THE AMENDED BASIC LAW (Promulgated March 18, 2003)∗1[1]
In the Name of God, the Merciful and the Compassionate.
Introduction
The continuous attachment of the Arab Palestinian people to the land of their fathers and
forefathers, on which this people has historically lived, is a fact that has been expressed
in the Declaration of Independence, issued by the Palestine National Council. The
strength of this attachment is confirmed by its consistency over time and place, by
keeping faith with and holding onto national identity, and in the realization of wondrous
accomplishments of struggle. The organic relationship between the Palestinian people,
their history and their land has confirmed itself in their unceasing effort to prompt the
world to recognize the rights of the Arab Palestinian people and their national entity, on
equal footing with other nations.
The birth of the Palestinian National Authority in the national homeland of Palestine, the
land of their forefathers, comes within the context of continuous and vigorous struggle,
during which the Palestinian people witnessed thousands of their precious children
sacrificed as martyrs, injured persons and prisoners of war, all in order to achieve their
people’s clear national rights, the foremost of which are the right of return, the right to
self-determination and the right to establish an independent Palestinian state, with
Jerusalem as a capital, under the leadership of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the
sole, legitimate representative of the Arab Palestinian people wherever they exist.
Within the framework of the interim period, resulting in the Declaration of Principles
Agreement, the establishment of the Palestinian National Authority with its three pillars –
the legislative, executive and judicial branches – became among the most urgent of
national missions. The establishment of the Palestinian Legislative Council, through free
and direct general elections, made the adoption of a Basic Law suitable for the interim
period a necessary foundation upon which to organize the mutual relationship between
the government and the people. It is a first step on the way to determining the
distinguishing characteristics of a civil society capable of achieving its independence. At
the same time, it is a basic foundation upon which to enact unifying legislation and law
for the Palestinian national homeland.
This Basic Law has established a firm foundation, representing the collective conscience
of our people, including its spiritual components, its national faith and its nationalist
loyalty. The titles of the Basic Law include a group of modern constitutional rules and
principles that address public and personal rights and liberties in a manner that achieves
justice and equality for all, without discrimination. Further, they ensure the rule of law,
strike a balance between the executive, legislative and judicial branches, and draw lines
∗
Translation into English for the Yearbook.
Published in the Palestine Official Gazette, Special Issue No. 2, March 19, 2003. The original Basic
Law was published in the Palestine Official Gazette, Special Issue, July 7, 2002.
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