Beit Sahour Delegation visits the Palestinian communities of Chile

A large delegation visited the cities of San Fernando and Santiago, Chile from October 26 to November 2, 2009. The delegation lead by Mayor Hani Al-Hayek was comprised of the following representatives of the Beit Sahour community:

• Mr. Fued Kokaly,
• Dr. Elias Seid, President, Arab Orthodox Charitable Society (AOCS);
• Mr. Jamil Ghareeb, President, Arab Orthodox Cultural Club (AOCC);
• Mrs. Maha Abdalmassieh, President, Palestinian Women's Association for Development (PWAD);
• Ms. Sahar Rishmawi, PWAD Board member;
• Bakun Grassroots Cultural Troupe;
• Mr. Issa Abu Hasheesh, musician and artist;
• Mr. Ibrahim Abu-Aita, singer.

The delegation was warmly received by the Palestinian Ambassador to Chile, Mrs. Mai Al-Kaila. Approximately 350,000 people of Palestinian descent inhabit Chile, making it the largest non-native community in that country.

Mayor Hani Al-Hayek and Mayor Juan Paulo Molina Contreras of San Fernando, and Ms. Maria Eugenia Hirmas Rubio, Director of the Socio-cultural department of the Republic of Chile signed a twinning and friendship agreement for the development of relations between the two cities. San Fernando is the capital of the Colchagua Province and has a population of 63,732 people.

The Bakun Grassroots Cultural Troupe performed traditional Arabic line dancing, known as "debka" for a large Palestinian and native audience with the music and lyrics of Mr. Abu Hasheesh and Mr. Abu-Aita.

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