U . S . C O N S U L A T E G E N E R A L J E R U S A L E M – W E E K L Y M A I L I N G

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Women's Micro-Enterprise Bazaar and Fashion Show

America House, the U.S. Consulate General's cultural center in East Jerusalem, hosted the 2nd Annual Women's Micro-Enterprise Bazaar and Fashion Show on December 15, at the Ambassador Hotel. The bazaar featured handicrafts produced by Palestinian women from the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. Over 35 Palestinian women entrepreneurs exhibited their wares during the event, including traditional Palestinian embroidery, hand-made soap, jewelry, foodstuffs, ceramics, and stone- and glass-ware. Thanks to everyone who came out and supported this successful event!

بازار لأعمال الطيذاث وعرض للأزياء

لقىصليت الأمريكيت باضخضافت البازار قام البيج الأمريكي الخابع لالطىىي الثاوي للأعمال الصغيرة الخاصت بالىطاء وعرضا للأزياء

وعرض . بخاريخ الخامص عشر مه كاوىن أول في فىذق الامباضادورالبازار مصىىعاث يذويت لىطاء فلططيىياث مه الضفت و القذش

هه وقامج أكثر مه خمطت وثلاثيه ضيذة بعرض مشغىلاح. وغسةخلال البازاروحضمه رلك حطريس فلططيىي وصابىن مصىىعت يذويا

ومجىهراث وطعام وضيراميك ، ومشغىلاث زجاجيت

.

December 15, 2011

Page 2 – Palestinian Youth Empowerment and Volunteerism Program

Page 3 – Ambassador DiCarlo at U.N. Palestinian Refugee Conference

Page 4 – Presidential Proclamation on Human Rights Day

Page 5 – Secretary Clinton’s Remarks on Internet Freedom

Page 6 – Educational and Cultural Exchange Opportunities

Page 7 – Important Changes to Visa Application Procedures

Page 8 – International and Regional News

Official Websites:

http://jerusalem.usconsulate.gov

http://arabic.jerusalem.usconsulate.gov

http://gaza.usvpp.gov

http://arabic.gaza.usvpp.gov

Social Media:

www.facebook.com/UsConGenJerusalem

www.twitter.com/USCGJerusalem

www.youtube.com/UsConGenJerusalem

To subscribe to this Weekly Mailing list, please send an email to UsConGenJerusalem@state.gov

Thank You!

U . S . C O N S U L A T E G E N E R A L J E R U S A L E M – W E E K L Y M A I L I N G

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Palestinian Youth Empowerment and Volunteerism Program

The Palestinian Youth Empowerment and Volunteerism Program, funded by the U.S. Consulate

General in Jerusalem aims to empower Palestinian youth between the ages of 18-25 by engaging

them in leadership roles in proposing, organizing, and implementing youth-led community service

and other community initiatives that make a positive impact on their city, governorate, and nation.

In order to achieve the program main goal, the Palestinian Youth Empowerment and Volunteerism

program will provide youth throughout the West Bank with opportunities to gain leadership and life

skills through a training program followed by the opportunity to develop and propose for funding

their own community-based, youth-led volunteer initiatives, which the youth themselves will

implement if their proposals are selected funding.

By the conclusion of the program’s activities, AMIDEAST, together with local NGO partner the Rozana

Association, will have developed and enhanced the leadership and community engagement skills of

90 youth, as well as promoted and spread a spirit of volunteerism throughout the communities

impacted by the youth-led community initiatives.

A certificate will be provided at the successful completion of the program.

U . S . C O N S U L A T E G E N E R A L J E R U S A L E M – W E E K L Y M A I L I N G

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“The United States remains steadfast in its support for the important work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Thanks to the support of key donors and host governments, UNRWA’s humanitarian programs – including education, health, relief and social services – have improved the lives of millions. The United States continues to be the largest bilateral donor to UNRWA. In 2011, the U.S. contributed a total of $249 million to UNRWA programs, including $145 million to the General Fund to support core programs in education, health, and social services, $75 million for UNRWA’s Emergency Appeal for the West Bank and Gaza, $15 million for reconstruction and relief activities in Lebanon’s Nahr al-Bared Camp, and $10.3 million to construct five new schools in Gaza.”

