British Consul General to attend the inauguration of Hebron’s new sports hall and underlines the need to improve living conditions in Hebron’s Old City

Hebron Mayor Khaled Osaily met on 28 July at his office with the British Consul General Richard Makepeace. Osaily briefed his guest on general conditions and daily life in the city as well as on measures imposed by Israeli authorities in the Old City and means to support projects implemented by Hebron Municipality.

During the meeting, Osaily said that conditions in Hebron go against agreements signed between the PNA and the Israeli government under international auspices. The USA and the quartet must intervene to put an end to settlement expansion and to safeguard peace in the region, he said. Osaily also spoke in detail about economic conditions in Hebron and means to develop and strengthen them in order to ensure the city develops in a comprehensive and organized manner. This, he said, shall improve the daily life of citizens and shall enhance the Municipality’s capacity to enahnce the quality of its services.

Osaily also touched on projects implemented or underway in Hebron, with particular emphasis on the new indoor sports hall to be inaugurated by the Municipality on Friday under the auspices of President Abbas and with the participation of PM Fayyad and numerous other local, Arab and foreign officials. The inauguration ceremony shall feature a basketball match between the “Ibda’a Dheisheh” team, champion of the Palestinian super league, and the Spanish “Estudiantes” which plays in the Spanish champions league.

Mr. Makepeace affirmed that he will attend the inauguration ceremony to which he was invited by Mayor Osaily. He hoped for better conditions in the Old City and for a comfortable, peaceful and safe life for Palestinians. He also hoped to see a comprehensive peace prevail in the region which fulfills the demands of all parties.

“I am happy at the urban and service-related developments I have witnessed in Hebron. I hope that these projects shall help improve the life of Palestinians and that more such projects will be implemented throughout the Palestinian Territories”, Mr. Makepeace said. He also praised developments he witnessed at Hebron Municipality and the modern technology used in order to revolutionize its various sections.