Idris Threatens Collective Resignation if Separation of Commercial Chambers from Industrial Chambers is Approved

SadaNews Economic Report - The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hebron Governorate held a meeting in the city of Hebron, attended by the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hebron Governorate, and the head of the Federation of Commercial and Industrial Chambers, Abdu Idris, along with members of the General Assembly of the Chamber.

Hundreds of traders and manufacturers demanded that the Monetary Authority compel banks to implement the recently announced instructions regarding cash deposits, according to SadaNews Economic follow-up.

For more: Al-Nabali to SadaNews: "The commercial and industrial chambers are not the exclusive right of anyone... The Palestinian economy must be supported regardless of the terminology used"

During the meeting, the General Assembly of the Commercial and Industrial Chamber expressed its rejection of any government move to completely separate industry from the commercial and industrial chambers, explaining that the proposed separation contradicts the electoral contract under which the boards of directors of the commercial and industrial chambers were elected, some of which have been in existence for over a century.

They considered that the separation would lead to the destruction of the Palestinian industry.

Also read: Abdu Idris to SadaNews: "Separating industrial chambers invalidates the existence of the elected boards of directors"

In turn, the president of the industrial commercial chambers, Abdu Idris, threatened the collective resignation of the General Assembly of all boards of directors of the commercial and industrial chambers in Palestine (West Bank, Gaza) if the separation is approved, as observed by SadaNews Economics.

Note: Head of the Industries Federation to SadaNews: "We do not seek to separate the commercial and industrial chambers... but to regain our powers"

He pointed out that "it is the right of the chambers to express their voice through all peaceful means, to save what can be saved."

A member of the board of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hebron, Tareq Abidin, said during his intervention in the meeting, "They were elected before the responsible authorities according to the law, and thus holding them accountable is unreasonable," as he expressed.

He added, "Unfortunately, we have not received a response from any authority with which we have established a relationship and called upon to fulfill their responsibilities."

Abidin also called for the resignation of the government, saying: "Let the government change because it is unable to carry its responsibilities; enough of niceties at the expense of the country."

He continued: "The Monetary Authority has closed 12 exchange shops and violated 45 shops, knowing that the problem is from the Ministry of Finance."

On his part, an owner of a fuel station in Hebron stated that he incurred heavy losses due to the rejection of cash deposits, saying: "We in Palestine establish our businesses with our blood and with great difficulty, and therefore the private sector must be supported," adding: "The private sector is supported in all countries of the world, except Palestine," warning that if the private sector is destroyed, the public sector would be destroyed along with it.

"The separation of commercial chambers from industrial ones is a complete and integrated relationship that cannot be fragmented; therefore, the separation is a crime against commerce and industry as well," according to one of the attendees, calling on the members of the General Assembly to resign immediately if the separation is approved.

The chambers stressed the necessity of solving the issue of cash deposits, calling on the Monetary Authority to assume its responsibilities regarding compelling banks to revert to pre-crisis ceilings, as well as issuing checkbooks without restrictions or new instructions, rejecting any partial or sectoral solutions to cash deposit problems and the banking sector.

They pointed to the losses incurred by traders and factory owners due to banks’ rejection of cash deposits.

Concerning the Tarqumia checkpoint, which is repeatedly closed by the occupation for long periods, causing goods to pile up, members of the assembly called for resolving this issue, along with the matter of stamping customs data.

They urged reconsideration of post-audit mechanisms and the application of the new value-added tax law until an agreement is reached on some points of contention.

They stressed the necessity of solving the water crisis in the Hebron area specifically and in the southern West Bank in general, due to its negative impact on the population, industry, and agriculture alike.