Hebron Mayor Khaled Osaily met on the 10th of January at Hebron Municipality with Laurence Carter, IFC Director for Infrastructure Advisory Services, Youssef Habash, IFC Country Officer and several IFC staff from Egypt, Dubai and Jordan. The meeting aimed at discussing the progress of the Development Study for the Solid Waste Management Project in Hebron and Bethlehem Governorates implemented through the Joint Council for Solid Waste Management in the two Governorates.

The Southern West Bank Higher Joint Services Council for Solid Waste Management had previously signed with IFC an agreement for the launching of a Development Study for Solid Waste Management with Private Sector participation for a total of 800 000 USD.

After welcoming his guests, Osaily made a detailed presentation on economic conditions in the oPT in general and Hebron Governorate in particular. He underlined the importance of support from and partnerships with the private sector given the great role it plays in achieving development, ensuring sustainable development and creating job opportunities for recent graduates as well as for those made redundant because of occupation policies and the political situation in the oPT.

In reply to a question about potential Public-Private Partnerships in Hebron Governorate that would serve the public good, Osaily said that waste water management and housing projects are two fields where such partnerships would succeed if additional international support is provided. Another potential field is the creation of industrial zones that would attract investors to the oPT, he added.
“A major obstacle hindering several vital projects in the Governorate is the lack of land suitable to host these projects. Around 60% of Palestinian land remains under Israeli administrative and security control, and using this “C” area land requires special permits from the Israelis.

At the end of the meeting, Carter reiterated IFC’s desire to cooperate effectively with Hebron Municipality and the Higher Council as well as to expand current cooperation to include additional projects and fields.

Before leaving the city, the delegation visited Hebron’s Old City in order to get better acquainted with living conditions there, mainly in friction zones, around settlement outposts and near Al Ibrahimi Mosque.