The Association of Palestinian Local Authorities (APLA) in partnership with FELCOS UMBRIA held the first meeting for the project "L.A.N.D" virtually via "Zoom", with the participation and presence of APLA's President, Eng. Musa Hadid; Italian Consul General to Jerusalem, Giuseppe Fedele; Mayor of Beit Liqia, Eng. Arij Asi; APLA's Executive Director, Eng. Abdallah Anati; the Director of AICS-Palestine, Guglielmo Giordano, President of ANCI Trasimeno, Giacomo Chiodini, and representatives of Italian local authorities.
L.A.N.D project aims to support the role of Palestinian local authorities in devising comprehensive and sustainable local development strategies and policies, that focuses specifically on protection of the environment, reform and evaluation, taking into consideration the particularity of the Palestinian case, being territorially fragmented, characterized with great economic and social disparities resulting from the hard geopolitical conditions resulting from Israeli settlements.
Eng. Hadid clarified that APLA seeks through L.A.N.D project to provide a model based on the exchange of skills and knowledge on development of local authorities' capacities in facing several issues, especially environmental issues and the impact of settlements on the environment and citizens. Furthermore, he noted that Palestinian local authorities, through the cooperation relations with their international counterparts, do not only seek to implement infrastructure projects, but also aspire to create political impact that will enhance the EU role in promoting the rights of the Palestinian people.
Moreover, he praised the depth of the relationship combining Palestine and Italy, especially the relations between local authorities on both sides. He further explains that Palestinian local authorities are exposed, almost on daily basis, to Israeli violations and practices that limit and restrict local authorities' ability to implement strategic projects, which shall enhance citizens' lives and strengthen their resilience.
Meanwhile, the Consul General, Giuseppe Fedele, emphasized the importance of the project as it targets extremely sensitive issues through enhancing work between Palestinian local authorities and their Italian counterparts, which has always been absolutely successful. On the other hand, the Director of AICS-Palestine, clarified that 5 projects, managed by local authorities, are being implemented through AICS due to the political significance of Palestine.
President of Union of Trasimeno Municipalities, Giacomo Chiodini, expressed his pride in having APLA as a main partner in project that will provide an administrative approach on one hand, and a political one on the other, showing that local authorities are capable of providing such approach through the exchange of experiences, expertise and cultures.
As a representative of the areas targeted under the project, Mayor of Beit Liqia, Eng. Assi presented the reality of environmental issues in the town in particular and in Palestine in general, explaining that the challenges faced by Beit Liqia Municipality, being located in Area C, are multiplied. Nevertheless, the Municipality implements a group of various planned projects in order to face the particular needs of those areas. In addition, she noted the importance of advancing cooperation and twinning relations between Palestinian and Italian local authorities through the implementation of sustainable strategic projects that rely on cooperation and bilateral benefit in order to achieve sustainable development.
It is worth mentioning that APLA signed the "Local Authorities Network for Sustainable Development – L.A.N.D" project document with the Union of Trasimeno Municipalities, with the aim of enhancing the capacity of Palestinian local authorities for planning and management within the frame of joint environmental services, as well as enhancing the means of local communities participation and awareness in supporting local and national strategies for environmental sustainability.
