Cultural News

Souq Al-Attareen (Perfumers' Market) in Al-Qods

2008-12-18
This section lays emphasis on the old Canaanite Arab root of al-Qods, as is attested by its Canaanite name "Yaboos" after the Canaanite Yaboosi clan. As a further proof, reference is made to relevant archaeological findings.

Palestinian Popular Proverbs

2008-12-18
In this edition Dr. Shakarneh tries his best to distinguish proverbs from other forms of prose especially aphorisms (wise sayings) which are highly similar to proverbs.

Darwish in Orbit: A Celebration of Longing

2009-01-05
The poetry of Mahmoud Darwish is as fundamental a gift to the Arab world as Wole Soyinka’s work is to Nigeria or Derek Walcott’s poems are to the West Indies. However, Darwish is not as well known in the U.S. as they are, which makes Fady Joudah’s translation of “The Butterfly’s Burden” all the more important. It acts as a conduit, inviting the reader of English to take a journey into the consciousness and history of the Arab and Palestinian people.

Arna’s Children’: An Israeli Activist’s Family Saga (film review)

2009-01-05
Rarely does art mimic life as closely as it does in the documentary “Arna’s Children,” by Israeli director Juliano Mer Khamis, which aired on the German/French ART Channel. This unique and exceptional film follows 15 years of the life of Arna, an Israeli activist and anti-Zionist who is also director Juliano’s mother. The documentary covers her commitment to the children of the Jenin camp, who became, in a sense, Arna’s children, over the years from the first Intifada through her death from cancer in 1995.

The Facets of Palestinian Art

2009-01-05
“Palestinian Art” provides its readers a documentary-like and cinematic experience while teaching them about the history and culture of a troubled land. In this historical narrative, we follow the artists’ academic training, their first studios, and the towns and cities in which they worked and struggled. Gannit Ankori’s use of narrative makes it clear how history has deflected the Palestinians toward an unanticipated path.

Palestinian film screening namely AL Mor wa al Rumman by Mrs. Najwa Najjar-Qort

2009-03-05
Not even Cinema is safe from Israeli bullets. As Al Mor wa al Rumman (Pomegranates and Myrrh) by Najwa Najjar opens on Friday March 6th - this first screening of the Palestinian film is marred by the sad death of one of it's actors, who ironically played an Israeli soldier in the film...

2009 EXHIBITION: RYUICHI HIROKAWA

2009-04-01
The PFF is delighted to host this exclusive collection of photographs from multi award winning photojournalist Ryuichi Hirokawa.

Celebrating Jerusalem in Yemen

2009-04-23
In line with Jerusalem being the cultural capital of the Arab world this year and under the slogan 'Gaza is the start and Al-Aqsa is the aim'.

Second Palestine Festival of Literature set to “Reaffirm the power of culture over the culture of power”

2009-04-23
Bethlehem - Ma’an - The Second Palestine Festival of Literature will travel to the West Bank in May to continue what began last year and perpetuate discussions on art and literature between Palestinian and international authors and critics.

Film review: Musical resistance in "Telling Strings" Maymanah Farhat, The Electronic Intifada, 20 April 2009

2009-04-23
Swiss filmmaker Anne-Marie Haller's 60-minute documentary Telling Strings provides a rare look into the profound workings of a Palestinian family of musicians.

Second Palestine Festival Of Literature Announced The Palestine Festival of Literature

2009-04-23
"Thank you, dear friends, for your noble solidarity, thank you for your courageous gesture to break the moral siege inflicted upon us and thank you because you are resisting the invitation to dance on our graves. We are still here. We are still alive."

Hundreds of kids join Ramallah Contemporary Dance festival for new version of Cinderella 'Sandrella'

2009-04-28
Ramallah 23.04.09 / PNN – Hundreds of children gathered in the central West Bank to watch a Finnish squad perform “Sandrella,” the story of Cinderella.

Freedom Theatre "Live and Kicking" despite repeated media snafus

2009-05-05
Bethlehem 1-5-2009 - Ma’an - The Freedom Theatre is a Palestinian organization, officially registered under the Palestinian Authority, which fully accepts the latter's policy regarding a two-state solution, a statement from the group said Friday.

Bethlehem-area calligrapher commissioned to inscribe Gospel of Luke as papal gift

2009-05-05
Bethlehem 29 / 04 / 2009– Ma’an Report – Palestinian calligrapher Yasser Saymeh was selected as Bethlehem’s best calligraphic artisan and asked to inscribe scrolls with the Gospel of Luke in Arabic script as a gift from Palestine to Pope Benedict XVI when he visits the Holy Land in May.

Theatre, a refuge for Palestinian children

2009-05-07
Bisam Astiti takes her role very seriously -- the theatre is one of the few places where the 13-year-old living in the stranglehold of Israeli occupation can feel free.

A Liminal Existence in Jerusalem: al-Baq’a 1949

2009-05-20
It is now 6:45 am and as I lie on my bed next to the window, I can see the Jews outside coming and going; I say to myself when will the people of al-Baq’a return to their homes.

Projects, Events and Programs for 2009 by Yabous

2009-05-27
The Palestine Festival of Literature is a joint initiative between Engaged Events of UK and Palestine. It came about as a group of (primarily UK) writers and event organizers shared a strong urge to show solidarity with the Palestinian people.

PLO slams UNESCO for listing Palestinian heritage under Israel

2009-05-27
RAMALLAH, May 26, 2009, (RAMATTAN) - The Palestine Liberation Organization slammed the World Digital Library (WDL) hosted by UNESCO, for listing Palestinian manuscripts, maps and documents as "Israeli documents".

Arab literature featured at American book fair this week: highlights misnomer "dark ages"

2009-06-10
Junaid Abbas Bhatti - For the first time in its history, America’s biggest publishing event has dedicated its efforts to promoting Arab literature.

Demolition orders reach Convent homes inside the Old City

2009-07-09
Today the Jerusalem Inter-Church Centre has learned of new house demolition orders against at least four Christian families living inside the old city of Jerusalem where local Churches accommodate more than 500 homes for Palestinian families.

Names of Palestinian cities within Israeli boundaries and Jerusalem being changed to Hebrew

2009-07-20
Jerusalem 18-7-2009/ PNN – The Chief Justice of Palestine expressed his concern this week over the decisions of the Netanyahu government that are described as racist and seeking to destroy Arab identity.

Famous Palestinian filmmaker buried in Ramallah Friday

2009-08-04
31/07/2009 Bethlehem – Ma’an – Palestinian film director Mustapha Abu Ali was buried Friday following prayer at the Jamal Abdel Nasser Mosque in Al-Bireh. The 69-year-old cinema legend died Thursday.

August 2009 The Palestine Youth Orchestra at the Beiteddine Festival and in Amman

2009-08-09
A flagship of the Edward Said National Music Conservatory, the Palestine Youth Orchestra (PYO) was created in 2004 with the vision of bringing together young Palestinian musicians from around the world. Today the PYO is composed of fifty young Palestinian musicians..

Signs will bring you closer to Jerusalem: distance to Capital of Arab Culture marked in ceramic

2009-09-01
All roads lead to Jerusalem, regardless of Israeli policy that blocks entry to the city for millions of Palestinians.Signs will be distributed in all villages, towns and camps to bring residents closer to Jerusalem

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