I send greetings to all Americans on Independence Day.
More than two centuries ago, bold and courageous visionaries pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor in signing the Declaration of Independence. Guided by ancient and eternal truths, our forefathers proclaimed to the world that liberty was the natural right of all mankind and in doing so began one of the greatest chapters in human history. On the Fourth of July, our country commemorates the great achievements of these heroes and reaffirms its unwavering confidence in the power of freedom.
It was the desire for freedom that inspired our Founding Fathers, and it is the belief in the universality of freedom that guides our Nation. On this occasion, we pay special tribute to the men and women of our Armed Forces, both past and present, who have answered freedom's call and defended the values that make America the greatest country on earth.
May God bless America.
GEORGE W. BUSH
2008 Victor J. Goldberg IIE Prize for Peace in the Middle East
On June 24 at the American Center in Jerusalem,U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Luis G. Moreno and U.S. Consulate General Deputy Principal Officer Thomas Duffy hosted a reception to honor the recipients of the 2008Victor J. Goldberg IIE Prize for Peace in the Middle East. Aziz Abu Sarah and LilyYaffe received the Goldberg IIE Prize for their work with the Parents Circle Family Forum. (more)
Trafficking in Persons Report 2008
"We are pleased that in the seven years since the creation of the Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, the United States and our friends and allies have made important strides in confronting the reality that human beings continue to be bought and sold in the twenty-first century. It has been gratifying to witness the determined governments, human rights and women’s groups, faith-based organizations, and many brave individuals who are dedicated to advancing human dignity worldwide. Trafficking and exploitation plague all nations, and no country, even ours, is immune."
-- Secretary Rice, June 4, 2008 The Report
The report is available in PDF format as a single file [PDF: 49 MB]. Due to its large size, the PDF has been separated into sections for easier download: Introduction; Country Narratives: A-G, H-R, S-Z; Special Cases. To view the PDF file, you will need to download, at no cost, the Adobe Acrobat Reader.
-- ( ISRAEL TIER 2 -- PDF File)
Conflict Mitigation and Reconciliation Programs - USAID Grant The Office of Conflict Management and Mitigation (DCHA/CMM) within the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance (DCHA) is inviting applications from U.S. and non-U.S. non-profit or for-profit non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international organizations (IOs) and other qualified non-U.S. Government (USG) organizations (including faith-based organizations and community based organizations) to carry out activities, under grants or cooperative agreements, that support conflict mitigation and reconciliation programs and activities that bring together individuals of different ethnic, religious or political backgrounds from areas of civil conflict and violence. Israeli organizations meeting the solicitation criteria are eligible to apply.
Report on Contemporary Global Anti-Semitism Released March 13: The Office of the Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Anti-Semitism released today a report on Contemporary Global Anti-Semitism. This report, which was provided to the U.S. Congress earlier this morning, is a follow-up to the State Department´s January 2005 Report on Global Anti-Semitism. Report | Media Note
Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000: Trafficking in
Persons Report 2007
Trafficking in persons is a modern-day form of slavery, a new type of global
slave trade. Perpetrators prey on the most weak among us, primarily women and
children, for profit and gain. They lure victims into involuntary servitude and
sexual slavery. Today we are again called by conscience to end the debasement of
our fellow men and women. As in the 19th century, committed abolitionists around
the world have come together in a global movement to confront this repulsive
crime. President George W. Bush has committed the United States Government to
lead in combating this serious 21st century challenge, and all nations that are
resolved to end human trafficking have a strong partner in the United States."
-- Secretary Rice TIP REPORT 2007 TRANSLATION INTO HEBREW
Presidential Message, Independence Day 2008
March 13: The Office of the Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Anti-Semitism released today a report on Contemporary Global Anti-Semitism. This report, which was provided to the U.S. Congress earlier this morning, is a follow-up to the State Department´s January 2005 Report on Global Anti-Semitism.
