In his opening statement, during the weekly Cabinet meeting held in Ramallah today, Prime Minister Dr. Mohammed Shtayyeh announced the government would remain committed to paying the monthly allowances of the families of martyrs and prisoners. “Since the early days of the crisis, we have been loyal to all Palestinian prisoners and martyrs and we paid all of their allowances. The problem with Israel (over the funds withheld by Israel) has not been resolved until this moment. There is no government in Israel that is capable of making any political decision on this matter,” Prime Minister Dr. Shtayyeh stated.
“Our government’s debts to Palestinian banks have reached $480 million, and the banks are facing a serious liquidity crisis,” Dr. Shtayyeh noted, adding that “a joint Palestinian- Israeli committee is currently discussing ways of resolving all financial issues between the two sides. The unilateral financial measures taken by Israel are aimed at extorting the Palestinians politically. We won’t surrender to this, and we will continue to demand every penny of our money.”
The Prime Minister welcomed the call of President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian leadership to hold general elections, announced it is “very serious” and called on Hamas to seize this historic opportunity.
Dr. Shtayyeh pointed out that the ministerial delegation, which will head to Egypt today upon the direction of President Abbas and the generous invitation of Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and President Abdel Fattah Sisi aims to discuss issues of interest to both parties as part of effort to end the Israeli occupation and establish the independent State of Palestine on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital. “The relationship between Egypt and Palestine is historic, and we will remain faithful to this relationship. This visist will discuss mutual issues on economy, agriculture, trade, education, religion, electricity, finance, customs and telecommunications,” Dr.Shtayyeh revealed.
In a separate context, Dr. Shtayyeh announced that his government is amid launching a review of the performance of the government as it came in very difficult circumstances and started working very hard to achieve achievements hat serve the citizens.
The Cabinet, additionally, condemned latest Israeli attempt to build new settlements in the Palestinian territories, evicting Palestinian families from Silwan and approving the construction of a new cemetery in Jerusalem. The Cabinet also called on the international community to support and curb these illegal colonial measures.
Moreover, the Cabinet stressed its rejection of the occupation procedures to cut electricity in some areas in the West Bank under the pretext of debt to the Jerusalem Electricity Company, expressing support for this national institution.
To conclude, the Cabinet welcomed a report by B'Tselem on exposing the racist and colonial measures of the occupation in Hebron, as well as a report by Al-Haq on occupation procedures in Jerusalem, especially the Old City.
