This approach to appointments and assignments of former officials stands in the way and represents a challenge facing the announced government reform program
The Palestinian Authority’s public budget is in deep financial crisis as a result of the Israeli occupation's piracy of clearance funds and the cumulative structural problem in the public budget, which has increased public indebtedness by about $ 9 billion.
The Palestinian Authority is now unable to meet its obligations towards public employees, private sector suppliers, or poor and marginalized groups. This is exacerbated by high levels of borrowing from banks and the Retirement and Pension Authority, and the enormous challenges facing the Palestinian people following the war of extermination waged by the occupation against Gaza Strip.
Add to all that the accompanying comprehensive destruction of public and private infrastructure and facilities in the Gaza Strip, the siege and dismemberment of the West Bank, the deprivation of laborers from their work inside the Green Line and the decline of the economic cycle in general.
In the midst of all these crises, the approach of assignments, appointments and reappointments of former officials to senior positions, and of individuals who have held many senior positions over many years, continues in an approach that contradicts the presidential decree issued on 14/12/2023 – which calls for the suspension of service for public sector employees (civil or military) once they reach the specified retirement age.
These practices contradict what was stated in the letter of assignment for the new Palestinian government issued by the President, which stressed the need to "rationalize expenditures, and continue the reform process in all institutional, security and economic fields, administration and public finance, in order to reach a solid and transparent governance system, subject to accountability and combats corruption, in a way that ensures good governance."
They are also in clear contradiction with the decisions of the Council of Ministers in its session on 23/4/2024, and with the new government's 19 program approving a package of reforms and financial and administrative measures to streamline government spending, which included: rationing finances, financial responsibility, budget transparency, and aggregating treasury revenues by curbing expenditures.
This approach of appointing and assigning former officials by presidential decrees is an obstacle to change and represents a challenge to the government reform program announced by the government of Dr. Mohamed Mustafa, whose first decision was to approve a package of reforms and financial and administrative measures to rationalize government spending.
Hence, we at AMAN Coalition emphasize the following:
- The need to halt this approach in appointments or reappointments to senior positions, especially in light of the financial crisis that is plaguing the public budget, and the need to direct and unify all resources and priorities towards relief for our people in the Gaza Strip, strengthening the steadfastness of citizens in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and preserving the rights of poor and marginalized groups to access basic services.
- The need to implement the provisions of the presidential decree suspending the extension of civil or military public sector employees after they reach retirement age, and to halt any exceptions.
- The need to adhere to the principles of good governance in appointments to public and senior posts, through the rationalization of public administration, transparency, fair competition and the principle of equal opportunities, should it become urgent to approve any new appointments.
- The need for the new Palestinian Government to abide by the provisions of its program of action, in particular, its plans to streamline spending, and to adhere to the principles of transparency, participation in the management of public funds and openness to civil society.
