Abdul Karim Zubaidi, President of the Association of Palestinian Local Authorities (APLA), took part in the “Arab Identity in Sustainable Cities” conference in Cairo, where Arab institutions, experts, and professional bodies gathered to address the future of cities and the protection of their identity. APLA’s participation ensured that the Palestinian municipal reality was placed firmly on the table—an environment where local authorities are expected to deliver development under conditions that no city should be forced to endure.

In the conference discussions, Zubaidi presented a sharp and grounded overview of the situation confronting Palestinian LGUs. He underscored that municipal work in Palestine is carried out under pressures that strike at the core of urban life: restrictions on land, constraints on planning, attempts to reshape the character of cities and towns, and daily limitations on natural urban growth. In this context, he emphasized that Palestinian municipalities do not merely build infrastructure or deliver services—they safeguard the very continuity of their cities. Every developmental effort becomes an expression of resilience, a means of keeping communities functioning despite the political and spatial pressures imposed on them.

APLA’s presence in Cairo also reaffirmed the necessity of anchoring the Palestinian municipal voice within Arab dialogues on sustainability. Understanding the conditions under which Palestinian municipalities operate is essential to any regional conversation about sustainable cities. The conference served as an important space to call for deeper Arab cooperation that goes beyond solidarity statements and moves toward practical, technical, and policy support capable of helping Palestinian cities preserve their identity, protect their urban fabric, and secure a future defined by stability and continuity rather than imposed vulnerability.