The meeting, which was attended by Municipal Council Members, the Municipality’s General Manager, the Mayor's Assistant and staff from the Swedish Consulate discussed promoting cooperation in the context of the economic and political situationin Hebron.

 

Dr. Zatari commended the Swedish Government for its support and fundingof various sectors, underlining the role played by Sweden in supporting The Municipal Development and Lending Fund. He touched on cooperation between Palestinian and Swedish authorities in order to ensure decent living conditions for Palestinians within a fully sovereign Palestinian state.“The Israeli Occupation exacerbates economic conditions and prevents Hebron Municipality from implementing development projects and promoting investment”, he added. Dr. Zatari also spoke about the Municipal Strategic Planaimed at improving the local infrastructure, including the development of Industrial Zones and IT projects.

 

Mr. Wernhoff said he sympathized with Old City inhabitants and with their daily suffering due to Israeli occupation measures and practices. He underlined the negative impact of occupation on economic and cultural development. “The Swedish government is keen on improving the life of Palestinians and on supporting Palestinian development projects", he said, adding that Sweden plays a leading role in the IT field and that some of the world’s largest electronics and communications companies are based in Sweden. He affirmed his readiness to enhance cooperation with Palestinians in general and with recent graduates in particularas well as to promotethe exchange of  experiences between universities in Sweden and Hebron.