Bethlehem welcomed today the Serbian Minister of State for Reconciliation and Regional Cooperation, Usame Zukorlić, in an official visit expressing deep solidarity with the Palestinian people and aiming to strengthen bilateral relations between Serbia and Palestine, particularly in cultural and religious fields.
The minister was received by Bethlehem Mayor, Mr. Maher Canawati, who accompanied him on a tour starting from Star Street, the historical entrance to Bethlehem and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. He provided a comprehensive overview of the city’s rich history, cultural identity, and religious significance as a global symbol of peace.
The delegation then proceeded to Bethlehem Municipality, where an extended meeting took place. Attendees included members of the municipal council, Dr. Samir Hazboun, Chairman of the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ambassador Jihad Khair, a member of the Presidential Committee for Church Affairs and Director of its Bethlehem office, and Mr. Raed Hanania, Public Relations Director of the Committee.
Mayor Canawati praised Serbia’s continuous support for the Palestinian people and its positive stance in international forums regarding the Palestinian cause. He stressed the importance of enhancing joint cooperation, especially in cultural and economic areas, to strengthen ties between the two countries and show solidarity with the Palestinian people amid current challenges. He also emphasized the potential for new partnerships with Serbian cities, starting with the signing of an official twinning agreement. “Bethlehem is Palestine’s gateway to the world,” he stated, “We have 104 twinning agreements, and we hope Serbia will join this list soon.”
Minister Zukorlić reaffirmed Serbia’s firm position on recognizing Palestine as an independent state. He expressed his personal sorrow for the suffering of the Palestinian people and stressed that the Serbian government is closely following the situation in Gaza with deep concern, awaiting a just resolution. He quoted Nelson Mandela: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
As a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Zukorlić said he would work to expand relations with Palestine, starting with Bethlehem, as part of Serbia’s broader strategy to strengthen its ties with the Arab world. He also highlighted Novi Pazar, Serbia’s largest Muslim-majority city, home to historic mosques and churches, as an ideal ground for cultural and religious cooperation between the two peoples. “We value the culture and resilience of the Palestinian people,” he said. “Anyone with a sound heart and conscience cannot help but stand with Palestine. We will work to connect Serbia with Arab countries, starting with Palestine, because justice in the Middle East is a deeply human issue.”
After the official meeting, the minister visited the Church of the Nativity, where he met with Metropolitan Benedictos, the Patriarchal Vicar in Bethlehem, Father Rami Asakrieh, parish priest of Saint Catherine Church, and Father Vahag Seno, priest of the Armenian Monastery. He learned about the church’s ancient history as one of the oldest Christian sites in the world and its religious significance. The delegation also visited the Mosque of Omar, located in Manger Square, in a living expression of the city’s unique spirit of interfaith coexistence.
The visit concluded at the Palestinian Narrative Museum, located in the Peace Center, where the minister viewed exhibits narrating the national Palestinian story and documenting the indigenous Palestinian presence as an integral part of the people’s cultural and historical identity.
