The new American Consul General to Jerusalem, Donald Blome, went to the West Bank hotbed of Nablus this weekend to meet with the Governor and “deepen the U.S. Government’s engagement with Palestinians.” Blome and the Nablus Governor, Akram Rajoub, discussed a wide range of US programs in Nablus, including USAID investments in water, infrastructure, and agriculture, education programs for young Palestinians and support for small businesses and Palestinian entrepreneurs.
Blome toured An-Najah National University Hospital, where he donated a set of “My Arabic Library”– a library of classic American literature translated into Arabic for children interned in the pediatric ward and their visitors. Blome toured Nablus’ ancient Old City, experiencing firsthand Nablus’ famed products, hand-made olive oil soap and kanafeh, a cheese pastry.
Blome said he was “proud of our partnership” with Nablus and that the Consulate staff “understand the cultural, economic, and historical importance of Nablus.”