Samar Yahya
JEDDAH — New Palestinian Consul General Mahmoud Al-Assadi invited media representatives in Jeddah to a function commemorating the death anniversary of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on Wednesday.
Al-Assadi spoke to his guests about Arafat, who he described as the leader of Palestinian people and the initiator of their modern revolution. Arafat died in France on Nov. 11, 2004.
The consul general also elaborated on Saudi Arabia's unflinching support to the Palestinian cause and the strong bilateral ties between the two brotherly peoples.
Al-Assadi took over his post in Jeddah two weeks ago. He spoke to Saudi Gazette about his new assignment. “I am still new in Jeddah. The consulate serves a community of about 250,000 people. Thousands of Palestinians have been living in Jeddah for over five decades, working hard and have positive impact in different professions. We process all documents of Palestinians, whether it is for education, medical treatment or travel. We issue passports, birth certificates and other documents. Though it has been a short period since my arrival, yet you can notice the improvement in services provided to the community members," said the diplomat.
Al-Assadi was keen to meet with leaders of the Palestinian community to acquaint himself with the community's affairs. “In the consulate we have a special office for the public committee for martyrs’ families and also a charity committee volunteering to serve the needy Palestinian families in Jeddah. I am working with them to help the community," he said.
“We are all here to serve the community. Here I pay my gratitude on behalf of all Palestinians to the care given by Kingdom to support Palestine and Palestinians over the past 70 years.”
On education Al-Assadi said Palestinians who finish their high school education here most of the time go abroad for higher studies. “We hope that Saudi Arabia would support university education for outstanding Palestinian students by giving them grants,” he said.
“I met with General Manager of the Ministry of Foreign affairs branch in Makkah region Mohammad Tayyeb last week. It was a truly positive meeting. He promised to give us the needed support as per Saudi regulations.”
On e-services, Al –Assady said it is not very advanced in the Palestine consulate but within the consulate website adequate information and all the requirements for any documentation is available, so Palestinian expats can save time and efforts of coming several times to the consulate. “In the case of passport renewal, consulate sends SMS once the passport is ready so the applicant can come to collect it.”
Prior to his posting in Jeddah, Al-Assady was the Palestinian consul general in Alexandria, Egypt, and in Beirut, Lebanon.
