04 June 2003

Mohamed Bin Issa Al Jaber, Chairman of the MBI International group, has pledged to fund a scholarship programme at City University in London that will bring together Israeli and Palestinian students in a course of study. The scholarship programme is expected to be open to applications towards the end of this year (2003).

As regional and world leaders meet at Sharm el-Sheikh, he feels fully vindicated in his early public support for the Coalition by the course of events since then. He said today, "The educational programmes we support, including this important programme at City University, are in line with our consistent and longstanding commitment to democracy and the regional peace process".

The new scholarship programme was announced at the Cass Business School launch on 7th May 2003 by David Rhind, Vice Chancellor of City University. It is designed to bring together some 20 Palestinian and Israeli students taking degrees in business, finance, law and other studies at the University. In addition, they will take part in a broad programme of cultural and social activities aimed to encourage dialogue and understanding.

Mr Al Jaber's pledge is part of the 1 million the scholarship programme has raised so far from two founding sponsors. Besides Mr Al Jaber, Mr Derek Tullett, Chairman of the international brokers Tullett Ltd and a long-time supporter of City University, has also pledged to fund the scholarship. Mr Al Jaber also recently donated in the region of 4 million to the Dar Al-Hekma Private College for Girls in Jeddah.

Mr Al Jaber is a well-known regional moderniser and businessman, and is committed to education as the key to progress and stability in the region. In February 2003, well before the war on Iraq, he wrote to Mr Bush, Mr Cheney, Mr Powell and Mr Blair in support of action against Iraq.

In a second letter to President Bush on March 25th when many doubted whether the US Administration had taken the right position, he wrote, "I am writing to you today, to re-affirm my admiration for your difficult but necessary decision to go to war. History will demonstrate how right you were in making that difficult choice .... all forward thinking Arabs know that change must be imposed if there is to be progress, freedom and stability in our part of the world."

Mr Al Jaber is patron of the MBI Foundation which offers scholarships to students from across the Arab world wishing to study for Master's degrees at partner institutions including SOAS in London, INSEAD in Paris, the American Universities in Cairo (AUC) and Beirut (AUB) and others.

In addition, the MBI Foundation supports a variety of academic and educational projects which promote better understanding between the peoples of the Middle East and the wider world, especially in Europe but also in the United States and elsewhere. Support for the peace initiatives in the region is a key concern of the Foundation.

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© Press Release 2005