Council of Ministers Warns of a Phase Where National Institutions May Be Unable to Continue Providing Services Due to Ongoing Seizure of Clearance Funds

SadaNews - Government Communication Center: The Council of Ministers warned of the repercussions of the ongoing comprehensive Israeli war against our people in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem, along with continued assaults by settlers, movement restrictions at crossings and the closure of checkpoints, and the seizure of clearance funds, which constitute more than two-thirds of the state's revenues. This threatens the ability of government institutions to provide essential services to citizens, especially in the sectors of health, education, social protection, and various other vital sectors. The council noted that the amount of seized funds has exceeded 8.2 billion shekels, in addition to the clearance for the past two months, bringing the total amount withheld to about 9.1 billion shekels. This has significantly impacted the government's ability to meet its financial obligations towards various vital sectors, especially the health sector, which is suffering from shortages in medicines and medical supplies, threatening to paralyze the health sector, alongside undermining the ability of other institutions to perform their duties. There are also alarming indicators such as rising levels of poverty and unemployment, and the repercussions of this on public peace and community stability. The council also warned that the continuation of this situation, and the government's inability to meet its obligations towards employees and various sectors, will negatively impact the quality of services and its performance of different tasks, which may lead to a decision to temporarily suspend the work of some official departments and sharply reduce employee work hours. The Council of Ministers confirmed that the Palestinian leadership, headed by the president, continues its intensive political and legal efforts to restore our people's rights. It urged various countries around the world, especially the United States as a signatory to the Oslo Accords, as well as France as the host country for the Paris Agreement, to exert more pressure to compel Israel to implement the signed commitments, while warning of the danger of time running out for effective action needed to ensure stability and peace in the region. In this context, the Council of Ministers affirmed that despite all these complications and difficult circumstances, it continues to work on recovering our seized financial rights and securing all possible resources to meet financial obligations, especially the salaries of employees and various sectors. The council directed heads of government departments to expedite the necessary procedures to organize the working hours of public institutions in a way that aligns with the existing challenge and the continued provision of services.