SVF invited Mr. Mohamamd Al.Najar, Maghazi's Mayor, and Dr. Imad Mohsen, a researchertackled ‘Municipal Work and the Citizen Vision' on April 28, 2010. Mr. Mohsen emphasized on the institutions' role in monitoring municipal services. Dr. Mohsen also indicated that the civil society institutions and groups have not given an attention to monitor municipal services yet. But, he praised the important role of the Society Voice Foundation in promoting community participation and democracy by the delivered services of local councils. Dr. Mohsen indicated the results of the field community study reflected the difficult situations facing the Palestinian community from the siege and the high percentage of unemployment. He referred that the result showed citizen's dissatisfaction about the quality and quantity of services delivered by the municipality.
On the other hand, Dr. Mohsen pointed out that the assessment work within the principles and concepts of monitoring and transparency in a country does not consider an index as a daily base in the institutions system which constitutes as a standard case. In the same context, Mr. Al.Najar, Mayor of Maghazi indicated that the municipality focused on basic services under the siege and lack of resources. Hence, he confirmed that the conditions of the blockade had a direct impact on high prices and low quality, lacking of financing and moving a large segment of citizens from the production department to the consumption cycle which led to the inability of citizens to pay their dues. Mr. Al Najar added that the development process is a participatory process employing all segments of society and its energy. He confirmed that all matters relating to the municipality and the general budget is found on the website but in the same time he referred that there are real limitations in the media role and in employing its various tools.
