Key Achievements of PM Al-Hamdallah Government- Part 2: The so-called “Area C”

2018-06-21

Key Achievements of PM Al-Hamdallah Government- Part 2: The so-called “Area C”

This series of documentary videos aim to shed light on the key achievements made by the Palestinian Government since its formation on 02/06/2014 to date, reflecting the depth of the national responsibility towards Palestinian citizens.

The production of this work comes at a critical stage, with the government taking on more functions and procedures to face the internal division, and the three devastating Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, as well as the ongoing Israeli illegal colonial activities and violations in the occupied West Bank. Above all, the illegal decision of the Trump administration to relocate its embassy to Occupied Jerusalem and recognize the Holy City as the capital for the Occupying Power, which is another step in promoting the culture of colonization.

These achievements are a result of the hard work of the Palestinian Government, headed by PM Rami Al- Hamdallah upon the supervision and directions of H.E. President Mahmoud Abbas. The different episodes of this series represent part of the government’s campaign to represent the fragile gains of the government in favor of our citizens to support their resilience especially in the so-called “Area C.”

The government has been giving great value to priority issues upon its National Policy Agenda in various sectors including infrastructure, education, health, development and social protection, the prosperity of our national economy and the promotion of the principles of good governance, respect for human rights, freedom of expression to achieve the ultimate objective of living in a democratic independent Palestine.

The so- called “Area C”

The Palestinian National Consensus Government pays great attention to the so- called “Area C” due to its significance to the Palestinian national development, sovereignty, and sustainability. Therefore, the Consensus Government took several measures to unify and guide its strategy to strengthen the resilience of its citizens. Thus, it established the Area C National Coordination Office and included the so- called “Area C” on the Palestinian agenda and the National Development Plan (NDP) 2017-2022.

Government Achievements in “Area C”

The Palestinian Government, along with the Ministry of Local Government, completed the construction of 81 structures in the so- called Areas “B” and “C.” It was able to rebuild, in partnership with national and international partners, all residential units that are demolished by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF); in addition, it provided legal support to all affected citizens.

The Government has merged a number of local bodies and created new authorities. It also conducted hundreds of projects, including paving roads, expanding electricity and water access, constructing study classrooms, kindergartens and health centers, especially in areas threatened by the Israeli construction process of settlements and the annexation wall.

Moreover, the Palestinian Government established Land and Water Settlement Authority, which completed the settlement works and duties for around 78,000 dunums of the West Bank to confront the Israeli Absentees' Property Law and the Israeli decisions to confiscate lands and expand illegal settlements in an effort to promote Palestinian ownership of the land.

The Government also completed works in industrial zones in Jericho, Bethlehem and Jenin and approved the establishment of a new industrial zone near Tarqumiya checkpoint in Hebron governorate.

Further, the Palestinian Government has increased the amount of conventional and non- conventional water available to farmers and livestock breeders. It also established 248 wells, increased the green spaces, reduced desertification by 1500 dunams of forests, administrated 17 natural reserves over 50,000 dunams, and built 207 km of agricultural roads.

As for the Education Sector, the government has built six schools to provide education services to students who face occupation and settlers attacks on a daily basis.

In the Basic Services Sector, The Government provided clinics in Bardala and Jiftlik in the Jordan Valley with needed medical equipment and rehabilitated water networks near Occupied Jerusalem. It also enhanced the efficiency of electricity networks and expanded community access to energy sources. Yet, the government allocated money to construct about 12 km of low- pressure networks and 7 km of average- pressure networks.