Abbas to create Palestinian constitution before global recognition

PA President Mahmoud Abbas claims the constitution will align with international law, UN resolutions, and human rights treaties.

By World Israel News Staff

Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas has established a committee tasked with drafting a constitution for a future Palestinian state, following announcements from several countries that they intend to recognize such an entity in September.

Abbas, now in his late 80s and deeply unpopular among Palestinians, has refused to hold elections since taking office in 2005. He has repeatedly postponed scheduled votes indefinitely, creating doubts around the democratic process within the PA.

Several of the countries expressing readiness to recognize an independent Palestinian state — including the UK, Canada, and Australia — have made clear that such recognition would only come if Abbas commits to democratic reforms and pledges to hold new elections soon.

According to the PA-run news agency WAFA, Abbas said the new Palestinian constitution would reflect “the principles of international law, the United Nations resolutions, international human rights conventions, and relevant international treaties.”

However, under Abbas, the PA has routinely cracked down on dissent, with reports of torture, arbitrary arrests, and even killings of political opponents.

Polls have consistently shown that the majority of Palestinians view the PA as corrupt and authoritarian.

The announcement also included a pledge that Palestinians would be able to contribute ideas to the interim constitution via an online platform.

Notably, the WAFA statement declared that the PA intends to assume governance of the Gaza Strip once the Israeli military withdraws — a scenario that Israeli leaders have categorically rejected.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly insisted that Gaza will never be handed to either the PA or Hamas.

In an interview with Fox News earlier in August, Netanyahu said Israel plans to “hand over [Gaza] to Arab forces that will govern it properly, without threatening us, and giving the Gazans a good life.”

He added that Israel would retain responsibility for security and permanently maintain a perimeter around the enclave.