AIPAC and Mahmoud Abbas: "07/18/07 'Counterpunch' -- -- When the current Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) first 'met' on March 6, 2006 (via videoconference, thanks to Israel's travel restrictions), the Palestinian Authority embarked on the final phase of its struggle to become a democratic proto-state. This was to be the first government formed under the new Palestinian constitution, the Basic Law passed by the PLC in 1998 and finally signed by President Arafat in 2002.
The government envisioned by the constitution is a dramatic departure from the autocratic days of Arafat. The bulk of practical state power, including 'public order and internal security', is expressly assigned to the Council of Ministers, the prime minister's cabinet. The president has the power to hire and fire the PM, approve the cabinet, and declare states of emergency, but is otherwise little mentioned in the document."
The government envisioned by the constitution is a dramatic departure from the autocratic days of Arafat. The bulk of practical state power, including 'public order and internal security', is expressly assigned to the Council of Ministers, the prime minister's cabinet. The president has the power to hire and fire the PM, approve the cabinet, and declare states of emergency, but is otherwise little mentioned in the document."
Comments