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May 28, 2025

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Bethlehem Municipality Discuss Arrangements for Opening a Document Authentication Office in Bethlehem

Bethlehem – May 28, 2025 – A delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, headed by Ambassador Mohammad Abu Jameh and accompanied by a team from the General Directorate of Consular Affairs, visited the city of Bethlehem today, Wednesday, to discuss the necessary arrangements for opening a document authentication office in Bethlehem. The delegation met with Mr. Maher Nicola Canawati, Mayor of Bethlehem. Also participating in the meeting was Mr. Saleh Sobh, Director General of the Governor’s Office, representing the Governor of Bethlehem. The discussions focused on ways and mechanisms to facilitate procedures and improve services for citizens in the Bethlehem Governorate.
This initiative comes in implementation of the directives of H.E. Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Dr. Mohammad Mustafa, and the instructions of H.E. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Dr. Varsen Aghabekian Shahin. It is also part of the Palestinian government’s broader efforts—especially following its visit to the governorate last week and its adoption of several measures aimed at alleviating the hardships faced by citizens.
During the meeting, it was officially announced that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates would respond to the request submitted by the Governor of Bethlehem and various local stakeholders—conveyed by the Mayor of Bethlehem—by opening an office affiliated with the Ministry inside the municipality building. The aim is to ease the processing of transactions for citizens, particularly those involving certificate authentications and other official documents requiring Ministry certification.
This decision comes in response to the difficulties citizens face in mobility due to transportation issues and Israeli military checkpoints. The Bethlehem Municipality will provide the necessary location and prepare the appropriate infrastructure for the office, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will supply the required personnel and equipment to operate it.
May 27, 2025

As part of ongoing collaboration efforts, the Mayor of Bethlehem, Mr. Maher Nicola Canawati, met with Mr. Mohammad Al-Sa’da, Director of the Bethlehem Governorate Post Office, along with the postal team. The meeting focused on exploring ways to strengthen cooperation between the Municipality and the Postal Service.

Mayor Canawati was briefed on the financial and postal services currently offered and received an overview of the “Hokumati” application, which connects government institutions through a unified platform aimed at streamlining service delivery to citizens.

The discussion also addressed the Postal Code Project, which enables residents to identify the postal code corresponding to their location via the link: https://postcode.palestine.ps/#. The importance of activating and promoting this project was emphasized, as it contributes to improving service quality and ensuring faster access to services.
May 25, 2025

Enforcing Regulations and Law for an Organized and Safe Market.

As part of the ongoing efforts by the Bethlehem Municipality to maintain public order and promote an organized commercial environment that safeguards the rights of merchants, farmers, and citizens, the Mayor of Bethlehem, Mr. Maher Nicola Canawati, held an important meeting with local merchants at the city’s commercial center – Al-Madbasa – with the participation of several municipal council members.
This meeting comes within the framework of addressing the issue of unlicensed street vendors and encroachments, which negatively impact order and organization within Bethlehem’s commercial hub. The discussions focused on effective ways to enforce regulations and laws to protect the interests of all stakeholders, contributing to market organization, commercial development, and the strengthening of trust among merchants, farmers, and citizens alike.
May 24, 2025

The Bethlehem Municipality has begun work on opening a new road in the Jabal Al-Deek/Khirbet Abu Hamama area, within plot number 28101, with the goal of creating an unpaved road to facilitate landowners’ access to their properties.

Bethlehem Mayor Mr. Maher Nicola canawti stated that this project is part of the municipality’s ongoing efforts to develop infrastructure in the city’s urban expansion areas. The municipality continues to implement similar projects while working to secure the necessary funding to upgrade these roads and provide essential services.
The targeted area is considered one of the main future urban expansion zones in Bethlehem. Its development is expected to boost urban growth and ease traffic congestion in the Karkafeh area and neighboring districts.
May 24, 2025

Bethlehem Municipality Holds Community Meeting to Update Strategic Development Plan (2023–2026)

Bethlehem Municipality organized a community meeting to update its strategic development plan for the years 2023–2026. The event saw active participation from local community representatives, institutions, and municipal staff, including Deputy Mayor Lucy Thaljieh and Municipal Council Member Rehab Abu Ahoor.
Miral Jaqman from the Public Relations Department moderated the session. Deputy Mayor Thaljieh welcomed attendees, thanked them for their engagement, and highlighted the importance of this annual checkpoint to assess achievements and review challenges. She also acknowledged the political obstacles and the ongoing aggression against Palestinians that impact project implementation.
Engineer Dina Al-Araj from the Studies and Projects Department presented a detailed overview of projects implemented during 2024–2025. The strategic plan includes 42 development projects across sectors:
Infrastructure
Environment
Social development
Governance
Economic development
She discussed progress rates, obstacles, and the importance of strict follow-up to meet deadlines and budget constraints.
Engineer Ziad Al-Sayeh, Director of Planning and Development, reviewed challenges and changes to the plan. He presented additional projects proposed by the municipality to donor agencies, stressing the need to align them with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The meeting concluded with an open discussion addressing daily concerns like:
Cleanliness
Public transport
Urban organization
Infrastructure quality
Attendees proposed suggestions to enhance services and strengthen community involvement in policy development.
The municipality reaffirmed its commitment to working with the local community and institutional partners to implement the development plan based on the city’s priorities and residents’ needs.
May 24, 2025

As part of the “Bethlehem Green City” project, the Bethlehem Municipality organized an environmental activity to clean and green Manger Street.

This initiative, funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, targeted the section of Manger Street extending from Gijon Roundabout to the Paradise Hotel.
The event was held in partnership with the Municipality of San Giovanni Valdarno in Italy and the John Paul II Foundation, aiming to raise environmental awareness and improve the urban landscape of the city.
The activity is part of a strategic collaboration between Bethlehem Municipality, the Municipality of San Giovanni Valdarno, and the John Paul II Foundation. It included the participation of the Mayor, members of the Municipal Council, city police, employees from the planning, projects, and health departments, along with volunteers from the Terra Santa Scout Group – Bethlehem, and the Global Shapers community.
The effort focused on cleaning the median and sidewalks of the road in the targeted section. It reflects the municipality’s and the local community’s commitment to working toward a cleaner and more sustainable environment.
This event is part of a series of environmental initiatives being carried out by the municipality to improve the quality of life in the city and strengthen community engagement in environmental and sustainable development issues.

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