Palestinian experts visit the university to discuss prospects for statehood
Friday 30 November 2012
Academics from Universities in the Palestinian Territory are visiting the University of Surrey on the 4th of December for a debate on the prospects of a Palestinian state.
“In this Round Table, the panel assess the internal and external politics that shape the prospects of Palestinian statehood, and assess future directions for peace in the region,” said Professor Marie Breen-Smyth, of the centre for international intervention (cii) based in the School of Politics.
Scholars from Birzeit University and Al-Ahzar University in Gaza are visiting the School of Politics in the University of Surrey as part of a British Academy and British Council-supported international partnership with Birzeit and Al-Ahzar Universities and with Singidunum University in Belgrade.
As part of the programme, political experts from the Palestinian Territory will address the situation of war-torn Gaza and the seemingly intractable problems in the region. The spike in violence in Gaza and the recent unsuccessful vote at the UN for recognition of Palestine is the background for academics at the University of Surrey’s Centre for International Intervention (cii) to host a Round Table in which the Palestinian visitors will discuss their views on prospects for nationhood for the Palestinian people.
The panel consists of Professor Bassem Ezbidi, of Birzeit University
Ina’am R. Al Obaidi, also of Birzeit University,
and Professor Mkhaimar Abusada, Al-Azhar University, Gaza.
Professor Marie Breen-Smyth, of the Centre for International Intervention at the University of Surrey, said: “The achievement of the recent ceasefire in Gaza has perhaps permitted a pause for thought and brought fresh attention to the situation in the OPT, which has suffered from a lack of international political will in recent times. The November 2012 Palestinian bid to achieve the status of non-member state at the United Nations was perhaps, as much as anything else, an attempt to bring attention to bear on the issues facing the region.
The event on Tuesday December 4th is open to the public and is part of the Applied Political Skills programme in the School of Politics, where University of Surrey student acquire experience and training in organising scholarly events.
Editors' Notes
This is a FREE event, but registration is required.
You can sign up to attend the event at: http://surrey.ac.uk/politics/cii/Events/2012/prospects_for_a_palestinian_state.htm
Please register at www.surrey.ac.uk/cii
BIOGRAPHIES
Professor Bassem Ezbidi is Head of the Political Science Department, Birzeit University. Together with Inge Admusen, Professor Ezbidi is author of “Palestinian National Authority and the Future of State Formation” in Mushtq Khan State Formation in Palestine: Viability and Governance during a Social Transformation. Routledge, 2004 and with Are Knudsen, ‘Hamas and Palestinian Statehood’ in Jamil Hilal, Where Now for Palestine? The Demise of the Two State Solution. Zed, 2007.
Ina’am R. Al Obaidi, lecturer and former Chair person at the Media department, Birzeit University, and Media consultant for several projects.
Professor Mkhaimar Abusada, Associate Professor of Political Science, Al-Azhar University, Gaza has written and spoken widely about Palestinian politics and the pressures facing Gaza.
This international partnership is supported by the British Council and the British Academy.
