This section of the Birzeit University website is maintained by the Birzeit Webmaster, webmaster@birzeit.edu to help regular users of the website keep track of what is new since their last visit. When this section gets a little too big, it becomes part of the What Was New Archive. Current and archived entries are listed with most recent additions at the top of the page. Check Birzeit News regularly for news from the university community not usually listed here! For university events, check the announcements page.

• 1 July 2000 Eight hundred and ninety-seven students graduated on Wednesday and Thursday from Birzeit University marking 25 years since the first graduation ceremony. Friday saw an Open Day for University Alumni.
  
  
  
• 24 June 2000 Andre Brink, the famed South African writer and Professor of English at the University of Cape Town, gave a lecture last week at Birzeit University under the title "We are waiting for the miracle". Brink has been twice been shortlisted for the Booker Prize and has been nominated several times for the Nobel Prize for Literature
  
  
  
• 20 June 2000 The Birzeit University Institute of Media recently participated in the Expo 2000 exhibition in Hanover City, Germany, where it received an award for its Diversification of Media Project.
  
  
  
• 20 June 2000 The website of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Birzeit University is now online. Visit the site at http://www.birzeit.edu/sociology
  
  
  
• 6 June 2000 Birzeit University launched today an Advanced Netowkinrg and Unix Laboratory designed to produce highly specialized networking engineers, administrators and technicians. The Lab was donated by Hewlett Packard and the first set of training has been completed on the machines in conjunction with Safad Engineering and Electronics Co.
  
  
  
• 30 May 2000 Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish spoke yesterday at Birzeit University to a packed audience in the Kamal Nasir Hall. The event was organized as a celebration on the occasion of the liberation of southern Lebanon. Yasser Abed Rabbo, Palestinian Authority Minister of Culture and Information, Izzat Ghazawi, Chair of the Palestinian Writers Union, and Hanna Nasir, President of Birzeit University also addressed the gathering.
  
  
  
• 24 May 2000 Birzeit University students today held a memorial service for Issa Abed (Abu Sreih), who was shot and killed by an Israeli sniper during a demonstration in support of Palestinian prisoners last Friday.
  
  
  >
• 24 May 2000The Graduate Institute of International Studies, Birzeit University, hosted a lecture yesterday by Sir Marrack Goulding, former Under Secretary General of the United Nations and currently Warden (President) of St. Antony's College, Oxford University. Goulding's lecture was entitled, "UN Peace Operations: Lessons of the Last 12 Months".
  
  
  
• 16 May 2000The Philosophy and Cultural Studies Department is now online. Visit their website at http://www.birzeit.edu/phil-cs
  
  
  
• 12 May 2000Come Study at Birzeit University! The new academic calendar for the Palestine and Arabic Studies Program is now online at http://www.birzeit.edu/pas
  
  
  
• 12 May 2000On Thursday and Friday Birzeit University was host to the Fourth Palestinian Studies Conference, entitled Prospects for the Palestinian State and Civil Society. The conference was organized by the Contemporary Arab Studies Program Department of History and Political Science in cooperation with the Graduate Institute of International Studies at Birzeit University.
  
  
  
• 8 May 2000Birzeit University wishes to announce the opening of its first Fine Arts Gallery Al- Qumariah . The gallery, designed to be a permanent exhibition space, was inaugurated on the 20th of April in the Diana Tamari Sabbagh Center.
  
  
  
• 2 May 2000Students of the Media Institute at Birzeit University spent the last week covering the Student Council elections through daily field reports and interviews held inside the studio. On the last day of vote counting, live coverage was broadcast through mobile microphones. The coverage was the work of students in the course, "Media Lab 331"
  
  
  
• 26 April 2000Birzeit Student Council Election Results were announced at 7pm, 26 April. Full election coverage can be viewed here.
  
  
  
• 26 April 2000A new publication from Birzeit University, the Journal of Palestinian Archaelogy, has been launched. More information about JPA and an article from the first edition is available online in the Our Voice section of the Birzeit website..
  
  
  
• 22 April 2000Student Council elections began today at Birzeit University. A special elections website has been launched at here with leaflets and reports from all blocs.
  
  
  
• 20 April 2000Birzeit university awarded Mr. Haseeb Sabbagh an honororary doctorate in Administrative Science in appreciation of his contribution in building Palestinian public institutions.
  
