During its weekly meeting held in Ramallah today, the Palestinian Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Dr. Rami Hamdallah:

· Decided to ban the entry of Israeli vegetables, fruits and poultry products into the Palestinian markets, in line with the principle of protecting local products and in the response of the Israeli unilateral decision to prevent the entry of Palestinian vegetables and fruits to the Israeli markets. The cabinet called upon the citizens and traders to work together to ensure the success of such decision to protect the Palestinian national product and the national economy.

· Confirmed the government commitment to the constitutional court decision, which calls for dissolving the Palestine Legislative Council (PLC) and conducting legislative elections within six months, in accordance with to the Palestinian constitutional courts decree which has been issued on December 12, 2018. The cabinet stated “The decision is in line with the Palestinian Basic law and the Palestinians higher national interests, as elections would strengthen the national efforts to end the political division, restore the Palestinian national unity, and will be the door for the Palestinian citizens to return to exercising democracy, which is a national necessity and a progressive step”. The cabinet also stressed on the key role of the Legislative Council in legislating and monitoring the functions of the executive authority, stating that “it’s a fundamental step for building a democratic society and exercising sovereignty over the Palestinian territory.” Moreover, the cabinet emphasized on the legislative council role in defending the rights of the Palestinian people in creating the law, issuing primary legislation, organizing public administration, financial, and economic affairs. As well as, monitoring the national public budget, reviewing governmental plans, approving agreements, and ensuring that government priorities are achieved. Finally, the cabinet affirmed the government full readiness to facilitate the elections, provide the necessary legislative, and technical requirements to conduct it in cooperation with the Central Elections Committee, ensuring the integrity of its work and the respect for its results.

· Welcomed the UN General Assembly resolution adaptation by an overwhelming majority, on the right of the Palestinian people to have permanent sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources. “The UNGA decision is powerful as it reaffirms the international condemnation of the illegality of Israeli settlement enterprise and its monopoly over the Palestinian resources” the cabinet stated. The cabinet also added “The decision confirms the applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and expresses the disaffection of the Israeli illegal settlements impact on the Palestinian and Arab natural resources, in particular, the detrimental effects of the Separation Wall construction. In addition to the continuous annexation of Palestinian lands and the diversion of water resources by force. As well as, the settlers' gangs destruction of farms and confiscation of water wells.” Furthermore, the cabinet confirmed that the resolution calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to halt its illegal practices and assert the Palestinian right to claim compensation for the resulting losses.

· Strongly condemned the so-called “pay the price” settlers' gangs terrorist attacks against our defenseless nation in the various Palestinian cities. “The gangs raids Palestinians cities and towns including the occupied city of Jerusalem, inscribing antagonistic slogans against pedestrians, and damaging dozens of Palestinians vehicles, which all a clear reflection of the Israeli colonial schemes that comes under the supervision and support of the official Israeli institutions and “the municipality of Jerusalem”. The cabinet stated. In addition, the cabinet noted that the settler's terrorism is being instigated by Israeli senior officials, in particular, the President of the so-called Israeli Knesset Yuli Edelstein, who publicly advocates for imposing control over the city of Hebron and encourages raiding it by the settlers' gangs.

· Deplored the Israeli colonial escalation and the announcement of the Occupation Prime Minister to establish thousands of settlement units and industrial zones in the Occupied West Bank. In addition to the so-called Israeli Knesset adoption of a law that prevent Palestinian prisoners from early release. The cabinet stated “This law confirms Israel's determination to continuing its racist settlement enterprise and plans to tighten its illegal control of the West Bank. As well as, to perpetuate its occupation and prevents the establishment of an independent Palestinian state violating the International law and humanitarian law, while witnessing the international community standing helplessly in front of implementing its decisions, continues to treat Israel as a state above the law, and its satisfied only with its shy condemnation.” The also cabinet held the Israeli government fully responsible for the consequences of its serious escalated aggression against our defenseless people, including field executions, house demolitions, land confiscation, and colonial settlements expansions. In addition, to the illegal siege imposed on the Gaza Strip, the crimes committed by the settlers', and the transfer of the Palestinian cities, villages, and camps into a large prison.

· Strongly condemned the Israeli continuous violations against the Palestinian citizens and holy places, especially, Bethlehem and Occupied Jerusalem during Christmas and the prevention of the citizens from exercising their right of free movement. In addition to other violations in Hebron, Jordan Valley, and “area C”. These violations that included the imposing of closures over cities, deploying checkpoints, forcibly displacing and transferring of Palestinian citizens in Jerusalem from their homes and neighborhoods, particularly the residents of the old city and nearby areas such as in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. In addition to the accelerating illegal demolition campaigns in Silwan, Beit Hanina, Shuafat, and other Palestinian neighborhoods. 

· Condemned the Israeli detention of the Agriculture Minister Mr. Sufian Sultan east of Ramallah during his departure to the city of Hebron, where the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) assaulted and forced Mr. sultan to leave his vehicle under gunpoint. “This Israeli aggression on Palestinian officials is a clear violation of all signed agreements, the international humanitarian law, and comes in the context of Israelis escalated attacks against our people” the cabinet noted.