شق لا حضال انلابث انخحذة ثببخت ػه دػب نهؼم انبو انز حمو ب كبنت الأيى انخحذة نغد حشغم انلاجئ انفهغط ف انشانصحت بفضم دػى يبح أعبع حكيبث يضفت، أعج بشايج الأشا الإغبت، ف ػذادب خذيبث انخؼهى (. الأشا)الأد

.انغد انخذيبث الإجخبػت، ف ححغ حبة انلا

يه دلاس 142عبج انلابث انخحذة بب جػ 1111فف . حظم انلابث انخحذة أكبش دنت يبحت ػه أعبط ثبئ نلأشا

عت نهخؼهى انشػبت انصحت انخذيبث الإجخبػت، يه دلاس نهصذق انؼبو انز ذػى بشايج أعب 145نبشايج الأشا، ي ضب

يه دلاس لإػبدة الإػبس شبطبث الإغبثت ف يخى ش انببسد 15يه دلاس نذاء الأشا انؼبجم نهضفت انغشبت غضة، 75

.يه دلاس نخشذ خظ يذاسط جذذة بمطبع غضة 1101بهبب،

Ambassador DiCarlo at U.N. Palestinian Refugee Conference

U . S . C O N S U L A T E G E N E R A L J E R U S A L E M – W E E K L Y M A I L I N G

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“With the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly affirmed the eternal truths that all people have the right to liberty, equality, and justice under the law. On Human Rights Day and during Human Rights Week, we celebrate our fundamental freedoms and renew our commitment to upholding and advancing human dignity.”

إعلاى رئاسي بوناسبت يوم حقوق الإنساى وأسبوع حقوق الإنساى

دغبش /كب الأل 10نمذ أكذث انجؼت انؼبيت نلأيى انخحذة، بخبب نلإػلا انؼبن نحمق الإغب ف

بت ببع. ، انحمق انخهذة بأ جغ انبط نى انحك ف انحشت انغباة انؼذانت ف ظم انمب1948

حهل و حمق الإغب خلال أعبع حمق الإغب، حخفم بحشبحب انجشت جذد انخضايب ببصشة

.حمق الإغب حؼضضب

Presidential Proclamation on Human Rights Day

U . S . C O N S U L A T E G E N E R A L J E R U S A L E M – W E E K L Y M A I L I N G

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Secretary Clinton’s Remarks on Internet Freedom

“Now, in two days, on December 11th, we’ll celebrate Human Rights Day, which is the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. And in the 63 years since that achievement, the world has been implementing a global commitment around the rights and freedoms of people everywhere, no matter where they live or who they are. And today, as people increasingly turn to the internet to conduct important aspects of their lives, we have to make sure that human rights are as respected online as offline. After all, the right to express one’s views, practice one’s faith, peacefully assemble with others to pursue political or social change – these are all rights to which all human beings are entitled, whether they choose to exercise them in a city square or an internet chat room. And just as we have worked together since the last century to secure these rights in the material world, we must work together in this century to secure them in cyberspace.”

كلوت كلينتوى أهام الوؤتوز العالوي لحزيت الإنتزنت

ف . و حمق الإغب انز ركش حب الإػلا انؼبن نحمق الإغبدغبش، ب/ا، عحخفم بؼذ ي، ف انؼبشش ي كب الأل

انخ حهج زا الإجبص، كب انؼبنى فز الانخضاو انؼبن انخؼهك بحمق حشبث انبط ف كم يكب، بصشف انظش ػ انكب انز 63انغاث انـ

ل انبط بصسة يخضاذة إن الإخشج نبسعت أبؼبد بيت ي حبحى، أصبح خجب انو، ف انلج انز خح. ؼش ف أ ي ك

فبنالغ أ حك انخؼبش ػ جبث ظش انشء، يبسعخ نؼمذح، حشخ . ػهب انخأكذ ي أ حمق الإغب يحخشيت ػه الإخشج خبسجب

ز انحمق غخحمب جغ أببء انبشش، عاء اخخبسا يبسعخب ف –نغبع أ الاجخبػف الاجخبع بغلاو يغ اخش نهغؼ إن انخغش ا

حبيب كب ػهب يؼب يز انمش انبض نضب ز انحمق ف انؼبنى انبد، ػهب انؼم يؼب ف . عبحت يذت أ ف غشفت دسدشت ػه الإخشج

زا انمش نضبب ف انفضبء الإنكخش .

