Please join us on Wednesday, May 29, from 4-6pm for "Cultural Heritage Lost: the Impact of War on Palestinian Identity and Memory," a talk by Dr. Sahera Bleibleh, Associate Professor at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU). Dr. Bleibleh is an International Visitor at the Stanford Humanities Center nominated by the Center for Comparative Studies in Race & Ethnicity.

The event will be held in Levinthal Hall at the Stanford Humanities Center, 424 Santa Teresa Street. A webinar option will be made available with RSVP. Refreshments will be served following the event.To reserve your seat or to secure the Webinar link, please RSVP by Tuesday, May 28. 

Talk description:

In times of war, Palestinian cultural heritage faces dire threats, deliberately targeted under the Israeli occupation. This intentional destruction aims not only to distort Palestinian identity but also to erase national memory and deform history. While the human cost of war is challenging to quantify, the destruction of historic buildings and sites remains largely overlooked. Against the backdrop of the ongoing devastating war in Palestine, especially in the Gaza Strip, this presentation focuses on the profound implications of targeting cultural heritage. It emphasizes the severe repercussions for Palestinian history, identity, and very existence. By stressing the critical importance of preserving both human and cultural legacies, it explores avenues to secure justice and safeguard Palestinian identity amidst the ongoing war. However, while focusing on cultural heritage, it’s crucial not to overlook the direct impact on Palestinian people. Therefore, this presentation also aims to shed light on the humanitarian toll of the war alongside the destruction of cultural heritage.Ultimately, the objective is to raise global attention to the precarious state of Palestinian cultural heritage. Its importance extends beyond local significance, as it is an integral part of the world’s shared heritage. Preserving Palestinian cultural heritage is a collective responsibility, inseparable from its history context, and requires universal compliance. Despite the protective measures outlined by Hug and UNESCO, which are often disabled in Palestine by the Israeli occupation, the heritage legacy is exposed to additional intensive risks under continuous war, leading to irreparable losses. This presentation aims to amplify awareness of these risks and advocate for proactive measures to safeguard Palestinian cultural heritage for future generations.

About the speaker:

Sahera Bleibleh earned her doctoral degree in urban design and planning with distinction from the Department of Urban Design and Planning at the University of Washington, Seattle in 2012, receiving The Faculty Medal Honor for outstanding Research and Methodology. Currently, she serves as an Associate Professor at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), specializing in architecture, urban design, and planning. Prior to her current role, Dr. Bleibleh worked as a Visiting Scholar at the University of Washington, Seattle, and later demonstrated her leadership as Exhibition Director and Operations lead for the UAEU Pavilion at Dubai World Expo 2020.Driven by her interests in informalities, social justice, and urbanism,  Dr. Bleibleh’s research explores various critical areas within the colonial settings such as the production of power and space, social equity, community resistance and resilience, and the impacts of war, urbicide, and urban violence on civilian spaces. Her work explores the intricate dynamics of everyday spaces, examining how they are assembled, reproduced, contested, and transformed.Currently, Dr. Bleibleh is actively engaged in ongoing research initiatives that explore emerging spatial oppression, resistance, and resilience within colonial contexts. Her work explores the dynamic intersection of urban spaces, social justice, and community agency, with particular focus on understanding the meaning of home in the face of urbicide. This dedication to advancing knowledge and addressing contemporary human issues underscores her commitment to shaping the future of urban environments. As she continues to research these critical themes, Dr. Bleibleh remains at the forefront of scholarly inquiry, enriching our understanding of the complexities within urban landscapes.

This event is generously cosponsored by:

*Abbasi Program in Islamic Studies

*Archaeology Center

*Department of Anthropology

*Department of Art & Art History

*Division of Literatures, Cultures, and Languages

*Program on Urban Studies

*Stanford Humanities Center