Al-Quds University hosted on its main campus the Al-Quds International Conference on Applications of Sustainable Development in the Charitable Work Sector, which is organized by the Al-Quds Fund and Endowment in partnership with the university and the Regional Network for Social Responsibility, in the presence of leaders and ambassadors of charitable and humanitarian work at the Arab, Islamic and international levels, and a number of prominent Arab and Islamic figures in Palestine, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, UAE, Tunisia, Turkey, Jordan, Oman, Algeria.

In its four sessions, the conference discussed the role of Arab and international partnerships in supporting charitable organizations in the city of Jerusalem to achieve sustainable development, the development priorities of the city of Jerusalem, the reality of development work and its role in the city of Jerusalem to enhance the sustainable impact between challenges and requirements, innovation and its tools in enhancing sustainable returns and employing technology, digitization and artificial intelligence in Philanthropy, tools to measure the impact of charitable sector projects to enhance the institutionalization of sustainability applications.

In the speech of the conference’s honorary guest, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the International Islamic Charitable Organization, Dr. Abdullah Al-Maatouq stressed that the State of Kuwait, with its various positions, will remain loyal to the people throughout the land of Palestine, especially Al-Quds Al-Sharif, as it spares no effort in launching various humanitarian initiatives in the Blessed Land, indicating that the humanitarian situation in Palestine occupies the utmost importance in the Charitable Organization’s work agenda. Education is also one of the most important programs it works on to provide high-quality educational opportunities.

The Special Advisor to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Dr. Al-Maatouq stressed the importance of charitable and humanitarian work in helping the needy and the weak, and the role of charitable institutions and associations as a basic pillar for building sustainable societies and achieving comprehensive well-being by directing efforts to serve communities in education, health, etc., and Arab and international partnerships in the field have led to enhancing understanding between different peoples, adding, “We are making Our efforts to strengthen partnerships and achieve sustainable development, and reaching beneficiaries has become faster and easier as a result of these important partnerships.”

For his part, the President of Al-Quds University, Prof. Dr. Imad Abu Kishk greeted the conference guests from the sisterly Arab countries, the Jerusalem Endowment Fund, its governorate, and all the conference guests, continuing, “We meet today in Jerusalem, the blessed land, the first of the two qiblahs, the second of the two mosques, and the third of the two holy mosques... I am pleased and honored to welcome you to Al-Quds University, the capital’s university, science, scholars, excellence, creativity, and innovation.” The first Palestinian in teaching and scientific research and the first Arab in social responsibility.”

The price of Prof. Abu Kishk The participants in the conference are distinguished Arab elites and figures in charitable work, community development and humanitarian relief, in order to enhance the sustainable impact of charitable sector projects to empower the Jerusalemite community, as the conference topics come within the university’s vision and action plan within the framework of its social responsibility towards the people of Jerusalem. Being the only Arab university in the city, and in turn believing in the development of Jerusalemite society through the academic, development and scientific research programs it provides, in addition to community programs and various partnerships to support development and charitable work in Jerusalem and Palestine in general.

Prof. Dr. touched on Abu Kishk, due to the university’s keenness to pay attention to creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship through its various centers spread across Jerusalem in its various locations, such as the Technology and Entrepreneurship Center, the Professional Development Center, and the Skills, Simulation, and Skill Building Center, to its work to strengthen the health sector in Jerusalem through its health facilities in the city and its contribution to supporting Economy and coordination with Arab and Islamic supporting bodies and the Jerusalem Endowment Fund to support and develop the Jerusalem community, stressing the importance of participation, transparency, accountability, effectiveness, fairness and justice in community development work, and involving everyone in decision-making in the charitable sector in order to achieve the goals of sustainable and human development, empowerment and security, creating opportunities and advancing society.

The Mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories, Sheikh Muhammad Hussein, said that he is attending with the participation of Jerusalem, its people, and the Arab brothers in attendance, stressing the strategic depth of the blessed city and the necessity of supporting it as a trust in all of our necks, based on its religious, Islamic, doctrinal, historical, and civilizational status, as well as Al-Aqsa Mosque, in the face of attempts to dominate and control it, matched by the steadfastness of the Jerusalemites who protect the city. Against Judaization, so that Al-Aqsa remains full of Almoravids and the support of Arab and Islamic countries, which is what this conference represents as it embodies the virtue of charitable and volunteer work in Palestine and Jerusalem in particular.

In turn, Jordanian MP Muhammad Al-Dhahrawi said, “At every moment we must be present with our words to defend the homeland and Palestine, and that Amman is the sister of Palestine and its cause is a central issue for every Jordanian,” expressing his happiness at his presence on the land of Palestine. He also praised the role of the endowment and the Arab peoples and their positions in support of Palestine. Because defending Jerusalem is the duty of every Arab.

For his part, Deputy Governor of Jerusalem, Abdullah Siam, spoke on behalf of Governor Adnan Ghaith, conveying the greetings of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen to the honorable audience at this conference in the presence of Jerusalem, where the partners extend a helping hand and goodness to support the Palestinian position and the reality of the city. He also addressed the occupation’s ongoing targeting procedures. For the city and the importance of containing and confronting this siege in order to preserve the identity of the targeted Jerusalem and its institutions and to show responsibility towards it from the entire Arab and Islamic world, and the role of endowments in caring for Jerusalem and the steadfastness of its people and institutions in order to remain steadfast and confront plans and procedures.

In a speech from the Ministry of Jerusalem Affairs, Dr. emphasized: Saeed Yaqeen, the importance of standing against ethnic cleansing, genocide, and falsification, and activating international law, which must protect those standing in the face of these crimes to falsify the Arabism of Jerusalem and the identity of the place, speaking about the project to support education, health, and services to support civil society and its institutions in Jerusalem, the capital, from all Arabs.

The guest of honor of the conference, the envoy of the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Her Excellency Sheikha Hessa bint Khalifa Al Thani, expressed via Zoom technology the importance of relief and development affairs as a priority, especially in the issue of Jerusalem, and international regional cooperation is a great responsibility in view of the historical, cultural, Arab and international status of the city, so It is imperative to improve the quality of education and institutions and preserve heritage and basic needs that require joint efforts in Arab and international cooperation and solidarity to support the development of Jerusalem and the residents of the region and achieve development, economic well-being and societal progress through multilateral partnerships, knowledge exchange and capacity building between international and local experts, urban planning and infrastructure, education. Skills development, cultural tourism development, solidarity and social solidarity.