Embassy of the State of Palestine

Cabinet welcomed, during its weekly meeting chaired by Prime Minister, Dr. Salam Fayyad, the UNICEF report which condemned the occupation authorities' systematic violations against Palestinian children detained in its prisons, including the use of inhumane and degrading treatment against them. The Cabinet demanded the international community to assume its responsibilities, especially with regard to children's rights, which have become a key component for customary international law and international human rights law. The Cabinet also stressed the need to compel Israel to halt its arbitrary actions against Palestinian prisoners and to release prisoners unconditionally, particularly children. In the same context, the Cabinet renewed its call for the activation of the World Health Organization resolution to send an international commission to investigate the deteriorating conditions of prisoners amid the medical negligence policy pursued by the occupation against prisoners and save the lives of those on hunger strike, especially Ayman Sharawneh and Samer Al-Issawi in light of their grave health conditions.

In a related context, the Cabinet condemned the continuing Israeli violations against defenseless Palestinian civilians and their properties in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, including most recently targeting unarmed civilians during peaceful marches in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in several Districts in the West Bank, which also resulted in the killing of ayoung man in Aboud village, northwest of Ramallah, and the injury of many others; in addition to the detention of dozens of citizens in Nablus, Hebron and Bethlehem. The Cabinet also condemned the escalation of terror attacks by settlers, which target the livelihoods of citizens, including the recent uprooting of olive trees south of Nablus, and the assault on a citizen and the killing of his sheep east of Ramallah. The Cabinet also equally condemned the continuing Israeli violations in the Gaza Strip and indiscriminate shooting of citizens, including the recent wounding of one citizen east of Jabalia. The Cabinet also expressed its rejection and condemnation of the occupation authority’s new settlement road, which surrounds Jerusalem and seizes the lands of Beit Safafa. The Cabinet considered this move an entrenchment of the settlements and wall regime, which target Palestinian presence in Jerusalem and aims at isolating the capital from its Palestinian surrounding.

In a separate context, the Cabinet affirmed that discussions on the completion of the draft budget for 2013 continue and aim at dealing with the current deficit. In this regard, the Cabinet called on the international community to compel Israel to stop using Palestinian tax revenues as a tool of political blackmail and called on Arab countries to transfer pledged funds in support of the treasury of the State of Palestine.

The Cabinet decided to complete elections of local councils that resigned and where elections did not proceed in the last round, by 1 June 2013.

Additionally, and with the aim of protecting local products as well as to institute principles of fair competition and in order to collect real revenues, the Cabinet decided to introduce an additional tax of 35% on products imported from China starting 15 April 2013.

The Cabinet also approved an amendment to the regulations of licensing public transport, so that a 50% deduction on the price of the license ownership is introduced.