Osaily Briefs Head of the Middle East and North Africa Political Department in Bern on Conditions in Hebron

Hebron Mayor Khaled Osaily met on the 19th of May 2012 with Mr.  Wolfgang Bruelhart, Head of the Middle East and North Africa Political  Department at the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs who was accompanied  by the Swiss Representative to the PNA.

 The meeting aimed at getting  acquainted with conditions in Hebron and its Old City as well as at  assessing the city’s political and humanitarian situation. The meeting  was also attended by representatives from the Temporary International  Presence in Hebron (TIPH) and by Mr. Yihya al Natsheh, Public Relations  Officer at Hebron Municipality.

Osaily welcomed his guest and  valued his visit to Hebron. He also underlined the important role played  by Switzerland and the EU in protecting Palestinian rights, upholding  world peace, defending the oppressed and protecting all rights endorsed  by the UN. Osaily then spoke in detail about life in Hebron, measures  imposed by occupation authorities and checkpoints which swarm in and  around the Old City. He also touched on projects implemented by Hebron  Municipality, especially in the fields of youths and sports which are  given utmost importance by the Municipality. Osaily spoke about his  development vision aimed at improving economic conditions and creating  job opportunities for the unemployed as well as for recent graduates.

Osaily  then listed the various obstacles imposed by Israel to impede the  implementation of vital projects in the city. He called upon his guest  to help exert pressure on the Israeli government to ease Palestinians’  daily life, especially in the Old City. Hebron’s Mayor also spoke about  the Project to inscribe Hebron on Unesco’s World Heritage List: its  progress, sponsors, partners and aims which are to protect Hebron and  its historic sites and prevent their alteration due to occupation and  settlement policies. He also spoke about Hebron becoming a full-fledged  member of the League of Historical Cities.

Mr. Bruelhart said his  government is closely monitoring the situation in Hebron, and that the  Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs was aware of the situation there. He  also expressed his appreciation of the enhanced services provided to  Palestinians in the city which have improved their daily lives. Finally,  he hoped to see peace prevail in the region.