During its weekly meeting held in Ramallah today, the Palestinian Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Shtayyeh, affirmed its full support for the efforts of President Mahmoud Abbas during his participation in the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York later this month. President Abbas is expected to address the latest developments in the Palestinian issue, stress our rejection of the so-called "Deal of the Century" and express the aspirations and hopes of the Palestinian people for freedom and independence. In addition, President Abbas will reaffirm the national Palestinian constants and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian citizens, especially the right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state on the borders of June 1967 with Jerusalem as its capital as well as the right of refugees’ return in accordance with Resolution No. 194 of the UNGA.
The Cabinet also hailed the participation of Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Shtayyeh in the AHLC meeting to be held in New York later this month. Dr. Shtayyeh stressed that he is going to emphasize the importance of the two-state solution, review financial and economic agreements, urge the international community to intervene to stop the Israeli piracy of Palestinian tax funds, and find an international mechanism to audit the Israeli deductions of Palestinian tax funds, particularly water, electricity and sanitation bills.
Additionally, the Cabinet condemned threats made by the Israeli Electricity Company to cut off power in operation areas of Jerusalem Electricity Company. The Cabinet considered such step as part of the collective punishment policy that Israel practices against the Palestinian citizens, and denounced it for the risks it would leave on the daily lives of Palestinian citizens, especially in hospitals and other vital facilities.
In a separate context, Prime Minister Dr. Shtayyeh made a phone call with the Public Services Center at the Ministry of Transport to test its quality in providing services to citizens and answers to their concerns.
To conclude, the Cabinet ratified a Joint Financing Agreement signed between the Ministry of Education and donors from Finland, Germany and Norway at a worth of $90 million for three years. In addition, the Cabinet ratified a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Palestinian and Maltese Civil Defense authorities for cooperation in the field of civil protection.
