Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat will convene the central committee of the Fatah party Tuesday night to discuss reforms within the Palestinian Authority.
The Fatah movement, which is headed by Arafat, is drawing up the final wording of a document detailing the principles for the "fundamental reforms" that are to take place within the Palestinian Liberation Organization and Fatah.
No details have yet been released on what the reforms will entail, but Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is due to address his parliamentary assembly on Wednesday, reported AFP.
Hatem Abd Al Qader, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, said earlier Tuesday that Fatah is preparing a plan that would limit Arafat's powers.
In an interview to the Al Hayat daily, Abd Al Qader said that the Fatah movement is completing a document that will set the guidelines for the internal reforms to take place within PA and Fatah institutions.
According to him, a meeting with Arafat to discuss the document is expected to take place in the near future. Implementation of the document would mean that "[Arafat] will have to surrender some of his authority," he said.
Abd Al Qader stressed, however, that it would be vital that Arafat remain a key part of the Palestinian Authority. "Arafat as a leader, commander and political symbol is important, fundamental and essential," he said.
It is crucial that a "professional" government with only 15 ministers, which will serve the Palestinian people, be established in Palestinian territory, Abd Al Qader added.
According to the Palestinian lawmaker, either a "coordinator" or a prime minister will need to be appointed to oversee contacts with the Palestinian parliament and that emergency plans to restructure the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian security services will have to be drafted.
On Tuesday afternoon, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon slammed the Palestinian Authority as being "dictatorial and corrupt" and said no peace talks would be held until it carries out sweeping reforms.
"The Palestinian Authority must undergo basic structural reforms in all areas -- security, economic, legal and social; the complete transparency and organizational responsibility," Sharon stated. "Only then will we be able to sign a permanent peace agreement that we all hope for so much," he added.
He said he had told the US Administration he would only enter peace talks if the reforms were carried out and if there is a "complete cessation of terrorism, violence and incitement. "There will be no peace with a dictatorial, corrupt and tyrannical regime," said Sharon. (Albawaba.com)
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