Prime Minister Dr. Rami Al- Hamdallah.

The Palestinian Cabinet announced during its weekly held in Ramallah , headed by Prime Minister Dr. Rami Al- Hamdallah, its full support to President Mahmoud Abbas speech before the United Nations General Assembly in New York. It also stressed backing up the Palestinian leadership position to reject the joint Israeli- American attempts to violate the rights of the Palestinian nation through the so-called “Deal of the Century”, the baseless deceleration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the occupying power. In addition, to the financial blackmailing of the Palestinian Government and aid cutoffs, as well as the closing the Palestinian office in the US.

The Palestinian Cabinet reaffirmed the historical responsibility of the United Nations and its significant role in the Palestinian issue, especially in terms of supporting the values of justice and human rights. The Cabinet called upon Member States to embody the ideals expressed in the United Nations Charter, and to secure a sovereign, independent State of Palestine on the borders of 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Cabinet  stressed that the refugees’ issue is one of the national constants that will never be damaged or violated and that the US does not have the right to change the mandate duties and responsibilities of the UNRWA, as defined by the United Nations in resolution No. 302 of 1949.

The Palestinian Cabinet called on donor countries and its partners to strengthen their partnerships with the UNRWA, and raise their contributions to the Agency to enable it to meet its obligations in accordance with its mandate.

The Cabinet demanded world governments and the international community to stand against these inhumane US- Israeli actions and immediately intervene to maintain the integrity of the global legal and political systems.

The Palestinian Cabinet called upon the international community to endorse the initiative of President Abbas, presented at the UN Security Council, to hold an international peace conference this year.

This initiative will restore a new political horizon through the formation of a multilateral international mechanism that aids the two sides in negotiations to solve all permanent status issues with a specific timeframe and guarantees a just implementation of the outcome resolutions.

In addition, the Cabinet requested world countries to recognize the full membership of the State of Palestine in the United Nations aiming at ending all misguided attempts to bypass the PLO, the only legitimate and official representative of the Palestinian people, and to provide immediate international protection to our defenseless citizens.

Followed up on the preparations of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) meeting, which will be held in New York later this week. The Cabinet stressed that the Palestinian delegation, headed by Prime Minister Al-Hamdallah, would shed light on the Israeli Government violations and crimes especially advancing the colonial enterprises in the West Bank, Judaizing Jerusalem, illegally controlling the Palestinian economy, and confiscating natural resources as well as unlawfully forcing restrictions on the so-called “Area C” and the Jordan Valley.

In addition to imposing a siege on the Gaza Strip, performing daily killing and arrest cases as part of Israel’s apartheid policies. For this, the delegation will seek an immediate implementation of all UN General Resolutions protecting the Palestinian national rights, including Resolution No. 194 to resolve the issue of Palestinian refugees.

· Authorized the Palestinian delegation to the AHLC meeting to highlight the Palestinian Government achievements especially in managing public funds, increasing revenues, reducing the fiscal deficit and the debts of the private sector despite the 70% decline in external support during the past years.

· Emphasized that the international community should provide financial support to the Palestinian Government budget to perform more development projects in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Yet to fulfill their previous financial pledges in favor of Gaza, noting that the government has completed more than 92% of the reconstruction process of the Gaza Strip after the Israeli aggression against the Strip. Moreover, the Cabinet demanded a full international support to the so- called ‘Area C’ in the West Bank, especially in Jerusalem.

· Strongly condemned the latest Israeli plans to commit an international crime by handing over the residents of Khan al-Ahmar an illegal military order requiring them to self-demolish their own homes, school, and clinic by October 1, 2018, stripping them from all elements of life and humanity.

Moreover, the cabinet called upon Arab, Islamic and international countries to stand for their moral and legal systems based on the Fourth Geneva Convention and the Rome Statute to stop Israel from pursuing its colonial “E1” plan, which comes to undermine the two state solution, isolate Jerusalem from the West Bank, split the West bank into two geographical entities, and damage any possibility of a cohesive independent State of Palestine. The Cabinet also called upon the International Criminal Court (ICC) to open an immediate investigation into Israeli war crime to restore justice, end the Israeli culture of impunity, and prevent Israel, the occupying power from committing its colonial crimes against the defenseless Palestinian citizens.

The Palestinian Cabinet Commended Spain’s determination to recognize the State of Palestine stressing that the statements made by the Spanish Foreign Minister represent direct steps towards peace in order to end the illegal Israeli occupation, and achieve stability in the Middle East.

The Palestinian Cabinet hailed Ireland for increasing its aid contributions to the UNRWA by €1 million, with a total funding of €7 million. The Cabinet stressed that such financial support proves Ireland as a historical supporter to the justice of the Palestinian people and a longstanding believer in the vital tasks of UNRWA in delivering healthcare, education and food services to 5.3 million Palestine refugees.

The Palestinian Cabinet welcomed the successful re-elections process of a number of local councils upon the desire of citizens to exercise power in managing their local affairs. The Cabinet congratulated all the winners and thanked the Ministry of Local Government, the Central Elections Commission and all the parties that contributed to the completion of the elections.

Finally The Palestinian Cabinet, hailed the launching of the International Information Technology Conference (EXPOTEC 2018) under the theme of “Towards a Better Future”.