  
  
• 8 April 2000Birzeit University announced today the closing of the university for the three days of traditional mourning after the death of three students from drowning while on a trip to Akka.
  
  
  
• 5 April 2000Birzeit University recently signed an agreement with CISCO Systems Inc. to become the CISCO Regional Networking Academy in the Palestinian Authority Areas.
  
  
  
• 3 April 2000A delegation representing French municipalities visited Birzeit University today on the first day of a tour to show solidarity with Palestinians, in particular, Palestinian refugees.
  
  
  
• 3 April 2000International Conference on Water convened at Birzeit University
  
  
  
• 1 April 2000The second Across Borders Internet Centre was opened yesterday in Khan Yunis camp, Gaza, at an opening ceremony attended by over 150 people at the Bonat al-Ghad Centre. The Across Borders Project was initiated last year by the Birzeit University Information Technology Unit and aims to bring Internet technology into Palestinian refugee camps across the Middle East.
  
  
  
• 14 March 2000An exhibition by the renowned Syrian artist, Marwan Kassab Bashi, was opened on 9 March in the Al-Wasiti Center, Jerusalem, in cooperation with the Goethe Institute. In May 1998, two exhibitions of Marwan's work were held at Birzeit University and the Khalil Sakakini Center. A total of 75 paintings were exhibited and Marwan donated this exhibition, titled "To the Children in Palestine", to Birzeit University as a symbol of his deep commitment to Palestine.
  
  
  
• 11th March - Welcoming Remarks, Dr. H. Nasir - Prevention and Management of Diabetes Symposium
  
  
  
• 6 March 2000 Students at Birzeit University organized an open-air festival today to celebrate the release of imprisoned students.
  
  
  
• 6 March 2000Birzeit News spoke to Dr. Carmella Armanos-Omari, Vice President of Administration and Finance at Birzeit University about the events of last week and the release of the students from detention.
  
  
  
• 6 March 2000Message of Thanks From the Birzeit University Student Movement
  
  
  
• 6 March 2000 Birzeit University celebrated late last night as all imprisoned students were released. Hundreds gathered in the university cafeteria to greet the returning students.
  
  
  
• 4 March 2000 A hunger strike was launched today at Birzeit University led by the student movement. "Our aim with this hunger strike is to bring the attention of the international community to the fate of our imprisoned comrades."
  
  
  
• 4 March 2000 Updated List of Imprisoned Students (as of 1pm, 4 March 2000)
  
  
  
• 3 March 2000 Legal access granted to students detained at Palestinian Preventive Security Headquarters in Jericho
  
  
  
• 2 March 2000 Updated List of Imprisoned Students
  
  
  
• 2 March 2000 Birzeit University students continued their sit-in at the university cafeteria today protesting against the incidents that followed the visit of the French Prime Minister to the university. Palestinian human rights organizations and residents of Jalazon refugee camp visited the students.
  
  
  
• 2 March 2000 International Students Studying at Birzeit University have issued a press release against the arrest of Birzeit students by the security forces Arabic version available.
  
  
  
• 1 March 2000 Following a large meeting of students on campus today, the Birzeit University student movement decided to embark on a wide range of activities over the next few days in solidarity with students imprisoned by the Palestinian Authority over the last few days. This included a sit-in begun tonight.
  
  
  
• 29 February 2000The University Administration and Birzeit student movement have just reached a joint agreement regarding the arrests of students by Palestinian security forces.
  
  
  
• 29 February 2000 Partial List of Imprisoned Students
  
  
  
• 29 February 2000 Statement from the University Council regarding recent events
  
  
  
• 29 February 2000 Statement from the Employees Union regarding recent events - Arabic version also available
  
  
  
• 29 February 2000 Statement from the Student Movement regarding recent events
  
  
  
• 26 February 2000 French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin and a high ranking French delegation visited Birzeit University today and addressed an audience of Birzeit University staff, students and Palestinian officials in the Institute of Law at Birzeit University. Read the University Statement
  
  
  
• 22 February 2000 Today, Birzeit University academic staff and students stopped classes from 12:00 PM in protest of the latest Israeli bombings of Lebanese infrastructure and Lebanese civilians.
  
  
  
• 15 February 2000 A new article added to Our Voice, "The Landscape of Palestine in Arabic Art" by Samia Halaby. The article is taken from a new publication from Birzeit University entitled, "The Landscape of Palestine: Equivocal Poetry".
  
