Mayor of Bethlehem accuses German FM of shunning him; municipality erects a banner deeming boycotters unwelcome

May 5, 2007

Introduction

Something that came to mind, as I read this story.

For those who may be unfamiliar to some of the custom’s in the Middle East, when someone from a particular country welcome’s you, you will be greeted with open arms and much hospitality.

If you are told you are not welcome, it is better to not go visit or get out of town, fast; because it becomes very hard if the welcome mat is rolled up.

Now the story from the news....

Bethlehem – Ma'an – Palestinian officials in Bethlehem have alleged that the German foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, refused to meet mayor of Bethlehem, Victor Batarsi, during his tour of the Palestinian territories. According to the mayor's office, the FM described Bartarsi as an "undesirable personality".

Batarsi described the German position as an insult to the Palestinian people. He says "I address the whole world: telling them that Bethlehem has only one formal representative, the Mayor, and he who does not want to meet with the mayor is persona non grata because the municipality, which was elected democratically, represents all the people of Bethlehem."

The governor of Bethlehem, Major General Salah Tamari, boycotted the visit of the German foreign minister in solidarity with the mayor.

Banner in Manger Square

A huge banner was erected in manger square, in the centre of Bethlehem, which said in Arabic, English and German: "Whoever boycotts Bethlehem Municipality is not welcomed in the Town of the Nativity."

Batarsi said that he received a request from the director of hosting affairs in the Palestinian foreign ministry, asking him to receive the German foreign minister on a visit to Bethlehem. After an hour, he was told that the German representative commission does not wish the mayor of Bethlehem to receive the German foreign minister.

Batarsi added, "The international community has to pay respect to the Palestinian democratic process and not boycott the municipality of Bethlehem."

Batarsi also affirmed that he will send a message to Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, and the Palestinian leadership asking them to take a united position against the boycotting of municipalities.

It is noteworthy that the municipality of Bethlehem, headed by Victor Batarsi from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), consists of 6 Fatah seats, 5 Hamas seats, 3 from the PFLP and one Islamic Jihad seat.

An official German source has denied that the German foreign minister dubbed the mayor of Bethlehem an "undesirable personality". The source said that the meetings with Palestinian ministers and the business community were "fruitful". According to the source, the minister expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome he received in Bethlehem.

Talks with Palestinian ministers

Steinmeier was received in Bethlehem by the Palestinian finance minister, Salam Fayyad, and the minister of tourism, Khouloud Daibes.

Fayyad met with Steinmeier in the Intercontinental Hotel in Bethlehem, where they discussed the prevailing situation in the Palestinian territories in light of the siege and boycott of the Palestinian government. Fayyad appealed for an end to the embargo and new solutions to the current impasse.

Fayyad added that the Palestinian government's viability depends on the economic situation and called for Israel to pay withheld tax revenues owed to the Palestinians.

The German foreign minister visited the Church of the Nativity accompanied by Daibes, before he headed to the Thalita Qumi School to meet with the German administration of the school, which is funded by the German government.