Guest Column Dr. Nabeel Kassis Minister of State, Director General of the Bethlehem 2000 Project

It is with the release of UNDP/PAPP's special edition of Focus devoted to its Bethlehem 2000 projects that I would like to thank the donors and the international agencies, without whom our success would not have been possible. UNDP/PAPP's early and vigorous support to the Bethlehem 2000 initiative has been a crucial component in this success, as well as their contribution to the socio-economic development of the Bethlehem area. Support to tourism has been complemented by infrastructure projects for the community, enhancing health services, and improving water and sewage lines.

As we approach the end of the Millennium, the Palestinian National Authority looks forward to future development and nation building. The largest, fully-fledged Palestinian development programme, the Bethlehem 2000 Project is in many ways a pilot project after which other development plans in Palestine may choose to model themselves. As we near the beginning of the new Millennium, our progress is all encompassing. Over 80% of our infrastructure works are in their final stages. Renovation and restoration of the old city core continues as a newly established urban rehabilitation centre (at the renovated Dar Mansour), established under the auspices of Bethlehem 2000, nears completion.

The development of renovated walkways or tourism circuits for Bethlehem and Beit Sahour (home to the Shepherds' Field) are integrally related to the encouragement of more substantive tourism for the Bethlehem district.

The inauguration of the Nativity Trail, a rural tourism development project, was developed after much research and months of intensive fieldwork. We are marketing these new tourist attractions through tourism fairs worldwide.

The on-going development of a calendar of events, which reflects the religious, historical and cultural background of the Palestinian people, continues. The Bethlehem 2000 Project addresses a combination of inter-related development issues. Long overdue repairs, upgrading, and the building of basic infrastructure, including roads, sidewalks, sewage networks, water treatment plants and electricity circuits, are the backbone of infrastructure projects. At Bethlehem 2000, we began with the infrastructure towards the second half of 1997. Parallel to the infrastructure projects are the Cultural Heritage Projects, which encompass restoration and rehabilitation of historical sites in the Bethlehem district.

While some of the historical sites are public domain, many especially the four old residential quarters, which make up the heart of the city of Bethlehem, are privately owned living quarters, which give testimony to local history. In the past, most tourists were only able to take a quick look at Bethlehem, but with the development of tourism circuits, the visitor will be able to spend time and look at the architectural and religious heritage of the city, have a meal, buy souvenirs and meet Palestinians all the while.

Our 17-month calendar of events for Palestinians and tourists will enable visitors to enjoy activities at historical sites and new venues in Bethlehem and other locations in Palestine. Bethlehem is the source of all Millennium celebrations, the birthplace of Jesus Christ. The Grotto in the Church of the Nativity is perhaps the most important pilgrimage site in all of Christendom. Thus, Bethlehem was our venue of choice to launch the Palestinian Millennium Celebrations, taking place in the midst of our continuing search for peace, freedom and justice as we look forward to a new beginning for our people in the century that lies before us.

A restored Bethlehem is taking shape. For the past year the City of the Nativity has been a work in progress with torn-up streets, exposed pipes and wires, and construction sites at every turn. Now, ancient buildings have been refurbished, streets and plazas paved, a new market has replaced the old. Newly-paved walking streets take tourists to neglected parts of the city core, Manger Square is no longer a tour-bus parking lot but a spacious haven for pedestrians, and at a junction where once only sun drenched the flagstones, a fountain is dedicated to Peace.

Work in progress after the old stairs were removed

Donor credit for this can be shared by more than a dozen countries and organisations, including the European Union, the European Business Council for the United Nations, the European Investment Bank, the World Bank and UNDP/PAPP (Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People). So far a total of over $100 million has been invested.

For its part, UNDP/PAPP has launched over $20 million worth of projects supporting the Bethlehem area and Bethlehem 2000 in particular. Efforts include the rehabilitation of streets, water lines and sewage systems, tourism development, the restoration of archaeological sites, and the expansion of Beit Jala Hospital, all of which have been completed in time for the opening festivities of Bethlehem 2000. Funds have been provided by the Governments of Belgium, Italy, Japan, Norway, and Sweden.

Completed Catholic Stairs.

But the actual work has been overwhelmingly Palestinian: labourers, contractors, technical expertise, and management. Some, like engineer Ali Hamad, architect/urban conservationist Nada Al-Hassan and public relations manager Mariam Shahin are expatriate Palestinians, who have come from Europe or the United States to help rebuild Bethlehem. On any given day, they join an estimated 1,300 construction workers channelling some $32,500 in wages to approximately 6,500 family members. Overall, direction is the responsibility of the Palestinian Authority through a ministry-level entity called the Bethlehem 2000 Project, headed by H.E. Dr. Nabeel Kassis (who describes the effort in the guest column of this issue of Focus).

The project, with a staff of only 50 people, oversees what Dr. Kassis describes as the Palestinian Territories' biggest and most complex development undertaking, co-ordinating a wide variety of inter-related efforts in the municipalities of Beit Jala and Beit Sahour, as well as Bethlehem itself, and with the Ministry of Tourism. Mariam Shahin points out that: "After feasibility studies by UNESCO in 1997, work in Bethlehem began only last year. Yet, by Christmas this year, three quarters of the infrastructure work will be completed and by Easter 2000 all the major public works will be finished".