Bethlehem Mayor Maher Nicola Canawati and his deputy, Lucy Thaljieh, received a delegation of representatives from the General Union of Palestinian Women, a number of women’s associations, and the Women’s Development Institutions Association. The delegation was attended by Deputy Secretary of the Fatah Revolutionary Council, Ms. Khawla Al-Azraq; Central Committee member and Fatah member/Bethlehem Region, Ms. Khadija Radaideh; Fatah member/Bethlehem Region, Ms. Maryam Salah; former Chair of the Municipality’s Steering Committee, Ms. Shireen Moj; and Chair of the Consultative Forum for Local Authorities in Palestine (Takamul), Ms. Yola Khair. Representatives from the Rural Women’s Development Association, Ms. Rula Al-Saras and Ms. Shireen Hajal Khoury, and representatives from the TAM Foundation for Women’s Development and Media, as well as feminist activists, were also present. The visit aimed to discuss prospects for joint cooperation and the development of services provided to Palestinian women. The Mayor welcomed the visiting delegation, commending the prominent role played by his deputy, Lucy Thaljieh, as an effective feminist voice within the municipality. He also emphasized the high competence of Palestinian women in various fields and the municipality’s commitment to providing resources and training programs that empower women and enhance their community participation. He affirmed the municipality’s commitment to expanding the scope of programs targeting women to enhance their societal standing. He also emphasized the municipality’s endeavor to exploit every possible opportunity to employ women and support their presence in municipal work.
For her part, Ms. Lucy Thaljieh explained the weekly market organized by the municipality at the Peace Center, in partnership with the Rural Women’s Development Association, to support women and their home-based products. He also explained the efforts of the municipality and its partners in the Slow Food Project, which aims to raise awareness of traditional Palestinian food and empower women economically.
The delegation praised the efforts of the Bethlehem Municipality despite the challenges and limited resources, emphasizing the importance of continued coordination to achieve tangible results. They also expressed their confidence in the Mayor and his deputy, emphasizing Ms. Lucy’s role in amplifying women’s voices and defending their rights. They called for the inclusion of additional programmes within the municipality’s plan aimed at empowering women and enhancing their role in the local development process.