Khaled Osaily. خالد العسيلي رئيس بلدية الخيل السابق خالد العسيلي
Hebron Mayor Khaled Osaily met on 10 November in his office with Mr. Alexander Rodakov, the new Representative of the Russian Federation to the PNA, as part of the latter’s initial visits to Palestinian cities.
Mr. Rodokov, who took office recently and is currently visiting Palestinian areas to get better acquainted with their situation as well as to meet with their local officials said he was happy to visit Hebron as it is the biggest and most important Palestinian city and because of its various economic and political hardships. “The Russian leadership gives special attention to the Palestinian cause and looks forward to the creation of an independent Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its capital, as well as to the execution of development projects in the region”, he added
Mayor Osaily welcomed his guest and wished him all success in his new position. “Hebron is most willing to cooperate with you and to help you fulfill your tasks which are in the interest of Palestinians and of their just cause. Official and popular Palestinian-Russian ties are close, and the Palestinian leadership chaired by President Abbas is keen on strengthening them. Palestinians value the political support provided by the Russian Federation to their cause in order to establish an independent Palestinian State with Jerusalem as its capital”, he said.
In addition to its political support, the Russian Federation shall provide economic support to the Palestinian government to enable the completion of projects implemented by the Russian Federation in Bethlehem, Mr. Rodakov said, adding that he hoped that similar projects would be implemented in Hebron too in the future.
Osaily spoke in detail about abnormal conditions in Hebron due to settler presence in the heart of the city and around Al Ibrahimi Mosque. He touched on the religious and historical importance of Hebron which has become a ghost city because of Israeli settler and soldier practices. He also presented efforts made by the Municipality to protect Hebron’s cultural heritage reflected in the city’s buildings, religious and historical sites which the Municipality seeks to protect by inscribing them on Unesco’s World Heritage List. He called on Mr. Rodakov to support the Old City’s nomination for inscription on that List.
At the end of the visit, Osaily informed Mr. Rodakov about development projects implemented by Hebron Municipality in the cultural, social, sports and infrastructure fields.
