This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/1518

Denial in service: ACER computers announces "largest ever IT tender" for non existent country of Palestine

January 5, 2006

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MIM: The Jordanians, who despise the 'Palestinians' and have denied them any kind of employment or basic rights by forcing them to remain as stateless refugees in their country for decades, are only too happy to raise money for "preserving their culture and identity" in the Old City of Jerusalem.

"...In the area of preserving culture and identity, WA works on the revitalisation of the Old City of Jerusalem: Established in 1995, the project seeks to restore and rehabilitate culturally and historically important sites in the Old City for contemporary use..."

http://www.jordanembassyus.org/05082005002.htm

Jordan Times
Sunday, May 8, 2005

Queen Rania attends Welfare Association annual fundraiser

AMMAN (JT)— Her Majesty Queen Rania acted as patron at the Welfare Association (WA) annual fundraising event in Amman on Friday during which the association honoured members of the board of trustees, recognised sponsors and awarded prizes to institutions which had excelled in their contributions.

The Welfare Association was established in 1983 by a group of prominent Palestinian business and intellectual figures seeking to respond to the human resource development needs of Palestinian society, with special emphasis on IT training for youth.

As the largest source of private funds directed towards Palestinian development, the private, nonprofit, self-sustaining organisation has, to date, contributed more than $150 million in support of more than 500 NGOs and community organisations, with 2,000 projects implemented in Palestine and Lebanon.

Seeking to preserve Palestinian history in the region, the foundation has also established several unique programmes such as the Revitalisation of the Old City of Jerusalem.

Abdul Muhsen Qattan, acting chairman of WA's board of trustees thanked Queen Rania for supporting the association.

During his opening remarks, Qattan lauded the efforts of Abdul Majid Shoman, founder and former board chairman, who recently stepped aside and was named honorary president for life.

Accepting an award on behalf of Shoman, Munib Masri, vice chairman of the WA board, said the association's approach to sustainable development and humanitarian assistance, its members' commitment, its international affiliations, and transparency had all contributed to its worldwide credibility.

Veteran Syrian actor Dureid Lahham expressed his gratitude and honour at being named goodwill ambassador for the WA, which has been working on improving the quality of life in the Palestinian territories throughout its 22-year history.

The association was recently named the recipient of the Aga Khan Prize for projects to revitalise the Old City of Jerusalem and the 2004 Dubai International Award for Best Practices to Improve the Living Environment.

In addition to utilising its own resources and managing its own programmes, WA serves as a local implementing agency for regional and international organisations and governments to manage external development assistance.

International partners include the World Bank, the European Union, the Islamic Development Bank, the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, AGFUND, the OPEC Fund and UN agencies, as well as several international nongovernmental organisations such as the Norwegian People's Aid.

The 100-member WA general assembly comprises prominent Arab and Palestinian individuals and associates, which meet annually to review work progress and approve audited financial statements and strategic issues.

The 40-member board of trustees is elected by the general assembly every three years, to formulate policies and strategies and review the foundation's performance.

Operating through four branches — Jerusalem, London, Geneva and Amman —the WA's areas of work and projects include Early Childhood Education via encouraging curricula development, the use of model facilities and progressive teacher training techniques, as well as equipping community centres and schools with computers, networks, the Internet and other facilities.

The foundation is also committed to improving and expanding educational, cultural, and social activities for Palestinian youth, including those with special needs, through the establishment of facilities, training and support enrichment programmes. These include Futurekids (training children and youth in the use of different computer applications) as well information technology for youth, initiated in April 2001, with the International Youth Foundation. The project is a three-year community service programme to provide youth in rural areas in the West Bank with access to and training on computers and the Internet in schools and non-formal settings.

In addition to establishing the IT Centre of Excellence in Palestine, WA also assists the Palestinian refugee community, performing vital interventions for the community in the areas of healthcare, rehabilitation, ECE, and vocational and higher education.

