The 29th Israel International Mayors Conference kicked off on Sunday, 17 Sican 5774 with a series of high level meetings. This professional gathering brings together a select group of local authority leaders from around the world, to exchange ideas on how best to tackle common challenges in such diverse fields as efficient water management and traffic control. This year’s program will span Jerusalem, Tel-Aviv and Beersheba, and will have a special focus on urban innovation and cyber security.

Addressing the visiting mayors during a special event in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Foreign Minister Tzachi Hanegbi spoke of the unique political circumstances with which Israel has to cope and which are exemplified by the recent kidnapping of the three Israel teenagers. He advised the mayors to take advantage of the visit program to get acquainted with the Israeli experience, and called for an enhanced cooperation among local authorities worldwide.

This year’s delegation includes the mayors of two cities which were severely hit by natural disasters in recent years: Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and Tacloban, the Philippines, in 2010 and 2013 respectively. The group also includes the mayors of Buenos Aires, Berlin, Vilnius, Nicosia, Panama, Kinshasa and Luanda as well as high ranking representatives from Beijing, Moscow, Frankfurt and Marseille.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)