Hebron Mayor Dr. Daoud Zatari met a delegation of British Labor Party at The Child Happiness Center. The delegation was chaired by James Murray Executive Member for Housing and Development Labor Councilor for Barnsbury ward, who was also accompanied by Anne Reeder European Parliament, Elizabeth Alero Dudley a Member of UK Parliament as well as Hamdi Bitar Director of Public Relations at Fateh’s Office in order to get a first-hand view of City’s reality and Palestinians’ suffering on the ground.

After welcoming the delegation, Dr. Zatari expressed his happiness for the delegation’s visit to Hebron, and spoke about the illegal division of the City into two parts H1 and H2. He also illustrated the suffering of citizens in the Old City due to Israelis’ practices and measures under the pretext of protecting settlers, and touched on the unjust closing down of Al-Shuhadaa Street and shops in the Old City.

 

Moreover, Dr. Zatari pointed out the Israeli Occupation’s violations against the students and prayers by putting illegal barriers that hinders their roads, and indicated the Israeli Occupation’s obstructions in providing the needed quantities of water to Old City’s dwellers. “The Occupation prevents Hebron Municipality from implementing projects and improving its services in the Old City, and we as Palestinians will not abandon our Palestinian Identity” he said, adding that the Municipality always aims at enhancing projects in Hebron in order to curb the unemployment and to employ the recent graduate students. It is worth mentioning that Hebron City is considered the third of West Bank.

 

Mr. Murray thanked Hebron Mayor for the warm reception and hospitality, and affirmed on their support to the Palestinian cause, he also lauded the role played by Hebron’s Council Members in providing services for the citizens despite the occupations’ daily obstacles, and said “ We came to Palestine to keep in touch with Palestinian’s reality and daily living conditions”.

 

The delegation then toured the old city where they visited Ibrahimi Mosque, and got a first hand-view of the locals’ suffering. He also promised to convey the Palestinian’s Cause and message to the British Labor Party “The freedom must be achieved in Palestine as Palestinians have a right to self-determination”. He added.

 

Symbolic gifts were exchanged between both delegations.