Rifai, Legal Advisor of the General Secretariat of the Palestinian Council of Ministers and General Coordinator of the High National Committee on the Development of the Palestinian Government's Legislative Plan, highlighted that legislative activities in the PNA - controlled territories have been suffering from innumerable problems, obstacles and disorders. Therefore, relevant national efforts had to be institutionalized as to produce the Palestinian Government's Legislative Plan. A High National Committee was established and will submit its proposals regarding various drafts of laws and regulations soon.

Responding to questions on the features of the prospective Palestinian Government's Legislative Plan as well as the relevant work methodology, Mr. Rifai made clear that the plan will include a paper on the legislative policy – a map that defines the nature of the prospective legislation. It will also set the criteria necessary to arrange priorities of enacting items of legislation. Whereas some regulations pose immediate needs, others will be placed within a legislative package. In addition, the Palestinian Government's Legislative Plan will establish a work methodology for the Government, Ministries and public bodies. Furthermore, the Plan will address remedies proposed to cope with the exceptional case of the current legal status due to PLC's problematic legislative role as well as legislative powers given to the PNA President according to Article 43 under the Amended Basic Law. In this context, the Committee on the Development of the Palestinian Government's Legislative Plan has also developed a set of criteria: Proposed regulations should highlight financial, social or economic reforms. Furthermore, items of legislation must be approved by the public.

Finally, Mr. Rifai emphasized the importance of community partnership in all phases of the Palestinian Legislative Plan, including civil society organizations as well as interested experts and specialists.

The lecture itself, which was again presented with the support of the Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation in Ramallah, marked the first successful cooperation of the Institute of Law (IoL) and the Faculty of Law and Public Administration at Birzeit University.