June, 1998:
 

*  Literature:

- A special double issue (#55-56) of the Karmel literary quarterly edited by poet Mahmoud Darwish was published. Entirely devoted to the Nakba anniversary, it features articles, essays and testimonies by Elias Sanbar, Edward Saïd, Hassan Khader, Faycal Darraj, Mahmoud Darwish, Ibrahim Abu Lughod, Mohammed Sid-Ahmed, Benjamin Bet-Hallahmi, Ilan Pappé, etc..

- A new cultural organization devoted to poetry was founded: Bayt El She’er, or “House of Poetry”. It gathers a number of Palestinian poets, and aims to publish works by Palestinian poets, edit a quarterly, build monuments to prominent Palestinian poets, translate Palestinian poetry abroad, and commission poetry translations into Arabic for the local market.

- A new critical study by Dr. Sari El Deek on poet Mu'in Bsseisso was published by the Ministry of Culture Presses. The study analyzes stylistic influences and characteristics, and the impact of war, exile and revolution on Bsseisso’ s work. The book is titled Ma Qalathou Ghazza Lil Bahr, “What Gaza Told the Sea”.

* Music:

- The Oriental Music Ensemble of the National Conservatory of Music continued its tour,  with concerts in Jerusalem.

- The National Conservatory of Music String Ensemble made up of three faculty members, gave a recital of Tchaikovsky, Beethoven and Schubert works in Ramallah.
 

* Theatre:

- The Jerusalem based Palestinian National Theatre organized its second “Jerusalem Theatre Nights Festival”, featuring new plays from Palestine, Jordan and France.

The JNT premiered its new production of “Damocles’ Sword”, an adaptation from Turkish poet Nazem Hikmat’s work, directed by Mazen Ghattas.  The Jordanian Ghannam Ghannam company performed its production of “Five Dolls and a Woman”,  written and directed by G. Ghannam. Jean Genet’s  “Four Hours in Shatila” was staged ,  directed by Stéphane Besson.  The Haifa Mamarr company performed “Dance of the Devils” from a text by Ahmed Doukhan, directed by Ruhi Ayyad. Athol Fugard’s Gaza’s Theater for All Company adaptation of  “Live Death” was staged under the direction of Naim Nasr.   Nablus’ Workshop Company performed their adaptation of Siegfried Levitz’ “Time of the Innocents”, directed by Fathi Abdelrahman.

Other plays were performed, such as the 1986 production of Emile Habibi’s “The “Pepsimist”,  Theatre Day’s 1997 production of Marwan Kanafani’s “A Bridge Forever”, Samia Bakri’s 1996 production of Al-Zarroub; a children’s play, and the recent “The Clown” (Al-Mouharrej). The festival also featured a series of workshops on issues in Palestinian Theater.
 

* Visual Arts:

-As a companion to his Wasiti Jerusalem exhibit, artist Nabil Anani held an exhibit of sculptures and installations at Ramallah’s Matall gallery, featuring works in wood, leather, and papier mâché.