France’s Vaulx-en-Velin names a street after “Beit Sahour”
At the “Écho de Palestine” event hosted by the French city of Vaulx-en-Velin on 3 October 2026, a street was officially named “Beit Sahour”, in the presence of Mayor Laith Hazim Qumsiyeh and Council Member Mrs. Lina Al-Qazaha.
Beit Sahour Municipality took part in “Écho de Palestine” alongside wide official and public participation, including Vaulx-en-Velin Mayor Mr. Abdelkader Lahmar and members of his council, French members of parliament, political and public figures, and large crowds from Vaulx-en-Velin and neighbouring towns.
The event marked a milestone in relations between the two cities, with an official ceremony naming a street “Beit Sahour” — a deeply symbolic gesture affirming the Palestinian city’s place in the hearts of the French city.
The street was inaugurated in the presence of the Palestinian and Nicaraguan delegations, in a programme that also named another street after the Nicaraguan city of Sébaco and included planting an olive tree.
The “Écho de Palestine” programme combined political, cultural and artistic discussions with displays of Palestinian products and cuisine, introducing attendees to aspects of Palestinian culture and heritage.
“Naming a street in a French city after Beit Sahour is more than naming a place: it stands for a human bond between two cities, and a new bridge between the Palestinian and French peoples.”
Mr. Qumsiyeh expressed his gratitude and appreciation for Mr. Lahmar and for Vaulx-en-Velin’s council and residents, stressing that the Municipality sees its international relations as a practical tool for development and the exchange of expertise, and that it is keen to expand cooperation with Vaulx-en-Velin in culture, tourism, sport, education and development.
For his part, Mr. Lahmar expressed his pride in the bond between his city and Beit Sahour, and Vaulx-en-Velin’s commitment to developing it through joint initiatives and projects, so that the street name remains a lasting testament in French public space to the friendship between two cities and two peoples.
