The Impact of Fighting Corruption in the PNA in Strengthening National Affiliation of Palestinians (1994-2006)

This study addressed the relationship between the existence of corruption in the Palestinian National Authority and the national belonging (affiliation) of the Palestinian people through illustrating the impact of the existence of corruption in the PNA on national affiliation. The study also addressed the methods in order to get rid of it through a careful study of the reasons that stand behind such corruption and the factors that contributed to its emergence. Moreover, it examined the negative impacts of this corruption on the society. The researcher focused on the impacts that affect people’s feelings and national affiliation and examined the strategies that can be used to reduce such impacts and help protect the society against it. The main hypothesis of this study is that fighting corruption in the Palestinian National Authority and its various institutions can help in reinforcing the national belonging and affiliation of the Palestinian individual. The study also has several other hypotheses. The study depended on the descriptive analytic approach in dealing with the hypotheses. The approach is based on describing existing facts and explains them depending on available information and on the references, resources and reports that discuss the same topic. This approach also depends on the reports issued by the Legislative Council and the related bodies in addition to press reports and polls that discussed the issue of corruption. To answer the questions of the study, the researcher presents a deep analysis in five chapters. Chapter one addresses the background of the study, its problem and importance, the questions, the hypotheses, the study’s limits as well as presenting some previous studies that addressed the same subject. Chapter two deals with the hypothetical frame that addresses the basic principles related to the focus of this study such as corruption and national affiliation. It first discusses the definitions related to corruption, its reasons and aspects in addition to its impacts on the society. Then, the researcher discusses the national affiliation, the concepts related to this notion and the impact of corruption on it. Chapter three, however, addresses the reality of corruption inside the Palestinian National Authority in terms of its reasons, forms and repercussions on the national affiliation of the Palestinian people. It also discusses the characteristics of the Palestinian system because studying this system helps to better examine and understand corruption in Palestine. Chapter four deals with the role of fighting corruption in reinforcing national affiliation and belonging. It first discusses the elements that help reinforce national affiliation in the Palestinian society in general, then it moves to talk about the role of fighting corruption in reinforcing this affiliation. After that, it presents the efforts that the Palestinian National Authority has exerted in order to fight corruption on the different financial, political, administrative and legal levels. In addition to the challenges that stood in the face of reform in the PNA institutions. The study finally ends with chapter five in which the researcher provides a number of conclusions and recommendations as follows: ‐ Corruption does exist in the different institutions of the Palestinian National Authority such as random appointments of employees in the public sector and the squandering of money. Several negative drawbacks and results that the existence of corruption in the institutions of the Palestinian National Authority has brought on the different political, economical and social levels. This corruption also affected the national affiliation of the Palestinian people who are aware of this phenomenon which finally led to a great weakening of their national affiliation. This is clear through the different behaviors that those people exhibit such the tendency towards leaving their country, and other practices that indicate weakness in their national affiliation. ‐ It is necessary to set a national plan for reform in which efforts are coordinated and in which there is a common vision that includes clear goals, methods, and timetable for execution. It is equally important to assess what is being achieved and identify the difficulties that the reform is facing and prepare suitable solutions. Moreover, it is vital to activate laws and regulations that are related to fighting corruption on all levels, such as the illegal gaining law, the Freedom to Access Information Law, as well as the laws related to fighting bribery and other.