RAMALLAH, Thursday, November 22, 2018 (WAFA) – The Palestinian cabinet condemned on Thursday the Israeli decision to evacuate 28 dunums of Palestinian land in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in occupied Jerusalem, home to more than 500 Palestinians, despite all documents proving the Palestinian ownership of these lands.
It said in a statement issued at the conclusion of the weekly cabinet meeting headed by Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah that the government also condemned the Israeli Supreme Court‘s approval of the demolition of the Tahadi Five school in Beit Ta‘mur village, near Bethlehem, the demolition of shops in Shufat refugee camp in Jerusalem and the forced break-in into dozens of houses and shops in Deir al-Ghusoun town, north of Tulkarm I the north of the West Bank.
“The Cabinet emphasized that all such decisions are clear attempts to undermine the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and the role of the Palestinian Government,” said the statement.
The Cabinet also condemned the Trump Administration for using its veto power in the United Nations Security Council to kill a draft resolution that called for an immediate international intervention to halt the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip, as well as the draft resolution presented to the UN General Assembly by the outgoing US Permanent Representative, Nikki Haley, condemning Hamas, while hailing the UNGA for adopting by large majority seven resolutions in favor of Palestine.
The Cabinet also reviewed the meeting of the Prime Minister with representatives of a number of donor countries to East Jerusalem and the so-called "Area C" including the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Finland, Norway, Sweden and Austria.
“PM Hamdallah updated these representatives on the current political and economic situation and the Israeli violations, especially in-occupied Jerusalem and the so-called "Area C" that is controlled by Israel, which prevent the Palestinian Government from utilizing its own resources and investments there,” said the statement.
The Premier also briefed the delegation on the efforts of the Palestinian Governments to counter the Israeli measures and to support the steadfastness of Palestinian citizens living in the so- called "Area C". He pointed out that the Government focused on providing basic services, building schools, providing transportation for students, allocating mobile clinics and granting free health insurance, especially in Bedouin communities, supporting the agricultural sector through farmer funds, and accelerating the registration of land and the establishment of irrigation networks and agricultural roads.
Upon this, an additional grant of $7 million for the Support and Sustainability of Citizens in “Areas C” and East Jerusalem program was contributed. This contribution will focus on economic empowerment, employment, education, housing, tourism and cultural activities. It will also target the youth, women and people with disabilities, so about 20,000 people living in East Jerusalem are expected to benefit from these interventions, in addition to 6,000 Palestinians, particularly within the Bedouin community in the so- called "Area C".
The cabinet also discussed the Social Security Law and said “it is an important and necessary national law that provides safety and works as a lifeline for the poor, marginalized, and hundreds of thousands of workers in the private sector and all other sectors to which the law applies.”
Further, it added, “it requires the employers to ensure that the appropriate conditions, means of protection and safety are provided to their workers and employees, which also benefit the employers themselves. Additionally, it will guarantee that the workers and employees or their families will receive an income upon reaching the retirement age. Yet, it will retain more than 70% of the service benefits for employees who did not receive their end of service packages as well as protecting the rights of Palestinian workers in Israel since 1970 until now, which will return to the Social Security Corporation and not to the treasury of the Government as some people claim.
“The savings and fees for these workers and employees are the rights of individual workers, and if transferred to the Palestinian Social Security Fund will be transformed by a list that includes the name of the worker, his working years, and his dues or end of service package. The worker can obtain this package upon request.
"The Social Security Law was planned in coordination and approval of all relevant parties and stakeholders, which came after several stages that led to its current formulation. Yet, the first draft of the law was also subjected to a large community dialogue that resulted in amendments, which made the law more equitable for workers in terms of deduction rates, covered categories, and benefits provided. In addition, the drafted law was not submitted to President Abbas for ratification until reaching a collective agreement between stakeholders on all raised comments and amendments."
M.K.