U . S . C O N S U L A T E G E N E R A L J E R U S A L E M – W E E K L Y M A I L I N G

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"Doors to Diplomacy" 2012 International Web Project Competition for Middle and High School Students: The Department of State and the Global SchoolNet Foundation announce the 2012 "Doors to Diplomacy" award competition, recognizing the student-created Global SchoolNet Web projects from around the globe that best teach others about the importance of international affairs and diplomacy. To qualify, middle school and high school students will work in small teams with teacher-coaches. Projects must be completed by March 15, 2012, and winners will be announced in May 2012. Every team that enters a project will receive a special "Doors to Diplomacy" certificate recognizing their achievement. Each student member of the two winning teams – one American and one international – will also receive a $2,000 scholarship and the winning coaches’ schools will each receive a $511 cash award0 Deadline: March 15, 2012. For a complete description of the competition and information about eligibility and judging criteria, please visit http://globalschoolnet.org/gsndoors/. For more information, contact Dr. Yvonne Marie Andres of Global SchoolNet by phone at (760) 635-0001 or by e-mail at diplomacy@globalschoolnet.org or Wanda Ramsey of the Department of State by e-mail at RamseyWC@state.gov.

MEPI Information Technology (IT) Partnership Program The Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPT) announces the launch of the first-ever Information Technology (IT) Program that seeks to link MEPI grantees with major IT corporations. Through this new partnership, local NGOs will be able to access the latest computer software, hardware, and related training to improve the effectiveness of their projects, build organizational capacity, and assist with cementing the long-term sustainability of their work. For more information, please contact us at mepi-it-partnerships@state.gov

U . S . C O N S U L A T E G E N E R A L J E R U S A L E M – W E E K L Y M A I L I N G

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IMPORTANT CHANGES TO VISA APPLICATION PROCEDURES

On December 12, 2011, the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem will implement new visa application and appointment

procedures. The new system will make it quicker and cheaper to apply for a U.S. non-immigrant visa. Applicants will no

longer need to pay one fee to obtain information and schedule an appointment, another fee to apply for the visa, and a

third fee for courier pass back service. By paying only the current machine-readable visa (MRV) application fee

determined by visa classification, the following services will be provided to visa applicants:

MRV fee collection, either by phone, online, or at any branch of the Israeli Postal Bank or Bank of Palestine.

Applicants can pay using cash or credit card.

Scheduling of visa appointments by telephone 02-5677833 or through the online appointment website:

http://Jerusalem.usvisa-info.com. There is no need to purchase a pin number.

Information on general visa inquiries either by phone or online.

Courier services for applicants, who need to submit additional documents to the Consulate after their

interviews.

Choice of passport delivery options for approved visa applicants, including home delivery, at no additional cost

to the visa applicant.

20111212

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U . S . C O N S U L A T E G E N E R A L J E R U S A L E M – W E E K L Y M A I L I N G

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International and Regional News

State Department on Quartet Meeting

Ambassador Rice at U.N. on Human Rights Day

Secretary Clinton on International Anticorruption Day

Secretary Clinton Remarks at the Istanbul Process for Combating Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief

State Dept. Fact Sheet on Women in Public Service Project

Past Time for U.N. Action on Syria, U.S. Says

تعقيب وسارة الخارجيت الأهيزكيت على اجتواع الزباعيت

بياى السفيزة رايس في الأهن الوتحذة بوناسبت اليوم

العالوي لحقوق الإنساى للعام

بياى لوسيزة الخارجيت كلينتوى بوناسبت اليوم العالوي

لوكافحت الفساد

الحكوهت الأهيزكيت: لقذ آى الأواى للأهن الوتحذة كي تتخذ

إجزاء ها حيال سوريا