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.
Our love for our Country
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 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 31st 2001, by JosĂŠ 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 brotherhoodâ€?.
Our objectives
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 founders
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 Saffie Since 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
The Board of Directors of The
2000 Palestinian Foundation- Chile, over which he presides. His significant contribution has been directed
Bethlehem 2000 Palestinian
towards active solidarity to the cause.
Foundation- Chile is composed by:
Alberto Kassis Sabag
President
His family emigrated from Bethlehem. After a brief incursion into the textile business, they acquired a small
José Said Saffie
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 Momares Emilio 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
Directors Alberto Kassis Sabag Mario Nazal Momares René Abumohor Touma Jorge Rabié Uauy Odde Rishmagüe Rishmagüe
business responsibilities, which required interrupting his chemical and pharmaceutical studies. Creator of the
Fernando Aguad Dagach
trade mark “Peruggi”, after 5 decades heading national and international markets in the hosiery trade, Mario
Gonzalo Said Handal
Nazal decided to devote full time to the cultural and humanitarian task of working actively for the Palestinian
Rev. Father Raúl Hasbún Zaror
cause. Presently he is the General Director of The Bethlehem 2000 Palestinian Foundation- Chile.
Fernando Lolas Stepke
As of March 2000, José Said, Mario Nazal and Alberto Kassis, began planning activities in benefit of Palestine. Firstly in the
Activities fulfilled
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.
2000
2001
As of March 2000, José Said,
On December 2000, in the State
By April 2001, through the
On May 2001, the Bethlehem
During the month of May 2001,
Alberto Kassis and Mario Nazal
Room of the ex National Congress
Caritas- Jerusalem charity, the
2000 Palestinian Foundation-
the “Chile School” in the city
met Pope John Paul II and
in Santiago and in the presence of
Bethlehem 2000 Commission,
Chile awarded 80 study grants
of Beit-Jala, was equipped and
President Yasser Arafat in the city
President Ricardo Lagos and other
along with other Chilean
to the Bethlehem and Birzeit,
restored. This donation optimized
of Bethlehem. Here the seed which
important authorities, the 100
organizations, donated
Hebron and Gaza Universities for
the quality of education for the
will give life to The Bethlehem
years of Palestinian immigration
ambulances to the emergency
Palestinian youths from refugee
498 youths that were attended
2000 Palestinian Foundation-
to Chile were celebrated with a
services of Beit Jala, Beit Sahur
camps.
from first year to secondary in
Chile begins to germinate.
moving ceremony. Yasser Arafat
and Bethlehem, in order to
spoke telephonically with the
facilitate rapid transportation of
Chilean Head of State.
the sick and injured to hospitals.
this establishment.
2002
From its beginning, the
Also on May 2001, the renowned
Towards the end of July 2001,
On August 2001, five Chilean
Scholarships
Foundation has available a web
Chilean film director Miguel Littin
the Bethlehem 2000 Palestinian
doctors of Arab descent, travelled
In July 2002, the Bethlehem 2000
site www.palestinos.com and a
was awarded by the manager of
Foundation- Chile was officially
on a 12 day humanitarian mission
Palestinian Foundation- Chile
magazine called Al Damir (The
the Foundation, Mario Nazal, after
inaugurated. The Ceremony in
to the cities of Nablus and Gaza,
granted additional scholarships
Conscience), printing monthly 20
visiting the Middle East in May
The Palestinian Club brought
sponsored by the Foundation, to
to young Chilean people of
thousand copies for free led to
2001 to direct a documentary
to fruition a profound feeling
help hundreds of wounded and
Palestine origin for their further
Palestinian community in Chile
about the everyday life of the
of commitment and solidarity
ill people that arrive daily to the
development abroad.
and some other Latin American
Palestinian people.
amongst the Palestinian
Palestinian Hospitals.
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.
community resident in Chile.
