-We congratulate the Arab and Islamic worlds on the occasion of the Hijri New Year. May we celebrate this honorable occasion next year in freedom and independence with Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Palestine and the right to return for refugees.

-Next week, the new school year would start early with face-to-face education in order to enhance the educational process and in anticipation of any health emergency that may occur. Now, we are in the midst of reducing the spread of COVID-19 pandemic with zero fatalities in the West Bank and Jerusalem and an average of 1-2 deaths per day in Gaza over the last 23 days. Thus, extra caution is required.

-Both the cautious return to normal life and the return of face-to-face education in schools and universities require everyone, especially those who have not yet received the vaccine, to quickly get vaccinated in health centers in all governorates. For the safety of our society, we will take measures against those who do not receive the vaccination, especially with new waves of infection- so that we don’t find ourselves forced to return to previously implemented measures and procedures. In this context, the Cabinet will today discuss a proposal to give an unpaid leave- until the end of the pandemic- for all government employees who refuse to obtain a vaccine.

-We call upon the international community to prevent the Israeli judicial system’s attempts to compromise with the indigenous owners of the land [in the Shaikh Jarrah neighborhood in occupied Jerusalem,] to leave their homes in favor of Israeli settlers in a procedure that is contrary to international legitimacy and its resolutions, which consider settlement/ colonization a war crime, as stipulated in UNSC Resolution No. 2334, and a violation of the Geneva Convention, which prohibits to change the geographical or demographic status of the occupied territory.

-This month, Israel has deducted 100 million shekels from our tax money, under the pretext that we pay allowances for the families of martyrs and the prisoners. This measure is illegal, illegitimate. Accordingly, we demand that all our financial dues, whether in taxes or fees collected at crossing points and in other forms, should be paid in full to us. 

-The continuation of this measure is a blatant violation of our rights. It puts us in a difficult financial situation, and weakens our capability to meet our financial needs and responsibilities towards our people. Despite that, we will remain faithful to all of our financial obligations towards our people.

-I salute the steadfastness of Beita and its people. We extend our condolences to all martyrs, who lost their lives for the sake of their land.