Khaled Osaily. خالد العسيلي رئيس بلدية الخيل السابق خالد العسيلي
Mayor of Geneva (Switzerland) Rémy Pagani said that conditions in Hebron are unjust and a shameful disregard for Humanity, due to the continuing occupation, violations of religious freedom and liberties and the disregard of international legitimacy resolutions.
“What I have witnessed in the Old City of Hebron exceeds what one might call an unjust situation, especially when it comes to the continuous closure of Al Shuhada’a Street despite a ruling by the Israeli Supreme Court. In Geneva, Christians, Moslems and Jews live side by side and worship in freedom. What I have seen in Al-Ibrahimi Mosque goes against all international treaties and conventions. I urge all International bodies to meet in Geneva to work towards the implementation of the Geneva Accord”, he said.
Mayor Pagani was speaking during a field trip to the Old City, Al Ibrahimi Mosque and rehabilitated buildings in the Old City, as well as to zones of friction between settler outposts and Palestinian homes. He was accompanied by Hebron Mayor Khaled Osaily and Mr. Hani Barghouti from the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Prior to this trip, a lengthy meeting was held at the Municipality between Mayor Osaily, Mayor Pagani, Geneva Municipal Council members Christine Lotus, Jacques Alfred François and Top Yaztsmir, Deputy Swiss Representative to the Palestinian Authority Mr. Hans Peter and members from Hebron Municipal Council. The meeting aimed at examining means for Geneva to join the Campaign to support Hebron Municipality’s demand to inscribe the Old City on the World Heritage List, to examine Geneva Municipality’s call to Palestinian Municipalities and other cities to join hands to implement the Geneva Accord in Palestine as well as to implement joint activities between both Municipalities.
Mayor Osaily had started the meeting by addressing his thanks to the visiting delegation for their support to Palestinians and to Hebron and for their visit to the city aimed at taking a close look on the suffering of Palestinians, as well as for accepting to support Hebron’s candidature to the World Heritage List. Osaily spoke in detail about conditions in Hebron due to the continuous occupation of its Southern part, settler activities, and disregard by Israel of international resolutions and conventions, the lack of peace and of freedom of religion and daily violations committed against Palestinians and their land. “We in Hebron call the International Community, Human Rights organisations, peace loving nations and the entire free world to visit Hebron to get a firsthand view of daily violations committed by Israel against the city, its history and its humanitarian heritage. International Organisations must intervene to protect the city and must shoulder their responsibilities towards this historical and world heritage of humanity”, he said.
“I will personally make every effort to support Hebron Municipality’s Initiative to inscribe Hebron on the World Heritage List, as I am convinced after visiting this beautiful and historical city that it deserves full support. Hebron Mayor should be given full support so that he continues to work to safeguard the city and to rehabilitate it”, Mayor Pagani said.
At the end of the meeting, both parties exchanged symbolic gifts.
