Arab American University organized a conference entitled "The role of the national movement in the 48 Palestinian Territories to strengthen the Palestinian national identity" sponsored by the University President Prof. Ali Zidan Abu Zuhri. As it highlights the important role played by the Palestinians in the 48 territories to maintain the national identity and to remain on their lands. In the presence of the governor of Jenin Governorate MG Akram Rajoub, and President of Joint Arab Establishment Mr. Ayman Odeh; Minister of Local Government Dr. Hussein Al-Araj, representatives from official and civil institutions, academics and administrative bodies and university students.
Part of the University President Prof. Ali Zidan Abu Zuhri
The University President Speech
In his speech, the university president Prof. Abu Zuhri welcomed the attendance said, “This conference comes at a critical time where the Palestinian issue and the national situation come to a sharp turning point with the presence of the occupying state and Trumps management in USA, which supports the occupying state”. He explained, “The identity has different meanings and general implications from one researcher to another, and from context to another which places us as researchers and activists in front of a variety of theoretical definitions, but in general it refers to the connection of national identity and culture throughout history and civilization, it is considered as values and characteristics that can be developed and transformed”.
He pointed out that the aim of this conference is to strengthen the Palestinian intellectual movement with the national identity, the Palestinian national movement and with the future of building Palestinian research visions not only about the national movement in the 48 Palestinian Territories and its forms, but also engage an intellectual, political and strategy discussion about the future The Palestinian national project and its contribution in the Palestinian people to enhance and strengthen it.
The Governor of Jenin
The Governor of Jenin MG Akram Rajoub conveyed the greetings of the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and assured to take the recommendations of the conference and put them within a framework of a national plan to strengthen the identity. Saying that the Palestinians reality now is one of the most difficult circumstances experienced in the Palestinian cause, specially that the occupation with the regional and international support it is making a clear contribution to extract Palestine from the minds of its people.
He added saying “after 70 years of occupation, the occupation authorities have woken up to find that the Palestinian children remain raising the Palestinian flag on the 48 Palestinian Territories. To discover their failure in extracting Palestine from its people, he said “that the occupation always seeks to strengthen their leaders saying that the elder die and the youngers will forget, but reality says that Palestinian people remain protecting his identity, heritage, and issue”. As her recommended to focus on the national culture through internal unity to strengthen the national identity in the Palestinian generation.
Mr. Ayman Odeh speech
In his speech the President of Joint Arab Establishment Mr. Ayman Odeh, praised the role of AAUP in its national and professional approach saying that AAUP has successfully gathered all the Palestinian factions, where this approach has been absence since Al-Nakba 1948, assuring that the university’s policy in gathering the nations is worth to be studied academically in all universities, where AAUP is a Model of that.
He added that the Israeli government tried to build a personality named Arab-Israeli, which is to distort the Palestinian from his national and civil belonging. At the same time, where it hopes to build the Jewish nation. Meanwhile the Palestinian national movement struggles to build the Palestinian Arab personality and from here comes its main role. Where Arab Palestinian personalities contributed in strengthening the ideology of that we are part of the Palestinian Arabs and maintained the Arabic language and national identity such as Tawfiq Ziad and others, and he assured that the Palestinians of 48 territories are not only the people of Palestine, but the children of the issue, noting that all Israeli attacts are also reflected on the Palestinians of 1984 territories.
As he mentioned the events that happened in different dates emphasized the importance of the role of the Palestinian national movement, in order to protect the Palestinian identity and heritage, assuring that the Zionist movement tried to cancel and remove the role of the national movement, but the awareness of the Palestinian people did not give the Zionist movement any opportunity to achieve its objectives.
First Session
The first session was moderated by Dr. Ghassan Alian. The session started with the lecturer from Birzeit university Dr. Amer Al-hazel where he presented his research paper entitled “The national movement and the Israeli-Zionist component”. Dr. Yousef Jubran the Committee Chairman of International Relations of the Joint Establishment present a research paper about “The Danger & repercussions of the Jewish National Law”. Dr. Mohammad Abu Alrub a lecturer at Birzeit University present a research paper about “the forms of Palestinian identity through social media”. Prof. Aymen Youser from AAUP present a research paper entitled “The Role of the Palestinians in 48 Territories to strengthen National Identify in the search of the State”. Dr. Read Nia’rat from Al-Najah University present a research paper entitled “The changes on the Palestinians of 48 territories after Oslo Convention”.
Second Session
The second session was moderated by Dr. Marwan Abu Al-rub. The session started with Dr. Yaser Abu Hamed from Al-Istiqlal University where he presented his research paper entitled “The National Identity for Palestinian in 48 Territories Facing Israeli Racist Laws, As “the National Law”. Dr. Ibrahim Abu Jaber from Al-Najah University present a research paper entitled “National movement and the national law”. Dr. Johnny Mansour a University Lecturer present a research paper entitled “The repercussions of national law in Israel instead of the Arabic language and the response of Palestinians in 48 territories”. Mr. Fadi Goma’h from AAUP present a research paper entitled “The Palestinian demographic component and its role in influencing the conflict with Israel”. Dr. Anton Shalhat a University Lecturer he presented his research paper entitled “The Palestinians' Relationship in 48 territories with the Israeli Leftists: Stations, transitions and current facts”.
Third Session
The third session was moderated by Dr. Isalm Ayadi. The session started with Dr. Mahmoud Zahalkah a University Lecturer where he presented his research paper entitled “Political program for President Trump and Arab Countries”. Dr. Muhammad Mustafa a University Lecturer present a research paper entitled “Palestinian political parties and movements and the Palestinian national project after "Oslo". Dr. Jafar Farah a University Lecturer present a research paper entitled “The role of the Arab parties in maintaining the Palestinian cultural identity”. Dr. Jamal Haniashih from AAUP present a research paper entitled “Problems facing the Palestinian National Movement”.
