The Association of Palestinian Local Authorities (APLA), in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and with the support of UNESCO through the Heritage Emergency Fund, organized the closing workshop of the Inventory of Heritage Sites – Project in Central Hebron. The event brought together representatives from the participating LGUs, the Hebron Governorate, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, and experts from UNESCO.
The workshop marked the culmination of months of professional and field work during which historic buildings in central Hebron were documented within the jurisdictions of Hebron Municipality, Taffouh, Halhoul, and Beit Kahil. The project also produced a comprehensive database—the first of its kind at the local level—forming the foundation for the National Heritage Register, a strategic step toward safeguarding Palestinian cultural identity and promoting the sustainable management of historical sites.
The meeting was opened by Hebron Governor Khaled Dodeen, who emphasized the importance of protecting historic buildings as a collective national responsibility that transcends local boundaries. He noted that preserving the city’s architectural heritage is fundamental to protecting its identity and historical continuity, praising Hebron’s inclusion in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a milestone that highlights the city’s cultural and global significance and reinforces the need to sustain efforts for heritage preservation.
Dr. Asmaa Al-Sharbati, Deputy Mayor of Hebron, highlighted the extensive efforts made during the implementation of the project and underlined the depth of partnerships in protecting the city’s architectural heritage. She spoke about the city’s distinctive historical and demographic character and the challenges it faces due to settlement expansion, stressing that heritage protection is not a cultural luxury but a national necessity to preserve the city’s identity and collective memory. She also reaffirmed Hebron Municipality’s commitment to continue working with partners to develop protection tools and sustain ongoing efforts.
Eng. Ohoud Enaia, Manager of Programs and Policies at APLA, emphasized that Palestinian heritage is an integral part of the local development system and that its protection is an institutional act reflecting APLA’s commitment to empowering local governments to play their role in safeguarding national identity. She explained that the project served as a practical model for positioning heritage as a driver for development, through capacity-building, technical support, and close field supervision. Enaia stressed APLA’s efforts to transform this experience into a systematic municipal approach that integrates heritage preservation within urban planning and sustainable local development.
Mr. George Joseph, Head of the Culture Unit at UNESCO, highlighted the importance of the partnership between UNESCO, APLA, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, and the participating municipalities, describing it as an effective model for heritage protection in Palestine. He commended APLA’s technical and field contributions to the success of the project despite the limited timeframe and operational challenges, affirming UNESCO’s commitment to maintaining this cooperation in the coming stages.
Concluding the official remarks, H.E. Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Hani Al-Hayek stressed the significance of continuing efforts to protect archaeological and historical sites in Palestine. He stated, “With determination and commitment, we announce today the completion of the first phase of the project documenting and inventorying archaeological and historical sites in central Hebron,” noting that the National Heritage Register is one of the most vital tools to ensure the protection and preservation of Palestine’s cultural assets. The Minister added that the completion of this phase represents a foundational step toward an effective national heritage management system, explaining that the project has documented approximately 1,000 historic buildings that will be reviewed by a specialized committee before being presented to the public for formal consultation as per the applicable regulations.
In the closing session, Project Director Eng. Murad Al-Tamimi, from Hebron Municipality in cooperation with APLA, delivered a technical presentation reviewing the project’s stages—from field documentation and data collection to archiving, analysis, and the production of final outputs—along with the main recommendations and lessons learned from field implementation. This was followed by an open discussion among participants on ways to sustain and expand the initiative to include additional heritage sites, reinforcing the collaborative framework between partners in protecting Palestinian heritage and enhancing future management tools.
The workshop concluded with the presentation of certificates of appreciation to representatives of the participating municipalities and the field team, in recognition of their commitment and contribution to the successful completion of the project’s first phase.
