The improvement in the security situation in the areas and inside Israel, led the cabinet to re-examine its previous decisions on the closure of the areas, and it decided to increase the number of labourers from the areas to be allowed to work in Israel to 20, 000. Other restrictions applying to passage from the areas into Israel for medical treatment, pilgrimage, education and business were also eased. Text:
At the weekly cabinet meeting today, (Sunday), 23.5.93:
1. Within the framework of the Ministerial Committee on National Security, the prime minister and defense minister, the police minister and the police inspector-general briefed the cabinet on ongoing matters.
2. The cabinet discussed the employment of residents of Judea, Samaria and Gaza in the wake of the closure. The following proposal of the prime minister was accepted by a majority:
A. That the proposal of the Finance Ministry be accepted to employ 20,000 laborers from Judea, Samaria and Gaza in initiated jobs, with a budget of NIS 30 million over the next two months. The sources of funding will be decided upon by the prime minister and the finance minister.
B. That the cabinet will be briefed in one month on the implementation [of the above program] and hold a discussion as to its continuation.
C. That the cabinet will record the statement of the prime minister on the eased [restrictions] enacted vis-a-vis passage from the territories for purposes of medical treatment, studies, business and access to holy places (subject to required security arrangements).
D. That any [proposal to allow] any additional foreign laborers in Israel be brought to the cabinet for debate.