Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ashtiyeh said his government would immediately begin to alleviate the suffering of all Palestinians, wherever they may be, especially in the Gaza Strip.
“We have a plan to improve public finances… to promote our national products and to lift the suffering of the Palestinian people everywhere, including the Gaza Strip,” Ashtiyeh said, during the first official session of the new government on Monday.
He noted that President Mahmoud Abbas would meet with the Arab foreign ministers on April 21st to call on the Arab world to assume its responsibilities with regards to the “safety net” approved by the Arab League and to discuss other pending political and economic issues.
Ashtiyeh’s government was sworn in on Saturday at the presidential headquarters in the city of Ramallah in the West Bank.
The new premier arrived at the government headquarters on foot, in a gesture that received great acclaim in the Palestinian street, in contrast with his predecessor, Rami al-Hamdallah, who used to be accompanied by large convoys amid tight security measures.
The government begins its work amidst many challenges, notably the achievement of national unity, the restoration of Gaza, and the serious financial crisis caused by Israel’s deduction of tax revenues.
The new prime minister said that his government would work with the international community, the European Union, Japan, China, and other countries in order to cover its budget deficit. He also expressed hope that the Arab countries would meet their commitments.