  
  
• 12 February 2000 On 10 February 2000, Birzeit University's student council president Ala Zuheir Ibrahim, a third year mechanical engineering student from Hebron, was arrested by the Israeli military authorities.
  
  
  
• 1 February 2000 Birzeit University began the new academic semester with 112 new students entering undergraduate programs, bringing the total number of students in the university to 4800.
  
  
  
• 21 January 2000 Two new articles added to the Birzeit, Palestine and the Web section of our website. The first is a report in French from Le Monde newspaper about the Complete Guide to Palestine's Websites, and the second an article by Birzeit's webmaster about the internet in Palestine appearing in the Winter 1999 edition of the Middle East Research and Information Project (MERIP).
  
  
  
• 17 January 2000 We begin the new year with an interview with Birzeit University President Dr. Hanna Nasir. Dr. Nasir discusses the events and achievements of 1999 and what is planned for the coming year.
  
  
  
• 16 January 2000 The Complete Guide to Palestine's websites have been updated for January 2000. Seventeen new sites added bringing the total number of sites in the Guide to 248. This month's website of the month is that of Palestinian cartoonist, Baha Boukhari.
  
  
  
• 11 December 1999 Yesterday evening, an unknown assailant or assailants attacked with stones the home and person of Birzeit University employee Hanan Elmasu, the coordinator of the University’s Human Rights Action Project. Birzeit University strongly condemns the attack and is committed to take all measures to ensure the safety and security of its employees.
  
  
  
• 9 December 1999 On the 2nd and 3rd of December, the Graduate Institute of International Studies at Birzeit University held a conference around the theme "Political Transitions in the Arab World". The conference was attended by local and international academics as well as researchers and friends of the university from abroad. Graduate Studies students in the university also attended the conference.
  
  
  
• 29 November 1999 Birzeit University students stopped classes on Monday 29 November and held an open-air rally to protest arrests by the Palestinian Authority following a public leaflet issued by a group of 20 Palestinian figures. Speakers included Abdul Jawad Saleh, member of the Palestinian Legislative Council and member of the Birzeit University Board of Trustees.
  
  
  
• 13 November 1999 A new Radio Station has been launched at Birzeit University by the Birzeit University Media Centre broadcasting on 92.1 FM to the surrounding areas including Jerusalem.
  
  
  
• 5 November 1999 On Tuesday, the Tawfic Zayyad Group from Nazareth performed at Birzeit University in an event organized by the Cultural Committee of the Student Council in solidarity with Lebanese musician and composer, Marcel Khalife.
  
  
  
• 1 November 1999 In this week's Birzeit Outloud we broadcast excerpts from the speech by Abu Ali Mustafa at Birzeit University, in our English Show we discuss the recent Information Technology Conference in Higher Education held at the University.
  
  
  
• 21 October 1999 On Wednesday, 20 October, Abu Ali Mustafa, deputy secretary-general of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) addressed a crowded Kamal Nasir Hall at Birzeit University. He returned to the West Bank earlier this month after 32 years in exile.
  
  
  
• 17 October 1999 Information about the Palestine and Arabic Studies Program is now available in German.
  
  
  
• 16 October 1999 On today's Birzeit OutLoud: in our Arabic show we report on the recent Jerusalem Week including an interview with the President of the Student Council. In our English Show we speak to Muna Tamimi, director of the Palestine and Arabic Studies Program and also interview Dr. Abdul Sittar Qassem about final status negotiations.
  
  
  
• 16 October 1999 Palestinian Arabic has a rich variation depending on location. In this article for Our Voice, Kimary Shahin from Birzeit University and the the University of British Columbia analyses different speech samples from Gaza, Rafat, Nablus and Hebron. With Audio.
  
  
  
• 16 October 1999 The Birzeit University Graduate Institute for International Studies have joined us online. Visit their website at http://www.birzeit.edu/giis. Also new to the Birzeit site is the Development Studies Program
  
  
  
• 16 October 1999 On 12th and 13th of October, the third Information Technology (IT) Conference in Higher Education was held at Birzeit University organised by the Palestinian Ministry of Higher Education.
  
  
  
• 9 October 1999 A new article by Professor Roger Heacock entitled Between Systems and Salami: US Policy Towards the Palestinians and the Middle East in the Late Twentieth Century has been added to Our Voice. Roger was also interviewed on Birzeit OutLoud yesterday.
  
