Conceptual and Practical Indicators Of Good Governance at Local Palestinian Authorities

This study aimed at identifying the reality of conceptual and practical indicators of good governance at the local Palestinian authorities and the extent of the application of its principles from the viewpoint of the members and chairpersons of the local Palestinian authorities and their employees. The study also aimed at determining the role of each variable including: number of the board of authority, its classification, sources of financing local Palestinian authorities, method of forming their councils, academic qualifications of their members, knowing the regulations and laws of local authorities by their crews. This study included a case study of Qalqilia Governorate and its villages. The study population consisted of the chairpersons, members, and employees of the local Palestinian authorities at the Qalqilia Governorate. The study sample consisted of 260 questionnaires distributed on the chairpersons, members, managers and one of the employees of the local Palestinian authorities. The sample was taken at a percentage of 100 % of the study population. To achieve the objective of the study, the researcher designed and used a questionnaire based on some of the literature related to the study subject. The questionnaire consisted of seven parts each of which measured one indicator of the good governance indicators. Each part included five items, making a total of 35 items in the questionnaire. The researcher verified the validity of the questionnaire by qualified experienced arbitrators from An-Najah National University. Validity coefficient was calculated by the researcher using the alpha Chronbach coefficient for internal coherence. To answer the study question, to measure the ranges and indicators, and to test the hypotheses, the researcher used a number of statistical procedures. Findings The study reached the following findings: • The total degree of responding to the fields of good governance indicators was medium. The order of responding to the fields of good governance indicators is in descending order as follows: 1) There is a real presence of the integrity indicator at the local Palestinian authorities, as the percentage of response reached 67.8 % i.e. a medium evaluation. 2) There is a real presence of the efficiency and effectiveness indicator at the local Palestinian authorities, as the percentage of response reached 67.6 % i.e. a medium evaluation. 3) There is a real presence of the questioning and law enforcement indicator at the local Palestinian authorities, as the percentage of response reached 67.4 % i.e. a medium evaluation. 4) There is a real presence of the transparency indicator at the local Palestinian authorities, as the percentage of response reached 67.2% i.e. a medium evaluation. 5) There is a real presence of the decentralization and independency indicator at the local Palestinian authorities, as the percentage of response reached 66 % i.e. a medium evaluation. 6) There is a real presence of the satisfying the needs of the community indicator at the local Palestinian authorities, as the percentage of response reached 63 % i.e. a medium evaluation. 7) There is a real presence of the community participation indicator at the local Palestinian authorities, as the percentage of response reached 62.8 % i.e. a medium evaluation. • The study findings showed that the variable of the academic qualification of the members of the local Palestinian authorities and their numbers do not affect good governance at the authorities. • There is a significant positive relationship between the knowledge of the members of the local Palestinian authorities of the laws and regulations applied at their authorities and the reality of good governance at their authorities. The more the members of the local Palestinian authorities are knowledgeable of the laws and regulations, the more they are committed to the principles of good governance and moving towards it. • There is a significant relationship between the classification of the local Palestinian authorities and the reality of good governance. If the local authority is classified as a municipality, this classification will be a reason for raising the reality of good governance indicators and its commitment. • There is a significant relationship between the method of forming the local Palestinian authorities and the reality of good governance in it. This means that if the method of forming the authority is based on elections, it will supply a suitable basis for applying the characteristics of good governance. Recommendations The study put forward the following recommendations: • The local Palestinian authorities law should be reconsidered so that they will be granted more decentralized authorities and to abstain from interfering in their affairs to ensure their independency. • It is necessary to complete the laws and regulations related to the work of the local Palestinian authorities and involving them in their formulation such as personnel system. • Efforts should be made to raise the levels of the efficiency and effectiveness of the local Palestinian authorities and their members, to put forward criteria for their nomination, and to be committed to the systems and drafts that call for applying the principles of good governance. To carry out further similar studies to recognize the variables that affect and ensure the application of good governance.