Mustafa Barghouti from PNGO outlined the current situation faced by Palestinians and NGOs: the PA is very weak, Israel does not observe agreements while simultaneously putting great pressure on the PA. The challenge for Palestinians is to overcome the current situation, achieve self-determination and develop the economy. The role of NGOs is and has been to build a civil society, creating infrastructure and promoting pluralism and diversification. Many NGOs are dedicated to defense of the rights of the underprivileged. Currently, they are vital as promoters of dialogue between the people and the various institutions of the Palestinian Authority (PA).

Dr. Anis al-Qaq, Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation began by reviewing the PA's policy towards NGOs. In the past, the lack of a government and the occupation resulted in the establishment of more than 800 NGOs covering a broad range of activities (e.g. health, women, education etc.). Now the PA is making efforts to register NGOs by type of activity. NGOs must resolve problems such as duplication, inefficiency and the lack of uniform standards. NGOs can help the PA in implementing projects since they often possess superior experience. Although NGOs should be independent from the PA, they should be registered, operate under law, and be monitored by the government. International funding should be channeled through, and in coordination with, the PA and NGOs should report their spending to the PA. Registration of NGOs will involve five ministries (Ministries of Interior, Labour, Planning and International Cooperation, Justice and Social Affairs) and the PA will formulate laws covering the following organisations: associations and sports clubs, political factions, labour unions, NGOs, and cooperatives.

George Giacaman raised the question of whether Palestinian civil society will be able to develop: will the economy be subservient to Israel? Will civil rights be subservient to the PA? Assessment of the prospects for development of Palestinian civil society requires a review of social and political developments under occupation. Pluralism has been a feature of Palestinian political life for almost three decades.

The absence of a state has enabled a degree of individual social and political mobility and influence on society. Many parties and factions established their own NGOs by which they sought to extend their influence in society, for example by providing health, educational or other services. Organisations working within the private-public sphere were common in Palestinian society throughout the decades without a Palestinian authority. The Oslo Agreement and subsequent events are a watershed, which have changed the situation for NGOs and raised questions about their future role. The existing private-public sphere needs to be maintained, that is the PA's influence has to be limited.

Palestinian NGOs' current role is to give civil society direction. The fact that the PA has sought the assistance of NGOs, especially in the health field, shows that there is some degree of reliance on NGOs. For the NGO network to secure support and legitimacy, its work must be efficient, serve society effectively, and be accountable to the people.

Discussion:
A participant remarked on the effects of political factionalism within NGOs, stressing that affiliated NGOs perform professional work and have the right to express political opinions. The quality of their work is more important than any affiliation, and political diversity is part of pluralism.

Wassim al-Kurdi of the Educational Network spoke about the experience, goals and structure of this networking body and stressed the importance of joint work. The members of the Educational Network share the idea of a basic educational philosophy. The network also focuses on media: the concept is disseminated through brochures and other materials to educational centres and those dealing with curricula. Within the network discussion, coordination, joint decision-making and other activities furthering the common goal take place. These include developing educational efforts, providing alternative approaches, and clarifying learning concepts despite different political affiliations.

Munir Fasheh of the Tamer Institute explained that development must address society's needs, an imperative which is often neglected due to over-stressing on society's deficiencies while ignoring strengths. An alternative is to consider people as creative actors who are the solution, not the problem. This necessitates creating as many learning environments as possible including the following basic components:

• the ability to express personal views
• team work/work in groups
• access to relevant information
• formulation of a common vision
• awareness of society's patterns of thinking, behaving and perceiving.

Dr. Khalil Nakhleh discussed the prospects for effective partnership and cooperation among Palestinian NGOs (PNGOs) and between them and their foreign counterparts (INGOs). The changing Palestinian (since September 1993), international political and economic environments mark a turning point and require the drawing of lessons from past experience for future NGO cooperation. The respective agendas should be reconsidered, in order to establish principles for more solid and lasting cooperation. PNGOs should work towards safeguarding, developing and enriching Palestinian civil society with an emphasis on the democratic component of societal development. Nakhleh said that the pre-requisites for such a PNGO-INGO partnership are twofold:

• The "structural properties" of the partnership should be determined and INGOs have to re-examine and redefine their objectives and the kinds of relationships regarding their partnership with PNGOs.
• The "functional properties" have to be determined. In this regard, activities should be jointly determined and should recognise mutual needs, priorities and potentials. They also should define their roles and the division of labour.

PNGOs role should be, for example, in implementing activities, facilitating cooperation with local partners, and generating local support for the INGOs while the INGOs tasks should include funding, technical assistance, and lobbying for international support.

Nakhleh went on to discuss how these principles could be translated into actual PNGO-INGO partnership by using the Palestinian-Canadian NGO partnership as an example. There are more than 150 Canadian NGOs operating worldwide but only half a dozen are active in Palestine. For these, and others interested but not yet involved, the development of a strategic Canadian agenda - jointly with the PNGO counterparts - is needed. They also could mobilise other Canadian or international NGOs to become involved in the development of the Palestinian NGO sectors and contribute to its horizontal expansion. A further important role of the Canadian NGOs is advocacy and lobbying both of the Canadian government and the PA.