JENIN, May 6, 2025 (WAFA) – The Palestinian Cabinet convened its weekly session in Jenin Governorate today, launching a comprehensive package of emergency projects and interventions; and reaffirming its commitment to support the steadfastness of the Palestinian people amid continued Israeli occupation aggression on the northern West Bank.
The Cabinet reaffirmed its full commitment to rebuilding the destruction inflicted by Israeli occupation in Jenin city and its refugee camp, in Tulkarm and its camps, and across all targeted areas.
It also voiced its unequivocal rejection of the Israeli occupation's attempts and proposals to impose alternative mechanisms for aid distribution in the Gaza Strip, and of any measures to bypass or undermine the mandate and role of UNRWA or the that of national Palestinian institutions.
It praised the position of UN agencies and humanitarian organizations that have rejected Israel’s proposed scheme and called for intensified international pressure to open crossings and allow the unimpeded entry of humanitarian aid.
In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Mustafa reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to defend the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among them ending the ongoing Israeli occupation’s aggression and thwarting plans aimed at dismantling and liquidating refugee camps or forcibly displacing Palestinian citizens.
“To our people in Jenin and its camp, in Tulkarm and its camps, we affirm that the Government is moving forward with preparing and implementing reconstruction plans and mobilizing all possible efforts—together with our brothers, friends, and international partners—to secure the financial resources necessary,” the Prime Minister stated.
He also announced the government’s rollout of a comprehensive plan to provide dignified shelter for displaced families in Jenin as part of the wider effort to provide temporary housing in the affected areas.
Prior to the session, the Cabinet held a preparatory meeting with representatives of national institutions in Jenin, attended by several ministers and senior officials, including Head of the PLO's Refugee Affairs Department Ahmad Abu Holi, Head of the Water Authority Ziad Mimi, Prime Minister’s Advisor for Arab and Islamic Funds Nasser Qatami, and Acting Head of the Energy Authority Ayman Ismail.
During the session, the Cabinet approved a series of vital decisions, projects, and urgent interventions to be implemented by various ministries and government bodies. These include: allocating emergency budgets to repair damaged homes and create job opportunities in refugee camps, prioritizing unemployed individuals; intensifying efforts to provide shelter for displaced families, led by the Ministry of Public Works and Housing in coordination with the Refugee Affairs Department, popular committees, and the Ministerial Committee for Emergency Action; and establishing temporary shelter centers in Jenin and Tulkarm as part of the government’s broader emergency housing response.
Additionally, the Cabinet allocated an emergency 5 million shekels from the public treasury to support displaced families in Jenin and Tulkarm. Another 7 million shekels have been allocated for affected business owners in these areas, based on damage assessments conducted by the Ministry of National Economy, which is also designing and implementing economic support programs for affected enterprises.
The Government is also working to provide tax concessions to those impacted in the targeted governorates, and a special committee chaired by the Ministry of Finance is developing clear eligibility criteria.
To address unemployment, the Cabinet reviewed a portfolio of projects, prepared by the Ministry of Labour in cooperation with international partners, aiming to employ approximately 5,000 unemployed individuals.
Many of these projects will be implemented through municipal councils, village councils, and popular committees, and will focus on home and infrastructure repairs, with special attention to supporting small businesses, particularly women-led initiatives.
The Ministry of Social Development continues to mobilize additional resources for relief interventions, including upcoming agreements totaling 13 million shekels. This follows more than 36 million shekels already disbursed in emergency relief and shelter interventions across northern West Bank governorates over the past six months.
The Water Authority is advancing several interventions in Jenin Governorate, including the delivery of $300,000 in water infrastructure equipment, while working with the municipality of Jenin to address water line violations affecting the city and surrounding 13 villages.
Meanwhile, the Energy Authority is implementing emergency plans to rebuild damaged power lines and supply 14 generators to hospitals and vital key institutions.
The Ministry of Agriculture has allocated funds for the drilling of 50 wells, opening agricultural roads, supporting 37 agricultural startups, providing water tanks to farmers, building a modern veterinary lab, and extending 8 km of agricultural water pipelines.
In the education sector, the Ministry of Education has resumed classes in 33 schools in Jenin, accommodated over 1,000 displaced UNRWA students in public schools, and is preparing to rehabilitate damaged schools once the Israeli occupation forces withdraw.
The Prime Minister’s Advisor for Arab and Islamic Funds secured approximately $9 million in financing for projects in Jenin and nearby areas, including home renovations, road rehabilitation, water infrastructure, school expansions, hospital development, and support for local associations.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is preparing to organize a field visit for diplomats and international missions to northern West Bank governorates to expose Israeli violations and build international pressure to end the aggression.
To support the cultural sector, the Ministry of Culture allocated funding for four cultural center projects in Jenin and is launching initiatives to revitalize cultural life in the area. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Tourism is working to restore abandoned homes in Jenin’s Old City for possible use as shelters and is developing a plan to promote tourism and local lodging to boost the local economy.
Efforts are also underway to reactivate the Jenin Industrial Zone, with the Ministry of National Economy working closely with the project’s developer to complete infrastructure works.
The Ministry of Women’s Affairs is continuing programs to empower grassroots women’s institutions and alleviate the growing financial burdens on families, with a special focus on women-headed households, particularly in areas facing heightened social and economic challenges.
The Ministry of Transport has introduced support measures for the transport sector, including automatic licensing for ambulances,
streamlined licensing for paramedics, and the reallocation of public transport permits from non-operational areas to others to ensure service continuity and income generation for drivers.
As part of today’s session, the Cabinet also approved an agreement to equip 13 hospitals in the West Bank with solar power systems, benefiting more than 1.3 million citizens. This aligns with the government’s accelerated implementation of the Energy Security Initiative, which has already introduced solar energy systems in dozens of public schools and institutions.
K.T
