Italian PM visits Bethlehem

Tuesday July 10, 2007 22:16 by Najeeb Farrag – IMEMC

Italian Prime Minister, Romano Prodi, visited on Tuesday Bethlehem city, Deheisha refugee camp and the Church of Nativity. He started his visit with a meeting with the Palestinian Minister of Tourism, Dr. Khoulod D’ebis.

Italian Prime Minister, Romano Prodi

D’ebis is also the minister of Women Afairs, and Antiques; the meeting was held at the President’s Headquarters in the city,

 D’ebis discussed with Prodi the current situation in Bethlehem and the effect of the Israeli siege on the Tourism sector in the city and other tourist cities such as Jericho and Jerusalem.

She also spokes with Prodi about the Annexation Wall Israel is constructing in the West Bank, and the effects of the Wall on the residents.

Prodi and the accompanying delegates headed to Deheisha refugee camp and were welcomed there by the residents, representatives of several institutions and Karen Abu Zeid commissioner general of the United Nations for Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Middle East.

Legislator Mohammad Khalil Lahham, from Fateh movement, delivered a speech welcoming the minister and said that Deheisha refugee camp is one of the camps that resemble the suffering and steadfastness of the refugee who were exploded of their homes and lands more than sixty years ago.

Lahham added that the Palestinian People appreciate the Italian role in advancing the peace process and said that the Palestinians need this role on all aspects in order to end the Israeli occupation and establish an independent Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as it capital.

On his side, Prodi stated that the Italian government will always support the Palestinian refugees, and that Italy understands that the refugee camps need more development and constructions.

Prodi also said that his government will remain politically committed to the Middle east peace process in order to resume the stalled negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

He also said that the unfortunate events in Gaza had also increased the suffering of the people, and added that the only solution is to establish an independent state living in peace next to Israel.

Several institutions in the camp handed Prodi a locally embroidered Palestinian map before he walked in the allies of the camp for ten minutes where he met with several families as the residents, men and women, wore the Palestinian kofiyyas on their necks and warmly welcomed him.

One of the refugee, Mariam Hammash, 75, told Prodi that he is welcomed in her house and in every Palestinians house, and added that the Palestinians will remain steadfast in their homeland.

She also told Prodi that the refugees living in Deheishe were displaced and expelled from their own lands more than 60 years ago, and that they are still waiting for the day of their return.

Prodi also met with Italian volunteers at a local school in the camp, who carried a big signboard stating “Enough 40 years of occupation”.

One of the Italian volunteers, Martina, told the Al Quds newspaper that they carried this sign to remind their government, and its head, that the Palestinian people are still living under occupation, without freedom.  

The Italian volunteers are members of non-governmental Italian organizations who came to Palestine two years ago in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Prodi shook hands with the volunteers and thanked them for their efforts.

Later on, Prodi visited the Church of Nativity and was received by Bethlehem Mayor Dr. Victor Batarsa and several priests representing the different Christian sects in Bethlehem, and was also received by members of Bethlehem municipality council in addition to representatives of several factions and institutions.   

bethlehem | refugees/immigration | news report saed at imemc dot org