Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ABUDHABI5030
2003-11-19 14:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
UAE WOMEN'S GROUP COLLECTS MONEY FOR PALESTINAINS
how-tonull Diana T Fritz 03/20/2007 03:47:59 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: CONFIDENTIAL SIPDIS TELEGRAM November 19, 2003 To: No Action Addressee Action: Unknown From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 5030 - ROUTINE) TAGS: EFIN, ECON, EAID Captions: None Subject: UAE WOMEN'S GROUP COLLECTS MONEY FOR PALESTINAINS Ref: None _________________________________________________________________ C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 05030 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: ECON INFO: POL P/M AMB DCM Laser1: INFO: FCS DISSEMINATION: ECON CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: DCM:RALBRIGHT DRAFTED: ECON:OJOHN CLEARED: ECON:CMCRUMPLER VZCZCADI834 RR RUEHC RUEHJM RUEHTV RUEATRS DE RUEHAD #5030 3231406 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 191406Z NOV 03 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2447 INFO RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 0072 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0427 RUEATRS/TREASURY DEPT WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 005030
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, S/CT, INL/ENT, EB/ESC
TREASURY FOR ZARATE, GLASER, AND MURDEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/08
TAGS: EFIN ECON EAID TC
SUBJECT: UAE WOMEN'S GROUP COLLECTS MONEY FOR PALESTINAINS
Classified by DCM Richard Albright for reasons 1.5 (b & d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 005030
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, S/CT, INL/ENT, EB/ESC
TREASURY FOR ZARATE, GLASER, AND MURDEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/08
TAGS: EFIN ECON EAID TC
SUBJECT: UAE WOMEN'S GROUP COLLECTS MONEY FOR PALESTINAINS
Classified by DCM Richard Albright for reasons 1.5 (b & d).
1. (SBU) Econchief attended a charity Iftar "take
away" hosted by an Abu Dhabi women's group in his
neighborhood. Members of the group cooked
traditional Iftar foods and sweets and sold them at
a member's house. Customers could buy the homemade
delicacies, reheat them and have them for Iftar
(the breaking of the fast during Ramadan). The
international women's group (including Iraqis,
Emiriatis, Palestinians, and Americans) also hosts
a Christmas bake sale. The purpose of the sales is
to raise money to provide aid to the Palestinians.
In the words of one member, "the need there is so
great," that the group wants to help.
2. (SBU) The group collects the money but then
turns it over to the UAE Red Crescent Authority
(RCA) to administer. Using the RCA has two
advantages. One, it allows the women to contribute
to a defined project - currently a dental clinic.
The group doesn't need to "adopt" a complete
project, but can take a share of it. Two, it
provides assurances that the money is going to help
the needy. The RCA provides feedback to the group,
including giving them receipts and providing them
pictures of "their project."
3. (C) Comment: In the post-September 11 world,
the UAEG has acted to control the international
activities of charities. There is an
"understanding" that all charitable organizations
in the UAE must channel their international
assistance through one of two semi-governmental
organizations: the RCA, headquartered in Abu Dhabi,
and the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum
Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation in Dubai.
For their part, the ladies were very happy to work
with the RCA. One stressed that, with the RCA,
they knew that the money was going to help the
needy and not to line the pockets of someone in the
Palestinian Authority. The group also worked to
provide food to Iraqis in the aftermath of the Gulf
War, but has returned to its efforts on behalf of
the Palestinian people. End Comment
Wahba
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, S/CT, INL/ENT, EB/ESC
TREASURY FOR ZARATE, GLASER, AND MURDEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/08
TAGS: EFIN ECON EAID TC
SUBJECT: UAE WOMEN'S GROUP COLLECTS MONEY FOR PALESTINAINS
Classified by DCM Richard Albright for reasons 1.5 (b & d).
1. (SBU) Econchief attended a charity Iftar "take
away" hosted by an Abu Dhabi women's group in his
neighborhood. Members of the group cooked
traditional Iftar foods and sweets and sold them at
a member's house. Customers could buy the homemade
delicacies, reheat them and have them for Iftar
(the breaking of the fast during Ramadan). The
international women's group (including Iraqis,
Emiriatis, Palestinians, and Americans) also hosts
a Christmas bake sale. The purpose of the sales is
to raise money to provide aid to the Palestinians.
In the words of one member, "the need there is so
great," that the group wants to help.
2. (SBU) The group collects the money but then
turns it over to the UAE Red Crescent Authority
(RCA) to administer. Using the RCA has two
advantages. One, it allows the women to contribute
to a defined project - currently a dental clinic.
The group doesn't need to "adopt" a complete
project, but can take a share of it. Two, it
provides assurances that the money is going to help
the needy. The RCA provides feedback to the group,
including giving them receipts and providing them
pictures of "their project."
3. (C) Comment: In the post-September 11 world,
the UAEG has acted to control the international
activities of charities. There is an
"understanding" that all charitable organizations
in the UAE must channel their international
assistance through one of two semi-governmental
organizations: the RCA, headquartered in Abu Dhabi,
and the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum
Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation in Dubai.
For their part, the ladies were very happy to work
with the RCA. One stressed that, with the RCA,
they knew that the money was going to help the
needy and not to line the pockets of someone in the
Palestinian Authority. The group also worked to
provide food to Iraqis in the aftermath of the Gulf
War, but has returned to its efforts on behalf of
the Palestinian people. End Comment
Wahba