Remarks by Consul General Rubinstein During Inauguration Marking the Completion of the Rehabilitation of Roads and Abu Bakr As-Saddeeq Primary Boy’s School - Sinjil

January 11, 2012

Minister Qawasmi, Deputy Governor Barghouti, Mayor Sweid, members of Sinjil council, colleagues from USAID and CHF, distinguished guests:

I am honored to be with you to celebrate the completion of the important projects we just toured.

 It is my hope that the road improvements undertaken by the United States Agency for International Development in Sinjil will enhance your and your family’s safety.  I trust the improved school will provide a safe and healthy learning environment for your children. 

 The American people are proud to have supported you in your ambition to build a better life for you and your families.  This is one step forward, and we recognize that there is a lot more to be done. 

We have great partners in President Abbas, Prime Minister Fayyad and his colleagues in the PA, and I would like to recognize their excellent leadership in support of our work here. 

I would also like to recognize the dedication of the Sinjil Village Council leaders.  You have taken the lead in working to provide these improved projects to your citizens.  I also want to thank our partners at CHF – Lana Abu Hijleh, Abdul Nasser Faraj, and their staff - for their work in making these projects a reality.

We should all feel proud of what we have accomplished together.  You and your community were an integral part of the success of these projects.

The American people support numerous communities like yours throughout the West Bank.  Our goal is to strengthen the Palestinian economy and provide you with the infrastructure you need.

Some of our work is at the institutional level, working with the Palestinian Authority to strengthen its ability to govern.  We also support the growth of the private sector so it can create jobs and increase incomes.

Some of our work is at the grassroots level.  We work with communities like yours to provide improved services, strengthen the capacity of local authorities, and help build democracy and stability from the ground up.

Since 1994, USAID has provided approximately 3.5 billion dollars in assistance to support these efforts with our Palestinian partners. 

We are driven by a single, overarching goal: to help build an independent Palestinian state living side-by-side in peace and security with Israel.  This project is a relatively small one, but an important step toward that vision.

I thank all of you and wish you the best of luck in the future.

I look forward to coming back to Sinjil in the future and seeing how your community has grown and prospered.

Thank you very much.