Embassy of the State of Palestine

Cabinet resumed its discussions on the 2013 draft budget, during its session today, headed by Prime Minister Dr. Salam Fayyad. The Cabinet affirmed the importance of continuing dialogue and consultations on the draft budget with all partners, especially with members of the Legislative Council, to ensure the highest possible degree of social participation and transparency in light of the continued absence of the important supervisory and legislative role of the inactivate Legislative Council due to the unfortunate ongoing division. In the same context, the Cabinet stressed the importance of reducing the deficit in order to secure a fundable budget, affirming on the priority afforded to reduction of spending and increasing revenues, without raising taxes or affecting the basic services for citizens or the allocations and the needs of poor families, and while continuing the expansion of the social safety net.

The Cabinet affirmed it continues to exert all efforts to confront the stifling financial crisis facing the State of Palestine, which was been exacerbated by the Israeli government's withholding of Palestinian tax revenues, in addition to the absence of aid,including the Arab financial safety net. In this context, the Cabinet stressed the need for effective international action to compel Israel to stop its piracy and political blackmail, which aims at undermining the role and standing of theinstitutions of the State, affirming at the same time the political, legal and ethical responsibilities of the international community to put an end to this policy of aggression which has targeted the livelihoods and income of our people. The Cabinet also called on the Arab brethren to accelerate the implementation of their obligations, including those in the framework of the financial safety net, to enable the Palestinian institutions to carry out their responsibilities in promoting the resilience of citizens and fulfill their obligations, especially at this critical and crucial stage facing our national cause.

The Minister of Finance presented the Cabinet with a report on the financial crisis and its consequences as well as the difficulties entailed in finalizing the draft budget for the financial year 2013, the Cabinet announced the payment of part of January's salary (at a minimum of 2000 NIS and a maximum of 5000 NIS) in the coming two days and affirmed the government would continue to exert all possible efforts to meet all its financial obligations.

In a relatedcontext, the Cabinet affirmed that the government respects the right to practice union work in freedom, including the right to strike in accordance with the law. Equally, the Cabinet affirmed the need for all parties to assume their legal and national responsibilities and to not add to the burdens resulting from the difficult economic conditions due to the policies and practices of the occupation, which target at our people's ability to persevere and the Stateinstitutions' capacity to fulfill their commitments and obligations, including the provision of vital services for our people.

The Cabinet also approved the agreement reached with the Union of Civil Servants and requested all relevant parties to commence implementation of its provisions immediately. The Cabinet also affirmed it would continue its policy of dialogue on the basis of shared responsibility, adherence to the law, and concern for the public good.
The Cabinet listened to a report from the Prime Minister about the Conference of East Asian countries, convened for cooperation in supporting development in the State of Palestine, which was held in Tokyo last week. The Prime Minister affirmed the political and developmental significance of thedecisions adopted by the conference, and the opportunity they provide vis-a-vis benefiting from the expertise and successful experiences of the participating countries, which will contribute to the achieving economic and social advancement benchmarks and enhance the capability of state institutions andtheir vital role in providing the best services to our people. The Prime Minister also highlighted the significance of the conference decisions in relation to the importance of coordinating all forms of direct support with the government and in accordance with its set priorities. The Cabinet also listened to a report presented by the Minister of State for Planning Affairs on the governmental summit held in the United Arab Emirates.

The Cabinet condemned the continuing continued violations of the occupation forces and settlers against citizens and their properties in the West Bank, including most recently thedemolition of "Canaan" village, built by Palestinian activists in Hebron to resist land confiscation and settlement construction, in addition to the demolition of two homes, the eviction of a family from its home, the demolition of the facade of a historic building, handing over 20 demolitionnotifications for homes and shops in Jerusalem, the demolition of a home and a tender for the construction of 40 settlement housing units in Bethlehem, aswell as the approval of constructing 90 settlement housing units in Ramallah, the demolition of 3 homes and the razing of 1500 acres of agricultural land in the Negev, the demolition of 2 homes and the building of a Jewish religiousinstitute in Hebron. The Cabinet also condemned the escalating trend of extremism and racism by several Israeli actors, including most recently the burning of two cars east of Ramallah and writing racist statements west of Bethlehem and in Yasuf village, as well as writing racist statements on about 30 graves in Maaman Allah cemetery in Jerusalem, running over a child in Hebron, razing land in Bethlehem under the protection of the occupying forces, in addition to raiding areas in Nablus, Jenin and Jerusalem by hundreds of settlers. The Cabinet renewed its call on the international community to urgently and tangibly intervene to hold Israel accountable for these violations and to ensure its respect for the rules of international law.

The Cabinet also called on the relevant international institutions to increase their efforts to protect and release prisoners in Israeli jails, especially those on hunger strike, particularly Samer Al-Issawi, who’s been on hunger strike for over 200 days, as well as other striking prisoners, such as Ayman Sharawna, Jafar Ezzedin andTariq Qa'adan. The Cabinet also called on the World Health Organization to activate its latest decision, which was adopted lastyear, to form a fact-finding committee to investigate on the conditions of ill prisoners in Israeli jails, and expedite the provision of medical treatment for them, in light of the policy of medical negligence in Israeli prisons.

The Cabinet condemned the occupation authorities' actions in transferring historical artifacts from the palace of Herod in Bethlehem to be used in an exhibition of archaeological findings, reiterating the illegality of this measure and the gravity of such an assault on Palestinian antiquities. The Cabinet considered that the illegal exploitation of the natural resources and archaeological sites undertaken by the occupation authorities in the territory of the State of Palestine is another aspect of the consolidation of the occupation and is a part of the systematic policy of the occupation, which is rejected altogether. Furthermore, the Cabinet stressed on the importance of following up these illegal measures, which are also an assault on the tourism sector in Palestine, and a continuation of efforts to prevent it from developing and reaching its potential, by the competent and relevant international bodies, especially the UNESCO, .

The Cabinet also approved the draft law of the loan fund for university students in Palestine, whose goal is to increase the chances of students in pursuing university education.
The Cabinet also approved the recommendations of the Ministerial Policies and Legislations Committee, which include a list of priority laws and bylaws that shall be prepared in the first part of 2013.