Rula Shadeed, Palestinian leader and jurist, criticizes the proposal, led by Emmanuel Macron, harshly
About a week ago, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the creation of a committee, with the support of the Palestinian Authority, to help draft a Constitution, which has been seen as positive by democratic countries, but harshly criticized by the Palestinian resistance.
In an interview with Brasil de Fato, Rula Shadeed, Palestinian activist, jurist in international Criminal Law and co-director of the Palestinian Institute of Public Diplomacy (PIPD), points out that it is unacceptable to accept this proposal.
“Not logically would it be possible to think that a colonial and supremacist state, which is complicit in the genocide in Gaza and is oppressing and criminalizing Palestinians and solidarity groups, could in any way be a good or positive part in leading the writing of a Palestinian Constitution. For God’s sake, this is absurd”, says Shadeed.
The jurist also criticizes that the Palestinian Authority, led by Mahmoud Abbas, is responsible for creating and controlling the committee to draft the Constitution and defends greater popular participation. “[Abbas] has been in power for the last 17 years”, he says.
It is worth noting that the only general elections ever held in Palestine, in 2006, even though they were considered fair, their result, with the victory of Hamas, was not accepted by the international community. Since then, the Israeli occupation has not allowed elections in the Palestinian territories.
In a collective statement to the press, Macron announced that the committee will be responsible for working on all legal aspects: constitutional, institutional and organizational for the construction of the Palestinian Constitution, but according to Shadeed, without the participation of the Palestinian people.
“Our demands are clear: it is not possible for there to be anything in Palestine for Palestinians without the Palestinians. Our people have not been resisting for more than 100 years to ultimately receive a French colonial state to write our constitution, which must represent our people and our needs.”
Through Brasil de Fato, Shadeed calls on Brazilian society to delve deeper into the topic, taking into account especially the demands of the Palestinian people.
“I would like to, through you, inform the Brazilian people that they should have been a little more critical of the idea that a foreign country, especially France, known for its atrocities on the African continent and elsewhere in the world, draft the Palestinian Constitution. I invite you to engage with ethical principles”, concludes Rula Shadeed.
Originally published by Brasil de Fato on 11/18/2025
By Mariana Castro – Belém (PA)
Editing: Maria Teresa Cruz
Source: https://www.ocafezinho.com/2025/11/20/e-um-absurdo-que-a-franca-redija-a-constituicao-palestina/
