The Palestinian ministers cabinet officially welcomed several international moves to lift the siege on Gaza during its weekly cabinet meeting Monday, calling for action to ensure recent moves to aid Gaza continue.
Prime Minister Salam Fayyad chaired the meeting, where ministers were unanimous in their support of positions taken by the EU, UN Security Council and Human Rights Council, which a statement said would "undoubtedly support the Palestinian government’s efforts to build the institutions of the state of Palestine despite the occupation and by all means guaranteed by international law, including popular and peaceful resistance."
Condemning the Israeli attacks on the Freedom Flotilla was the first stage in the waves of support for Gaza and Palestine, the cabinet noted, and extended "gratitude to all Arab and Foreign states offering assistance to our people," noting the Turkish-lead flotilla, backed my European nations and Malaysia, and followed by land convoys from Jordan and Egypt all sending aid to Gaza.
The cabinet also thanked Egypt, for what it called "its efforts aiming to ease the suffering of the people in Gaza and ending the siege," following the government's decision to open the Rafah crossing "indefinitely."
Ministers said they would continue to press for an international investigation of the Israeli attack on the flotilla, and called on the world to "stop dealing with Israel as a state above the law."
The Ramallah-based government also called on its counterpart in the Gaza Strip to return into the fold of the Palestinian Authority, so sides could work together for the liberation of the people.
Noting the deaths last week of four Gaza residents and injury of five others across the West Bank at the hands of settler and soldiers, the cabinet called for a halt to Israeli aggression.
Focusing on West Bank developments and the recent wrap-up of the second Palestine Investment Conference in Bethlehem, which was declared a success, PA officials stressed the need to continue enacting the Plan of the Thirteenth Government, and strengthen public institutions alongside a fortification and expansion of the private sector.
Also key in private-sector development, the cabinet concluded, was "endorsing policies and laws that contribute to further development of the investment environment, and support of local products and developing local resources and infrastructure, transfer of knowledge and support creativity and developing cooperation on an Arab and international levels."
One of the legislative issues on the table Monday, was an amendment to the Landlords and Tenants Law, for which the cabinet formed a committee to push through regulations.
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