First Conference on Palestinian Literature

Palestinian Literature in Galilee and the Tiangle - Bethlehem University, 29 May 2006

Organized by the Department of Arabic at Bethlehem University, the first Conference on Palestinian Literature entitled “Palestinian Literature in Galilee and the Triangle” was concluded on Saturday 27 May 2006. The Conference started on Friday 26 May 2006, and was attended many writers from Galilee and the Triangle, from Palestinian universities and a large number of people interested in literature. One of the goals of the Conference is to honor the renowned author Hanna Abu Hanna. Among the attendees were Monsignor Bulos Marcuzzo, Bishop of Nazareth, Mayor of Beit Jala, the Ministry of Culture, representatives of the Ministry of Higher Education and different cultural institutions in the area.

The Conference was officialy opened at 10:00 am with the Palestinian National Anthem followed by a speech by Dr. Moein Halloun, Chairperson of the Department of Arabic, in which he welcomed the audience and stressed the importance of holding this Conference in conserving the Palestinian identity. Dr. Halloun confirmed that next year at this time, a conference on the Palestinian Literature in Exile, will be held.

Brother Daniel Casey, Vice Chancellor, welcomed the audience and expressed his happiness for holding this Conference at Bethlehem University . Later Brother Daniel presented Mr. Hanna Abu Hanna with a special Plaque as recognition of Bethlehem University to his contribution to the Palestinian literature.

The opening ceremony was followed by a Power Point presentation prepared by Dr. Qustandi Shomali and entitled "Introduction to Palestinian Literature in Galilee and the Triangle". Later 18 professors from different Palestinian universities, Haifa and Galilee presented their papers in five different sessions in which they tackled three main literary genres: poetry, fiction and drama.