Canawati Receives Delegation from French Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Discuss Joint Cooperation Projects and Strengthen Development Partnership
On Thursday morning, May 15, 2025, Bethlehem Mayor Maher Nicola Canawati received an official delegation that included Mr. Frédéric Cloy, Director of Decentralized Cooperation at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ms. Lou Abramovich, Head of Decentralized Cooperation, Civil Society, and Sports at the French Consulate General in Jerusalem. The delegation was attended by former Mayor and current Council Member Hanna Hanania, Council Members George Juha and Hisham Al-Kamel, Ms. Carmen Ghattas, Director of Public Relations, Culture, and Media at the Municipality, Miral Jaqaman, Public and International Relations Officer, Engineer Ziad Al-Sayeh, Director of the Planning and Development Department, and Engineer Dina Al-Araj, Project Engineer.
The visit came as part of a follow-up on projects implemented in Bethlehem with support from the French government and within the framework of the FICOL program, which links the Bethlehem Municipality with partner French municipalities. The visit also aimed to discuss opportunities for developing joint cooperation, especially in light of the difficult political and economic conditions facing Palestine.
Kanawati welcomed the French delegation, emphasizing the strong relationship between the Bethlehem Municipality and French official and development agencies. He thanked the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its continued support through concrete projects that have contributed to promoting development in the city. He also emphasized the importance of continuing this cooperation, especially in light of the decline in tourism activity, which has negatively impacted the city’s economy and increased unemployment rates. He emphasized that the municipality seeks to implement projects focusing on children’s education and community empowerment. He also noted that the project to develop the children’s public library is one of the initiatives the municipality intends to implement with French support, as it will include educational and recreational spaces that will help mitigate the psychological impact of the current circumstances.
For his part, Mr. Frederic Cloy expressed his happiness to be visiting Bethlehem for the first time and emphasized the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ commitment to strengthening decentralized cooperation with the Bethlehem Municipality, emphasizing that this model of partnership is achieving tangible results and embodying the strong relationship between the French and Palestinian peoples. He also emphasized that the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs places great importance on cooperation programs with Bethlehem, particularly those related to civil society and sports and cultural activities targeting children and youth. She believes that these initiatives contribute to supporting social stability and building a more equitable future.
For her part, Professor Carmen Ghattas emphasized the importance of the Palestinian-French partnership and the need to strengthen it in light of current challenges. She highlighted the significant role played by French twin cities with Bethlehem in supporting the city and its cause through development and cultural partnerships. She noted that the “Grenoble and Bethlehem: Two Cities Living Together” project is a model to be emulated in utilizing heritage to enhance social cohesion. She also emphasized the importance of continuing to support projects that focus on children, youth, and women and contribute to preserving cultural identity as a component of resilience.
During the meeting, Engineer Dina Al-Araj presented projects implemented in partnership with the AFD, such as the Manger Square rehabilitation project and infrastructure projects in various neighborhoods. Proposed future projects were also reviewed, including a public children’s library and educational and health initiatives targeting groups affected by the aggression and blockade. The visit concluded with a field trip to the Peace Center and the Novel Museum, where the delegation met with the center’s director, Ms. Rania Al-Bandak, who explained the work of the Paris Project at the Peace Center. The delegation also viewed the work in Manger Square and the public library, and visited the Church of the Nativity, where the French delegation observed the results achieved on the ground. The municipality’s technical teams presented the implementation stages, the goals achieved, and the efforts made to overcome logistical and technical challenges. This demonstrated the municipality’s ability to transform international support into tangible projects that address citizens’ needs.
