RAMALLAH, February 5, 2026 (WAFA) – President Mahmoud Abbas received on Thursday the draft of the Interim Constitution of the State of Palestine.

The draft was presented during a meeting with the committee tasked with drafting the provisional Palestinian constitution, headed by its chairman, Counselor Muhammad al-Hajj Qasim, and attended by its members.

The President commended the committee members for their significant efforts in drafting the provisional constitution for the State of Palestine, which paves the way for the transition from the current authority to a fully-fledged state, recognized by more than 160 countries to date.

President Abbas  stated that this year is the year of democracy, as the date for the Palestinian National Council elections, both within Palestine and abroad, has been set, as well as the date for the eighth Fatah conference, in addition to holding local elections next April.

He emphasized that the constitutional articles, particularly those concerning rights and freedoms, safeguard citizens' rights and ensure effective representation for women and youth, reflecting their status in Palestinian society.

Hajj Qassem noted that the committee, formed by presidential decree, began its work immediately upon being appointed by the President. Its work, which lasted approximately seven consecutive months, included 70 meetings during which it consulted with various civil society organizations and relevant stakeholders.

The committee chairman stated that the draft constitution preserves political pluralism and the separation of powers, while also empowering Parliament to exercise its oversight and legislative functions.

President Abbas instructed that a copy of the draft provisional constitution for the State of Palestine be submitted to the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization for review, and subsequently published for public comment. A decision regarding the publication procedures, mechanisms, and timeframe will be issued.

Y.S