The U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem

JOHN PODHORETZ - 07.31.2009 - 9:24 AM

Over at the Corner, Clifford May offers a telling glimpse of the website of this country’s consulate in Jerusalem. Among the items, Cliff reports, are these:

U.S. Government Supports the Palestinian Authority
U.S. Provides $200 Million in Budget Support to Palestinian AuthorityMEPI Local Grants
MEPI awards 8 new local grants in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza.

Secretary Clinton:
Arab states have a responsibility to support the Palestinian Authority

“A Day at the Movies” for Palestinian Youth
The U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem is supporting the new “Cinema City” movie theater in Nablus by purchasing tickets for over 300 Palestinian youth involved in the U.S. Government-sponsored English Access Microscholarship program and Camp Discovery summer program.

Secretary Clinton Via Teleconference:
“. . . the Palestinian Authority now has systems in place to ensure that donor funds are handled transparently and in an accountable manner. We will continue to work with the Palestinian leadership to bolster these safeguards to make sure that the funding ends up exactly where – and for whom – it is intended.

Summer Fun and Learning at “Camp Discovery”
For the third consecutive year, the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem is sponsoring Camp Discovery for youth in the West Bank and Gaza. More than 450 Palestinians ages 8-14 from refugee camps and disadvantaged communities are participating in Ramallah, Nablus, Jenin, Hebron and Gaza City.

Consulate General Announces Grant to Preserve Palestinian Cultural Heritage
Consulate General staff and Dr. Adel Yahya, Director of the Palestinian Association for Cultural Exchange (PACE), met to commemorate the first grant given to Palestinians under the U.S. Department of State’s Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation.

Summer Camp Stimulates Critical Thinking in Palestinian Youth
The “Extracurricular Enrichment Day Camp” opened its doors to 110 gifted Palestinian youth from West Bank public middle schools, ages 12-16 on June 13, 2009. The U.S. government funded camp seeks to stimulate critical-thinking, build self-confidence, and prepare participants for a future in higher education.

Cliff writes: “Here’s what you don’t find — at least not at this moment as I’m viewing the site: A word about Israel. Not a single one. No hint that Jerusalem is in Israel or that Israelis live there — much less that it’s Israel’s capital.”
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