  
  
• 8 October 1999 We return after the summer holidays with Birzeit OutLoud, the first online radio station in Palestine. In our Arabic Show we discuss the new semester and the university, and our English Show includes a discussion about the newly opened "safe passage" between the West Bank and Gaza as well as an interview with Professor Roger Heacock about US foreign policy in the Middle East.
  
  
  
• 7 October 1999 As part of the activities of Jerusalem Week at Birzeit University, a lecture was organized on Tuesday 5 October, under the title "Struggle for Sovereignty and the Future of Jerusalem". read the report in Birzeit News.
  
  
  
• 6 October 1999 The Birzeit University Accounting Department are now online. Visit their website at http://www.birzeit.edu/commerce/acct/index.html
  
  
  
• 5 October 1999 Come study at Birzeit University! We've updated the Palestine and Arabic Studies Program for international students. Find information about the courses offered, dates, and living in the West Bank.
  
  
  
• 4 October 1999 Today we've added an article by Professor of History at Birzeit University, Roger Heacock, entitled "Locals and Returnees in the Palestinian National Authority (PNA): A Historical Perspective".
  
  
  
• 4 October 1999 Launch of second annual Jerusalem Week organized by the Public Relations Committee of the Student Council. The week aims to discuss and raise important issues relating to Jerusalem on the eve of the final status negotiations. A broad program is organized for the week involving all major political factions in meetings and presentations.
  
  
  
• 30 September 1999 An accord was signed today between Birzeit University and French universities in a new program of mathematics applied to economics to be launched at Birzeit University.
  
  
  
• 28 September 1999
  A Birzeit News story about the launch of the Human Development Report, Palestine 1998-1999 at Birzeit University.
  
  
• 27 September 1999
  A new article has been added to the Our Voice section of the website by George Giacaman. The article concerns the comparisons between the situation in Algeria and Palestine and is entitled Order and Disorder After Oslo: Some Parallels Between Algeria and Palestine
  
  
• 24 September 1999
  We've done a major update for the Complete Guide to Palestine's Websites and added 31 new sites. In addition, the 1999 Golden Olive Awards have been announced and 30 local sites have received this award for outstanding websites in Palestine.
  
  
• 23 September 1999
  A special report on Palestine's Websites in 1999 has just been released by the Birzeit Web Team. Statistics about the development of the web between 1996-1999 and internet access in Palestine.
  
  
• 22 September 1999
  Coming to Ramallah and need to check you email? See what Ramallah offers in terms of Internet Cafes in a new page added to the Ramallah Online Travel Guide.
  
  
• 16 September 1999
  Birzeit News spoke to Albert Aghazarian, a long-time resident of Jerusalem and director of the Public Relations Office at Birzeit University, about the recent attacks on Edward Said and an interesting piece of evidence of Said's family presence in Jerusalem which has hung on his wall for many years.
  
  
• 13 September 1999
  The new semester begins at Birzeit University
  
  
• 7 August 1999
  The August update of the Complete Guide to Palestine's websites is finished. This month's Website of the Month is the Palestine Report.
  
  
• 27 July 1999
  Birzeit University's Institute of Community and Public Health have relaunched their website. Visit their site at http://www.birzeit.edu/icph
  
  
• 24 July 1999
  The Across Borders Project is launched in Deheishe Refugee Camp! Read the Birzeit News Story here or visit the Across Borders website at http://www.acrossborders.org
  
  
• 24 July 1999
  This week's Birzeit Outloud looks at the issue of English-speaking Palestinian returnees. Listen to OutLoud here.
  
  
• 3 July 1999
  This week on Birzeit OutLoud we complete our special 3-part series on Palestinian refugees. This week we examine UNRWA and the funding crisis in the camps through interviews with UNRWA representatives, spokespeople from the Palestinian Authority and independent camp activists.
  
  
• 29 June 1999
  Sunday and Monday of this week saw the graduation of 750 students from Birzeit University. Read the BZU News story here.
  
  
• 24 June 1999
  The Brief Information about Birzeit has been updated for 1999. In this section of the website you will find information about Birzeit's history, campus facilities and courses offered.
  
  
• 23 June 1999
  Over the last three days, Birzeit University has been host to the International Conference - Palestine at the Crossroads: Perspectives of Citizenship and Identity - organized by the Arab Thought Forum. Read the BZU News story here.
  
