public. The decisions do not represent a state of necessity as per Article (43) of the amended Basic Law. The decree intensifies the executive power’s legislative power. On another note, it should have been discussed and assessed in light of public interest. Accordingly, AMAN believes that the retirement of the former Head of the Detainees and Ex-detainees Commission was a punishment for his refusal to succumb to these pressures.
Accordingly, AMAN does not see the need to issue decrees by law at this stage, nor does it see a justification for granting officials of public institutions in the state the rank of minister in such an appeasing manner to gain loyalties, and believes that the current circumstances require public decisions to be in line with the requirements of promoting administrative and structural reforms and bridging the gap to rebuild trust between citizens and the Palestinian Authority in accordance with the public interest.
