At a meeting between Hebron and Paris Mayors: Paris municipality is willing to host the launch of activities under the “Hebron as a Heritage of Humanity” Project

Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoë affirmed the willingness of Paris municipality to host the launch of activities under the “Hebron as a Heritage of Humanity” Project. Furthermore, Mayor Delanoë joined the list of prominent personalities and institutions lobbying for the inscription of Hebron on UNESCO’s World Heritage of Humanity list.

Mr. Delanoë was speaking on the 13th of June at the French Consulate General in Jerusalem during an extensive meeting with Hebron Mayor Khaled Osaily. The meeting aimed at examining means through which Paris municipality could provide support to Palestinian demands relating to Hebron as well as to various cooperation projects between the two municipalities and with other Palestinian municipalities.

Speaking following the meeting, Mayor Osaily described the encounter as both important and fruitful, adding that it was formally agreed to endorse Paris municipality as a launching pad for this Project’s events at which a wide participation from world politicians and mayors is expected. Mayor Osaily valued Mr. Delanoë’s stance as well as his cooperation and humanitarian stand with Palestinians in general and with the inhabitants of Hebron’s Old City in particular.

Mayor Osaily added that personalities invited to attend this international campaign are well acquainted with the Palestinian cause and Palestinian demands for an end to settlements and the protection of Palestinian land, heritage and history from judaization and confiscation. He commended the positions of Mayor Delanoë who has accepted to host the launch of events and to show solidarity with Hebron and its Old City which suffers from fierce settlement activities, home confiscations and expelling of Palestinians from their homes and lands.

The meeting also looked into means to enhance cooperation between Hebron and Paris municipalities; possible common development projects; exchange of experience in a wide array of fields; cooperation in the areas of training, capacity building and the development of administrative tools to improve the quality of municipal services; cooperation with other Palestinian municipalities; and the creation of development groupings comprising the largest possible number of Palestinian municipalities in addition to Paris municipality.

At the end of the meeting, Bertrand Delanoë invited Mayor Osaily to visit Paris municipality next October for more extensive discussions relating to partnerships and cooperation.