VZCZCXRO0950
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #0901/01 1431349
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 221349Z MAY 08
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1630
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000901
SIPDIS
FOR DRL/SEA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWBG PGOV PREL PTER PHUM IS
SUBJECT: REPORT ON SUPPORTING DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS
ACTIVISTS
REF: A. STATE 44903
B. 2007 STATE 88465
C. 2007 STATE 108924
D. 2007 JERUSALEM 2208
E. 2007 JERUSALEM
1. (SBU) Summary. Per reftel, Post is supporting democracy
and human rights activists in the West Bank and Gaza and
expansion of personal freedoms through regular meetings with
human rights activists and organizations, programmatic
support to Palestinian civil society, and a concerted media
campaign (ref A). This report summarizes Post's efforts to
implement the President's Freedom Agenda through dialogue
with democracy and human rights activists and offers
highlights and an overview of these efforts from April 2007
to May 2008. End Summary.
Reaching Out to Democracy
and Human Rights Activists
--------------------------
2. (SBU) Since April 2007, ConGen officers have met with a
broad range of human rights and civil society activists and
democratic political leaders from the West Bank and Gaza.
During these meetings, ConGen officers expressed strong USG
support for activists' efforts to build a more democratic and
secure future for Palestinians. Examples of these efforts
include regular meetings in Jerusalem and the West Bank with
the Palestinian Independent Commission for Citizens' Rights,
International Committee of the Red Cross, Arab Studies
Society, Jerusalem Center for Women, and a variety of other
local and international groups.
MEPI Programmatic Support
-------------------------
3. (SBU) Post has developed and administers wide-ranging
Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) and Public
Diplomacy programs to support the goals of achieving greater
personal freedoms and improved democratic systems. Post has
a full-time MEPI coordinator who meets regularly with civil
society activists and local and international NGOs to monitor
existing programs and develop new programs. Through MEPI
programming, Post supports a portfolio of more than $15
million in assistance to strengthen political parties,
empower women, and develop an active civil society that
advocates for good governance and critical personal freedoms.
Current MEPI programming includes $150,000 in small grants
for six civil society organizations that educate Palestinian
residents of East Jerusalem on their rights, confront honor
crimes in Gaza, and empower youth throughout the West Bank.
Post just completed this year's small grant competition and
will fund 11 new projects focused on civic engagement of
youth in under-served communities for a total of $300,000.
PD Programmatic Support
---------------------
4. (SBU) Post's MEPI programs complement a robust Public
Diplomacy outreach and program campaign to support democracy
and human rights activists. These efforts include visiting
speaker programs, digital video conferences (DVC) with
American speakers, including an April 3 DVC between
Palestinian imams and American Muslim leader Ihsan al-Khatib
on religious freedom. PD also organized a March 18 DVC for
Palestinians with American civil rights leader Dr. Bert
Ransom on nonviolence. In December 2007, PD gave a small
grant to the Teacher Creativity Center, which strives to
eliminate violence from schools by encouraging the
integration of human rights education into Palestinian school
curriculum.
5. (SBU) PD programming also included exchange programs that
build skills, networks, and exposure of civil society and
democracy leaders. Post sent Rafeef Mujahad, attorney at
al-Haq Human Rights Center in Ramallah, to the U.S. on a
"Human Rights Advocacy and Awareness" International Visitor
Leadership Program (IVLP) in November 2007. In October 2007,
human rights lawyer Ala'a Ghanayim participated in a
"Judicial System" IVLP. Upon their return, ConGen officers
met with Ghanayim and Mujahad to discuss how they are using
their new skills to promote human rights in the West Bank and
Gaza Strip.
Media Outreach
--------------
6. (SBU) On May 2, PAO sent a letter to 250 Palestinian
journalists commemorating World Press Freedom Day and
JERUSALEM 00000901 002 OF 002
reiterating U.S. support for the freedoms of press and
speech. On May 3, PAO also contributed an op-ed to al-Quds
newspaper, the largest Palestinian daily, which highlighted
the importance of press freedom as a "necessary element in
any free society" and applauded Palestinian journalists for
their "commitment to providing the Palestinian people with
the information they need to support a democratic society."
Upcoming Plans
--------------
7. (SBU) Post will continue to meet with democracy and human
rights activists and organizations to reinforce U.S. support
for democratic institutions in a future Palestinian state and
will report on these meetings. Post will also continue to
administer and support MEPI and Public Diplomacy programming
that advances freedom and democracy in the West Bank and Gaza
Strip.
WALLES