01/07/2019
In his opening statement, during the weekly Cabinet meeting held in Ramallah today, Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Shtayyeh stated, “We strongly commend the brave attitude of our citizens in Jerusalem, while the attacks against the city of Jerusalem including the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Issawiya, Silwan and Sur Bahir are intensified. We demand an immediate protection of our Islamic and Christian heritage in the city and a prevention of its falsification.”
“We deplore the arrest of the Minister of Jerusalem Affairs, who is following up the daily concerns, problems, and needs of Palestinian citizens living in Jerusalem. This action directly targets the Government's efforts in Jerusalem. However, we will remain committed to our duty towards the holy city. We are also offering new payments this week to support hospitals in Jerusalem,” Dr. Shtayyeh Added.
In addition to that, Prime Minister Shtayyeh condemned the latest settlement activities in occupied Jerusalem and deplored the participation of US Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, in excavating a tunnel underneath Silwan district. “This behavior reflects the full support of the Trump administration for the right-wing Israeli government, its settlement policies as well as violations of the international law and signed agreements,” Dr. Shtayyeh clarified.
“Israel continues to withhold our money and we continue to refuse receive these money if deducted. Thanks to Qatar, we have received the first payment of the Qatari assistance and loan,” Prime Minister Shtayyeh declared. “Under the guidance of President Abu Mazen, we will pay 60% of the salaries this month,” Dr. Shtayyeh expressed.
In this regard, Dr. Shtayyeh announced that, “The Cabinet is set to discuss forming a financial legal team to follow up all cases of piracy by Israel including it is the crossing points taxes, deductions of workers’ wages, electricity, water, sewerage, medical transfers and fuel taxes."
“The Palestinian people and their leadership succeeded in marking Bahrain workshop a failure. It ended up, as we expected, with fruitless outcomes. We hope that the unity of our position towards Al Manama workshop would be reflected in ending the internal division upon the final agreement on December 10th, 2017,” Dr. Shtayyeh told.
"The Cabinet meeting would focus today on the industrial zones in order to address the major problems there and provide the necessary measures to develop these areas, Prime Minister Dr. Shtayyeh said.
“At the beginning of next week, the Higher Jordanian-Palestinian Ministerial Committee will be held to coordinate and cooperate in promoting trade, industrial, educational exchanges and in the health sector as well as petrol and fuel issues,” Dr. Shtayeh concluded.