  
• 20 June 1999
  The Complete Guide to Palestine's Websites has been updated for the month of June. This month's Website of the Month is Jerusalemites.org - a website based in Amman with lots of high quality information about Jerusalem.
  
  
• 5 June 1999
  Birzeit OutLoud brings you this week interviews with Palestinians living in refugee camps in Lebanon. The interviews were organized and conducted by Rosemary Sayigh and Ghena Ismail from Lebanon.
  
  
• 3 June 1999
  The Centre for Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences at Birzeit University has launched a new website about the Centre and their activies. Information about each of the Centre's units and their work in monitoring and protecting the Palestinian environment is available.
  
  
• 17 May 1999
  Birzeit OutLoud focuses on the issue of the Israeli elections. We speak to several prominent Palestinians on either side of the Green Line about the elections and what they mean for Palestinians.
  
  
• 13 May 1999
  The Complete Guide to Palestine's Websites has been updated for the month of May and we've broken the 200 website mark! Website of the month goes to the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the UN.
  
  
• 10 May 1999
  In Birzeit OutLoud this week we report on the discussion around the declaration of an independent Palestinian state. .
  
  
• 6 May 1999
  We reprint an article from LIFE magazine about the visit of Daniel Barenboim to Birzeit University in January here.
  
  
• 1 May 1999
  A ceremony was held today at Birzeit University to award Mr. Abdul Mohsen Al-Qattan with an honorary doctorate degree. Read the Birzeit News story here.
  
  
• 29 April 1999
  Today a demonstration and strike was held at the university to demand the release of imprisoned students and in support of freedom of education and movement. Read the Birzeit News story here.
  
  
• 27 April 1999
  We've added an article to Our Voice by George Giacaman, Dean of Graduate Studies at Birzeit University. The article is taken from a book edited by Giacaman, entitled After Oslo, and discusses the post-Oslo situation and its affects on Palestinian society.
  
  
• 24 April 1999
  Birzeit Outloud spoke this week with Ahmad Qatamesh, who recently celebrated the first anniversary of his release from 5 years and 8 months of administrative detention.
  
  
• 18 April 1999
  A Birzeit News report on the recent visit by Sir Marrick Goulding, ex-Under Secretary General of the United Nations for Political Affairs, who spoke about "Peacekeeping: Models and Cases". Arabic version also available
  
  
• 16 April 1999
  This week's Birzeit OutLoud focuses on the massacre at Deir Yassin in 1948. We interview Sahar Ghosheh, board member of the Deir Yassin Remembered Committee in our English show. In our Arabic Show, we broadcast an interview between Birzeit University's Sharif Kanaana with a survivor from Deir Yassin.
  
  
• 9 April 1999
  The Complete Guide to Palestine's Websites has been updated for the month of April. There are now 190 local sites in the Guide. This month's website of the month is Miftah - a new Palestinian NGO.
  
  
• 9 April 1999
  Birzeit News reports on the visit and lecture by Alain Gresh, editor of Le Monde Diplomatique
  
  
• 3 April 1999
  Birzeit OutLoud - This week's show now online with a wrap up of the election results. In our Arabic show we have a special report on settlements in Jerusalem and in our English show we discuss Land Day and report on Radio B-92, an independent radio station in Belgrade which broadcasts over the internet and was closed down yesterday.
  
  
• 2 April 1999
  We've added a new section to the Complete Guide to Palestine's Websites - our recommended reading list. Read our book reviews and order the latest books on Palestine at discounted prices.
  
  
• 25 March 1999Birzeit University is closed until Wednesday March 31 because of the Eid Al Adhar festivities. Happy holidays to all!
  
  
• 24 March 1999
  Election Results - Results posted 7pm Wednesday 24 March. Mabruuk to the An Nahdah bloc which came out ahead with 23 seats - an increase of 3 seats from last year.
  
  
• 24 March 1999
  Election Debate - Yesterday each of the blocs held a 2-hour debate which is now online
  
  
• 22 March 1999
  Election Events from Day 2 - second day of campaigning today with photos and commentary. We've also added a page devoted to cartoons from each of the blocs and some further bloc leaflets.
  
  
• 21 March 1999
  BZU News reports on the first day of election campaigns, complete with results of all student elections since 1995.
  
