Oslo, 19 November 2021 (TDI): Palestinian Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Shtayyeh addressed the AHLC Meeting, stating: “We want assistance from the international community to get out of the bottleneck. We live a deteriorating daily reality due to Israel’s continuing occupation, a difficult financial situation, a political vacuum, and the consequences of the pandemic”.
Prime Minister’s Statement on Israel’s occupation
During the meeting, Shtayyeh explained to the 27 participant countries, governmental steps to reduce expenditures, raise revenues, and reform institutions. The Prime Minister referred to the Human Rights Watch report, which clearly mentioned Israel’s State of apartheid.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister highlighted the increasing illegitimate settlement expansion, checkpoints, killings, and arrests. Likewise, he pointed out land confiscations, settler violence, the separation of Jerusalem, and the siege on Gaza.
In that sense, the official stated that Palestine suffers a decline in international aid, the unjust Israeli deductions of Palestinian tax revenues, as well as the economic consequences of the coronavirus. The Prime Minister clarified that “the current financial crisis is structural, and the occupation bears responsibility for it.”
Therefore, he urged the donor countries to fulfill their financial commitments to the Palestinian government and to increase their aid. Dr. Shtayyeh also welcomed any Israeli steps to improve the economic and living conditions of the Palestinian people. He stressed the need to put an end to the occupation.
Palestinian elections were also a point of discussion. The elections were suspended due to Israeli rejection of the holding of Palestinian elections in Jerusalem as stipulated in signed agreements.
Moreover, he said that it is not possible to separate Gaza from Palestinian reality. Countries should put an effort to achieve economic recovery and security. The situation in Gaza should be at the frontline of the Palestinian issue. The Prime Minister called for an end to the Israeli measures that systematically destroy the two-state solution and urged for the recognition of the State of Palestine.
Dr. Shtayyeh expressed his appreciation to Norway for hosting and chairing the meeting, participants, and all related parties that submitted reports to the meeting.
