France’s Vaulx-en-Velin names a street after “Beit Sahour”

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.

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.

Mayor Laith Hazim Qumsiyeh and Council Member Mrs. Lina Al-Qazaha visited Fuheis Municipality, where they were received by the head of the municipal committee, Eng. Imad Al-Hiyari, and council members.

The visit reflects both sides’ wish to activate the twinning agreement signed in 2008 and build an effective, lasting partnership. Talks covered cooperation in municipal, cultural, development, youth and tourism fields, exchanging expertise, and joint programmes and initiatives.

The delegation toured Fuheis, including its tourist street and the Greek Orthodox Church, to see the religious and cultural heritage the town shares with Beit Sahour. The visit ended with an exchange of commemorative shields, underlining a shared commitment to turn the twinning into practical programmes and projects.

The week opened in partnership with the Wasata Centre for Youth Work, the Shepherds Scout Group, the Arab Orthodox Cultural Club and the Baqoun Folklore Dance Group, attended by clergy, representatives of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs, local institutions and Beit Sahour’s diaspora.

Events began by inaugurating the roundabout near the Shepherds Secondary School as the “Beit Sahour USA Association Roundabout”, honouring the association’s support for the city’s people, institutions and projects.

At the official ceremony at the Arab Orthodox Cultural Club, Mayor Laith Hazim Qumsiyeh welcomed the city’s sons and daughters from abroad, hoping the week would become an annual tradition. In a symbolic gesture, he presented the key to the city to Mr. Munir Bannoura, president of the Beit Sahour USA Association: Beit Sahour’s doors will always be open to its people, wherever they are.

The programme included a poem presented through video conference by Dr. Mazen Badra, a traditional dance performance by the Baqoun Folklore Dance Group, a song by local singer Mrs. Safa’ Qumsiyeh, and a documentary film about the city, its Old Town, and its local institutions and events, directed by Mr. Rami Rishmawi.

Over two nights, the “Beit Sahour Nights” festival lit up the Old City, from a procession and ribbon-cutting in the square of Virgin Mary’s Well to evenings of dabke, traditional song and children’s shows.

Dar Dakkart hosted a workshop led by Dr. Natalie Tawil, director of the Wasata Centre, where local institutions presented their history and programmes to the Beit Sahour USA Association, building bridges with the city’s diaspora.

The week closed at Al-Nawas Hall in the presence of Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Mr. Hani Al-Hayek, who praised the association for strengthening expatriates’ ties to their home city.

The ceremony screened “Beit Sahour Centennial” by Rami Rishmawi, honoured Elias Boulos, winner of the centennial logo competition, and showed a Radio Bethlehem 2000 documentary, before honouring sponsor Arab Bank and donors from the city.

The festival was organised by Beit Sahour Municipality with the Palestine Wildlife Society and the YWCA of Bethlehem, attended by representatives of the Ministry of Local Government, heads of neighbouring municipalities and councils, official and civil institutions, farmers, and crowds of residents and visitors.

The festival aims to preserve cultural heritage, highlight the symbolism of the Sahouri faqqous and the farmer’s bond with the land, support local produce, boost the economy and revive the Old City, through an exhibition of heritage, women’s and food products that this year saw wide participation from the city’s women.

In his speech, the Mayor described the festival as a quintessentially Sahouri heritage and cultural signature, an occasion to preserve the city’s farming heritage, and a model of cooperation between local institutions and the public and private sectors.

The Baqoun Folklore Dance Group took the stage, followed by songs from student Adnan Al-Hourani, accompanied by his teacher Wassim Qassis of the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music, and student Ronza Iyad Khair; national and folk songs by the women of the Palestinian Heritage Troupe; tales from storyteller Mariam Muammar; and a children’s show by Amo Mini.

The project is part of the Municipality’s efforts to strengthen local authorities’ resilience, provide temporary jobs, raise the standard of basic services and improve the city’s appearance.

Municipal maintenance staff and workers hired under the programme are active in several neighbourhoods, including the Plastic Factory area – Wadi Hanna Saad and Haret Al-Rishmawi, where extensive kerb painting was carried out to improve road safety, alongside pouring concrete shoulders and building stone terrace walls.

The Municipality asks residents to cooperate with work crews and follow safety guidance during the works.

Among the emergency projects of the 100-day plan, the Municipality rehabilitated and patched a number of city streets; resurfacing was completed and the streets reopened in just two days, carried out by Khoyout Al-Shams Contracting.

Electricity Department crews continue routine maintenance and upgrading of the lighting network, including replacing old light fittings along the stretch from the Beit Bassa junction to the Catholic housing estate.

With crews from the Jerusalem District Electricity Company, maintenance was carried out on Istih Street, and the electricity network was maintained and renewed in several areas on 14 September. On 23 September, department workers removed a large number of disused electricity and lighting poles to widen pavements and ease pedestrian movement.

The agreement was signed by Mayor Laith Hazim Qumsiyeh and representatives of Bethlehem Bible College and Gargour Trading Company.

The college, together with the Good Shepherd Society and the Friends of the Shepherds Foundation in the United States, is raising donations to cover the costs, while the Municipality secures customs and tax exemptions. The fundraising campaign is ongoing.