Bethlehem Mayor Maher Nicola Canawati visited the Guidance and Training Center for Children and Family – Bethlehem, where he was received by the Chairwoman of the Center’s Board of Directors, Dr. Mariam Awad, and a number of members of the Board of Directors and administrative staff. The visit was also attended by Ms. Miral Jaqaman, Public Relations Officer from the Bethlehem Municipality. The purpose of the visit was to discuss ways to cooperate and strengthen the partnership between the municipality and the center.
During the meeting, Dr. Awad presented an overview of the center’s vision and mission, emphasizing the importance of cooperation with the municipality to enable the center to continue providing its vital services, in addition to its role in building the capacity of workers in the psychological and social fields. Both parties emphasized the need to develop a collaborative relationship to meet growing community needs, especially in light of the challenges facing children and families in the local context.
For his part, the Mayor expressed his appreciation for the center’s efforts, emphasizing that the Bethlehem Municipality considers it a key partner in serving the city. He announced the municipality’s readiness to support the center’s needs and continue to cooperate with it in various fields, serving the public interest and strengthening the social fabric of Bethlehem.

Bethlehem Mayor Maher Nicola Canawati received at the Municipality Hall the Director of the Palestinian Bible Society, Mr. Nashat Filmon, and the Society’s Director in the Northern Region, Mr. Issa Al-Najjar, as part of strengthening cooperation between the two sides. The meeting was attended by Municipal Council members Hisham Al-Kamel and Raed Al-Salahat, and the Municipality’s Public Relations Officer, Ms. Miral Jaqaman. The meeting discussed ways to enhance cooperation in implementing relief programs and humanitarian aid targeting needy families in Bethlehem, as well as developing tourism and cultural projects that contribute to consolidating the city’s social identity. The two sides also discussed the possibility of launching joint training initiatives, organizing awareness and volunteer campaigns, and implementing sustainable development projects that serve target groups and enhance the values ​​of partnership and solidarity in society.

As part of its ongoing efforts to develop infrastructure and enhance the local economy, the Bethlehem Municipality participated in a Zoom meeting dedicated to examining the needs of the Central Market and discussing development proposals, with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
The meeting was attended by Bethlehem Mayor Maher Nicola Canawati, Central Market Official Ibrahim Fanoun, along with West Bank Market Development Expert Dr. Mazen Ghannam, FAO Civil Engineer Imad Al-Hajj, and FAO Projects Director Engineer Hussam Al-Hudhud.
The attendees discussed ways to rehabilitate the Central Market, including improving entrances and exits, and organizing it administratively and technically, ensuring a safe and organized commercial environment that caters to the needs of traders and shoppers and contributes to stimulating economic activity in the heart of the city. The project’s implementation phases were also reviewed, and it was announced that the tender award procedures are being monitored by FAO, in preparation for the commencement of implementation work in the near future.
It is worth noting that the project is being implemented with support from FAO, a United Nations agency dedicated to supporting food security and agricultural and rural development. This partnership is part of FAO’s efforts to empower Palestinian municipalities and enhance their capacity to provide modern commercial infrastructure that meets the needs of the local community and supports sustainable development.

A meeting was held in the Bethlehem Municipality, bringing together Mayor Maher Nicola Canawati and a delegation from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The delegation included Mr. Zaki Sahliyeh, Director of the Patriarchate’s Endowments and Investments Department, Mr. Issa Tawil, Head of the Endowments Department in the West Bank Region, and Engineer Adeeb Ibrahim. The meeting aimed to discuss the possibility of cooperation within the framework of a proposed development project within the city.
During the meeting, the importance of the partnership between the two parties was emphasized in supporting local development efforts and enhancing services provided to the city’s residents and visitors. Both sides also expressed their commitment to continuing coordination and joint work to serve the public interest.
The meeting included a preliminary discussion on a proposed development project to develop a plot of land belonging to the Patriarchate within the city. The project aims to establish a multi-functional center that meets cultural, community, and educational needs, within an integrated vision aligned with Bethlehem’s development priorities.

