Khaled Osaily. خالد العسيلي رئيس بلدية الخيل السابق خالد العسيلي
Hebron Mayor KhaledOsaily presented a paper at the Euro-Mediterranean Cities Environment Conference in Genova (Italy) which ended earlier this week. The Conference was attended by Mayors and world-renowned experts. Osaily’s paper, which was entitled ‘The Palestinian National Strategic Plan for the Protection of the Environment’, listed the main objectives of the Joint Services Council for the Management of Solid Waste in Hebron and Bethlehem Municipalities which is funded by the World Bank. The paper highlighted the Council’s expected achievements and impact in terms of energy production, job creation and economic returns for participating local councils. Moreover, the paper touched on the importance of safeguarding Hebron’s civilization and cultural heritage as well as the inscription of Hebron’s Old City on Unesco’s World Heritage List, practical steps towards the preparation of the Old City’s nomination file and the role to be played by Euro-Mediterranean cities in supporting Hebron’s inscription on that List. The paper also discussed efforts made to execute the Wastewater Treatment Project thanks to 15 million dollars earmarked by the World Bank and 15 million Euros allocated by the French Cooperation Agency.Osaily spoke about thisProject’s positive environmental impact and called for more cooperation and support to ensure its success.
Moreover, Osaily explained that Palestinians have determined their six environmental priorities following a SWOT analysis as well as after a deep analysis of current conditions, achievements and challengeswith a view to ensuring a clean, safe and unpolluted environment in Palestine. He touched on efforts to protect both the environment and cultural heritage as well as to ensure the sustainable management of natural resources and to cope with climate change, combat desertification and environmental and natural disasters. He spoke about the relevant institutional framework, the environmental law as well as coordinated and comprehensive action. At the end of his paper, Osaily affirmed that Palestine is committed to international environmental treaties and agreements.
Following his return, Osaily said the Conference helped convey a true picture of the environmental situation in Palestine,enhanced cooperation and the exchangeof experiences with international bodies and both scientific and political institutions and helped build future partnerships and networks with other municipalities. “For example, thanks to these networking opportunities, Palestine shall have its own wing at the International Flower Fair in 2015 which is held every five years in Genova with international participation”, Osaily added, affirming that the Palestinian environmental context was given utmost attention and received unique media coverage at the Conference.
