The Palestinian scholar Dr. Kamel Al-Assali, who was born in Jerusalem in 1925, played a leading role in introducing Western literature and scholarship to Pales­tinian society. In recognition of the importance of his work and his contribution to the development of the Palestinian library through analysis, studies, translation, and documentation, PASSIA held a seminar reviewing his work and assessing his achievements. PASSIA coordinated with leading academics from various Palestinian and regional universities and institutions to organize the seminar, which aimed at pro­viding a comprehensive reading of Al-Assali’s writings and studies on Palestinian his­tory, heritage and culture, in particular with relation to the question of Jerusalem.

Several researchers and scholars were invited to either submit working papers, dealing with a specific topic, or to review such papers and to write a discussion paper accord­ingly. The studies and research papers of the symposium on the life of the Jerusa­lemite scholar Dr. Kamel Al-Assali and his works were later published, divided into the following 12 chapters:

1.   The Demography of Jerusalem at the End of the 11th Century, with Reference to the Contemporary Status Quo

         Presenter:   Dr. Muhsin Yussef, Birzeit University

         Discussant: Dr. Nazmi Ju’beh, Birzeit University

 

2.  The Current Geographic Status Quo in Jerusalem

         Presenter:   Dr. Walid Mustafa, Birzeit University

         Discussant: All participants

 

3.    Analytical Study of the Historical Resources in the Work of Dr. Kamel Al-Assali

         Presenter:   Dr. Hassan Silwadi, Al-Quds University

         Discussant: Dr. Mahmoud Attallah, An-Najah University

 

4.    The Current Demographic Status Quo in Jerusalem

         Presenter:   Dr. Bernard Sabella, Bethlehem University

         Discussant: All participants

 

5.    Dr. Kamel Al-Assali as Librarian, 1968-82

         Presenter:   Mr. Yussef Qandil, Shuman Foundation Library, Amman

         Discussant: Mrs. Afaf Harb, Birzeit University Library

 

6.    Documents and Records of the Jerusalem Shari’a Court in the Work of Kamel Al-Assali

         Presenter:   Mr. Fahmi Al-Ansari, Al-Ansari Library, Jerusalem

         Discussant: Mr. Khader Salameh, Al-Aqsa Mosque Library, Jerusalem

 

7.  The Life and Work of Dr. Kamel Al-Assali

         Presenter:   Mr. Walid Al-Assali, Advocate, Jerusalem

         Discussant: All participants

 

8.  The Heritage of Beit Al-Maqdis in the Writings of Dr. Kamel Al-Assali

         Presenter:   Dr. Mohammed Al-Hizmani, Hebron University

         Discussant: Dr. Abdel Qader Jabarin, Hebron University

 

9.    Ornamentation on Umayyad Buildings in Jerusalem

         Presenter:   Dr. Marwan Abu Khalaf, Al-Quds University

         Discussant: Dr. Adnan Musallam, Bethlehem University

 

10.  The Political Face of Jerusalem in the Early Decades of Islam

         Presenter:   Dr. Khalil Athammeh, Birzeit University

         Discussant: Sheikh Jamil Hamami

 

11.  Introduction to the Book “Palästina im Umbruch” by the Late Alexander Schölch

         Presenter:   Dr. Nizam Abbasi, An-Najah University

         Discussant: All participants

 

12.  Jerusalem and a Political Solution

         Presenter:   Dr. Ahmad Sa’id Nufal, Yarmouk University, Jordan

         Discussant: Dr. Manuel Hassassian, Bethlehem University

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