Visiting Palestinian prof to speak at SMU about West Bank Life

WINONA, Minn. — Dr. Muna Matar, a computer science professor from Bethlehem University in Palestine, will speak on “Daily Life in Bethlehem: The Israeli Occupation” on Thursday, Dec. 4, at Saint Mary’s University. Dr. Matar’s presentation will run from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in Salvi Hall (Room 335) in Saint Mary’s Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

Dr. Matar is a visiting scholar in residence at Saint Mary’s University during fall semester. She is teaching courses on “Women in the Middle East” at both Saint Mary’s University and Winona State University. Dr. Matar lives in Beit Jala, a small city near Bethlehem. After graduating from Bethlehem University with a degree in mathematics, she earned a M.A. in Computer Science from Oregon State University and a doctorate from the University of Ghent in Belgium.

The Palestinian cities of Beit Jala and Bethlehem are part of the West Bank territories occupied by Israel after the 1967 war. For Palestinians, daily life in the occupied territories involves coping with checkpoints, the Israeli barrier wall that divides communities, and the growing number of Israeli settlements.

Bethlehem University is a Catholic institution in the Lasallian tradition, which has been serving students of all faith traditions since 1973. Dr. Matar’s visit is the result of the close association between Saint Mary’s University and Bethlehem University, both of which are led by the De La Salle Christian Brothers.