Fundación Palestina

We were born under the symbol of the olive branch which represents peace,

but also the valor, strength and life of the Palestinians. It is part of us and

our history, and it is deeply rooted in our homeland.

The Bethlehem 2000 Palestinian Foundation- Chile therefore raises this

olive branch to celebrate the future and show our pride. But also as a

sign of brotherhood and union with the land of our ancestors and to help

alleviate, if only partly, the pain that history has unjustly provoked.

Besides the political process and the historical difficulties that

middle east has been through to achieve peace, there is an existing

reality which evades the feelings and the legitimate rights of the

palestinian citizens to return to their homeland, which is, in short,

to achieve a universal right: the feeling of belonging that all human

beings require. This is where the new generations of palestine’s

should grow up, without violence or fear. It is in these lands where

we want our people to be able to live.

Our love for our Country

Our reason for existence

It all began with the resolution of the Palestinian National Authority to promote

an international project aimed at the reconstrution of the scared city of

Bethlehem. This gave rise to a new supportive and committed consciousness

towards Palestine, not only from a material point of view in order to help rebuild

the fallen walls, but also specially to make international efforts to overcome the

long story of woes and injustice suffered by our people.

Therefore, a group of Chilean Businessmen of Palestinian origin felt the need to make this

initiative into a cause for the future: to show the world a profoundly learned, hard working

and relevant people, committed to development, culture and human rights.

Based on this principal, The Bethlehem 2000 Palestinian Foundation- Chile was formed on July

31 2001, by José Said, Mario Nazal and Alberto Kassis. The basis of the project is, as Mr. Said,

explained “to unite our efforts, talents and abilities in a collective and coordinated initiative

to revitalize our Palestinian essence with its customs and distinguishing characteristics. And

also to accompany the Palestinian people, sustaining from this small corner of the world a

bridge of solidarity to them all, our brotherhood”.

st

The Foundation aims to ignite a flame which will open a path of light to young, adults and children

in order to convey the value of justice and bravery, of ethics and the Palestinian dream for fair and

respectful peace. It is not a utopian challenge. Already, living in Chile there are over 300 thousand

Palestinian descendants. All, without exception, have contributed to the economic, social and cultural

development of Chilean society. Therefore we are now, and we always have been, a significant part of

the vitality which has given strength to this country.

Taking into context the internationally complex scene in the Middle East, where for a long time violence

has prevailed, The Bethlehem 2000 Palestinian Foundation- Chile aspires to walk hand in hand with

all other Palestinian organizations and representatives in Chile, with no discouragement or regret, to

build together a faith in the Palestinian people and a future of deserved and lasting peace. Also in the

same spirit, this institution seeks to bridge communications with Chilean society, especially with the

neediest sectors, which require a greater social commitment, both economically and in educational and

cultural aspects, contributing to making Chile a stronger and more developed country.

Our objectives

As Chilean citizens and members of a numerous Palestinian Community in this country,

entrepreneurs José Said, Mario Nazal and Alberto Kassis have concentrated their

energies in creating a charitable foundation, aimed at cooperating with the neediest

sectors of society and in diffusing the culture and contribution that the Palestinian

Community has made throughout history. This institution also hopes to generate a

higher consciousness of the importance of peace as the only way of life for everyone.

José Said SaffieSince his grandfather Issa Said left Bethlehem to travel to Latin America, the Said family has made important

commercial progress. Today Jose Said is a renowned and respected businessman in the world of culture and

finance. His business activities have been extended to several countries within Latin America. His affinity

to his ancestors and strong ties with Palestinian territories, have been strengthened through The Bethlehem

2000 Palestinian Foundation- Chile, over which he presides. His significant contribution has been directed

towards active solidarity to the cause.

Alberto Kassis SabagHis family emigrated from Bethlehem. After a brief incursion into the textile business, they acquired a small

factory producing traditional meat products. His father’s health obliged Alberto Kassis to take charge of the

family business from an early age. “Cecinas San Jorge” was formed in 1963 and is one of the most successful

companies in Chile and Latin America. Apart from his business responsibilities Alberto Kassis devotes an

important amount of time to active work for the land of his ancestors.

Mario Nazal MomaresEmilio Nazal travelled to Chile at the beginning of the 20th Century from the city of Taybeh, Palestine.

