The Palestine Monetary Authority (PMA) held a broad dialogue meeting to review the legal framework and economic implications of its Draft Cashless Law, bringing together ministries and official institutions, as well as representatives from the financial, economic, legal and policy sectors, civil society and experts. The draft was presented as a regulatory step to address challenges linked to cash transactions, improve transparency and protect consumers and merchants, while not targeting ordinary, everyday cash dealings. Discussion was structured across three sessions covering the draft’s legal provisions and alignment with existing legislation, the economic and financial effects of implementation and technology readiness, and the shared responsibilities for digital transformation and upgrading electronic payment services. The PMA noted the draft has been published on the Ministry of Justice platform and the PMA’s digital platform to enable public comments, and participants’ inputs culminated in recommendations to adopt a gradual transition period, review proposed cash-transaction limits by sector, implement the National Financial Inclusion Strategy, reduce electronic payment fees and improve affordability, strengthen financial data protection and confidentiality controls, and roll out infrastructure upgrades and national awareness and training for merchants, citizens and digitally underserved groups. The meeting agreed to incorporate proposed amendments into the draft law and submit a revised version to the Council of Ministers.

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