Hebron Mayor Dr. Daoud Zatari called Social Affairs Minister to expand their assist to needy families at Hebron well as to provide assistance for more poor families, due to increasing of unemployment ratio, “families’ needs far exceed the official poverty line”. The meeting which aimed at discussing opportunity of promoting joint cooperation to achieve public interest was attended by Dr. Kamal Sharafi Minister of Social Affairs and other members of the ministry in addition to Hebron’s Municipal Council. 

 

Dr. Zatari spoke about the economic conditions’ negative impact on the locals and needy families in particular as a result of Israeli Occupation’s obstacles and violation towards economic development. He also pointed at Yassir Arafat’s permanent decision of exemption the Old City’s dwellers from electricity for a total of 100 kilowatt and eight cubic meters of water as a support for their steadfastness against Israelis’ practices aimed at depopulating the Old City.

 

Thereafter, Dr. Mayor expressed his readiness to cooperate with Social Affairs Ministry in considering the most deserving assistance, particularly the Old City’s inhabitants to ensure decent living conditions as other World people.

 

Minister Sharafi lauded the role played by Hebron Municipality in cooperating and supporting the Ministry’s activities and assistances for needy families mostly the Old City’s citizens, and underlined the importance of real engagement between the ministry, governmental institutions, and institutions of civil society well as the private sectors to ensure enhancing services and assists fairly provided to Palestinians in order to achieve public interest. “The Ministry of Social Affairs sought at developing the technical capabilities to enhance social protection and services by improving Social Affairs Ministry Directorates” he added.

 

By the end of the meeting both parties signed a joint cooperation agreement.