Peaceful Resistance Building a Palestinian University under Occupation

by Baramki, Gabriel

• ISBN13: 9780745329314
• ISBN10: 0745329314
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-12-15
• Publisher: Pluto Press

Summary

This book tells the remarkable story of Birzeit University, Palestine's oldest university in the Occupied Territories. Founded against the backdrop of occupation, it is open to all students, irrespective of income. Putting the study of democracy and tolerance at the heart of its curriculum, Birzeit continues to produce idealistic young people who can work to bring about a peaceful future. Gabi Baramki explains how the University has survived against shocking odds, including direct attacks where Israeli soldiers have shot unarmed students. Baramki himself has been dragged from his home at night, beaten and arrested. Yet Birzeit continues to thrive, putting peace at the heart of its teaching, and offering Palestinians the opportunities that only education can bring.

Author Biography

Gabi Baramki was born in 1929 in Jerusalem. He was educated at Birzeit school, the American University of Beirut and McGill University in Canada. He has been devoted to education at Birzeit for his entire life, including 19 years as acting President of the University. He was a founding member of the PEACE (Palestinian European Academic Cooperation in Education) Program and was an elected council member of the Pugwash conferences on Science and World Affairs from 1992-2002. He is a founding member of the Palestinian Council for Higher Education (established in 1977) which  helped coordinate the work of tertiary educational institutions to maintain their independence under Israeli military occupation. For his work in promoting Palestinian Education and understanding among nations during difficult times, Dr. Baramki received the Medal Palme Académique with the rank Officier from the French Ministry of Education.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	p. vii
Foreword	p. ix
Introduction	p. 1
Growing up in Palestine	p. 3
Peace and war	p. 16
Occupation and education	p. 31
Targeting Birzeit	p. 45
Developing Birzeit	p. 59
æCells of illegal educationÆ	p. 76
æShaking offÆ and being shaken	p. 90
Not obeying orders	p. 104
Networking round the world	p. 124
Harassment and hair gel	p. 142
Preaching to the choir	p. 157
Appendices
Chronology of Birzeit University	p. 167
Deportation statement of Hanna Nasir, November 1974	p. 169
Israeli lies and half-truths, 16 January 1979	p. 173
Press release from BZU after 1979 closure	p. 176
BZU press release after opening in April 1992	p. 180
Report from five Hebrew University professors on Order 854-1980	p. 182
Example of required loyalty oath. a commitment form-1982-3	p. 207
Work permit A with item 18, 1980	p. 208
Work permit B without item 18, 1980	p. 209
Letter to Secretary Baker, March 1992	p. 210
Index	p. 213
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