The Association of Palestinian Local Authorities (APLA) concluded its participation in the 8th UCLG World Congress of Local and Regional Leaders, organized by the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), which was held in Tangier, Morocco, with broad participation from representatives of local governments and municipalities from around the world.
As part of the Congress proceedings, Mr. Abdal Karim Al-Zubaidi, President of APLA and Co-President of UCLG-MEWA, addressed the UCLG World Council, highlighting the reality and challenges facing the Palestinian people. In his remarks, Al-Zubaidi stated:
"As we speak about resilience and equality, it is important to remember that the equality we experience in Palestine is reflected in the equal targeting of all our people living under occupation. As we continue to endure the devastating consequences of war and genocide, we send a clear message to the world: we will remain steadfast in defending our rights and unwavering in our pursuit of freedom, dignity, and justice for our people”.
Mr. Al-Zubaidi also participated in the meetings of UCLG Middle East and West Asia (UCLG-MEWA), where he presented the priorities of Palestinian LGUs within the region's Policy Paper, which was officially adopted by the UCLG World Council. The Policy Paper serves as the regional framework outlining the priorities of local governments to strengthen decentralization, good governance, and sustainable development, with a particular focus on empowering municipalities to respond to crises and conflicts while improving public service delivery.
Meanwhile, Mr. Abdallah Anati, Executive Director of APLA, participated in a panel discussion entitled "Recognizing Ecocide as a Crime", where he highlighted the impact of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, as well as Israeli occupation measures in the West Bank and their direct consequences for Palestinian cities and the ability of LGUs to continue providing essential services to their communities.
Mr. Anati also participated in the meeting titled "District 11: Cooperation between Barcelona and Palestinian Cities," which focused on the district 11 framework led by the Barcelona City Council to strengthen municipal cooperation with Palestinian cities. During the session, Anati presented the key components of the cooperation agreement recently signed between APLA and the Barcelona City Council. The agreement includes specialized technical training programs in urban planning and local development targeting more than 20 Palestinian municipalities, in addition to funding two development projects to be implemented in several municipalities.
On the sidelines of the Congress, APLA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Latin America Cities Network (Mercociudades), aimed at strengthening cooperation between Palestinian municipalities and Latin American member cities through the exchange of expertise, capacity building, and the implementation of joint initiatives and projects. The agreement also seeks to support institutional partnerships and promote municipal twinning and development projects that enhance the role of LGUs in achieving sustainable development.
As part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen decentralized cooperation and expand international partnerships, APLA held a series of bilateral meetings with several municipal associations from around the world, including the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG), the Moroccan Association of Presidents of Communal Councils (AMPCC), the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (TBB), as well as representatives of the French Decentralized Cooperation Network with Palestine (RCDP).
The Palestinian delegation concluded its participation with significant achievements in international representation. During the UCLG World Council session, APLA was elected to the Executive Bureau and the World Council of UCLG-MEWA, representing the State of Palestine. In addition, the World Council officially approved the membership of several Palestinian LGUs in the UCLG World Council, namely Asira Al-Shamaliya Municipality, Bani Na'im Municipality, Dura Municipality, Qalqilya Municipality, Salfit Municipality, Sa'ir Municipality, and Surif Municipality. The Council also endorsed the membership of Ramallah Municipality and Bethlehem Municipality in the Metropolis- the World Association of Major Metropolises.