RAMALLAH, June 1, 2026 (WAFA) – The Palestinian government has adopted a new regulation governing symbolic and protocol gifts, based on a recommendation from the Anti-Corruption Commission.
The regulation was published in the Official Gazette on May 25, 2026, in accordance with the Anti-Corruption Law and related legislation, as part of ongoing efforts to develop the legislative framework governing public service.
The regulation aims to reinforce the principles of integrity, transparency, and accountability by establishing clear rules governing the receipt and handling of gifts by public officials.
It defines the circumstances under which gifts may be accepted, as well as the permitted exceptions, contributing to enhancing public trust in institutions and reducing conflicts of interest.
The regulation reaffirms the prohibition on soliciting or accepting gifts linked to public office, while permitting symbolic and protocol gifts under specific conditions and procedures.
It defines protocol gifts as those exchanged within the framework of official and diplomatic relations to express mutual respect and foster official ties.
It also introduces more detailed mechanisms for reporting protocol gifts and reviewing them through specialized committees, ensuring the adoption of objective and well-reasoned decisions on their handling.
It further sets out specific procedures for dealing with gifts received by senior officials through designated committees tasked with examining such cases and submitting the necessary recommendations.
The regulation also expands the available options for handling protocol gifts in a manner that serves the public interest, whether by allocating them for use by government institutions, referring them to the relevant authorities if they hold cultural, historical, or heritage value, or selling them in accordance with approved legal procedures and depositing the proceeds with the competent authorities.
It also places particular emphasis on transparency by requiring relevant institutions to maintain a dedicated register for protocol gifts, document their details and the decisions taken in their regard, and publish the register on official websites, thereby strengthening disclosure and institutional oversight.
The new regulation replaces Gift Regulation No. (10) of 2019 and enhances the awareness-raising and oversight role of the Anti-Corruption Commission in monitoring the implementation of its provisions and collecting relevant data and statistics.
It also provides a more comprehensive and detailed regulatory framework, including clearer definitions of symbolic and protocol gifts and an expanded scope of entities and individuals subject to its provisions.
The implementation of the new regulation is expected to contribute to strengthening standards of integrity and good governance in the public sector and to provide clearer and more effective procedures for handling official and protocol gifts, in line with best practices in combating corruption and enhancing public trust in public institutions.
T.R.
