Introduction

Palestinian Forum with Sister City Delegates, May 23

Palestinian Forum with Sister City Delegates, May 23

A message from Professor David Price:

Santa Fe College is proud to host a delegation from Gainesville’s Palestinian sister city Qalqilya for a panel discussion followed by a question and answer period on issues related to the Palestinian territories and the Middle East. The delegation consists of:

  • Samir Dawabsha, Mayor of Qalqilya
  • Yousef Odeh, Director of Education for Qalqilya
  • Dr. Ramez Abdallah, Medical Director of the Qalqilya Municipal Hospital
  • Marouf Zahran, Deputy Minister of Civil Affairs of the Palestinian National Authority

The presence of this group is an invaluable opportunity for our students to hear perspectives from Palestinians. This opportunity comes at an incredibly important time. The two factions within the Palestinian Authority who have bitterly divided the Palestinian people into two camps, have recently agreed to form a unity government. Also, the revolutions sweeping the Arab world and the recent killing of Osama bin Laden, are on everyone’s minds. Having the delegation from Qalqilya on campus gives our students the opportunity to hear about these exciting developments from people with more familiarity and different perspective on these events.

They will be speaking at a public forum on Monday, May 23,  from 6-8 p.m. in WA-104. All are welcome.

Read more about the delegation’s Gainesville visit in this press release by the City of Gainesville.