Palestinian Prime Minister Dr. Salam Fayyad said on the 14th of January that Hebron Municipality is a model to be followed in Palestine and represents a very rich experience thanks to achievements in the youth sector, investments in the human capital -which is the key to development- and efforts to develop the city’s infrastructure, facilities and enterprises. All this shall help set the basis for the Palestinian State, he said.

“The Palestinian government did not receive the support it was promised, which led to a financial crisis compounded by Israel’s freezing of the Palestinian Authority’s tax money. Palestinian political decision-making does not hang on financial support or aid. We are working on embracing self-reliance in our decision making processes even though it is the International Community’s duty to provide support and assistance to Palestinians during these times”, he said.

PM Fayyad called for an end to what he termed “the disastrous divisions” between the nation’s two parts. “The Palestinian State shall be built on land occupied in 1967 including Jerusalem, the eternal capital of Palestinians. Occupation shall end and freedom shall prevail in each and every neighborhood, street and refugee camp, as well as in Jerusalem’s old city quarters”, he added.

Fayyad’s speech came after he inaugurated the Korean Palestinian Center and the Korean School in Hebron. The inauguration ceremony was also attended by Dr. Khaled al Kawasmi, Minister of Local Government, Mr. Kamel Hamid, Governor of Hebron, Mr. Khaled Osaily, Hebron Mayor, Ms. Nisreen Amr, Head of the Hebron Directorate of Education, Mr. Sin Jo Yo, Korean Ambassador to the PA, Mr. Han Sho Gsik, Deputy President of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Mr. Sank Bak Li, KOICA Country Officer in Palestine as well as several officials, eminent personalities and a large crowd of Hebron residents.

After cutting the inauguration ribbon of both the Center and the School, and following a tour in the two buildings, the inauguration ceremony started with the Palestinian and Korean National Anthems, followed by a speech by Hebron Mayor Khaled Osaily. Mr. Osaily expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Korean Government which provided around 6 million USD to fund the two projects, while Hebron Municipality provided a 13-dunum piece of land in Nankar on which the projects were built. “These achievements would not have been possible without the unlimited support of President Mahmoud Abbas who shares the burdens of Palestinians and works to end the occupation and build the Palestinian State. President Abbas has fought on all fronts, without abandoning our national fundamentals because our cause is a great one for which many people have sacrificed their lives. I would like to recall here our martyrs, wounded Palestinians and detainees who gave their lives and freedom for this cause, mainly our father and late President Yasser Arafat”, he said.

Speaking about these projects, Osaily added: “The Center shall be a beacon of knowledge for Palestinians. It shall help develop the cultural, sports and economic capacities of ambitious youths. Hebron Municipality has focused on youths, providing them with the necessary facilities and infrastructure such as stadiums, sports halls, societal and youth centers”.

Governor Hamid then took the floor. He thanked Hebron Municipality for its achievements,  adding that Hebron Governorate is proud of its partnership with the Municipality which is a model of generosity, building and development as well as a bright example of a Palestinian ambitious institution working to ensure development and prosperity. “The southern part of Hebron is no longer fertile ground for outlaws. Security apparatuses shall continue to find them, and they shall not seek refuge in Israeli settlements or with the Israeli army. We are ensuring that residents enjoy the right to security and safety, which is a right to be enjoyed by all Palestinians”, he said.

His Excellency the Ambassador of Korea said that this ceremony underlines the depth of Palestinian-Korean ties. “These projects ensure development and help invest in the human capital through education and knowledge. This is how Korea managed to turn from a country with dire conditions to a prosper and advanced country comparable to the world’s superpowers”, he said.

KOICA’s Vice President said that these two Korean projects implemented in cooperation with Hebron Municipality are the biggest Korean projects in the Palestinian Territories. KOICA shall continue its cooperation and enhance its partnerships with the PNA to implement projects to improve the lives of Palestinians and support steps taken by the Palestinian Government to set the infrastructure for the future Palestinian State.

At the end of the ceremony, Mayor Osaily handed PM Fayyad a gift hand-made in Hebron. He also honored Minister Kawasmi, Governor Hamid, the Ambassador of Korea, the VP of KOICA and its Country Officer for the efforts they made to ensure the completion and success of this project.