Beit Sahour Municipality receives the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires a.i. in Jerusalem
On Thursday morning, June 4, 2026, Beit Sahour Municipality, represented by its Mayor Mr. Laith Hazim Qumsiyeh, received a visit from David Brownstein, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., U.S. Embassy Jerusalem.
The visit was made to extend congratulations and best wishes to the mayor and the newly elected members of the Municipal Council, as well as to gain insight into the Council’s vision for the city’s future and the most pressing challenges it faces under the current circumstances.
During the meeting, Mayor Mr. Qumsiyeh outlined key political and economic challenges that the city of Beit Sahour is facing, foremost among them the sharp decline in the tourism sector, which constitutes a fundamental pillar of the local economy.
Qumsiyeh also gave a presentation on the religious, cultural, and national significance that Beit Sahour enjoys, and the development plans the municipality aims to implement over the next four years, including infrastructure projects and the promotion of local development, as well as the creation of opportunities that support residents’ resilience and reduce emigration, while preserving the city’s cultural and heritage legacy through various events and festivals.
Mr. Brownstein was briefed on the Green Zone project, which the municipality is implementing in cooperation with the French Municipality of Vaulx-en-Velin, as well as the importance of the municipality’s income-generating facilities in supporting development projects and ensuring the sustainability of the city’s development process.
For his part, the Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. praised the municipality’s efforts to develop the city and improve the level of services provided to citizens despite the existing challenges. He commended Beit Sahour’s status as a tourist and cultural destination and emphasized the importance of strengthening joint cooperation, particularly in the areas of culture, heritage, and community.
At the conclusion of the visit, Mr. Brownstein tried “the Sahouri Faqqous” (Armenian cucumbers), one of the most prominent cultural symbols of Beit Sahour. The mayor highlighted the importance of the Sahouri Faqqous Festival, which is held annually in June in the Old City of Beit Sahour, and its role in preserving the city’s cultural identity and promoting cultural and tourism activities there. He also touched on the Expatriates Week scheduled to take place next July, which will include the “Souq Hikaya” festival, thereby contributing to the revitalization of the Old City and strengthening the connection of the city’s residents living abroad to their homeland and heritage.
