Ramallah: The Palestinian Cabinet welcomed the recent practical measures taken by several European countries to address the Israeli annexation and settlement expansion initiatives, amidst the ongoing escalation of crimes by the Israeli occupation and its settlers. This comes after reports of 440 attacks and the demolition of approximately 70 Palestinian structures in just the past week. The Cabinet emphasized the importance of further international action to halt these crimes and initiate a political process to end the occupation, in accordance with international resolutions.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, during its weekly session in Ramallah, the Cabinet highlighted the significance of monitoring and documentation by local and international institutions. A recent report by B'Tselem, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, concluded that the Israeli occupation is engaged in a systematic project to dismantle Palestinian collective life in the West Bank. This includes violence, movement restrictions, economic strangulation, home demolitions, and forced displacement. The report underscores the extensive impact on vital sectors such as education and health.
The Cabinet also reviewed findings from the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2025, which showed underwhelming results in science, mathematics, and reading. Consequently, the Cabinet decided to address these educational challenges by examining the findings, identifying weaknesses, and collaborating with relevant authorities to enhance education quality and outcomes.
Separately, the Cabinet expressed concern over the continued Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, warning of a deepening humanitarian crisis caused by starvation, siege, and deteriorating living and health conditions, including the destruction of essential infrastructure like sewage networks.
The Cabinet approved several recommendations, including the National Food Safety Strategy 2026-2030, to strengthen food safety oversight. It also renewed contracts for veterinarians to support national animal disease prevention programs, and endorsed a joint project with UNICEF to enhance social protection for vulnerable groups.
Additionally, the Cabinet received a briefing on the governance framework for the quota system from the Minister of National Economy. The framework is designed to prevent exploitation and ensure fair distribution of benefits, aiming to lower prices for eligible commodities while verifying compliance with quota permit criteria.