The Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Mr. Hani Al-Hayek, launched the ‘Our Roots’ campaign in Bethlehem Governorate from the Solomon’s Pools area, in partnership between the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and various partner institutions, implemented by the Center for Cultural Heritage Preservation, with support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and in the presence of the Governor of Bethlehem Governorate, Mr. Mohammed Taha, and the UNDP representative, Ms. Ghadeer Khoury, and a group of national, official and security figures.
The campaign aims to raise awareness among citizens about archaeological and heritage sites and adherence to the Palestinian identity, encourage domestic tourism and enhance the presence of citizens in these places and protect them, through cultural, social and economic activities in more than fifteen heritage sites in various Palestinian governorates, and to highlight the importance of our archaeological sites and protect them from the measures of the Israel
i occupation, which is working to Judaize and steal them. By increasing our presence in these sites, we will contribute to protecting and preserving them.
Al-Haik stressed in his speech the importance of increasing visits to Palestinian archaeological sites in various governorates. By being present at these sites, we will ensure their protection from the measures of the Israeli occupation, which seeks to control these sites and Judaize them as a prelude to erasing the Palestinian national identity, as these sites constitute one of the pillars of the Palestinian national identity and the best evidence of the history of the Palestinian people rooted in this land.
Al-Haik said, ‘In partnership with international supporters and through institutions working in the field of cultural heritage, we have succeeded in launching the ‘Our Roots’ campaign, which includes various governorates of the homeland. We will continue to work to protect our historical and archaeological sites at a time when the occupation authorit
ies are destroying archaeological sites and tampering with the capabilities and culture of our Palestinian people, especially after the recent decision approved by the Israeli government in the Knesset to extend control over archaeological and heritage sites in areas classified as B.’
Governor of Bethlehem Governorate, Mr. Muhammad Taha, stressed the importance of this campaign in shedding light on the archaeological sites threatened by the Israeli occupation, stressing the provision of all forms of cooperation with various institutions in Bethlehem Governorate to make this important campaign a success.
Head of Artas Village Council, Mr. Lutfi Asaad, thanked everyone for this event, which is launched in Bethlehem Governorate from Solomon’s Pools, one of the most important historical and archaeological landmarks in Bethlehem Governorate.
During the event, many activities and events were implemented that enhance and introduce the local community to our heritage and its importance, in addition to a tour to in
troduce the cultural heritage.
Source: Maan News Agency