Khaled Osaily. خالد العسيلي رئيس بلدية الخيل السابق خالد العسيلي
Hebron- Hebron Mayor KhaledOsaily accompanied on 20 June the Swedish Minister of Cooperation, Ms. GunillaCarlsson, on a tour in the Old City and its markets, in order to get better acquainted with political and economic conditions prevailing there.
At the beginning of the tour, Osaily thanked the Swedish Minister and her Government for their continuous support to the PNA and to Palestinians in general. He addressed his thanks to SIDA which has funded numerous vital projects aimed at rehabilitating Hebron’s Old City, and called on the Minister to provide further support to projects which aim to restore normal life in the area. “Hebron is in need of a large number of vital projects so its inhabitants can cover their minimum basic needs”, he said.
The tour started at the Old Municipality gate, went through Al Kazzazin quarter and Souk el Laban, and ended at the Holy Ibrahimi Mosque. During the tour, Osaily provided the Minister and her accompanying delegation with a detailed account of political and economic conditions in the area, touching on settler outposts which have turned the life of inhabitants and merchants into a living hell. He also spoke about Israeli military checkpoints which limit and hinder the free movement of Palestinians.
In response to questions by journalists, Minister Carlsson said: “I have noticed clear developments and improvements in the Old City which I had visited 4 years ago. I am happy to see that many people have returned to the Old City and that several shops have reopened. This proves that Palestinians love life”. She also thanked Hebron Mayor for his warm welcome and the valuable information he provided during the tour, and promised to convey this information to her government.
At the end of the tour, Mayor Osailyoffered his guest the Municipality’s Plaque in appreciation of her efforts to support Hebron and its inhabitants in particular and Palestinians in general.
