Faris Shomali, Marah Khalifeh Received Award for Distinguished Students

Israeli Studies master's students at Birzeit University Marah Khalifeh and Faris Shomali were named on November 28, 2016 winners of the Elias Khoury Award for distinguished students.

Donated by novelist Elias Khoury, the award recognizes outstanding scholarly achievements and contributions to students at Birzeit University.

 The Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies Talal Shahwan said that the university seeks to recognize outstanding achievements of distinguished students, especially those who are keen through their scholarly contributions to provide us with an in-depth knowledge and understanding about the Israeli Occupation and its colonial practices.

The Director of the Israeli Studies Program Munir Fakhr ElDeen pointed out to the selection criteria of the winners. "Cognitive, theoretical and linguistic excellence is very important, in addition to the students' commitment to improve their research and academic writing skills", Fakhr ElDeen alluded.

According to Fakhr ElDenen that the award jury took into consideration the students' academic performance, their language skills in Hebrew and their published or will be published researches, in addition to their positive contribution inside and outside the university.