CONFERENCES

1994

  Challenges Facing Palestinian Society during the Transitional Period
  5th - 6th February 1994. Ambassador Hotel, Jerusalem.
Organized by: Conference held by the Jerusalem Media and Communication Center (JMCC).

SUMMARY:

This conference was held to encourage practical and democratic discussions about the challenges facing Palestinian society during the transitional period and the future. The panel discussion in the conference were as follows:

DAY ONE:
I) Reading the Declaration of Principles Political Dimensions of the DOP - Dr. Haidar Abdel Shafi Legal Dimensions of the DOP - Raja Shehadeh, Lawyer
II) An Israeli Understanding of the DOP and the Transitional Phase Dr. Shlomo Gazit
III) The Palestinian Authority in the Transitional Phase Legal Plans for the National Authority - Dr. Anis al-Qasim An Analytical Study of the Legal Plan for the Palestinian Authority in the Transitional Phase. Dr. Naseer Aruri An Understanding of Authority and Democracy - Dr. Mousa Budeiri

DAY TWO:
IV) Dealing with the Issues not Mentioned in the Agreement but that are Important in Reality" Jerusalem and Settlements - Ibrahim Daqaq Refugees of 1967 - Dr. Asad Abdel Rahman
V) Economic Development in the Transitional Phase Economic Development Strategies in the Transitional Phase - Dr. Samir Abdallah Opportunities for Palestinian Investment in the Transitional Phase - Kamal Hassouneh
VI) National Unity in the Framework of a Political and Ideological Plurality" The Vision and the Future of the Relationship between the Islamic Movement and the Transitional Authority - Bassam Jarrar The Future of the PLO and its Role in the Transitional Phase - Dr. Muhammed Hallaj Elections as a Frame, the Mechanism of Plurality, National Unity and Democracy - Dr. Manuel Hassassian

Rochelle Davis attended this conference on behalf of PASSIA. One of the main points raised in many of the papers and discussions was that an apparent lack of democratic practice was undermining Palestinian political and public life. The need for a basic law was emphasised as was the necessity that the future National Authority is based on democratic principles. There was general concern about the limitations of the Declaration of Principles itself and the possibility that the document cannot sufficiently enable the real needs of Palestinian developement to be addressed. The proceedings of this conference have been published and are available at the JMCC in Jerusalem.