| Mr. Maher Nicola Canawati was elected Mayor of Bethlehem by the Bethlehem Municipal Council on 12 May 2025. Born on 20 October 1978 in Bethlehem, Mr. Canawati is a lifelong resident of the city and a father of four. He was educated in Bethlehem and raised within the values of Palestinian Christian heritage, Arab identity, and humanistic principles. Inspired by the legacy of his late father, Mr. Nicola Canawati, he has dedicated his career to public service, community development, and the promotion of Bethlehem’s cultural and spiritual heritage. Mayor Canawati holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Schiller International University (Tampa, USA), a Higher Diploma in Economics from Heidelberg University (Germany), and professional certification in Gemology from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). He is multilingual in eight languages: Arabic, English, German, Spanish, Hebrew, Indonesian, Italian, and Polish. From 2012 to 2025, Mr. Canawati served as a Member of the Bethlehem Municipal Council. He is the Founder of the Bethlehem International Christmas Festival and played a leading role in launching the first modern large-scale Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem in 2011. Through his public service and professional activities, he has contributed significantly to the revitalization of the city’s tourism sector and international visibility. In the context of his international engagement, Mayor Canawati has met twice with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, reaffirming Bethlehem’s unique spiritual significance and its universal message of peace and coexistence. Mayor Canawati currently serves as Vice President of the Association of Palestinian Local Authorities and Member of its International Relations Committee (APLA), President of the Permanent Conference of Historic Mediterranean Cities, Vice President of the International Coordination for Local Authorities in the Mediterranean (CIELM), and Executive Committee Member of ICLEI. Deeply rooted in resilience and guided by a profound love for his nation, Mayor Canawati embodies the enduring spirit of Bethlehem and its people. His leadership is shaped by an unwavering belief in hope, dignity, and steadfastness in the face of adversity. Following a period marked by challenges and ups and downs, Mayor Canawati played a key role in reviving and reigniting Bethlehem’s Christmas celebrations, restoring the city’s festive spirit and reaffirming its global identity as the birthplace of Christ. The renewed celebrations stood as a powerful expression of resilience and hope, once again welcoming pilgrims and visitors from around the world to Bethlehem. As Mayor, Mr. Canawati is committed to transparent governance, sustainable development, and enhancing the quality of life for all residents of Bethlehem, while preserving the city’s historic and spiritual heritage. |
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