Khaled Osaily. خالد العسيلي رئيس بلدية الخيل السابق خالد العسيلي
Hebron Mayor Khaled Osaily and Genoa Mayor Marta Vincenzi signed today an agreement to develop the water sector in the city of Hebron. The signing ceremony, which took place at Hebron Mayor’s office, was attended by Mr. Mario Margini, Deputy Mayor of Genoa, Mr. Gianluca Saba, Head of International Public Relations at Genoa Municipality, Mr. Andrea Girone , CEO of Iride SpA, Mr. Pietro Costa, Director of the World Trade Center of Genoa, Mr. Hani Jaber, Palestinian Consul in Northern Italy and by members of Hebron’s Municipal Council and municipality staff.
“It is a pleasure for us today at Hebron Municipality to sign this agreement aimed at developing Hebron’s water sector and at establishing a water utility, thus starting a new modern phase for the water sector in the city”, Mayor Osaily said at a joint press conference held after the signature of the agreement. “The project, implemented in cooperation with Genoa municipality, is funded by the Italian Cooperation and is executed by Iride SpA. It is part of the continuous constructive and fruitful cooperation between our two municipalities. Hebron and Genoa also enjoy a twinning agreement with positive impacts on all sectors in the city”, he added. Speaking on behalf of Hebron’s Municipal Council, Mayor Osaily thanked the Mayor of Genoa and the city’s Chamber of Commerce for their willingness to start and enhance cooperation with Hebron. He valued the offer by Iride to provide financial aid to Hebron Municipality staff who wish to pursue their higher education in the field of water in Italy. He also thanked the Italian Government and the Italian Cooperation for their continuous support to Palestinians and to Hebron in particular. Osaily addressed his thanks to the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) chaired by Dr. Shaddad Al Attili, adding that this project falls within PWA’s vision aimed at establishing water utilities in the North, Center and South of the West Bank as well as in the Gaza Strip. This project is a priority for the PWA and qualifies for financial support from that Authority, he added.
Mrs. Vincenzi described the project as “a first step towards enhancing cooperation between the two cities. Water represents the birth of life, and we hope that Palestinians in Hebron will enjoy a decent life to help heal the wounds caused by the Israeli occupation”. She thanked Mayor Osaily for enabling her and the accompanying delegation to visit the Old City which is closed down due to Israeli measures. “What we have witnessed in the Old City affects humanity as a whole and constitutes a blow to our hopes for the future”, she said. She underlined the importance of preserving the humanitarian heritage of the Old City of Hebron and affirmed her municipality’s support to the inscription of Hebron on the list of World Heritage sites on which the city of Genoa is already inscribed.
Mayor Osaily had taken the Italian delegation on a tour to the Ibrahimi Mosque and Old City streets. He had described to the delegation the various obstacles hindering the city’s development, mainly the presence of 101 checkpoints/roadblocks and about 400 Israeli settlers in the Old City. These obstacles have led to the division of the city and have prevented Palestinians from moving freely in 16 streets and alleys in the Old City which remain closed by virtue of Israeli Military Orders. The delegation also spoke with Palestinians from the city and became fully acquainted with conditions in the Old City. The guests also toured Hebron Municipality’s various sections and expressed their appreciation of the modern managerial methods implemented by Mayor Osaily and the excellent services provided to citizens.
In the same vein, Mayor Osaily had accompanied the Italian delegation on Friday on a tour to Hebron institutions including the Hebron Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Businessmen Forum, and the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) hospital. At the new headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce, the delegation was received by the Chamber’s president, Mr. Hashem Al Natsheh as well as by members of the Chamber’s Administrative Board. Mr. Al Natsheh spoke about the missions and services provided by the Chamber; he explained that industries in Hebron account for 33% of the total industrial production in Palestine and that both commercial and industrial ties exist between Italy and Hebron. At the Businessmen Forum, an open meeting was held with businessmen from Hebron Governorate during which economic cooperation mechanisms were discussed. The Italian delegation expressed its satisfaction with the large number of Hebronites who speak Italian as well as with the volume of industrial exchanges between Hebron and Italy.
A detailed presentation on the work and objectives of PRCS was given by Mr. Samih Abou Eysha during the visit to the Society’s hospital. Another presentation on the hospital’s various sections and needs was given by Dr. Abdelrazek Abou Mayyala. It was agreed at the end of the visit to the hospital to exchange experiences with the Children’s hospital in Genoa by sending doctors from this hospital to train doctors at PRCS hospital, by hosting PRCS doctors at Genoa hospital and by referring difficult cases for treatment at Genoa’s Children hospital.
At the end of the visit, both parties exchanged symbolic gifts and agreed to pursue these mutual visits in the future in order to strengthen common ties and to open new horizons for the city of Hebron.
