Erba’ Sindki Palestinjani, fosthom dak ta’ Betlehem iżuru l-Birgu

L-erba’ Sindki Palestinjani flimkien mas-Sindku tal-Birgu, s-Sur John Boxall, fil-Berġa ta' Franza, l-uffiċini l-ġodda tal-Kunsill Lokali tal-Birgu.

Mix-xellug għal-lemin: is-Sindku ta Jericho s-Sur Hassan Saleh Ismail Al Hussein, is-Sindku ta’ Ramallah is-Sinjura Janette Mikhael, is-Sindku tal-Birgu s-Sur John Boxall, is-Sindku ta’ Betlehem is-Sur Victor Hanna Jubrail Batarseh u S-Sindku ta’ Hebron is-Sur Khaled Osaily.

Bejn it-Tnejn 31 ta’ Jannar u l-Ħamis ta’ 4 ta’ Frar, 2011, erba’ Sindki Palestinjani, is-Sur Khaled Osaily - is-Sindku ta’ Hebron, is-Sinjura Janette Mikhael - is-Sindku ta’ Ramallah, is-Sur Hassan Saleh Ismail Al Hussein – is-Sindku ta’ Jericho u s-Sur Victor Hanna Jubrail Batarseh - is-Sindku ta’ Betlehem kienu mistiedna mill-Gvern Ċentrali sabiex jiġu Malta għal bosta laqgħat. Matul din iż-żjara huma kellhom l-opportunita li jżuru bosta postijiet storiċi f’Malta kif ukoll iżuru l-gżira Għawdxija fejn partikolarment żaru l-Villaġġ ta' Għajnsielem, propju dak ta' Betlehem f’Għajnsielem.

Dawn is-Sindki bdew iż-żjara tagħhom f’Malta, propju fil-Belt Marittima u storika tal-Birgu fejn mal-wasla tagħhom quddiem il-bieb ta’ Couvre Porte akkumpanjati minn Dr. Joe Mifsud u rappreżentant mis-Segretarjat Parlamentari għall-Konsumatur, Kompetizzjoni Ġusta, Kunsilli Lokali u Konsultazzjoni Pubblika, is-Sur Pierre Meilaq, ġew milqugħa mis-Sindku tal-Birgu, s-Sur John Boxall, u s-Segretarja Eżekuttiva tal-Kunsill Lokali tal-Birgu, s-Sinjorina Christine Bonello.

Ma kinitx sorpriża li s-Sindku tal-Birgu jmur l-ewwel jilqa’ lis-Sindku ta’ Betlehem Dr. Victor Hanna Jubrail Batarseh u dan għaliex xejn ħlief il-ħbiberija kbira li hemm bejn iż-żewġ Sindki li nbniet f’dawn l-aħħar snin, fejn kienu bosta okkażjonijiet f’Betlehem bis-suġġett ikun dak biex tinstab soluzzjoni biex issaltan il-paċi fil-Mediterran u speċjalment fil-Lvant Nofsani.

Matul din iż-żjara tagħhom fil-Birgu, is-Sindki Palestinjani ngħatatilhom l-opportunita jżuru l-Knisja tal-Lunzjata u l-Kunvent tal-Komunita tal-Patrijiet Dumnikani fejn hemm sabu jilqgħuhom lill-Pirjol Fr. Frank Borg u l-patrijiet l-oħra li dawruhom mal-Knisja u mal-Kunvent fejn hemm għamlu waqfa għall-kafe. Wara żaru l-Palazz ta’ l-Inkwiżitur, il-Berġa ta’ l-Ingilterra u l-Berġa ta’ Franza, fejn hemm iltaqgħu mal-Kunsilliera u l-istaff klerikali. Hawnhekk setgħu jaraw ix-xogħlijiet ta’ restawr li kien qiegħed isir f’”Sala Nobile” u l-ġmiel ta’ din il-binja li ser tkun l-uffiċju amministrattiv tal-Kunsill. Wara, akkumpanjati mis-Sindku u l-Kunsilliera, ittieħdu mixja mat-toroq tal-Collachio fejn imbagħad ma setax jonqos li jtemmu ż-żjara tagħhom fil-Knisja Parrokjali ta’ San Lawrenz. Hawnhekk sabu jilqgħuhom lill-Arċipriet Fr. Joe Caruana u membri tal-kleru fejn wara li raw il-knisja ġew mistiedna sabiex jitilgħu fl-awla kapitulari.

