The EU sponsored the meeting. The Israeli and Palestinian local authority leaders agreed to cooperate on joint projects.
Sources inform “Globes” that Union of Local Authorities chairman Adi Eldar and four deputies visited Italy for a secret meeting with the heads of Palestinian local authorities, in order to promote peace and cooperation.
The delegation left early this week for Italy's Emilia-Romagna Region (whose capital is Bologna), and is due to return tonight. The delegation met five Palestinian local authority leaders, headed by Nablus Mayor Dr. Hussien Al-Araj, who also serves as Palestinian Authority Deputy Minister of Local Government. The meeting was held under the auspices of the EU program for Israeli-Palestinian peace, and was financed by the EU and Italian government.
The purpose of the meeting was to establish a dialogue between local authority leaders, which will promote cooperation and joint programs in economics, culture, education, tourism and other fields.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on February 17, 2005