Khaled Osaily. خالد العسيلي رئيس بلدية الخيل السابق خالد العسيلي
At the start of his visit to Hebron, President Mahmoud Abbas (Abou Mazen) inaugurated Kizon street which was rehabilitated with support from the French government through the Municipal Development and Lending Fund (MDLF).
President Abbas, who was accompanied by a delegation comprising Palestinian ministers and members of the Central Committee, was welcomed by Hebron Mayor Khaled Osaily, members of Hebron’s Municipal Council, Minister of Local Government Dr. Khaled Kawasmi, Hebron Governor Dr. Hussein Al A’araj, the French Consul General Mr. Frédéric Desagneaux, Mr. Abdel Mughni Nofal, Director General of the MDLF, as well as by a large number of officials and representatives of the NGO community in Hebron.
Mayor Osaily welcomed President Abbas and renewed his allegiance to him. On behalf of the Municipal Council, Osaily called upon President Abbas to reconsider his decision not to run for re-election as he represents Palestinian legitimacy and is an inspiring leader for the Palestinian people. Osaily also thanked the French government and people for their support to Palestinians and for the rehabilitation of 2 kilometres of Kizon Street. The French government covered 50% of the 2 million dollars required for this project through MDLF while the other half was covered by the Municipality itself. Osaily also recalled support by the French government through MDLF to the rehabilitation of Dahiat Al Baladiya Street which is to start in the near future. He spoke about support from and cooperation with the French government in the project aimed at safeguarding the Old City of Hebron and at inscribing it on Unesco’s list of World Heritage as well as about the conference held recently in Paris in cooperation with Belfort and Arceuil municipalities to launch the campaign aimed at inscribing Hebron on this List.
President Abbas then cut the ribbon for the newly rehabilitated street. He lauded support provided by friendly and brotherly states to Palestinians and thanked the French government for its support to this particular project.