In the area of preserving culture and identity, WA works on the revitalisation of the Old City of Jerusalem: Established in 1995, the project seeks to restore and rehabilitate culturally and historically important sites in the Old City for contemporary use.

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http://www.welfareassociation.org/about/stucture/board_of_trustees/board_of_trustees.htm

Abdul Majeed Shoman	Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive, Arab Bank PLC.
Abdul Aziz Shakhashir	Treasurer
Abdul Muhsen Al-Qattan	Vice-chairman, A. M. Qattan Foundation
Adel K. Afifi	Professor of Neurology, Pediatrics, Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Iowa University
Anis F. Kassim	Attorney at Law; Editor in Chief, Palestine Yearbook of International Law
Basel Amin Aql	Businessman
Bisher Mohammed Jardaneh	Managing Director, Arabtech-Jardaneh (Consulting Engineers & Architects)
Edward Said	Professor of Comparative Literature, Columbia University
Faisal S. Alami	Director of Finance & Development, Partner
Hasib J. Sabbagh	Vice-chair man, Consolidated Contractors Co., SAL
Hisham F. Qaddumi	Chairman of the Board - HQ Associates
Ibrahim Abu Lughod	Professor of International Studies, Birzeit University [1929-2001]
Issam Abdul Salam Abu Issa	Chairman of the Board, Palestine International Bank
Issam Azmeh	Consultant, Member of Board of Directors of Companies
Jawdat Shawwa	Managing Director, IMCO, Kuwait
Khalid C. Sifri	Attorney
Mohammad Y. Najm	Professor Emeritus of Arabic, American University of Beirut; Chairman of the Administrative Committee, Palestinian Students Fund
Munib R. Masri	Vice-chairman of Board of Directors, Engineering & Development Group (EDGO); Chairman of the Board of Directors, Palestine Development & Investments Co., (PADICO)
Munir R. Kaloti	President, Kaloti Jewellery Co., UAE; Arab Weavers, Jordan; Union Mills for YARU, Jordan, Gerasa Insurance Co.
Munther J. Nabulsi	Deputy Chairman, Board of Directors, Transgulf Readymix Concrete Co. Managing Director, Greenworks Est.
Munther Khalidi	Chairman, Managementt Committee, Associate Consulting Engineers (ACE)
Nabil G. Sarraf	President, Al Ahliah Commercial Agencies Est.
Nabil Qaddoumi	President, Project Management (PROJACS)
Nazek Rafik Hariri	President, Hariri Foundation
Nizar Jardaneh	Vice-chairman of the Board of Directors, Dar Al-Dawa
Nureddine Sehweil	President and CEO, Uni-Arab Engineering & Oilfield Services
Othman Nashashibi	Partner Managing Director, Nashashibi & Ebbini Forms
Ramzi Atta Dalloul	Chairman of the Board, Arab Investment and Management Corporation (AIMCOR FINANCE) N.V.
Reem K. Abu Saoud	Managing Director, Reem Enterprises Ltd.
Riad B. Kamal	Chairman, Arabtec Construction Co.
Riad T. Sadik	President, Al Habtoor Engineering Ent. Co.
Sabih Taher Masri	Chairman of the Board, Zara
Said Khoury	Vice-chairman, Consolidated Contractors Co., SAL
Samer Said Khoury	Executive Vice President, Consolidated Contractors Co., SAL
Samir Adel Aweidah	Managing Director, INMA Gulf Development & Construction L.L.C
Soad M. Sabbah	Poet, Writer and Economic Researcher
Suheil H. Sabbagh	AVP Human Resources, Consolidated Contractors Co., SAL
Wael R. Kanaan	General Manager, Jerusalem Development & Investment Co., Ltd (JEDICO)
Yousef Ahmad Asad	Chairman of the Board of Arcadia Group
Yousef Al-Hassan	Strategic Expert and Thinker
Yusef R. Abu Khadra	Management Committee Member, Investcorp.
Yusif Sayigh	Economist

This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/1518