Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Shtayyeh, joined by the Minister of Health, Dr. Mai al-Kaileh, and the Minister of Finance, Shukri Bishara, conducted today a meeting via video conference with Ambassadors, Consuls and Representatives of diplomatic missions to the State of Palestine.

The Prime Minister briefed them on the Palestinian needs to combat the COVID-19 outbreak, the Palestinian mechanism of managing it through the formation of a National Emergency Committee, as well as on the ongoing Israeli violations against our people.

During the meeting, Dr. Shtayyeh said: "This pandemic with its economic and social consequences constitutes a challenge to our world, but Palestine confronts it under exceptional circumstances imposed by the reality of the occupation and the denial of our right to exercise sovereignty over our lands and borders.”

The Prime Minister presented an overview of Palestine’s response plan to confront COVID-19 with an estimated budget of $137 million, which helps the health sector to be prepared  in the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. In this context, Dr. Shtayyeh called on donor countries to support the Palestinian response plan and to reallocate development funds to assist the budget and cover the urgent health needs.

Dr. Shtayyeh explained that President Abbas approved the government’s emergency budget by reducing its expenditures to a great extent while preserving the assistance to families in need, the support to the health and security sectors, and salaries." He added: "The budget deficit will increase to $1.4 billion according to latest expectations due to revenue declines to more than 50%."

"The total losses of the Palestinian economy have reached $ 3.8 billion according to the government’s estimates, which will impact various sectors. These estimates will be audited by a joint committee to include the government and the World Bank," Dr. Shtayyeh explained.

With regards to the current talk on the formation of an Israeli government coalition that endorses the principle of annexing parts of the West Bank, Dr. Shtayyeh said: “This imposes additional challenges on us and the world. Therefore, we call for a firm stand in response to this threat to protect international law and resolutions.”

The Prime Minister also welcomed the recent statement of the Norwegian Foreign Minister, Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide, who chairs the AHLC, that called on supporting the budget of the Palestinian government. Dr. Shtayyeh emphasized the importance of exerting efforts to deal with the emerging priorities and supporting UNRWA, Jerusalem hospitals, as well as the private and business sectors.

The Prime Minister thanked all countries that have provided or pledged aid in support of the Palestinian people under this mutual crisis that our world suffers, stressing the importance of joint work among the countries of the world in confronting COVID-19 pandemic