The Faculty of Arts hosted MP Hanin Zoubi, Knesset member representing the National Democratic Assembly, who gave a lecture entitled: "The Palestinians of 1948: Records of Homeland and Citizenship.” The lecture was held on 24 November 2011 and attended by the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Dr. Mahdi Arar, along with other faculty members and interested students.

Zoubi stressed that man’s freedom is founded on the values of freedom and of justice as well as on the concepts of the nation. The two core components of freedom are the message of the National Democratic Assembly which counters the values of the racist Zionist project.

Zoubi argued that the definition of citizenship in Israel is a matter of dispute between the Palestinians in Israel and the Israeli government. Israel has demanded full citizenship, not in terms of respect for the law, but in terms of respect for the state’s ideology. She added that Israel has adopted new policies, including the issuing of “allegiance laws,” for the Judaization of the 1948 Palestinians through a process of transforming Zionism from an ideological loyalty to a loyalty to the rule of law, thereby expanding the process of Judaization to encompass not only the geography (land) and official history, but also the Palestinian memory and character.

Zoubi stated that "The Palestinians of 1948 are an integral part of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a key to the solution. The identity we hold does not mean we are devoted to Israel, but rather dedicated to our homeland.”  She explained that 1948 Palestinians are living on an area that equates to ​​3% of the total Palestinian land, after Israel has built more than 700 villages and cities over the last 30 years. She indicated that through the laws it issues, especially those regarding the confiscation of Palestinian lands, Israel aims for the geographical separation between Palestinian towns and villages.

Zoubi was received by BZU President, Dr. Khalil Hindi, as well as the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Dr. Mahdi Arar; Chairperson of the Department of Cultural Studies, Dr. Abdul Rahim Sheikh; and Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Dr. Othman Sharkas. They discussed ways to attract 1948 Palestinian students to study at BZU. Dr. Hindi emphasized the need to admit the largest number possible of these students as Birzeit is a national university interested in attracting students from all over Palestine. It was agreed that BZU be provided with information pertaining to those Israeli laws concerning the admission of 1948 students to Palestinian universities, and that visits be made to Palestinian youth centers in 1948 areas, particularly to vocational guidance centers, to motivate Palestinian students in 1948 to enroll at BZU.