The Governorate of Ramallah and Al-Bireh and the Brussels-Capital Region, cooperation partners

On 30 April 2024, a partnership agreement was signed between the Governorate of Ramallah and Al-Bireh, one of the 16 governorates in the occupied Palestinian Territory, and the Brussels-Capital Region, as part of the Brussels development cooperation policy.

A not-so-new rapprochement

In May 2021, a major resolution was adopted by the Brussels Parliament, calling on the regional Government to take action in support of the Palestinian people and in favour of a lasting peace in the Middle-East. Duly noting this request, the Government, through its State’s secretary for international relations, made some proposals, among which the signing of a partnership agreement with a Palestinian regional authority. Such agreement would allow the Brussels-Capital Region (BCR) to allocate part of the funds secured for development cooperation and international solidarity to the occupied Palestinian Territory (oPT).

After a number of analyses and consultations with public and private organisations already active in the oPT – or their representative bodies – the Ramallah and Al-Bireh Governorate was identified as the most indicated Palestinian region to become a Brussels development cooperation partner.

This led to the organisation of a BCR’s fact-finding mission to Jerusalem and Ramallah in June 2022. Headed by the president of the Brussels Parliament together with the Brussels State’s secretary for international relations and foreign trade, the delegation could expressly meet with the Governor of Ramallah and Al-Bireh. As both parties were resolutely in favour of pursuing bilateral exchanges and supporting cooperation projects between their civil societies, they committed themselves further to establishing a partnership.

A young Palestinian is suspended in mid-air — Young Palestinian circus professional supported by the Palestinian Circus School.

Three people pose — Young members of social economy cooperatives supported by the Ma’an Development Centre.

A young Palestinian juggles a diabolo — Young Palestinian circus professional supported by the Palestinian Circus School.

An agreement and a digital signature

In December 2022, the BCR Government then officially authorized the oPT as a new priority area for regional development cooperation, and the Governorate of Ramallah and Al-Bireh as a new partner signatory to the partnership agreement.

The latter agreement was to be signed in November 2023, during a new meeting between the two signatories. Unfortunately, due to rising tensions and the outbreak of the war in the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, the mission was postponed. Wishing to honour their commitment despite the disastrous situation, the two parties therefore decided to sign the agreement remotely on 30 April.

First cooperation initiatives

Though bilateral exchanges have been temporarily suspended, non-governmental cooperation led by civil society is continuing as best as it can, depending on the local partners and intervention zones identified – at least in Jerusalem and the West Bank.

In this context, Brussels International’s call for projects « South » 2024, launched last February 5, has now included the oPT (with the exception of the Gaza strip) among the regions where the selected projects must be carried out. In doing so, the BCR hopes to provide concrete support for several cooperation projects between Belgian and Palestinian civil society as from autumn 2024.