  
• 20 March 1999
  The first day of election campaigning is over and we've got coverage of the rallies held by the different student blocs. We also spoke to representatives of the blocs and asked them five simple questions. Read their responses here
  
  
• 19 March 1999
  It's election time again at Birzeit! Student Council elections begin tomorrow, 20 March and run through to Thursday. Today we launched the election website for 1999, which will be updated daily throughout the campaign.
  
  
• 13 March 1999
  This week's Birzeit OutLoud focuses on International Women's Day and the events at Birzeit University.
  
  
• 10 March 1999 - The Institute of Community and Public Health have updated their website to reflect their new status as an Institute. Includes information about their structure, units and their activities over the last academic year.
  
  
• 9 March 1999 - Two Birzeit students were arrested today by undercover Israeli forces as they travelled by bus to the university. Read the story here
  
  
• 9 March 1999 - Birzeit's website was chosen as a recommended site for the day by The "Arab Scientific Publishers", an Arabic publishing house based in Lebanon and specialized in books, Multimedia, and Web publishing. See their 'Good Morning' daily updated page at http://www.asp.com.lb/arabic-news/goodmorning-a.htm to see what they wrote.
  
  
• 6 March 1999 - Birzeit OutLoud began again today for 1999. You can listen to this week's show (Arabic and English versions available) at http://www.birzeit.edu/outloud. We've also updated the Complete Guide to Palestine's Websites - http://www.birzeit.edu/links for March.
  
  
• 3 March 1999 - We've archived some of the old What's New links dating from 1 June 1997 - 23 December 1997. You can find them here. We've also added a paper by Samer Qumsieh on "Open Distributed Library Services in Palestine" to Birzeit, Palestine and the World Wide Web.
  
  
• 28 February 1999 - Several new articles have been added to Our Voice since the beginning of the year. We've reprinted a publication on the destroyed village of Abu Shusha which was published as one of a 22-part series on destroyed Palestinian villages from 1948. A listing of the entire collection is available on Our Voice, and we also explain how you can help us in making available other parts of the series. We also published an article by Sharif Kanaana on Palestinian humor and the peace process. Visit http://www.birzeit.edu/ourvoice for these articles and more.
  
  
• 12 February 1999 - We're very pleased to announce that Birzeit's website is now mirrored in the United States. The server-space is provided by a US company, Infocom Corporation - our new mirror site address is http://www2.birzeit.edu
  
  
• 29 January 1999 - An important event at Birzeit University - the world famous pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim came to Birzeit University with Professor Edward Said. Read about the performance here. Also includes an Arabic Bulletin.
  
  
• 23 December 1998 - It's holiday time at Birzeit. We'll be back early next year but happy holidays to all!
  
  
• 19 December 1998 - We were proud to see Our Voice listed this month in the prestigious Internet Scout Report as a useful research resource. A lot of new material has been added this month on issues such as Palestinian folk-tales during the Intifada, Islamic feminism, Deir Yassin reinterpreted and a speech by Birzeit's Roger Heacock to the Landscape Conference. Visit Our Voice at http://www.birzeit.edu/ourvoice
  
  
• 12 December 1998 - Students at Birzeit recently declared a hunger strike in solidarity with Palestinian political prisoners. The web played a big role in the event - enabling communication between the students and supporters outside Palestine. We covered the strike extensively including video interviews with students on strike. Read the four stories beginning with http://www.birzeit.edu/bzunews/1998/dec/7.html
  
  
• 21 November 1998 - Following the Landscape conference, Edward Said held an open discussion with students which we translated into English. You can find it at http://www.birzeit.edu/ourvoice/society/nov/said1198.html. The Gaza Students Campaign have also been active recently with a photographic exhibition and an International Day of Action.
  
  
• 12 November 1998 - The Landscape Conference began today at Birzeit University. We covered the opening and Edward Said's key-note address to the conference at http://www.birzeit.edu/bzunews/1998/Nov/12.html and http://www.birzeit.edu/bzunews/1998/Nov/13.html.
  
  
• 7 November 1998 -An important exhibition of Palestinian Amulets was opened at the University in November, read about it here http://www.birzeit.edu/bzunews/1998/Nov/7.html
  
  
• 15 October 1998 - We've launched the first internet radio station in Palestine OutLoud Tune in to OutLoud every Saturday 3 pm Palestine time (GMT +02) or listen to an archived show from the website. Uses Real Audio.
  
