'A living system': Skopje mayor looks to Israeli cities for lessons in handling crises

Orce Gjorgjievski, the mayor of Skopje, North Macedonia's capital, traveled to Israel with a specific mission: to study how Israeli cities manage crises and prepare for emergencies. Attending the MUNI EXPO 2026 in Tel Aviv, Gjorgjievski sought practical lessons from Israeli local governments, which operate under demanding circumstances.

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I came to Israel with great respect and with a clear intention – to learn from experiences that are not only theoretical, but experiences created in real, difficult and complex circumstances.

"I came to Israel with great respect and with a clear intention – to learn from experiences that are not only theoretical, but experiences created in real, difficult and complex circumstances," Gjorgjievski told The Jerusalem Post. He views Israeli municipalities as a "classroom" offering insights into emergency preparedness, crisis management, traffic, water management, and digital public services.

Gjorgjievski, who also previously led the Kisela Voda municipality, is particularly interested in how Israeli cities maintain essential services under immense pressure. He noted that Skopje, like many European capitals, faces challenges such as traffic congestion, pollution, and aging infrastructure. He believes Israel's experience provides crucial insights, not just due to technological advancements but because its municipalities have been forced to adapt under extraordinary conditions.

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Israeli cities demonstrate something very important, and that is that local government must be prepared before a crisis happens, not improvise when it is already too late.

"Israeli cities demonstrate something very important, and that is that local government must be prepared before a crisis happens, not improvise when it is already too late," he stated. He was impressed by the organization, rapid response, and coordination among local authorities, emergency services, healthcare providers, and volunteer groups. Gjorgjievski concluded that a city's resilience is built through discipline, trust, preparedness, and clear communication, describing a city as a "living system that knows how to react, how to protect, and how to continue functioning."

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From Israel, we can learn that the resilience of a city is not built only through infrastructure, but also through discipline, trust, preparedness, and clear communication. The city must be a living system that knows how to react, how to protect, and how to continue functioning.