BZU revives Birzeit Nights after a standstill for more than a quarter of a century - Highlights

BZU revived on 27 June 2011 “Birzeit Nights Festival” by
presenting a number of art shows and popular songs, by three Palestinian groups
for two consecutive days.

The
festival was attended by the Prime Minister, Dr. Salam Fayyad, member of the
Central Committee of Fatah movement, Major-General Jibreel Rjoub, Governor of
Ramallah and Al Bireh, Dr. Laila Ghannam, Minister of Culture, Siham Barghouti,
the economic adviser to the Palestinian President and Chairman of the Palestine
Investment Fund, Dr. Mohammed Mustafa, in addition to BZU President, Dr..
Khalil Hindi, and members of BZU Board of Trustees, BZU faculty members  and a large number of heads of companies and
prominent national figures, and a large number of citizens and students.

The Dean
of Student Affairs and Chairman of the Preparatory Committee for Birzeit
festival, Mohammad Al-Ahmad, stressed that BZU took the lead in community
outreach, through its various activities. He  added: "We are currently before a new
phase entitled “youth”, and we have to get out of dependency and provide all
assistance to young people." He said: "This festival and other
cultural events organized by the university, 'are  the primary resource, and the only fund for
supporting needy students, which covers tuition costs for needy students."

The Birzeit Nights Festival used to be held on annual basis at
the old BZU campus, and was put on hold for more than a quarter of a century,
since 1984 due to the political circumstances.

On the 2nd day, 28 June 2011,
the University continued to revive the cultural and popular heritage during the
Palestinian Birzeit Nights festival, where Yalalan singing group and Wishah
popular dance group presented a collection of popular songs and dances.

At the conclusion of the festival, BZU honored
the art groups that participated in the revival of Birzeit Nights Festival
namely: Zaman, Yalalan, Wishah, Popular Arts Group, and BZU Sanabel Group.
Also, the media sponsors of the festival were honored: Palestine TV, and the
newspapers: Al-Quds, Al Ayyam, and Al-Hayat, as well al-Ajyal News Network and
MAAN News Network.

Moreover,
during the 1st day of the festival, the official sponsor of the
Festival, Bank of Palestine, was honored, in addition to other sponsors and
supporters, namely: Wataniya Mobile Company , Qirresh Motors, Golden Wheat
Mills Company and Mada Internet Company.