Preface

Michel Rocard

Independent Task Force Report
Strengthening Palestinian Public Institutions

June 28, 1999

Council on Foreign Relations

 

The Palestinian Authority administers 2.9 million people, a population greater than that of Mauritania, Gabon, Kuwait, Mongolia, or Slovenia. In fact, more than fifty member states of the United Nations have smaller populations than that of the Palestinian Authority. However, the Palestinian Authority is not yet a state. Its formation and the recognition of its identity go back to September 1993, when Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) signed the Oslo accords in Washington, D.C.

Although the Palestinian Authority does not have complete control over the entry and departure of its own citizens, over travelers who visit it, over the goods it trades, or over its limited mineral resources, and the areas it controls lack geographic contiguity, the Palestinian Authority has come a long way since its establishment. A legislative assembly has been elected under conditions recognized as democratic; public services have begun to operate; an administrative structure is being established; pluralism is emerging; freedom of religious belief is practiced—although freedom of the press remains a serious problem; and, despite shocks mostly due to Israeli closings of the borders, the economy is showing signs of progress.

The emergence of what may become a democratic, secular, and pluralist society in the Arab world is of particular significance. If the Palestinian Authority succeeds in creating a modern society that fully respects human rights and the principles of the United Nations, it will be an achievement of interest to the entire world. The symbolic dimension is obvious. It influences both the survival of a people and the peace of a sensitive region. Above all, it is of significance to the Arab world that the Palestinians, so fragile and disadvantaged, are nevertheless capable of creating a society fully adapted to the standards of the modern world.

Clearly, the task of nation-building is far from complete. Political stability is uncertain and institutional stability even more so. Our recommendations aim to strengthen the Palestinian Authority and its institutions.

We believe the implementation of the recommendations contained in this report will bring about improvements in the running of the Palestinian Authority and in the quality of life of the Palestinian people. It will also inevitably enhance the future state, however defined, to which the final-status negotiations may give rise.

For me, a former prime minister of France and current president of the Development and Cooperation Committee of the European Parliament, it has been an honor to have been entrusted with chairing the work carried out by this Task Force. Its members’ strong sympathy for the cause of peace in the Middle East and for the consolidation of the Palestinian Authority has made this task a moving enterprise for me, one that incidentally has produced deep friendships.

Regarding this, we owe many thanks to the Council on Foreign Relations, and especially to Henry Siegman for having the initial idea of this project and for having obtained President Arafat’s encouragement and cooperation. Thanks are also due to Mr. Siegman for having assured the financial support of the European Union and the government of Norway to make possible the logistical and administrative backup for the entire operation.

Michel Rocard, Task Force Chair