Reggio Emilia Mayor hosts Mayor of twin city Beit Jala

The Mayor of Reggio Emilia, Marco Massari, hosted Vladimir Kharoufeh, the Mayor of the twin city Beit Jala in the West Bank, during his first official visit to the Italian city. The meeting, held alongside City Council President Matteo Iori, aimed to strengthen historical ties and review ongoing collaborative projects.

During the session, Mayor Massari reaffirmed Reggio Emilia’s commitment to Beit Jala through their existing twinning pact, which was signed in February 2019 and ratified in the West Bank in September 2023. Massari expressed support for the residents of Beit Jala amidst their current difficult circumstances, stating, “We are and will be by your side in this long and difficult path towards peace.”

The two-day visit includes Samia Yousefzeit, an official from the Urban Planning and Development Service of Beit Jala. Discussions also highlighted the “Akli Baladi – Eat Local” cooperation project, launched in 2025 in partnership with the E35 Foundation, which focuses on strengthening sustainable urban food policies in the West Bank.