Protection of Witnesses and Whistleblowers in Corruption Crimes under Palestinian Law

The protection of whistleblowers and witnesses in corruption cases constitutes a cornerstone of an effective anti-corruption framework, as it enables individuals to report corrupt practices without fear of retaliation or harm, thereby strengthening integrity, transparency, and preventing perpetrators from escaping accountability. In the Palestinian context, a legislative framework emerged between 2010 and 2019 to regulate this aspect, culminating in Cabinet Decision No. (7) of 2019 on the Protection of Whistleblowers, Witnesses, Informants, and Experts in Corruption Cases. This regulation represented a significant step forward in providing legal, functional, and social safeguards. However, its practical implementation has revealed obstacles that undermine its effectiveness, due to legislative shortcomings and weak enforcement mechanisms. This necessitates an analytical study linking the legal provisions with their application in practice, while assessing their consistency with international standards, particularly the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).  The study concludes that the Palestinian system partially aligns with these standards but requires further development of practical guarantees and an expansion of protection to cover all stages of legal proceedings. It also emphasizes the need to strengthen institutional coordination and provide effective functional and social support.  The research recommends harmonizing national legislation with international standards to ensure comprehensive protection for whistleblowers and witnesses, thereby contributing to the consolidation of good governance principles.