In the conference of Local Authorities in Solidarity with the Palestinian People which was Held in Ramallah's Movenpick Hotel, The Mayor of Hebron, Dr. Daoud Zatari, underlined that the Palestinian municipalities and the local institutions play main role in the creation of a fully sovereign Palestinian State with Jerusalem as its capital. He also praised the World Municipalities participation in the conference, as it's considered as an International recognition of the State of Palestine, and it will support the Palestinian people to defend their land and to end the Israeli Occupation.

 

Although the various obstructions by the Israeli Authority that hinder the local economic development, the local institutions as well as the municipalities devote their best efforts to cover the need of the Palestinians and to improve the living conditions of the citizens, added the mayor.

 

He then added that the municipalities and the local bodies are seeking at curbing the unemployment rate, at creating new job opportunities, and at encouraging the investment in Palestine, especially after the declining in investment ratio as a result of the Israeli occupation. 

 

The Mayor touched on the conference importance in giving the Palestinian municipalities the chance to sign twinning and cooperation agreements with other World cities in the context of promoting the steadfastness of the Palestinian people, and of making the citizens' living condition become much better.

 

A discussion session then held between the municipalities of Hebron and Mannheim which have a twinning agreement, where the mayor Dr. Zatari highlighted the success stories between the two municipalities and the mutual benefits on the both sides.

 

On his part, Dr. Peter Kurz, the Mayor of Mannheim expressed his happiness and appreciation to cooperate with Hebron Municipality, and praised the proficiency level that the municipality achieved while providing services.

 

Twinning agreements with Turkish municipalities and other Spanish are supposed to be signed with Hebron Municipality by the end of the conference.