Activities fulfilled 2003
2004
2005
2006
Palestine Craft Importation
As of December 2003, the Founda-
College Scholarships
Fraternal Maklube
Bethlehem 2000 Palestinian
In November 2003, our
tion raised the first campaign to
In March of 2004, the Bethlehem
Each year the Bethlehem 2000
Foundation- Chile Seminar
Foundation issued the first import
collect Christmas gifts. This event
2000 Palestinian Foundation-
Palestinian Foundation- Chile hosts
In May 2006, the Foundation
of Palestine craft to help more
was repeated during the last three
Chile, in its continuing efforts to
a charity dinner to strengthen
publicly acclaimed four successful
than 500 families of Palestine’s
consecutive years, giving Christmas
promote the education of the new
bonds between member of the
professionals whose efforts,
artisans who were facing severe
gifts to the children of the Gaza and
generations, sent 1000 University
Chilean Arab Community and at the
perseverance, optimism and
restrictions to commercialize
Cisjordania territories. These were
Scholarships to Palestine students
same time raise funds allocated to
good luck have contributed to
them, due to the lack of tourists
distributed through schools, local
of the Universities of Bethlehem,
humanitarian aid for the children
the development of this country
in Holy Land.
councils and hospitals, benefitting
Beit Sahour and Gaza thanks to
of Palestine and also for the
through the creation of successful
74,000 primary school children. The
the community donations.
elderly living in the Arab Union
businesses, employing a large
gifts were purchased locally from
Charity Home. The first dinner was
number of staff, and who are
Palestinian traders in order to help
celebrated in the year 2005, which
examples worthy of special
the precarious economic situation
was an excellent opportunity for
mention within the community.
of the Holy Land. The financing of
community sharing and for showing
the gifts was obtained through a
their solidarity.
campaign to raise awareness of the Palestinian situation, throughout the community.
2007
2008
High Mass for Peace
Breakfasts for Palestinian
Delivery of Medicines to
The Foundation’s Anniversary is
Schooling agreement Caritas
in the Holy Land
children
Palestine
commemorated with a Seminar
Jerusalem
At November 2006, in Santiago’s
In 2006, seven hundred children
During 2007, the Bethlehem 2000
“Seeds for the Future”
During 2008, the Bethlehem 2000
Cathedral, a High Mass was
of primary and secondary level
Palestinian Foundation- Chile,
Towards the end of 2007 a Seminar
Palestinian Foundation- Chile
celebrated for Peace in the
education at the “Shepherd’s
organized a campaign to collect
was organized with the purpose of
accomplished an agreement with
Holy Land. The Eucharist was
High School” in Beit Sahour were
medicine for the Palestinian
creating bonds between Arab and
Caritas Jerusalem to optimize
conducted by his eminence Cardinal
sponsored, receiving meals, school
people and was able to send two
Latin American countries. Chile’s
financial aid sent to Palestine for
Archbishop of Santiago, Monsignor
writing materials and registration
full containers. The donation was
President Michelle Bachelet was
school registration fees, school
Fernando Chomalí, and Father Raul
fee payments, to help relieve
received by the Beit Jala Hospital
present as well as the well known
materials and other forms of aid
Feres and Her Excellence Michelle
their families’ difficult financial
which cares for over 100,000
Mexican businessman of Lebanese
for the benefit of 300 children that
Bachelet, President of the Chilean
situations.
patients who live in the Bethlehem
origin Carlos Slim, the Minister for
lack resources for their education,
region.
Foreign Affairs Alejandro Foxley,
in 10 schools throughout Beit Jala,
our government’s appreciation and
The Vice President of the Arab-
Beit Sahour and Bethlehem. The
also that of the Chilean Catholic
Brazilian Chamber of Commerce
financing came from generous
Church, of the Arab Community in
Paulo Atallah and a delegation of
donations made by the Chilean Arab
Chile.
Young Arab Leaders amongst others, Community to the Foundation for
Republic was present, highlighting
whose presence made the event a successful International forum.
this purpose.
Where we are heading
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.
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: info@fundacionbelen2000.cl