On the 13th of November and as part of the debating project of Ilam Center, a public debate was held in the Golden Crown Hotel, Nazareth. The title of the debate was “The Participation of the Arab Citizens of Israel in the coming Parliamentarian (Knesset) elections: pro and against.” The team that advocated for the participation was comprised of: The Hdash/Jabha party general secretary member, Ms. Aida Touma-Sleiman and Balad Party member, Mr. Mtanes Shhadi. The team advocating against the participation were: Member of the Secretariat on “Abnaa El Balad” movement, Mr.Suhail Slibi and Member of the Committee Promoting Boycott of Knesset Elections Ms. Thaera Zoabi. This debate was the last in a set of three public debates that are the result of the five months long debate course.
“The Participation of the Arab Citizens of Israel in the coming Parliamentarian (Knesset) elections: pro and against.”
The aim of the course was to introduce high school and college students to the theoretical background of debating, practice the basic elements of debating: such as arguments, support and opposition and preparing for a public debate. In the last three workshop sessions, trainer Najuan Berkdar held three mini-debates in which each of the participants got to experience forming ‘for’ and ‘against’ motion teams, preparing arguments, discussing the chosen topic in front of the camera and being in the panel of judges.
The program aims encourage Palestinian youth to debate issues that impact political and social aspects of their lives in a new approach that allows opposite points of view to be presented in a structured and logical platform.
In the second part of the project, three public debates took place in Nazareth in September, October and November 2012. The panels were evaluated by the audience as well as a panel of judges, that consist of five of the program participants who were trained in debating technique and evaluation during the past five month and prominent guest judges.
“Raising the Admission Age for Medical professions in Israeli Universities”
The title of the first public debates was: “Raising the Admission Age for Medical professions in Israeli Universities”, it took place on September 21, 2012. The supporters team was comprised of: Head of Massar Center for Research and the lecturer in Social Sciences and Education, Dr. Khaled Abu Asbeh and Dean of the Academic College-Nazareth, Dr. Suhair Bisharat. The rival team was comprised of: Member of Knesset, Masud Ghanayem and Head of Empowerment Unit in the Higher Education Council, Rasool Saada.
The title of the second public debate was: “For or Against the Electing Independent Bodies to Represent the Palestinians in Israel”. The debate took place on Thursday October 10, 2012. The team of supporters were: Balad Party member and Board Member in High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel, Areen Hawari and philosophy lecturer and a former deputy for the head of academic affairs in the Hebrew university, Prof. Said Zidani. The team advocating against were: the head of the Emil Touma Institute for Palestinian and Israeli Studies, Essam Makhoul and member of the monitoring committee of the Israeli Communist Party, adv. Safa Abdo.
“For or Against the Electing Independent Bodies to Represent the Palestinians in Israel”
Watch the three public debate on our YouTube channel | .jpg)
