Arafat to decide on sweeping reform proposals

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat called for reforms in a speech Wednesday.

RAMALLAH, West Bank (CNN) -- Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat on Friday could accept, reject or ignore a slate of reforms that would reduce his power.

The recommendations will arrive on his desk one day after they were adopted by the Palestinian Legislative Council.

Hatem Abdel Khader, a Palestinian legislator and a member of Arafat's Fatah movement, was quoted as saying, "President Arafat will stay the president and the symbol of our authority, but he has to distribute some of his responsibilities."

Another Palestinian legislator, Hassan Khreisheh, said it is unclear how much reform Arafat will allow.

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"Yasser Arafat loves only Yasser Arafat, and he's looking for personal benefits," said Khreisheh.

The reforms include setting up new elections, guaranteeing the rights of Palestinian citizens, and reforming the way the authority handles money and security.

Arafat, who currently holds virtually total control over the Palestinian Authority, has final say on the recommendations. But he is under mounting pressure from his legislators and the international community to make changes that will provide Palestinians with basic rights and end corruption in the authority.

The recommendations call for elections for president, plus legislative elections within a year, mostly likely in March 2003. Local and trade union elections would be held sooner, most likely in the fall.

They ask that Arafat immediately sign what is known as the "basic law" -- a statute spelling out the rights of every Palestinian citizen.

The lawmakers also asked that the current government resign immediately and that Arafat restructure the authority's executive branch, trimming the number of ministers to 19 from the more than 30 now.

Under the new structure, they said, Cabinet ministers should not be allowed to be members of negotiating teams.

Oversight on security, finances

Two of the most dramatic recommendations have to do with reforming the Palestinian security apparatus and finances of the Palestinian Authority.

The legislators want a complete overhaul of the security system, with security chiefs limited to terms of four to five years and answering to a civilian interior minister.

Under the proposal, the interior minister would have authority over all security functions. There would also be a National Security Council headed by the Palestinian Authority president.

The legislators also recommended that no security services chiefs have anything to do with politics, investments or the media.

Currently, the two security chiefs -- for the West Bank and for Gaza -- are considered among the leading Palestinian politicians to succeed Arafat.

On the finance issue, the legislators called for a finance ministry to handle all Palestinian Authority money.

Currently, income from a number of sources, such as the Palestinian petroleum company, are operated outside the authority's budget process.

The legislators said it is imperative that there be "one reference point, one ministry" to handle money.

The legislators praised Arafat for signing a bill -- which had been sitting on his desk for 18 months -- making the Palestinian judiciary independent. But they called on him to sign other bills spelling out the separation of powers between the legislative, judicial and executive branches of government.

Arafat addressed the Palestinian Legislative Council on Wednesday, saying "errors" had been made and accepting responsibility. He called for an overhaul of the Palestinian Authority but gave no specifics and did not indicate how much control he is willing to give up. (Full story)

After the speech, Palestinian legislator Hanan Ashrawi said Arafat's declaration needed to be followed by concrete action. The White House echoed that sentiment, with spokesman Ari Fleischer saying President Bush thought the Arafat speech was positive but was waiting for action.

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat said he is consulting the European Union, United States, Canada, Japan and Norway on holding local government elections.

Erakat said, "We need between three and six months" to arrange the elections.

Israeli newspapers reported Thursday that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon recently proposed the international community appoint a government for the Palestinians.

Israelis thwart suicide bombing attack

Also Thursday, Israeli forces thwarted an apparent double suicide bombing attack, shooting and killing one Palestinian and arresting three others in the West Bank town of Ramallah, according to Israeli military sources.

Israel Radio reported the four activists were planning to carry out a double suicide bombing Thursday in Jerusalem during the Shavuot holiday.

Shavuot, also known as the Feast of Weeks, celebrates the harvest season in Israel and commemorates the anniversary of the giving of the Ten Commandments to Moses and the Israelites at Mount Sinai.

In addition, the Israel Defense Forces said 20 Palestinians suspected of terrorist activity had been arrested in two other incidents.

-- CNN Correspondent Rula Amin contributed to this report.