  
• 28 September 1998 - We've added a new section to the website entitled OUR VOICE which will publish work from staff and students of the university. Faculty and students wishing to contribute, contact webmaster@birzeit.edu.
  
  
• 25 May 1998 - See our new ANNOUNCEMENTS section at http://www.birzeit.edu/announcements/, with details of coming university events. Faculty and students wishing to add announcements to the list, contact webmaster@birzeit.edu.
  
  
• 2 May 1998 - An analysis of the last four years of student elections at Birzeit attempts to counter some of the misreporting about who "won" the elections. "In reality," the analysis suggests, "no bloc in the last four years has aquired the necessary majority of 26 out of 51 seats to form a homogenous political cabinet."
  
  
• 15 April 1998 - The Birzeit University Library is now online! There is information about all aspects of the library service and a fully functional search engine. Thanks to Sarah Andeen for undertaking this important task, which will do much to increase the overall accessibility of the university to the outside world.
  
  
• 4 April 1998 - Birzeit News has a few new features to check out. Today is the last working day until Saturday 11 April, the holiday to celebrate the Muslim feast of Al-Adha. Kul senne wa inter salem! Kul 'am wa inter bakhair!
  
  
• 1 April 1998 - The results of the Student Council Elections 1998 were posted today at 7:45pm, Palestinian Time.
  
  
• 31 March 1998 - The Biology and Biochemistry Department website was added today. Access the page in the future from the Birzeit Departments Online link at the top of the homepage.
  
  
• 23 March 1998 - The Birzeit University Student Council Elections 1998 homepage went up today. Content, including images, sound, and news will be progressively added during the period of the campaign and on election day, 1 April 1998. In the meantime, why not check out last year's website on the elections, through the link available off the page above, to acquaint yourself with the trends over the last three years?
  
  
• 21 March 1998 - The new Azeez Shaheen Medical Clinic was opened today by Dr. Naseeb Shaheen. Get the full story, including Real Audio, from Birzeit News.
  
  
• 14 March 1998 - a full report on the clashes near Ramallah on 11 March 1998 involving Birzeit students in now available in A Personal Diary of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict by Birzeit staff member Nigel Parry. See Clashes after three Palestinian shot dead near Hebron.
  
  
• 25 February 1998 - The Physics department and the Information Technology Unit went online today. The Birzeit Radio Training Center also went on recently. Please note that, although there have been no additions to What's New? for a while, Birzeit News and The Complete Guide to Palestine's Websites have been updated regularly.
  
  
• 28 January 1998 - Birzeit University is on holiday today to celebrate the Muslim feast of Eid Al-Fitter. We will be back to work on Monday 2 February 1998. Kool 'Am Wa Inter Bakhair!
  
  
• 3 January 1998 - Welcome back and Happy New Year! www.birzeit.edu was under the weather for a couple of days, but recovered to full health this morning. The new, improved Complete Guide to Palestine's Websites is relaunched today, with new categories, new reviews, around 30 new websites and some useful new features including "Palestine's Websites at a Glance" (all on one page), "Key Peace Process Links", and a list of local Palestinian mailing lists from which you can receive information about events in the country. Hope you like the new design, which will get a few minor tweaks in the next two weeks. In the rush to get it out quickly, there are several more websites that still need to be listed, a task which will be completed by mid-January, at which point the results of the 1998 Golden Olive Awards will be announced along with January's site of the month. The good news is that Palnet, the leading Palestinian ISP, and us at Birzeit will be teaming up to offer a new Palestinian website search service. We will continue to provide an index and searchable reviews of Palestinian websites (a Yahoo-type service), while Palnet will offer a searchable index of the text all of Palestine's websites (an AltaVista-type service). We are both excited about this and plan to make the interface of both options available in both resources. In addition, Birzeit will become the clearing house of all local Palestinian URLs, and will pass them on to Palnet for indexing. This makes it very important to alert us of new URLs of sites based in Palestine. The Complete Guide will also now offer links to recommended external websites related to Palestine. Please note that if you are based in Palestine you are guaranteed of a listing. If you are outside Palestine, however, we will only list the best resources. There is enough bad content on the Internet without further wasting people's time by attempting to provide a complete listing. Send us sites we overlooked, let us know your feedback, and consider advertising on the Complete Guide. Every banner advert that runs for a year buys Birzeit a new computer to expand our work on the Web.