Bethlehem Mayor Maher Nicola Canawati received a delegation from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation in Jerusalem, including Agency Director Mirko Tricoli and Solid Waste Management Projects Director Marco Werber. The delegation was on a technical visit aimed at examining the city of Bethlehem and its development needs as part of efforts to enhance joint cooperation. Participating from the Bethlehem Municipality were Municipal Council Member Hisham Al-Kamel, Director of the Planning and Development Department Eng. Ziad Al-Sayeh, Director of the Public Relations, Culture, and Media Department Ms. Carmen Ghattas, and Director of the Health Department Dr. Yousef Musallam.
At the beginning of the meeting, Canawati welcomed the delegation, expressing his appreciation for Italy’s ongoing support. He emphasized that previously implemented projects have had a tangible impact on the ground, emphasizing the importance of this cooperation in implementing strategic projects that make a real difference in the city. He also pointed to the distinguished relations that connect Bethlehem with several Italian cities, emphasizing that Italy is the country with which Bethlehem has the largest number of twinning agreements. He reiterated his welcome to any cooperation that serves the interests of the city and its residents. For its part, the Italian delegation explained that this visit aims to closely examine the reality of Bethlehem and its needs, in preparation for studying opportunities to support new projects that align with the city’s development priorities. They noted that Bethlehem is one of the Palestinian cities that cooperates most closely with Italy in various fields, while affirming the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation’s commitment to continuing to strengthen its partnership with the Bethlehem Municipality and working to develop future initiatives that contribute to enabling the city to address environmental, social, and economic challenges. Engineer Ziad Al-Sayeh, Director of the Planning and Development Department at the municipality, then gave a detailed presentation on the city’s economic, living, and cultural reality, development and investment plans, ongoing and proposed projects, and the impact of the separation wall and the transportation and mobility strategy. This presentation is part of the framework for strengthening international partnerships and serving sustainable development in the city.

Bethlehem Mayor Maher Nicola Canawati participated in the ceremony to hand over medical equipment provided by the Bethlehem 2000 Foundation in Chile to Beit Jala Governmental Hospital. The ceremony was attended by Municipal Council Member Hisham Al-Kamel and Public Relations Officer Miral Jaqaman.
The handover ceremony took place at Beit Jala Governmental Hospital, in the presence of the Consul General of the Republic of Chile, Mr. Leonardo Torres; the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Chile to the State of Palestine, Mr. George Al-Ama; the Director of Al-Hussein Hospital, Dr. Nafez Sarhan; ​​the Mayor of Beit Jala, Mr. Issa Al-Qassis; the Mayor of Beit Sahour, Dr. Elias Saeed; and a representative of the Bethlehem 2000 Foundation in Chile, Ms. Vivian Ghobar.
The Bethlehem 2000 Foundation in Chile delivered two dialysis machines, two electric wheelchairs, and all the necessary equipment to operate them, as part of its support for the health sector in the Bethlehem Governorate. In turn, Canawati expressed his deep appreciation for this humanitarian and medical support, commending the vital role played by the Palestinian community in Chile and its institutions abroad, particularly the Bethlehem 2000 Foundation, in enhancing health services in the governorate. He also thanked the Republic of Chile for its supportive stance on the Palestinian cause, especially in light of the difficult circumstances and ongoing aggression against Palestine.

Bethlehem Mayor Maher Nicola Canawati visited the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce and Industry, accompanied by Municipal Council Member Hisham Al-Kamel and Public Relations Officer Miral Jaqaman. They were received by Chairman of the Board of Directors Dr. Samir Hazboun and several members of the Administrative Board.
During the meeting, the Chamber’s role in supporting and strengthening economic activity in the city was reviewed by protecting the interests of merchants and industrialists and facilitating their activities. Discussions also addressed ways to develop vocational training programs and create job opportunities for youth, as well as the possibility of implementing joint projects between the municipality and the Chamber of Commerce aimed at improving the quality of services provided to citizens and strengthening public-private partnerships to achieve sustainable development in Bethlehem.
Canawati affirmed Bethlehem Municipality’s readiness to cooperate in various fields that contribute to serving the city and its people.

Bethlehem Mayor Maher Nicola Canawati received a delegation from the Bank of Palestine, represented by Beit Jala Branch Manager Maher Hazboun and an accompanying delegation of bank employees.
During the meeting, Kanawati emphasized the strong relationship between the Bethlehem Municipality and the Bank of Palestine, describing it as a strategic partnership based on trust and cooperation. He emphasized the municipality’s commitment to strengthening this relationship to serve the public interest and the city’s residents.
For his part, Mr. Hazboun expressed the bank’s appreciation for this relationship, affirming the Bank of Palestine’s readiness to deepen cooperation with the municipality and enhance joint coordination to contribute to supporting projects and services provided to citizens.

Bethlehem Mayor Maher Nicola Canawati visited the SOS Children’s Village in Bethlehem, accompanied by Municipal Council Member Hisham Al-Kamel and Public Relations Officer Miral Jaqaman. They were received by the SOS Children’s Village Bethlehem Program Manager, Ms. Alaa Fatafta, and several members of the team.
During the meeting, the repercussions of the recent war on the children of Gaza were discussed, particularly the resulting loss of care, as well as the village’s efforts to receive children in cooperation with UNICEF.
Canawati emphasized the important role played by organizations such as SOS, as a fundamental humanitarian pillar that provides compassion and support to children. He emphasized the need to develop partnerships to ensure safe, high-quality care.
The delegation also toured the village’s facilities to assess its needs and explore ways to sustainably support care and response programs for children.