RAMALLAH, December 24, 2025 (WAFA) – The following is a statement issued by President Mahmoud Abbas:
"At this critical and sensitive juncture confronting our national cause, and in light of the continued aggression and systematic occupation policies targeting the existence of our people and their legitimate rights, we are following with responsibility and concern the discussions and campaigns circulating on certain social media platforms. Some of these are accompanied, at times, by incitement and distortion of facts, in ways that neither serve the supreme national interest nor correspond to the magnitude of the existential challenges we face.
I affirm, with absolute clarity, that loyalty to the sacrifices of our righteous martyrs, our steadfast prisoners, our wounded, and their resilient families is a deeply rooted national and moral obligation. It is not subject to political bargaining or exploitation, nor may it be used as a tool for incitement, division, or for undermining the legitimate institutions of our national state.
Pursuant to the constitutional responsibilities vested in the President of the State of Palestine, and in accordance with the provisions of the Palestinian Basic Law, the issuance of decrees by law falls exclusively within the constitutional powers of the President. Such decisions are taken in line with the requirements of the supreme national interest, with the aim of safeguarding the Palestinian political system, ensuring the continuity of state institutions, and strengthening the steadfastness of our people in the face of current challenges.
Within this framework, and in harmony with our national and international commitments, we are proceeding with the implementation of a comprehensive national reform program. This program seeks to develop and modernize the legal and institutional system of the State of Palestine, entrench the rule of law, promote principles of good governance, transparency, and accountability, ensure the separation of powers, and serve the public interest while reinforcing citizens’ trust in their state institutions.
This reform program includes the review and modernization of legislation regulating political, administrative, economic, and social life, foremost among them laws related to financial governance, public administration, the judiciary, anti-corruption measures, and the strengthening of the independence of oversight institutions, thereby ensuring efficiency in performance and fairness in implementation.
We also reaffirm our commitment to completing constitutional and political reform, including efforts to prepare the necessary constitutional frameworks for an orderly transition from the phase of the National Authority to that of statehood; updating election laws; and enacting a modern law on political parties based on clear democratic foundations. This shall ensure adherence to the political program of the Palestine Liberation Organization, international legitimacy, the principle of the two-state solution, the rule of one law, and the legitimacy of a single lawful weapon.
In the social sphere, Decree-Law No. (4) of 2025 was issued as part of this comprehensive reform vision, with the aim of unifying and regulating the social protection and welfare system, and ensuring justice, transparency, and sustainability in the provision of benefits, in accordance with approved objective and professional criteria, in a manner that preserves the dignity of beneficiaries and safeguards their rights.
In this context, I emphasize that the Palestinian National Economic Empowerment Institution “Tamkeen” is an official national executive institution that operates exclusively to implement policies and decisions issued in accordance with the law. It holds no legislative or political authority. Assigning to it, or to those managing it, responsibilities beyond its legal mandate constitutes a distortion of roles and an unjustified harm to a national institution performing its duty within the unified social protection and reform framework.
The reform program also encompasses the development of the education sector, including the review and updating of educational curricula in line with international standards, and in a manner consistent with our Palestinian national identity. This aims to promote the values of tolerance, respect for the law, and the rejection of violence and incitement, without prejudice to our inalienable national rights or our historical narrative.
Preserving our national unity, safeguarding civil and social peace, and protecting our legitimate institutions constitute fundamental pillars in confronting the occupation and its aggressive schemes. No inciting or defamatory discourse should be allowed to distract our national compass or weaken our internal front.
Accordingly, I call upon all our people to demonstrate a high sense of national responsibility, to adhere to a rational and inclusive discourse that respects the law and facts, to resort to legitimate and constitutional frameworks, and to place the supreme national interest above all other considerations.
Together—through our unity, our institutions, and our genuine loyalty to the sacrifices of our people—we shall continue our legitimate struggle until the attainment of freedom and independence, and the realization of our independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital."
Y.S
