RAMALLAH, April 4, 2011 (WAFA) – The Palestinian constitution committee, chaired by Fatah Central Committee member Nabil Shaath, started Monday discussion on the fourth and final draft for the Palestinian constitution.

President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree to reactivate the committee, which had its last meeting in 2004.

Shaath said the committee will reopen the third draft of the constitution, already endorsed by the National Council, the Palestinian parliament in exile, which it had worked on for five years.

He said the committee’s agenda includes contracting legal experts and setting a schedule which will guarantee the completion of the draft before the end of August in order to prepare for the September declaration of Palestinian state.

He said that once the fourth and final draft is completed, it will be put for a referendum to allow the people to give their views in it before it is adopted by the Palestinian National Council.

Shaath said that every article in the constitution will apply to Palestinians living inside and outside Palestine. It says that Palestinians who lived in the pre-1948 Palestine or were abroad at that time will have the right to obtain the Palestinian nationality and live in Palestine regardless of the Israeli position.

The constitution will not oppose the return of Palestinians to their cities and villages in pre-1948 Palestine.

It will also guarantee to every Palestinian the right to be elected to the parliament and any Palestinian council as well as the right to vote.

R.S./M.A.