The Cabinet announces launching a plan to strengthen the steadfastness of Palestinian citizens in the Jordan Valley, affirms that threats to annex the Jordan Valley are illegal, praises countries that condemned these threats, and declares its intention to prosecute Israel at international courts for exploiting Palestinian land.
During its weekly meeting held in Fasayil village in the Jordan Valley today, the Palestinian Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Shtayyeh, stated that the Jordan Valley is part and parcel of the geography of Palestine and Israeli plans to annex it are void and illegitimate.
Prime Minister Dr. Shtayyeh reiterated his government's commitment to support the steadfastness Palestinian citizens living in the Jordan Valley, and to prepare the area for becoming 'the fruit and vegetable basket of Palestine’ as it used to be, upon the directions and supervision of President Mahmoud Abbas. “We are here today to confirm that Palestinians were born to be and live on this land,” Dr. Shtayyeh stated. “The government is not holding its meeting in the Jordan Valley to express condemnations, but to be present among its citizens to strengthen their resilience on issues related to raising livestock, building water tanks and rehabilitating the Roman pond, which will feed more than 3,500 dunums of Ain Fasayil,” Dr. Shtayyeh added.
“The valleys are at 1,622 square kilometers and constitute 28% of the West Bank. Plans to annex them are void and meant to win electoral votes. The Palestinian citizen was here before the settler. Israeli settlements and settlers are illegal and will leave our land,” Prime Minister Dr. Shtayyeh told.
The Cabinet also stressed that it will prosecute Israel at international courts for exploiting Palestinian land in the Jordan Valley. “We will continue to fight this occupation on the ground and in various international forums,” Dr Shtayyeh declared.
In addition, the Cabinet expressed its appreciation to all countries and institutions that have condemned Netanyahu's declaration regarding the annexation of the Jordan Valley, especially the Organization of Islamic Cooperation as well as European and Arab countries.
To conclude, the Cabinet affirmed that agricultural clusters in Qalqilya, Tulkarem, Jenin and Tubas will extend to the Jordan valley and that the government will work with its international partners to strengthen the steadfastness of citizens living in the valleys.
