Skip Navigation
You Are In: About Us > 2007 Programs and Events > Hughes July 07
Skip Left Section Navigation

2007 Programs and Events

U.S. Under Secretary of State Karen Hughes Visit to the Palestinian Territories Highlights U.S. Commitment to Assistance to the Palestinian People

July 2007

In her remarks at the official ceremony marking the Middle East Investment Initiative loan program to small and medium Palestinian businesses, Under Secretary Hughes explained that, “President Bush made a commitment that America would expand our support for the Palestinian people and the government of President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad.  This loan program is America asking the Palestinians:  what are your dreams, what are your plans, what do you want to achieve, and here is a concrete way that America will help you pursue those goals.”
 
In her meeting with Palestinian President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad, Hughes discussed U.S. President Bush’s initiatives to build the foundation for a future, independent Palestinian state.  She continued this discussion on building strong democratic institutions in support of a vibrant civil society in her meetings with Palestinian Minister of Information Maliki, and cabinet Ministers for Education Al Alami, Minister of Youth and Sport Abu Dakka and Deputy Minister of Women’s Affairs/Tourism Hdeib.  The latter three ministers, three distinguished women, agreed with the Under Secretary on the importance of providing a positive role model for Palestinian girls and encouraging them to engage more fully in the democratic process.

Engaging Palestinian youth was an important goal of Under Secretary Hughes’ visit.  Always keen to learn what tomorrow’s leaders are thinking, Hughes chatted with participants from cultural programs sponsored by the U.S. Consulate General, including English language classes and a highly popular summer camp, “Camp Discovery” that was hosted in the West Bank and Gaza.  One scholarship recipient from Gaza told Hughes about how he was personally working to improve living conditions in Gaza by organizing students to volunteer at Gaza orphanages and centers for disabled persons.  He credits his inspiration to the sprit of American volunteerism that he witnessed during his one year stay at a high school in Kentucky.   

Under Secretary Karen Hughes oversees the many public diplomacy programs, such as the high school exchange program, that are managed by the Department of State.  Her visit sought to underscore American support for the Palestinian people as highlighted in the July 16 speech by U.S. President Bush.  President Bush’s speech outlined an overall 2007 U.S government assistance to the Palestinian people that includes $144 million in assistance to UNRWA,  $190 million for basic human needs, food aid, and democracy, civil society and private sector development, and $80 million to help reform the legitimate security services of the Palestinian Authority.