Birzeit Nights Festival 2012

On Monday evening, 18 June 2012, the second annual Birzeit
Nights Festival was launched. During the opening ceremony, singer Reem Talhami,
along with the Popular Arts Group, Dabka Somoud Group and Roots Band performed
cultural songs and dances.

The opening ceremony was attended by BZU President, Dr.
Khalil Hindi; Prime Minister, Dr. Salam Fayyad; Minister of Culture, Siham
Barghouti; Governor of Ramallah and Al Bireh, Leila Ghannam; members of the BZU
Board of Trustees; as well as a number of ministers, heads of corporations and
prominent figures.

The Festival opened with a tribute to Palestinian detainees in
Israeli prisons and a symbolic gesture of candle lighting.

In his opening address, Dean of Student Affairs, Mohammed Al-Ahmed,
explained that the Festival aims to deepen students’ sense of their heritage.
He added: "BZU’s identity is rooted in its history as a small institution embraced
by the town of Birzeit, a small community that identifies strongly with its Arab
culture and national roots. The University has been open to the world and its cultural
pluralism, while committed to its work of educating responsible Palestinian
citizens.”

During the opening ceremony, BZU honored the sponsors of the Festival, namely: 
Palestinian Telecommunication Group, Bank of Palestine, Wimpy
Restaurants Chain, and Peugeot as well as media sponsors, Palestine TV and
Radio Raya FM.

The Birzeit Nights Festival was previously an annual festival
at the old BZU campus. It was put on hold for more than a quarter of a century,
since 1984 due to political circumstances. This is the second year it has run
since being resurrected.

The Festival was concluded on the third day, 20 June 2012, with
groups presenting a variety of popular songs and dances in celebration of Palestinian
cultural heritage.

BZU Dean of Student Affairs explained that the revenue from the
Festival will be allocated to the Needy Students Fund to assist BZU students in
completing their university education.

To view
photos of the event, please visit:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.397739866927853.82637.129221627...

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.398256103542896.82733.129221627...