Bethlehem Mayor Maher Nicola Canawati visited His Excellency Minister of Finance Omar Bitar. During the meeting, the two emphasized the special status of Bethlehem as Palestine’s gateway to the world and the birthplace of Jesus Christ. The Mayor emphasized the need to showcase the city in the best possible light, reflecting its historical, religious, and touristic significance. He called for increased government financial support for the municipality, enabling it to implement its vital projects and development plans. A number of financial issues related to the municipality’s work and future needs were also discussed.

The Mayor of Bethlehem, Mr. Maher Nicola Canawati, participated in the closing ceremony of the annual scout camp organized by the Terra Santa Scouts Group – Eagles of the Nativity, under the title “We Plant to Live.” The event was attended by His Eminence Bishop William Shomali, the Patriarchal Vicar in Jerusalem, Father Rami Asakrieh, the spiritual guide of the Terra Santa Scouts Group, and George Canawati, the group’s leader. Also present were Khalil Farhoud and Aida Baboun, members of the Executive Committee of the Palestinian Scouts Association, along with Joseph Hazboun, the Director of the Papal Mission in Jerusalem, Mr. Najib Nasser, the President of the Antonine Society, Mr. Anton Marcos, the Dean of the Catholic Action Foundation, and Tomaso Kordani, the representative of the Pro Terra Santa Foundation. Also present were representatives of the security services and scout groups in the Bethlehem Governorate, directors of local community institutions, and the families of the participants. In his speech, Bethlehem Mayor Maher Nicola Canawati emphasized the vital role the Scout Movement plays in instilling educational and patriotic values in young people and promoting concepts of belonging, responsibility, and teamwork. He emphasized that the Bethlehem Municipality’s support for these activities stems from its deep belief in the importance of investing in the younger generations and developing their capabilities. He also noted that Scouts contribute to building a Palestinian human being capable of resilience and giving despite the challenges facing our people. He noted that we need to instill values to tell the world that we are here and will remain here. He emphasized that Scouts are the force that creates this true sense of belonging and are a school of commitment, discipline, and volunteer work.

Bethlehem Mayor Maher Nicola Canawati and Municipal Council Member Hisham Al-Kamel visited Dar Al-Kalima University, where they were received by the university’s president, Dr. Mitri Raheb, and several members of the administrative body. This visit comes within the framework of strengthening partnerships with the city’s institutions and emphasizing the importance of integrated work in serving Bethlehem and its people.
During the meeting, the university president spoke about the most prominent challenges facing the city, stressing that overcoming them requires the concerted efforts of all parties, especially the municipality and local community institutions. He also highlighted the pivotal role played by the university in supporting several twinning agreements concluded by the municipality with cities around the world, and its distinguished cultural presence, particularly through its academic programs.
For his part, Canawati praised the university’s efforts and its journey in serving the city, emphasizing that the Bethlehem Municipality is proud of this national institution, which follows the same approach in serving the public good. He emphasized that working together with it and other institutions is the best way to achieve outstanding results. The meeting concluded with an emphasis on the importance of visiting the city’s various institutions, establishing effective networking among them, and highlighting their societal role, which would enhance their presence and serve Bethlehem’s development and national goals.

The Bethlehem Municipality held an expanded meeting with the participation of representatives from the police, customs, the Chamber of Commerce, the Bethlehem Governorate, the Social Development Department, the Traders Committee, and the Health Directorate. The meeting aimed to develop a comprehensive plan to regulate street vendors in the city.
The meeting discussed the challenges facing vendors and vendors, and the need to enforce the law in a manner that takes into account economic conditions and maintains public order. Proposals were also put forward to allocate days to showcase farmers’ products.
It was agreed to launch a comprehensive campaign to regulate vendors, starting in the Madbasa area, in cooperation with all parties, to ensure the sustainability of the system and serve the interests of the city and its residents.