After forming a textile company, he suffered a serious health setback and therefore his son Mario took over

business responsibilities, which required interrupting his chemical and pharmaceutical studies. Creator of the

trade mark “Peruggi”, after 5 decades heading national and international markets in the hosiery trade, Mario

Nazal decided to devote full time to the cultural and humanitarian task of working actively for the Palestinian

cause. Presently he is the General Director of The Bethlehem 2000 Palestinian Foundation- Chile.

The Board of Directors of The

Bethlehem 2000 Palestinian

Foundation- Chile is composed by:

President

José Said Saffie

Directors

Alberto Kassis Sabag

Mario Nazal Momares

René Abumohor Touma

Jorge Rabié Uauy

Odde Rishmagüe Rishmagüe

Fernando Aguad Dagach

Gonzalo Said Handal

Rev. Father Raúl Hasbún Zaror

Fernando Lolas Stepke

Our founders

Activities fulfilled

As of March 2000, José Said, Mario Nazal and Alberto Kassis,

began planning activities in benefit of Palestine. Firstly in the

name of the Bethlehem 2000 Commission, they gave humanitarian,

cultural and economic aid to the Palestinian population and also

organized various activities in Chile to spread their ancestor’s

culture. Today, with the Foundation officially registered, the

future projection is active, participatory and supportive.

As of March 2000, José Said,

Alberto Kassis and Mario Nazal

met Pope John Paul II and

President Yasser Arafat in the city

of Bethlehem. Here the seed which

will give life to The Bethlehem

2000 Palestinian Foundation-

Chile begins to germinate.

On December 2000, in the State

Room of the ex National Congress

in Santiago and in the presence of

President Ricardo Lagos and other

important authorities, the 100

years of Palestinian immigration

to Chile were celebrated with a

moving ceremony. Yasser Arafat

spoke telephonically with the

Chilean Head of State.

During the month of May 2001,

the “Chile School” in the city

of Beit-Jala, was equipped and

restored. This donation optimized

the quality of education for the

498 youths that were attended

from first year to secondary in

this establishment.

On May 2001, the Bethlehem

2000 Palestinian Foundation-

Chile awarded 80 study grants

to the Bethlehem and Birzeit,

Hebron and Gaza Universities for

Palestinian youths from refugee

camps.

By April 2001, through the

Caritas- Jerusalem charity, the

Bethlehem 2000 Commission,

along with other Chilean

organizations, donated

ambulances to the emergency

services of Beit Jala, Beit Sahur

and Bethlehem, in order to

facilitate rapid transportation of

the sick and injured to hospitals.

2000 2001

Also on May 2001, the renowned

Chilean film director Miguel Littin

was awarded by the manager of

the Foundation, Mario Nazal, after

visiting the Middle East in May

2001 to direct a documentary

about the everyday life of the

Palestinian people.

Towards the end of July 2001,

the Bethlehem 2000 Palestinian

Foundation- Chile was officially

inaugurated. The Ceremony in

The Palestinian Club brought

to fruition a profound feeling

of commitment and solidarity

amongst the Palestinian

community resident in Chile.

On August 2001, five Chilean

doctors of Arab descent, travelled

on a 12 day humanitarian mission

to the cities of Nablus and Gaza,

sponsored by the Foundation, to

help hundreds of wounded and

ill people that arrive daily to the

Palestinian Hospitals.

Scholarships

In July 2002, the Bethlehem 2000

Palestinian Foundation- Chile

granted additional scholarships

to young Chilean people of

Palestine origin for their further

development abroad.

2002

From its beginning, the

Foundation has available a web

site www.palestinos.com and a

magazine called Al Damir (The

Conscience), printing monthly 20

thousand copies for free led to

Palestinian community in Chile

and some other Latin American

countries. The magazine is a

vehicle of unit and diffusion of

courage and Arabic traditions

and also shows the real life

that are living Palestinian to

cultural centers, religious centers,

universities and the Chilean

government.

Activities fulfilled

As of December 2003, the Founda-

tion raised the first campaign to

collect Christmas gifts. This event

was repeated during the last three

consecutive years, giving Christmas

gifts to the children of the Gaza and

Cisjordania territories. These were

distributed through schools, local

councils and hospitals, benefitting

74,000 primary school children. The

gifts were purchased locally from

Palestinian traders in order to help

the precarious economic situation

of the Holy Land. The financing of

the gifts was obtained through a

campaign to raise awareness of the

Palestinian situation, throughout

the community.

College Scholarships

In March of 2004, the Bethlehem

2000 Palestinian Foundation-

Chile, in its continuing efforts to

promote the education of the new

generations, sent 1000 University

Scholarships to Palestine students

of the Universities of Bethlehem,

Beit Sahour and Gaza thanks to

the community donations.

