The American Task Force on Palestine is pleased to circulate the following press release from American Charities for Palestine (ACP). By signing a historic partnership agreement with USAID, ACP has established a secure vehicle for tapping the generosity of the American people to address Palestinian humanitarian needs. Donations to ACP, including zakat donations for the month of Ramadan, will help improve the quality of life in Palestine and upgrade Palestinian institutions in the two vital sectors of heath and education.

American Charities for Palestine and USAID Partnership Provides New, Secure Opportunities for Zakat for Palestine

The new partnership between the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the American Charities for Palestine (ACP) opens exciting new prospects for tapping the generosity of all Americans to address Palestinian humanitarian needs. Muslims looking for secure opportunities to contribute zakat to Palestinian humanitarian causes during this Ramadan month of fasting and charity are urged to consider contributing to ACP?s work in the health and education sectors in the West Bank and Gaza.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between ACP and USAID on August 1st is the first agreement ever between the agency and any private charitable entity. USAID Administrator Henrietta H. Fore, who presided over the ceremony, described this achievement as ?historic? and ?the first of its kind.? The MOU establishes a partnership between USAID and ACP to channel the generosity of American individuals, foundations and institutions to mutually agreed-upon projects and Palestinian institutions. The partners plan to focus on the health and education sectors, in hopes of achieving a rapid and direct impact benefiting the quality of life for the Palestinian people.

They will also work together to promote twinning and other partnerships between American and Palestinian health and educational institutions. The president of the American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) Ziad J. Asali said, ?We have established the American Charities for Palestine precisely to offer a reliable way for people to make their contributions with the full confidence that their generous donations to the Palestinians will be secure and that they will not to be harassed and questioned about their patriotism, or their contribution to the national interest. An agency of the US Government, USAID, will do the vetting for the recipients, which should reassure all donors.?

ACP is a 501(c) (3) organization. All contributions to ACP will go towards meeting health and educational needs of the Palestinian people and developing these two sectors.

To contribute to ACP?s important work during this blessed month of Ramadan, please send your tax-deductible check to:

American Charities for Palestine
815 Connecticut Avenue N.W.
Suite 200
Washington DC, 20006