Bethlehem University has been honored to welcome a delegation from Bethlehem Municipality, led by Mayor of Bethlehem Mr. Maher Canawati, during a high-level meeting aimed at exploring avenues of strategic cooperation. The visit was hosted by Brother Dr. Hernán Santos, FSC, Vice Chancellor of Bethlehem University, and attended by Dr. Robert Tabash, chair of the board of trustees, along with members of the University’s executive council.

This meeting reaffirmed the enduring and deeply rooted relationship between Bethlehem University and the city of Bethlehem; strengthening ties with local institutions to better serve the broader Palestinian community.

Brother Hernán warmly welcomed the visiting delegation and expressed his appreciation for the continued collaboration with the Municipality. He emphasized that Bethlehem University, as a pioneering national educational institution, sees itself as an integral part of the social fabric of Bethlehem and is committed to actively contributing to the city’s development and serving its people.

Mayor Canawati praised the longstanding partnership between the Municipality and the University, underlining the importance of joint efforts to address the pressing challenges facing Bethlehem.

“The doors of Bethlehem Municipality will always remain open to Bethlehem University,” he stated. “We stand ready to support all initiatives that serve our city and our people.”

The meeting included an in-depth discussion of several future joint initiatives and projects, including cultural and community programs, initiatives to promote Palestinian identity, and ways to engage youth in public life. 

They also discussed mechanisms to support the higher education sector in light of the difficult economic and political conditions facing the city of Bethlehem and Palestine in general.

A special focus was placed on developing a new program to connect Palestinians in the diaspora with their ancestral city through joint University-Municipality initiatives—aimed at reinforcing identity and encouraging global Palestinian engagement in local development.

The meeting concluded by reaffirming both parties’ commitment to continued collaboration, the development of institutional cooperation frameworks, and the mobilization of available resources to serve the local community and enhance the resilience of Bethlehem’s residents in the face of political, economic, and social challenges.