Bethlehem 2000 Palestinian

Foundation- Chile Seminar

In May 2006, the Foundation

publicly acclaimed four successful

professionals whose efforts,

perseverance, optimism and

good luck have contributed to

the development of this country

through the creation of successful

businesses, employing a large

number of staff, and who are

examples worthy of special

mention within the community.

Fraternal Maklube

Each year the Bethlehem 2000

Palestinian Foundation- Chile hosts

a charity dinner to strengthen

bonds between member of the

Chilean Arab Community and at the

same time raise funds allocated to

humanitarian aid for the children

of Palestine and also for the

elderly living in the Arab Union

Charity Home. The first dinner was

celebrated in the year 2005, which

was an excellent opportunity for

community sharing and for showing

their solidarity.

2003 2004 2005 2006

Palestine Craft Importation

In November 2003, our

Foundation issued the first import

of Palestine craft to help more

than 500 families of Palestine’s

artisans who were facing severe

restrictions to commercialize

them, due to the lack of tourists

in Holy Land.

Schooling agreement Caritas

Jerusalem

During 2008, the Bethlehem 2000

Palestinian Foundation- Chile

accomplished an agreement with

Caritas Jerusalem to optimize

financial aid sent to Palestine for

school registration fees, school

materials and other forms of aid

for the benefit of 300 children that

lack resources for their education,

in 10 schools throughout Beit Jala,

Beit Sahour and Bethlehem. The

financing came from generous

donations made by the Chilean Arab

Community to the Foundation for

this purpose.

Delivery of Medicines to

Palestine

During 2007, the Bethlehem 2000

Palestinian Foundation- Chile,

organized a campaign to collect

medicine for the Palestinian

people and was able to send two

full containers. The donation was

received by the Beit Jala Hospital

which cares for over 100,000

patients who live in the Bethlehem

region.

Breakfasts for Palestinian

children

In 2006, seven hundred children

of primary and secondary level

education at the “Shepherd’s

High School” in Beit Sahour were

sponsored, receiving meals, school

writing materials and registration

fee payments, to help relieve

their families’ difficult financial

situations.

The Foundation’s Anniversary is

commemorated with a Seminar

“Seeds for the Future”

Towards the end of 2007 a Seminar

was organized with the purpose of

creating bonds between Arab and

Latin American countries. Chile’s

President Michelle Bachelet was

present as well as the well known

Mexican businessman of Lebanese

origin Carlos Slim, the Minister for

Foreign Affairs Alejandro Foxley,

The Vice President of the Arab-

Brazilian Chamber of Commerce

Paulo Atallah and a delegation of

Young Arab Leaders amongst others,

whose presence made the event a

successful International forum.

2007 2008

High Mass for Peace

in the Holy Land

At November 2006, in Santiago’s

Cathedral, a High Mass was

celebrated for Peace in the

Holy Land. The Eucharist was

conducted by his eminence Cardinal

Archbishop of Santiago, Monsignor

Fernando Chomalí, and Father Raul

Feres and Her Excellence Michelle

Bachelet, President of the Chilean

Republic was present, highlighting

our government’s appreciation and

also that of the Chilean Catholic

Church, of the Arab Community in

Chile.

The Bethlehem 2000 Palestinian Foundation- Chile is a space where the resident Palestinian community in

our country can meet. Its permanent purpose is to promote social and cultural integration between Chileans

and Palestinians, also along with all the existing Palestinian organizations, to promote and develop the Arab

culture in all areas.

On the same subject, the Foundation constitutes a link of permanent support and solidarity with Palestine.

In fact, already there are important ties between the most important national and religious authorities in

this country, which will allow as to work along, with plans for economic and humanitarian help.

Fundamentally, the Foundation’s outlined objectives are:

Validate the legacy of thousands of immigrants with limited resources who have settled in Chile and that

over the years, made an important contribution to the socioeconomic development of this country.

Strengthen the already existing opportunities for the present and new generations to make a real contribution

and gesture of solidarity to the Palestinian race, both through humanitarian aid and direct participation that

will enable in the field collaboration, to improve the quality of life of the Palestinian society.

Where we are heading

Bethlehem 2000 Palestinian Foundation- Chile

Address: Rosario Norte 555 Office 805 / Las Condes - Santiago - Chile

Phone (56-2) 719 05 00 Fax (56-2) 719 05 10

www.palestinos.com / e-mail: [email protected]