Fayyad: PA will be prepared to establish state in a year

YNet News (Link) - Ali Waked (August 30, 2010)

Palestinian PM says second year of his plan will focus on separation of powers, transparency, strengthening rule of law, fighting corruption; calls on public to back necessary measures before establishment of �our own state.�

Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Monday presented his plan for the second year of the establishment of Palestinian Authority institutions.

According to Fayyad�s document, the Palestinians will have completed the bulk of the changes deemed necessary for the establishment of an independent state within a year.

The document, titled �Towards Liberty,� was presented a year after Fayyad drafted his previous paper, in which he declared that a Palestinian state would be founded within two years. That document stressed the importance of the �popular resistance� against Israel.

The Palestinian PM stressed that the plan�s second year will focus on such issues as separation of powers, transparency, bolstering the rule of law and completing the establishment of government bodies.

Speaking in Ramallah, Fayyad admitted that the PA is in dire financial straits and said the leadership will work towards reducing its dependency on foreign aid.

Fayyad said he envisions a Palestinian state in all of the West Bank, Gaza, and east Jerusalem. �We will encourage civil society and various social elements to file complaints against corruption, as the goal is to preserve the rule of law,� he said, adding that the PA will work towards rehabilitating convicts.

Fayyad said the fight against corruption will top the PA�s list of priorities, followed by modernizing the education system and improving the status of women.

He called on the Palestinian public to lend its support to the second and �final year� of his plan in order to complete the necessary steps before the establishment of �our own state.