L-erba’ Sindki qabel ħallew il-Belt glorjuża tal-Birgu bit-titlu ta’ Citta Vittoriosa, irringrazzjaw lis-Sindku u l-Kunsilliera ta’ l-ospitalita li tawhom matul iż-żjara ta’ ftit sigħat f’din il-Belt.

Min-naħa tiegħu s-Sindku tal-Birgu, għan-nom tal-Kunsill Lokali tal-Birgu u l-poplu Vittoriosan wiegħed l-għajnuna tiegħu f’dak kollu li jkun possibli, speċjalment biex fil-Lvant Nofsani jsaltan il-paċi.

Four Palestinian Mayors, including the Mayor of Betlehem visit the City of Birgu.

The Four Palestinian Mayors together with the Mayor of Birgu Mr. John Boxall, at the Auberge de France, the new offices of the Birgu Local Council.

From left to right: Mayor of ericho Mr. Hassan Saleh Ismail Al Hussein, Mayor of Ramallah Mrs. Janette Mikhael, Mayor of Birgu Mr. John Boxall, Mayor of Betlehem Mr. Victor Hanna Jubrail Batarseh and Mayor of Hebron Mr. Khaled Osaily.

Between Monday 31^st January and Thursday 4yth February 2011, four Palestinian Mayors being Mr. Khaled Osaily – the Mayor of Mebron, Ms. Janette Mikhael – the Mayor of Ramallah, Mr. Hassan Saleh Ismail Al Mussein – the Mayor of Jericho and Mr. Manna Jubrail Victor Batarseh – the Mayor of Betlehem, were invited by the Central Government of Malta for several meetings. During their visit, they had the opportunity to visit many historical places around the islands of Malta & Gozo, where they particularly visited the village of Ghajnsielem, particularly “Betlehem in Ghajnsielem”.

These Mayors began their visit in Malta, in the historical & Maritime City of Birgu, where upon their arrival accompanied by Dr. Joe Mifsud and a representative from the Parliamentary Secreteriat for Consumers, Fair Competition; Local Councils and Public Consultation, Mr.Pierre Meilaq were welcomed at the doors of Couvre Porte by the Mayor Mr. John Boxall and the Executive Secretary Ms. Christine Bonello

Unsurprisingly, the Mayor Mr. John Boxall greeted first the Mayor of Betlehem Dr. Manna Jubral Voctor Batarseh, due to the friendship which exits between the two Mayors, built in recent years, as many occasions they`re met in the City of Betlehem to discuss the topic of peace in the Mediterranean and Middle East.

During their visit in Vittoriosa, the Palestinian Mayors were given the opportunity to visit the Annunciation Church and the Convent of the Dominican Community, where the Prior, Fr. Frank Borg took them round the church and the convent, where they were offered coffee. After they visited the Inquisitor`s Palace, the Auberge d’Angleterre and the Auberge de France, they had the opportunity to see the restoration works that are currently taking place in the “Sala Nobile”, as well as the beauty of this building which in due course, it will be the Councils administrative office. Afterwards, accompanied by the Mayor and the Councilors, the Palestinian Mayors, were taken for a stroll along the streets of the Collachio and finally they visited the Parish Church dedicated to the patron saint St.Lawrence. Here, they were greeted by the Archipriest Fr. Joe Caruana and the clergy.

The four Mayors, before leaving the glorious city of Birgu, by the title of Citta Vittoriosa, thanked the Mayor and the Councilors for their hospitality during their short visit in the city.

On the other hand, the Mayor of Birgu on behalf of the Birgu Local Council and the residents of Birgu pledged his assistance wherever possible especially for peace in the Middle East.