عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Palestinian President Forms Committee to Oversee Administrative Reforms

File photo of President Mahmoud Abbas - Reuters
File photo of President Mahmoud Abbas - Reuters
TT
20
TT

Palestinian President Forms Committee to Oversee Administrative Reforms

File photo of President Mahmoud Abbas - Reuters
File photo of President Mahmoud Abbas - Reuters

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas decided Monday to form a national committee to oversee administrative reforms following corruption reports in ministries and government institutions.

Wafa news agency revealed that the committee will be chaired by the legal advisor of Abbas.

It consists of the secretary-general of the cabinet, the heads of the General Personnel Bureau, the State Audit and Administrative Control Bureau, and the Palestinian Pension Agency.

The committee members will also include the chairman of the Organization and Administration Authority, the minister of justice, representatives of the Palestinian National Fund and the Ministries of Finance and Foreign Affairs, and a representative of the General Intelligence Service.

The committee will be assigned to study the laws and regulations on which the institutional structure in the state is based. It will further handle all matters related to the public vocation and possible means to reform and develop it as well as rationalize spending.

The committee is further mandated to control the structural and vocational relations among ministries, government institutions, and PLO-affiliated institutions.

Abbas made this decision following a report published by the State Audit and Administrative Control Bureau for 2020, highlighting corruption in the ministries and government institutions.

The bureau received up to 147 complaints in this regard, the report noted.

This caused controversy among Palestinians, and opposition factions demanded launching an investigation into the case to bring corrupts to justice.

Most Viewed

 
Arab World

Israel Expands Syria Intervention Under ‘Druze Protection’ Pretext

Syrian Druze fighters participate in the funeral of those killed in clashes with Syrian government forces in Sweida on Saturday (AFP)
Syrian Druze fighters participate in the funeral of those killed in clashes with Syrian government forces in Sweida on Saturday (AFP)
TT
20
TT

Israel Expands Syria Intervention Under ‘Druze Protection’ Pretext

Syrian Druze fighters participate in the funeral of those killed in clashes with Syrian government forces in Sweida on Saturday (AFP)
Syrian Druze fighters participate in the funeral of those killed in clashes with Syrian government forces in Sweida on Saturday (AFP)

Israel expanded its involvement in Syria, launching one of its most intense airstrikes in years on Friday night and into Saturday morning.
The broad operation included what Israeli media described as “covert operations,” which ranged from air drops of humanitarian aid to evacuating wounded individuals to Israel, along with other undisclosed activities.
The Israeli military carried out an extensive offensive across Syria between Friday and Saturday, targeting military sites, air defense systems, and ground-to-air missile infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the army distributed aid to the Druze community in the southwestern city of Sweida and evacuated five wounded individuals to Israel.
Reports in Israel indicated that a helicopter landed in Sweida, dropped off the aid, evacuated the wounded, and then took off shortly after.
These reports are often used by Israeli media when military censorship prevents the release of details from within the country.
The Israeli military announced that its fighter jets launched a series of airstrikes in Syria, less than 24 hours after targeting a site near the presidential palace in Damascus.
The strikes came amid Israeli warnings to Syria’s new rulers not to harm the country's Druze minority, following sectarian clashes. The military said the raids targeted a military facility, anti-aircraft artillery, and ground-to-air missile infrastructure.
Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported that Israel is preparing a list of additional military and government targets for future strikes inside Syria.
The announcement from the Israeli military came about two hours after Syria's state news agency, SANA, reported that Israeli airstrikes had targeted areas near Damascus, as well as locations in Latakia, Hama, and Daraa in the south.
In addition to the airstrikes, the Israeli military confirmed that five Syrian Druze were evacuated to Ziv Hospital in Safed. The army also stated that “Israeli forces are deployed in the southern Syrian region, prepared to prevent hostile forces from entering the area and Druze villages.”
This development marked a significant escalation in Israel's involvement in Syria.
A military analyst writing for Maariv noted that the Israeli military has expanded its intervention in the conflict between Syrian government forces and the Druze, confirming that helicopters transported aid to the Druze forces and evacuated the wounded to Israel.
They mentioned that the Israeli side has refrained from providing further details about the operation.
According to the analyst, there are several reasons for Israel’s intervention in Syria, one of which is the belief that the Syrian Druze could help stabilize the northern Golan Heights.
According to Israeli strategy, the area between the border and 80 kilometers deep inside Syrian territory should remain demilitarized, which is why Israel has a vested interest in supporting the Druze living in this buffer zone.