RAMALLAH, West Bank — The Palestinian public prosecution, the Supreme Judicial Council and the Bar Association are currently studying a draft law on the formation of a High Criminal Court in the West Bank. The draft was submitted by the Palestinian Ministry of Justice for them to offer comments.
The Ministry of Justice is seeking to get legal comments on the draft law prior to its submission to the Council of Ministers, which will examine and discuss the draft before voting on it through the three readings for approval and publication on the websites of the Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Justice. Before the end of the year, the draft is then sent to President Mahmoud Abbas in order for him to issue a decree, Palestinian Justice Minister Ali Abu Diak told Al-Monitor.
Ever since the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) has been disrupted due to the armed clashes between Fatah and Hamas on June 7, 2007, the successive Palestinian governments have been drafting bills and submitting them to Abbas for signature and promulgation through a decree.
Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah announced July 17 during the opening of the Seventh Judicial Conference in Ramallah the government’s plan to form a High Criminal Court and make amendments to the Jordanian penal code, which dates back to 1960 and is in force in the West Bank.
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