A delegation from the Yasser Arafat Foundation, led by Dr. Ahmed Soboh, Chairman of the Board, visited Hebron University on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, and met with Dr. Raghad Dweik, Acting President of the University.
The delegation included Dr. Owda Masharqa, Director General of the Foundation; Fares Saqer, Director of Media and Public Relations; and Mahar Abu Ein, Head of Activities. From Hebron University, the meeting was attended by Mohammad Ziad Al-Jaabari, Vice President for Administrative Affairs, and members of the public relations team.
Dr. Soboh stated that the purpose of the visit was to enhance opportunities for cooperation and joint work between the two institutions, and to promote national values among Palestinian students while cultivating qualified leaders, especially in light of the political challenges facing the Palestinian cause.
He emphasized that the Yasser Arafat Foundation was established to preserve the legacy of the late President Yasser Arafat and safeguard the history of the Palestinian people. Subh explained that the Foundation is committed to narrating the history of the Palestinian cause and the life and struggle of Arafat, presenting its vision, mission, and the range of its year-round programs and initiatives.
He described the establishment and management of the Yasser Arafat Museum and Mausoleum currently known as the Yasser Arafat Space as the cornerstone of the Foundation’s work. The museum offers a wide range of materials, possessions, and films in eight global languages, allowing Arab and international visitors to engage with Palestinian history. It also includes a dedicated hall of Palestinian sources and academic references accessible to researchers, writers, and students.
Dr. Soboh invited the university's leadership, faculty, and students to visit the museum to further strengthen national identity among students. The Foundation also presented a collection of its visual and written publications to the university leadership, including the documentaries "An Unforgettable Life", Comrades of the Path, a selection of films documenting past activities, and bilingual editions (Arabic and English) of the books "An Unforgettable Life" and The Museum.
Dr. Raghad Dweik affirmed the importance of collaboration with the Yasser Arafat Foundation, noting its national significance in Palestinian society. She emphasized the need for a formal cooperation agreement to help shape a pioneering generation and a promising future for students. Dweik also presented an overview of the university, its faculties, and academic programs, noting that Hebron University was the first Palestinian university to offer bachelor’s degrees starting in 1971.
At the end of the meeting, the university’s leadership presented the Foundation’s delegation with a commemorative shield. Both parties reaffirmed the importance of collaboration in serving the Palestinian people, students, and researchers, preserving national identity, and enriching students’ knowledge of Palestinian cultural and historical heritage.
