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Hundreds of visitors participated in the opening of the Hebron Art and Book Exhibition on 2 June.

The West Bank city of Hebron, which suffers heavily from the Israeli military and settler occupation, hosted a large book and art national and cultural exhibition in memorial of the “Naksa”, the 1967 occupation of Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. 

The event was organized by the Alternative Information Center (AIC), in cooperation with eight organizations from the Hebron Municipality and Hebron civil society. 

Among them are: the Ministry of Culture in Hebron, the Hebron Municipality itself, the Association for Cultural Cooperation: Hebron-France, al-Baraiq al-Arabi for publishing and distribution, the Union of Social Workers and Psychologists in Hebron, al-Anqaa Cultural Association, Hebron Rehabilitation Committee and the Jadal Center for Culture Development (an AIC partner in cultural activities).The event includes the art exhibition “Good Morning Yaffa” from the well-known Palestinian artist Youssef Katalo, a book fair of about 6,000 books representing many subjects focused on the Palestinian issue, including poetry, novels, and historical, political and documentary books, and a national music evening with the Jadal Music Ensemble.   

The exhibition officially started on 2 June in the Hebron Municipality Hall, with more than 200 people attending the opening, along with representatives of NGOs and official organizations. 

Dr. Hussein al-Rag, Governor of the Hebron district, gave an introductory speech about the event and the delight the Hebron Municipality had in taking part in it. It shines through his words the need of such national and cultural activities in this city where 150,000 Palestinians are threatened every day by around 500 settlers who occupied the downtown, and live in what they were before Palestinian houses, constantly making vandal action to force the Palestinians to leave the city. The pressure comes also from the thousand of Israeli soldiers everywhere who are there to protect the settlers. In this life made of suffering due to closure, constant dangers, humiliations and physical and psychological obstacle and pressure, it is very important for the inhabitants of the city to join such activities of a great mix of art, music and literature in a political and national framework.

Youssef Tartouri, director of the Ministry of Cultural office in Hebron welcome the people to the event and introduced Nassar Ihbrahim, co-director of the AIC, who gave a speech on behalf of all the associations which took part in organizing the activity.

The book fair and the art exhibition lasted for three days from 10 am till 8 pm welcoming a lot of people from the district, individuals, students, teachers, and representatives of official organizations.

The last day, a music evening has been held by the Jadal music team “Is’ ad Altofoolal”, names that means “how to make the children happy”. The music they proposed represents the style of life of Palestinians and expresses their suffering.

Local and international media well covered the event, presented it as an example of cultural and national creativeness from the Palestinian civil society, a way of struggle against the oppression trough art, music and literature.

The director of al-Bairaq, Acram Barghouti, expressed his gratitude about taking part in this activity, describing this work to the media, as one of the most successful he has ever done in the West Bank.

Al-Quds newspaper and al-Jazeera reported on the exhibition, and Wafa, Palestinian agency news said about the art exhibition: “it reflects the feelings of millions of Palestinians who are looking for return. Youssef Katalo’s paintings, 25 pieces, reveal the style of life of Palestinians in their catastrophe, in their land as well as in exile, their experiences as well their dreams.”

The Nakba created 900,000 refugees, which have now grown to more than five million; the Naksa displaced thousands of other Palestinians and the Israeli military occupation and settlement policy continue to dislocate and deport Palestinian people, contributing to their ongoing suffering continue. 

But Palestinians are people with their own history, their own culture, their own traditions and their own values. National literature, art, and music will continue to shape their identity, to struggle for dignity and justice.

It is in this framework that the AIC is working hard to develop Palestinian national-cultural activities in coalition with different civil society organizations.

Many visitors to the exhibition expressed their gratitude and their will to continue such activities to strengthen Palestinian culture and unity.

We want to report here some of their comments:

Shams Qawasmah:  “It was a very great exhibition. Youssef Katalo’s style appears to express deeply his feeling and the Palestinian refugees’ feelings. I really appreciated his precise color technique which makes the atmosphere like a dream.”

Diyana Hashlamon:  “I found Youssef Katalo Exibition very interesting; it expresses the Palestinian issue in a good way. Such activities are very important for Palestinians in this sensitive time”

Nizar Ammar: “I’m happy to be here in this cultural exhibition and I hope this will be the beginning of such cultural activities. I deeply thank all the organizations who made this dream real.”

Abed al-Hafez Abu Sarrijja: “Sixty years of the Nakba, 60 years of suffering, 60 years that Yaffa is awaiting us. This exhibition is an example of how we can respond to its request.” 

The book and art exhibition is taking place at the Hebron Municipality Hall, and includes the art exhibition “Good Morning Yaffa” from the well-known Palestinian artist Youssef Katalo, and a national music evening with the Jadal Music Ensemble (photo by the AIC, 2008).

The book fair includes about 6,000 books representing many subjects focused on the Palestinian issue, including poetry, novels, and historical, political and documentary books (photo by the AIC, 2008).

Palestinians from all over the Hebron District and around the West Bank attended the exhibition in downtown Hebron (photo by the AIC, 2008).

Palestinian Red Crescent emergency workers viewing the work of artist Youssef Katalo (photo by the AIC, 2008).

Palestinian artist Youssef Katalo showing a piece to Dr. Hussein al-Rag, Governor of the Hebron District (photo by the AIC, 2008)

Dr. Hussein al-Rag, Governor of the Hebron District speaking to the media at the Hebron Art and Book Exhibition (photo by the AIC, 2008).

Nassar Ibrahim of the AIC (left); Yousef Tartouri, Director of the Ministry of Culture (right of Nassar); Dr. Hussein al-Rag, Governor of the Hebron District (center), (photo by the AIC, 2008).