Bethlehem Convention Palace facts for kids
The Bethlehem Convention Palace (also known as Convention Palace Company or CPC) is a large building in Bethlehem, Palestine. It's a special place where big meetings, events, and shows can happen.
This palace has a main meeting hall, a place to show exhibits, a theater, and many smaller meeting rooms. It also has beautiful gardens, a prayer room for different faiths, and a cafeteria. There's even a huge outdoor amphitheater that can hold almost 1,500 people!
Right next to the Convention Palace are important historical sites like Murad's Castle and the famous Solomon's Pools.
Contents
History of the Palace and its Surroundings
Solomon's Pools: Ancient Water Sources
The three Solomon's Pools are very old water reservoirs. They were built about 2,000 years ago by Herod the Great. These pools were super important because they supplied water to the Second Temple and the city of Jerusalem. An ancient water channel carried water from the pools all the way to Jerusalem, about 21 kilometers (13 miles) away.
Building the Convention Palace
The Convention Palace is located in the southern part of Bethlehem City. It sits on a large piece of land, about 32,000 square meters, right across from Solomon's Pools.
The idea for the palace started in 1999. The late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat supported the plan after Hasib Sabbagh and Said Khoury suggested that Bethlehem could host the 2000 World Economic Forum. This forum is a big international meeting where leaders discuss global issues.
The Convention Palace was built through a joint effort. Two companies, the Consolidated Contractors Company ("CCC") and the Palestine Investment Fund ("PIF"), invested in its construction.
Murad Castle: A Historic Fortress
Near the Convention Palace is Murad Castle, also known as Qal'at al Burak. This old fortress was built by the Ottoman ruler Suleiman the Magnificent in 1617. Its main purpose was to protect the water in Solomon's Pools. Today, Murad Castle is part of a tourist area and has a large museum inside.
Important Events at the Palace
The Convention Palace has hosted several important events. For example, the Palestine Investment Conference was held there in both 2008 and 2010. This conference brings together people interested in investing in Palestine.
As of 2019, the General Manager of the Convention Palace and Solomon's Pools is George N Bassous.
Restoring Solomon's Pools
In 2017, the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem helped fund a project to restore Solomon's Pools. The pools needed repairs because they were not being well-maintained. This project aimed to fix the old water channels and create safe walking paths for visitors. The goal was to protect this important historical site and attract more tourists. In January 2019, the US administration decided to provide more funds for the restoration and preservation of Solomon's Pools.
What the CPC Does
The Convention Palace Company (CPC) not only manages the Convention Palace but also looks after several other important sites nearby.
- Solomon's Pools: The CPC manages the archaeological site of the three historic Solomon's Pools. Two of these pools date back to the Roman period, and the third is from the Ottoman period.
- Murad Castle: The CPC operates Murad Castle, the old Ottoman fortress. This castle has a museum with one of the largest collections of Palestinian history and culture. There's also a restaurant inside called Kani Mani, which serves traditional local dishes.
- Handicraft Center: This is a traditional market built on 12,000 square meters. It's a place where visitors can find local crafts and goods.
- Natural Heritage Forest: The CPC also manages a large natural forest area, covering 244,000 square meters.
See also
In Spanish: Palacio de Convenciones de Belén para niños
