Khaled Osaily. خالد العسيلي رئيس بلدية الخيل السابق خالد العسيلي
Hebron Mayor, Khaled Osaily, met today in his office with Pascal Soto, Head of the United Nations’ Office, in the presence of Samer Abou Jabbarah, Director of Political Affairs, to discuss circumstances in Hebron and consider all details related to the city’s situation on the ground. They also followed-up on contacts with Robert Serry, the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, in regard to the city’s political, economic and living conditions.
Having welcomed his guests, Osaily expressed appreciation for the United Nations’ attitude towards, and support of, reconciliation between Palestinians. He stated that Palestinians hoped for a bigger role to be played by the UN in supporting the rights of the Palestinian people and taking stauncher measures to improve life in Hebron and put pressure on the Israeli government to lift procedures and closures off the heart of the Old City.
He exposed the impact of the continued Israeli measures in the city on the lives of Palestinians and on the city’s economy. He also underscored the urgent need to develop public services and the city’s economy, which cannot be achieved while Israel still occupies the southern part of town and hinders communications between the two parts by closing vital streets and forcing citizens to use exhausting alternatives.
Osaily stated that Hebron has been able, over the last few years, to achieve a quantum leap in improving the lives of its constituents through a series of vital projects and infrastructure enhancements to upgrade provided services. He noted that this has had a positive effect on citizens’ lives and has achieved an additional opportunity for satisfaction, although not complete due to the fact that the municipality does not have a free hand to achieve more results in the southern area because of obstacles and measures imposed by the occupation, thus leading to a slow and incomplete performance.
Concerning the Peace Process, Osaily considered that there is a historic, maybe once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to achieve peace in the presence of President Mahmoud Abbas, who considers peace as a strategic option and is seriously endeavoring towards achieving it. The moment needs to be seized and the UN needs to pressure the Israeli government into fulfilling the peace process requisites and putting an end to this conflict. He noted that it has become clear to the world who is really hampering efforts for peace and for achieving humanitarian justice.
Osaily added that the international community and international organizations, namely the UN, need to support the steps taken by the Palestinian leadership in preparation for the next September milestone. They have to adopt the project for declaring and acknowledging the Palestinian State, now that Israel has clearly chosen settlements instead of peace. An end must be put to the world’s last occupation, the persistence of which is a mark of shame on the face of humanity. Palestinian people and children need to enjoy a free and dignified existence, like any other population in the world.
Soto expressed the United Nations’ position in favor and support of the Palestinian-Palestinian reconciliation. He stated that Mr. Robert Serry was very concerned about the situation in Hebron and very interested in the relationship with the city’s municipality. He also expressed his wishes for peace to be achieved in the region.
In conclusion, Osaily presented the visiting delegation with a copy of the annual report detailing Hebron Municipality’s achievements, in addition to a report about the situation in the city of Hebron.
