While Schalit Denied IRC visit - Palestinian in Israeli prison awarded PhD

by Dr. Aaron Lerner


Published yesterday (updated) 04/09/2010 15:17 GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- A Palestinian prisoner held in the Negev prison was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration from the American World University, the Center for Detainees' Studies announced Sunday.

Abdel Hafez Saadi Gaithan's doctoral thesis was entitled Strategic Planning in Qabilia, a Palestinian village in the northern West Bank district of Nablus, a statement issued by the center's director Rafat Hamdouna said.

Hamdouna said prisoners celebrated Gaithan's success by distributing sweets, biscuits and soft drinks, with many describing his achievement as "a victory over the occupation."

"[Gaithan's] Phd was a challenge to break the policy of occupation, which attempts to abuse the captive and isolate him from the world," the statement read.

The PhD was awarded to Gaithan by AWU in conjunction with Birzeit University.

Dr. Aaron Lerner

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