Summary
The elected Council created by the Interim Agreement: 82 representatives plus the Ra’ees of the Executive Authority, directly and simultaneously elected by the Palestinian people of the West Bank, Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, which with the Ra’ees constitutes the Palestinian Interim Self-Government Authority for a transitional period not exceeding five years from 4 May 1994 (Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip (28 September 1995), PDF p.4-5).
Details
- Pending its inauguration, the powers transferred to it are exercised by the Palestinian Authority, and “Council” in the Agreement means the Palestinian Authority until then; on inauguration the Council replaces the Authority and assumes all its rights, liabilities and obligations (PDF p.3, 17, 20).
- It possesses both legislative and executive power within its jurisdiction, elects a Speaker from among its members on inauguration, is organized under a Basic Law that shall not be contrary to the Agreement, and may establish ministries, subordinate bodies and small committees (PDF p.4-6).
- Its Executive Authority is a committee exercising executive power on its behalf: the Ra’ees ex officio, other members from the Council proposed by the Ra’ees and approved by the Council, plus up to twenty percent appointed from outside the Council who may not vote in the Council (PDF p.5).
- Its meetings are open to the public except on security, commercial or personal confidentiality grounds, and acts of the Ra’ees and Executive Authority are subject to judicial review before the Palestinian Court of Justice (PDF p.6).
- It has no foreign relations powers; the Palestine Liberation Organization may negotiate and sign only economic, donor, regional development and cultural, scientific and educational agreements for its benefit (PDF p.6-7).
- Its jurisdiction excludes Jerusalem, settlements, specified military locations, Palestinian refugees, borders, foreign relations and Israelis, and covers all persons except Israelis (PDF p.13-14); legislation exceeding its jurisdiction or inconsistent with the DOP or the Agreement is void from the outset (PDF p.15).
- On inauguration the West Bank Civil Administration is dissolved and the Israeli military government withdrawn, Israel retaining the powers not transferred (PDF p.3).
Related pages
Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip (28 September 1995), Interim Agreement, Palestinian Authority, Palestinian Police, Palestinian Legislative Council, Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements