Vaulx-en-Velin, France, Names a Street in Honor of Beit Sahour

Beit Sahour Municipality participated in the “Écho de Palestine” events, which attracted wide official and public participation. Attendees included Mr. Abdelkader Lahmar, Mayor of Vaulx-en-Velin, members of the Municipal Council, several French parliamentarians, political and public figures, and a large number of residents from Vaulx-en-Velin and neighboring cities.

The event marked a significant milestone in the relationship between the two cities, featuring an official ceremony to name one of the streets “Beit Sahour.” This initiative carries profound symbolic significance and reflects the importance of the Palestinian city in the hearts and minds of the French community.

The street-naming ceremony was held in the presence of the Palestinian and Nicaraguan delegations, as part of a program that also included naming another street after the Nicaraguan city of “Sébaco” and planting an olive tree.

The “Écho de Palestine” program brought together political, cultural, and artistic discussions, alongside exhibitions of Palestinian products and traditional Palestinian cuisine, offering attendees an opportunity to discover various aspects of Palestinian culture and heritage.

The mayor expressed his appreciation to the Mayor of Vaulx-en-Velin, the members of its municipal council, and the city’s residents. He emphasized that the Municipality views its international relations as a practical means of promoting development and exchanging expertise, and reaffirmed its commitment to expanding cooperation with Vaulx-en-Velin in the cultural, tourism, sports, educational, and development sectors.

For his part, Mr. Lahmar expressed his pride in the relationship between his city and Beit Sahour, reaffirming Vaulx-en-Velin’s commitment to strengthening these ties through joint initiatives and projects. He noted that the street naming would serve as a lasting public reminder in France of the friendship between the two cities and their peoples.

Beit Sahour Mayor, Mr. Laith Hazim Qumsiyeh, accompanied by Municipal Council Member Ms. Lina Al-Qazaha, visited Al-Fuheis Municipality, where they were warmly received by Municipal Committee Chairman Eng. Imad Al-Hiyari and members of the Municipal Council.

The visit reflects both municipalities’ commitment to activating the twinning agreement signed between the two cities in 2008 and building an effective, sustainable partnership. Discussions explored opportunities for cooperation in municipal affairs, culture, development, youth, and tourism, as well as the exchange of expertise and the implementation of joint program and initiatives.

The visit also included a tour of Al-Fuheis, featuring its Tourist Street and Greek Orthodox Church, offering an opportunity to explore the city’s rich religious and cultural heritage, which it shares with Beit Sahour. The visit concluded with an exchange of commemorative plaques, reaffirming both municipalities’ commitment to translating their twinning agreement into tangible programs and joint projects.

The week commenced in partnership with WASATA Youth Action, the Shepherds’ Scout Group, the Arab Orthodox Cultural Club, and the Baqoun Dabke Dance Group, with the attendance of religious leaders, representatives of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs, local institutions, and members of the Beit Sahour diaspora.

The events opened with the inauguration of the roundabout near Shepherds Secondary School, officially naming it the “Beit Sahour USA Association Roundabout” in recognition of the Association’s longstanding support for the city’s residents, institutions, and development projects.

During the official ceremony, held at the Arab Orthodox Cultural Club, Mayor Laith Hazim Qumsiyeh welcomed the city’s sons and daughters arriving from countries around the world, expressing his hope that 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, reaffirming that the doors of Beit Sahour will always remain open to its sons and daughters, wherever they may be.

The ceremony featured a diverse program of performances and presentations, including a poem recited by Dr. Mazen Badra via video conference; a performance by Baqoun Dabke Dance Group; a song performed by local artist Ms. Safa’ Bannoura Qumsieh, and a documentary film showcasing the Old Town, the city’s streets, and its institutions, produced by Rami Rishmawi under the supervision of the Municipality’s Public Relations Department.

Over the course of two nights, “Beit Sahour Nights” Festival brought the Old Town to life with vibrant celebrations. The festivities began with a celebratory procession from the Municipal Building to the entrance of the Old Market, followed by the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Well of Virgin Mary’s Square. The program continued with evenings featuring traditional dabkeh performances, heritage songs, and children’s shows.

Dar Dakkarat hosted a workshop facilitated by Dr. Natalie Al-Tawil, Director of WASATA Youth Action. During the workshop, representatives of local institutions presented their histories and programs to representatives of the Beit Sahour Association in the United States, with the aim of building bridges of partnership between local institutions and members of the Beit Sahour community living abroad.

The week’s activities concluded at Al-Nawwas Hall in the presence of His Excellency Mr. Hani Al-Hayek, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities. The Minister commended the role of the Beit Sahour Association – America in strengthening ties between the diaspora and their hometown. The Mayor, in turn, expressed his appreciation to all partners, participating teams, and committees for their efforts and contributions to the successful organization of the week.

The ceremony also featured the screening of “The Centenary of Beit Sahour,” a film produced by Rami Rishmawi under the supervision of the Municipality’s Public Relations Department. The event further recognized Mr. Elias Boulos, a Beit Sahour native and winner of the Municipality’s Centenary Logo Design Competition, and included the screening of a documentary produced by Bethlehem 2000 Radio. The ceremony concluded with the recognition of Arab Bank, the official sponsor of the week’s activities, as well as donors from the Beit Sahour community, in appreciation of their support and contributions.

The festival was organized in collaboration with Beit Sahour Municipality, the Palestine Wildlife Society, and the YWCA Bethlehem Development program. It was attended by official representatives and members of the public, including representatives of the Ministry of Local Government, mayors and heads of neighboring municipal and local councils, representatives of public and civil society institutions, farmers, and a large gathering of city residents and visitors.

The festival aims to preserve cultural heritage, highlight the symbolic significance of the Sahouri snake-cucumber (Faqqous) and the deep-rooted connection between farmers and their land, support local produce, stimulate the local economy, and revitalize the Old Town. These objectives are pursued through an exhibition of traditional handicrafts, women’s products, and local food products, which saw broad participation from women across the city this year.

In his speech, the Mayor emphasized that the festival is a distinctive expression of Beit Sahour’s cultural and heritage identity, providing an opportunity to preserve the city’s agricultural heritage and serving as a model of cooperation among local institutions and the public and private sectors.

The program featured a performance by Baqoun Dabke Dance Group, followed by musical performances by student Adnan Al-Hourani, accompanied by his teacher, Wasim Qassis, from Edward Said National Conservatory of Music, and student Ronza Iyad Khair. The evening also included patriotic and traditional songs performed by the women of the Palestinian Heritage Troupe, storytelling sessions by Maryam Maamar, and a special Uncle Mini segment for children.

The project is part of the Municipality’s efforts to strengthen the resilience of local authorities, provide temporary employment opportunities, improve the delivery of basic services, and enhance the city’s overall appearance.

Municipal maintenance department workers, alongside those recruited through the program, are carrying out works in several neighborhoods across the city, including the Plastic Factory–Wadi Hanna Saad area and the Rishmawi neighborhood. The works have included extensive pavement painting to improve road safety, the construction of concrete road shoulders, and the building of stone retaining walls.

The Municipality urges residents to cooperate with the work crews and adhere to public safety guidelines throughout the implementation period to ensure the safety of both residents and workers.

As part of the emergency projects included in the Municipality’s 100-Day Plan, the Municipality completed the rehabilitation and patching of several streets across the city. The rehabilitation and asphalt paving works were completed, and the streets were reopened within just two days. The works were carried out by Khuyout Al-Shams Contracting Company.

The Municipality’s Electrical Department team continue to carry out routine maintenance and rehabilitation works on the street lighting network, including the replacement of old lighting fixtures along the stretch extending from Beit Bassa junction to the Catholic Housing Complex.

In coordination with the technical team of the Jerusalem District Electricity Company, maintenance works were carried out on Isteeh Street, alongside maintenance and rehabilitation of the electricity network in several areas on 14 September. On 23 September, the Department’s staff removed a significant number of redundant electricity and streetlight poles to widen pavements and improve pedestrian accessibility.

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

The College, in partnership with the Good Shepherd Association and the Shepherds’ Friends Foundation in the United States, is responsible for raising donations to cover the costs, while the Municipality will arrange for customs and tax exemptions. The fundraising campaign is still ongoing.