The Justice

When Al-Quds University President Sari Nusseibeh first visited Brandeis in 1997, a groundbreaking partnership between the two institutions was inspired. During Nusseibeh's return here last Thursday, he reflected on the struggles within his homeland and inner consciousness.

The Al-Quds-Brandeis partnership was renewed during this visit.

Nusseibeh, who is also a philosophy professor at Al-Quds, the only Arab university in Jerusalem, discussed his latest book, Once upon a Country: a Palestinian Life, which came out this past Spring, during the second Meet the Author event of the semester last Thursday in the Shapiro Campus Center Multipurpose Room. The book is a memoir that weaves his autobiography with his account of 20th-century strife in his homeland, in the Palestinian territories.

"[The book is] one of the most important books about the area to come out in a while," said Dan Terris, director of the International Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life, during his introduction of Nusseibeh. After the event he told the Justice, "[the book] could become an act of internal dialogue."

Although Reinharz and Nusseibeh first met during the week-long visit in 1997, the partnership didn't officially form until after a February 2006 meeting between the two in Jerusalem. The intiative has three main goals, according to the Brandeis Web site: to better the administration and infrastructure at Al Quds; to strengthen academics and offer more opportunities to faculty, students and staff at both institutions; and to educate the two campuses about the effects of cooperation, goodwill and understanding.

Brandeis hosted four second-year Master's students from the American Studies program at Al-Quds for two weeks in March 2006, and eight Brandeis undergraduates joined seven Al-Quds students on a trip to Turkey last August.

In his speech, Nusseibeh described three requirements that a proper rebellion against Israeli occupation must fulfill.

"It has to have the participation of the masses. … It has to have an articulated vision, such as disengaging from one country, to set a state and declare independence, … [and there has to be] a strong and distinct leadership." According to Nusseibeh, "When there is chaos it is easier to have an impact on the direction of a movement."

The Palestinian rebellion hasn't satisfied those criteria over the last five years, Nusseibeh explained.

Continued...

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