USAID Delegation Visits Beit Sahour Municipality and Ush Ghurab Peace Park

On January 7, 2010 a delegation from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) visited the municipality and enjoyed a holiday dinner with Mayor Hani Al-Hayek, the Al-Hayek family and the Al Meshnee family at Ush Ghurab Peace Park.

The delegation was composed of:
1. Mr. Arnold Haiman, USAID Acting General Counsel;
2. Mr. Howard Sumka, USAID/WBG Mission Director;
3. Mr. Marc Ellingstad, USAID/ WBG Democracy and Governance Office;
4. Mr. Maher Frijat, USAID/ WBG Democracy and Governance Office;
5. Ms Nisreen Muzayen, USAID/WBG Media Specialist;
6. Mr. Jeff Lifur, USAID/WBG Office of the General Counsel.

The delegation was accompanied by Mr. Johnny Bassil, the Grants Management Specialist for the association for Rural Development, Inc. (ARD), on of the implementing agencies of USAID.

In the mayor's office, a presentation was given regarding general information on Beit Sahour and its inhabitants, an overview of the municipality and its areas of activity, the transformation of Ush Ghurab from a military base to a public park and recreation area and the current difficulties faced by the municipality regarding its development.

Currently, the Israeli Civil Administration has imposed on freeze on further infrastructure developments to the park and has refused to issue a permit for the specialty surgical and children's hospital to be built in that area.

Mr. Sumka expressed his support for the Beit Sahour community and the municipality, announcing that the Cooperative Housing Foundation (CHF), another implementing agency of USAID is planning to include Beit Sahour Municipality in its Local Democratic Reform (LDR)/ Tawasol Program.

At the dinner, Mayor Hani Al-Hayek thanked USAID and its representatives for their support of Beit Sahour Municipality and Ush Ghurab Peace Park.
Mr. Hazim Quimseih, Director of the Wild Life Society and a member of the Revolutionary Council of Fateh, also welcomed the delegation at the dinner and expressed his hopes for a just and real solution to the Palestinian crisis.

The delegation and lunch guest were entertained by Christmas carols from Mr. George Salsa, on the keyboard and the voices of Mr. Charlie Abu Sa'da and Ms Lena Ijha.

Back