Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation’s (HCEF) 12th International Conference and Palestine Business and Investment ForumForum to Unite Palestinian and U.S. Business Leaders to Explore Opportunities To Stimulate Investment and Job Growth in Palestine

Media Advisory - For Immediate ReleaseRelease Date: October 27, 2010




Contacts:

Barbara Zadina, (202) 997-9632, bzadina@msn.comRula Dababneh, (301) 283-1600, rdababneh@hcef.org

What: Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation’s (HCEF) 12th International Conference and Palestine Business and Investment ForumForum to Unite Palestinian and U.S. Business Leaders to Explore Opportunities To Stimulate Investment and Job Growth in Palestine



HCEF is committed to building bridges of peace through interreligious dialogue and action. Our conference theme this year is “Living the Faith: Promoting Peace and Human Security in the Holy Land.” The conference is a call to encourage people to become more proactive in the pursuit of peace and human security in the Holy Land through the development of programs for education, job creation, training, skills, home rehabilitation, health and solidarity.



As a special focus, this year’s conference will take a practical approach to strengthening Palestinian economic growth as a key contributing element to Middle East Peace. Saturday’s forum on “Business Opportunities and the Investing Environment in Palestine” will unite Palestinian and U.S. business leaders to examine how increasing private investments and business opportunities will positively impact human security in Palestine with a special focus on: investments available in specific sectors; growth of private sector businesses; private sector impact on job creation, sustained community development, and improved living conditions for Palestinians. Participants include the Bank of Palestine, Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce, Paltel, World Bank, International Finance Corporation (IFC), and several Palestinian businesses and institutions.



Who: Most Rev. Donald W. Wuerl, S.T.D., Archibishop of Washington

Most Rev. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, OFM, Custos of the Holy Land (via video link)

Father Emil Salayta, Head of the Ecclesiastical Tribunal Court of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem

Ambassador Maen Areikat, Chief of Mission, General Delegation of the Palestinian Liberation Organization to the U.S.

Hashim Hani Shawa, Chairman and General Manager, Bank of Palestine

Juan José Daboub, Former Managing Director, World Bank; Former Finance Minister, El Salvador

Rabbi Gerald Serotta, Shirat HaNefesh Congregation, Clergy Beyond Borders

Samir Hazboun, Chairman, Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Ammar Aker, CEO, Paltel Group

Amira Hass, Correspondent, Ha’aretz Newspaper



Interview Opportunities Available



When: November 5-6, 2010

Friday, Nov 5 – 12:00-4:00 pm

Saturday, Nov 6 – 8:00am-7:00 pmWhere: The Pope John Paul II Cultural Center

3900 Harewood Road, NE, Washington, DC 20017



Live conference video stream at www.HCEF.org.

For more information, please go to: http://www.hcef.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=790792808&catid=133&Itemid=251