The Bethlehem f’Ghajnsielem event which is now entering its 4th year, led to the start of a close relationship between the community of Ghajnsielem and Palestine. Last year, Dr Joe Mifsud, a Middle-East expert who also owns a residence in Ghajnsielem, visited Bethlehem Mayor Victor Batarseh. During that meeting, Dr Mifsud presented a copy of his book Bethlehem fil-Qtigh il- Qalb it-Tama and made a short presentation about Malta and Gozo which left a food impression on Mr Batarseh and lead to the start of an initiative to improve the relations between his municipality and Ghajnsielem. Both Ghajnsielem Mayor, Francis Cauchi and Franco Ciangura, were also eager to exploit such a relationship for the benefit of both communities.

Parliamentary Secretary Dr Chris Said suggested that official contacts start for the possibility of twinning both townsr. This led the Mayors of Ramallah, Bethlehem, Hebron and Jericho to visit Ghajnsielem last February and sign an agreement of future cooperation. This visit was reciprocated by a visit of the Ghajnsielem Local Council to Palestine between the 29th of July and 2nd of August. The delegation was assisted by Dr Joe Mifsud, Council Secretary Amanda Abela and Mark Mizzi, the personal assistant of Dr Chris Said.

The visit started with meeting with Tourism Minister, Khouloud Daibes, in Jerusalem where the delegation were given an update on the problems and realities that the Palestian population was facing. The minister praised the Bethlehem f’Ghajnsielem event and promised to promote it on an international level with a special focus on religious tourism. The delegation also paid a visit to Faud Twal, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem where he praised Malta for the continuous support towards Palestine. He also mentioned the Maltese missionaries Fra Noel Muscat, Fr Aurelio Mule Stagno, Sister Patricia Crockford and Sister Maria Grech.

Also included in the tour were stops in Bethlehem where the delegation met Mayor Victor Batarseh, Jericho meeting Mayor Hasan Saleh Hussein and Hebron meeting Mayor Khaled Osaily. The last visit took place in the administrative capital of the Palestian Authority in Ramallah where they met with Mayor Janet Michael. The delegation had the opportunity to visit the tomb of Yasser Arafat where Mayor Francis Cauchi and Dr Joe Mifsud laid flowers and made a short speech for the occasion. The Ghajnsielem delegation said that the visit was given a lot of prominence by the Palestinian media.

The Ghajnsielem Local Council said it is planning to improve such relations by organising a tour to Palestine in the early part of next year. This will help the people of Ghajnsielem to understand better the social and political life of the Palestinian population and their cause for survival.

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