The Bethlehem Municipality held a small meeting, attended by Mayor Maher Nicola Canawati, Director General of the Local Government Directorate in Bethlehem Governorate, Mr. Suleiman Abu Mufreh, Director of the Veterinary Department, Dr. Kamel Abu Amria, President of the Animal and Environment Association, Ms. Diana Al-Baabish, and Director of the Health Department in the Bethlehem Municipality, Dr. Yousef Musallam, to discuss the first steps to address the stray dog phenomenon. The meeting addressed the negative effects of the spread of stray dogs in residential areas and ways to effectively reduce them. It was agreed to form special teams of employees and equipped vehicles to capture dogs in densely populated areas. This will include providing the necessary vaccinations for the animals and conducting sterilization operations under appropriate conditions, arranged in coordination with the relevant authorities. The municipality will also communicate with citizens to identify areas suffering from this phenomenon, with the aim of initiating treatment according to carefully considered priorities. The mayor emphasized that this step is part of the municipality’s efforts to protect citizens and preserve public health, in cooperation with partners in the health and environmental sectors.

A delegation from the Bethlehem Municipality visited the Palestinian Bible Society, including Mayor Maher Nicola Canawati, several members of the Municipal Council, and the Public Relations and Media Department. They were received by the Society’s Director General, Mr. Nashat Filmon, and members of the Society’s administrative and advisory boards and administrative staff.
During the meeting, the Society’s Director welcomed the municipality delegation, expressing his appreciation for this visit, which reflects the spirit of cooperation between the two institutions. He emphasized the importance of Bethlehem Governorate as a spiritual and cultural center. He also expressed the Society’s willingness to support the municipality by providing a number of souvenirs for visitors and guests of the city and contributing to the implementation of awareness campaigns, particularly on the issue of public hygiene. He pointed to the possibility of joint work on training programs and the exchange of expertise that would benefit the local community.
For his part, Canawati praised the Society’s vital role in promoting cultural and spiritual values and serving the local community. He emphasized that the Bethlehem Municipality seeks to strengthen cooperation with all active institutions to achieve sustainable development in the city. Regarding the issue of maintaining cleanliness, he explained that the municipality recently activated a system for recording violations in cooperation with the police, as part of its serious efforts to improve the quality of life in the city and enforce public order. He added, “We are working steadily and in effective partnership with all parties to achieve tangible results that reflect our vision of building a cleaner, more organized, and more disciplined city.”

As part of the Bethlehem Municipality’s commitment to enhancing direct communication with citizens and listening to their needs, Bethlehem Mayor Maher Nicola Canawati held a meeting with several members of the Municipal Council and tenants at the central bus station, in the presence of the station manager.
During the meeting, tenants discussed the most prominent challenges they face at the station, stressing the importance of the municipality’s support and the cooperation of relevant agencies to improve the work environment and ensure public safety.
For his part, Kanawati affirmed the municipality’s commitment to following up on the issues raised and working to find practical solutions in coordination with relevant authorities, most notably the Palestinian Police Force. He emphasized the importance of community partnership to ensure regular operations and maintain public order.
This meeting is part of the municipality’s efforts to enhance transparency, respond to citizen demands, and support service and infrastructure projects in the city of Bethlehem.

A delegation from Sakhnin accepted the invitation of Bethlehem Mayor Maher Nicola Canawati. The delegation included representatives from St. Joseph Parish and the Church of the Virgin Mary, headed by Father Aref Yamin, and Municipal Council member Hisham Al-Kamel.
This visit comes within the framework of strengthening spiritual and community ties among the people of one nation and consolidating the values of solidarity and support in the face of current challenges, especially in light of the circumstances that are pushing some to consider emigration. The visit also provided an opportunity to learn about the Palestinian cultural and historical heritage, particularly the Talhami heritage, and to affirm Bethlehem’s status as a living symbol of faith, peace, and love.
The meeting reflected an atmosphere of solidarity and a shared commitment to serving the community, as the two sides discussed avenues for future cooperation in the humanitarian and social fields, based on shared values and a shared vision. The importance of conveying the true image of Bethlehem as a safe city that embraces its visitors with love and generosity was also emphasized.