Municipalities and Councils - Australians for Palestine

Taybeh in the New Millennium
Trying to be a different face for Palestine
is, in itself, a great challenge for a small town
that could not be found on any map before
the turn of the new millennium. Taybeh has
tried to stay in the forefront of economic
development and job creation projects
since May 2005, when David Canaan
Khoury became the first democratically
elected mayor. He leads a nine-member
council and heads up the Joint Service
Council, which includes Ramoon and
Deir Ejreer. The first few years were so
rough due to the international financial
boycott of the Palestinian Authority that it
was almost impossible to even come up
with the salaries for municipal employees.
Recently, however, one could say
that miracles have been happening
in Taybeh, with amazing million-dollar
infrastructure projects that include paving
the main entrances to the village and
its side roads, a $750,000 ANERA grant
for the Orthodox school, a new public
park, renovating the historic city centre
to preserve culture and heritage, and
promoting the new motto to keep Taybeh
clean and one of the most beautiful places
in Palestine, especially with the brand new
$100,000 sanitation truck from the Danish
Government. The Taybeh Municipality
has found creative ways to capitalise on
the unique character of the village and to
overcome traditional barriers in order to be
recognised and distinctively known to the
global community.
Since some of the local people do not
always share the mayor’s vision, it’s a
constant challenge to work toward making
the village part of a liberal, modern,
moderate, and secular Palestine. When
others are happy with their ancient
traditions it’s even hard to convince them
to upgrade one of the most basic aspects
of their daily lives, for example, the sewage
system.
The European Commission recently
awarded an amazing three million Euros
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By Maria C. Khoury, Ed. D.
for a project to create a sewage system
with agricultural irrigation benefits in
Taybeh and Ramoon, thereby upgrading
the current septic tank system. But if local
people have to give up even an inch of
their agricultural land to accommodate the
central recycling sewage-water facility, it
becomes a full-time job to host meetings
and constantly explain the benefits of
upgrading the system to a standard that
people around the world take for granted.
Those who fight for a better environment
and safer food remain persistent, resilient,
and committed to keeping alive the
undying hope for a better life.
Some international visitors might say
that the historic area is one of the most
precious locations in the village. Local
Christians would say that the site of the
fourth-century ruins of St. George Church
is the most valuable spot in Taybeh, not
only because of its spiritual value but also
because of its archaeological worth, as it
is built on one of the most ancient spots
in Palestine and in the highest mountain
region of the West Bank. But don’t bother
to ask any members of the Khoury
family, since they truly believe that the
Taybeh Brewing Company, which attracts
thousands of visitors each year and
produces what is called “the Finest Beer in
the Middle East,” is the most precious spot
to visit in Taybeh. Why should we argue
about any site when many get confused
with the other four “Taybeh” locations in
the Middle East?
This October, the Taybeh Municipality
hopes that international and local visitors
will be inspired to show up in Biblical
Ephraim for the Seventh Annual Taybeh
Oktoberfest, which has been a successful
municipality-sponsored festival since
2005, and a significant economic booster
for this village that has an unemployment
rate of 50 percent. Given the creativity
and ambition of Taybeh entrepreneurs,
the village has been viewed by many
journalists as a micro-economic success
story and a great role model for others.
The 2010 Oktoberfest honoured
women leaders who provide support to
development projects in Palestine and
in Taybeh, including, Mrs. Claudette
Habesch, Secretary-General, Caritas
Jerusalem; Lana Abu Hijleh, Country
Director, CHF International; Dr. Jantien
Dajani, former Director, Spafford
Children’s Center; Dr. Laila Ghannam,
Governor of Ramallah and El Bireh;
and Her Excellency Seham Barghouthi,
Minister of Culture. The Oktoberfest
opening celebration included over twenty
ambassadors, consuls general, and heads
of representative offices to the Palestinian
Authority. This tiny village craves this
support and solidarity as it struggles to
survive peacefully among three expanding
illegal Israeli settlements.
Taybeh Municipality has spent almost
US$800,000, in cooperation with
Riwaq, in beautifying the historic area
of Taybeh. Various grants have been
received from the Spanish government,
CHF International, and the Swedish
International Development Agency to give
the historic area the facelift needed to
attract international and local visitors and
to advance rural tourism with preventive
architectural improvements. The new
Taybeh Zamaan Public Park, made
possible by a grant of US$270,000 from
CHF International, gives a spectacular
view of Taybeh and all the surrounding
villages. When finances fall short, the
Taybeh people abroad, headed by the
United Taybeh American Association,
continue to support their beloved village
as specifically seen in the brand new
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Taybeh Post Office building, which is
meant to be an income-generating and
long-term sustainable project for the
Taybeh Municipality.
David Khoury – with his extensive
international business background,
sophisticated negotiation skills, and
teaching experience in Birzeit University’s
finance and marketing departments –
reflects the type of mayor who inspires
people to think outside the box in creating
economic opportunities amidst the harsh
realities of Israeli military occupation and
a fragile Palestinian economy. With very
few resources, Taybeh Municipality has
continued to give all local services to
the community and has tried to improve
the living conditions of rural life. Against
all odds – even having been shot at and
enduring numerous attacks, including the
burning of his car in front of the Taybeh
Municipality – the mayor insists that Taybeh
is the flame of peace. His vision, personal
inner peace, and commitment and devotion
to Taybeh, in particular, and Palestine,
in general, have helped bring about
international recognition of the distinctive
character of this small Palestinian village in
the new millennium. To top off his optimism,
David Khoury seriously believes that a
toast to a just peace in Palestine will be
made with Taybeh Beer!
Dr. Maria C. Khoury is organising the
Seventh Annual Taybeh Oktoberfest in
Taybeh, Palestine, on 1 and 2 October
2011. She has served as a community
volunteer since 2000, and is the author of
nine children’s books, including Christina
Goes to the Holy Land.