After Tireless Efforts.. The Establishment of the Palestinian Museums Association (ICOM Palestine) is Announced

SadaNews - The establishment of the Palestinian Museums Association (ICOM Palestine) has been officially announced, following tireless efforts that lasted for two years by a number of specialists and workers in the museum field. The association was granted official licensing from the Palestinian Ministry of Interior on September 17, 2025.

This achievement comes as part of efforts to organize the work of Palestinian museums and enhance their role in disseminating and solidifying the national narrative, while highlighting the cultural identity of the Palestinian people, stemming from the pivotal role that museums play in preserving and transmitting national memory through generations.

The establishment of the association allows Palestine to take its place as an active member of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), which includes 139 countries and over 60,000 members working in the museum sector worldwide, including the Arab Museums Council.

The association places among its priorities the enhancement of its institutional capabilities and translating its goals into programs, activities, and events that serve the Palestinian museum sector, through expanding the base of participation and engagement of those working in and interested in tangible and intangible cultural heritage fields.

The board of directors of the association held its first meeting on October 22, 2025, during which administrative positions were distributed as follows:

Mohammad Halayka, Director of Yasser Arafat Museum - President of the Council.
 Jihad Yassin, representing the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities - Vice President.
 Aboor Hashash, representing the Palestinian Museum - Secretary.
 Zaid Yaqeen, representing the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities - Treasurer.
 Luay Abu Saud, Head of the Department of Tourism and Antiquities at An-Najah National University - Member.
 Baha'a Al-Ja'bah, representing Jerusalem Museums - Member.
 Lina Limoon, representing the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities - Member.

Mohammad Halayka, the President of the Association, affirmed that the establishment of ICOM Palestine is a national entitlement and a fundamental step towards solidifying Palestine in international and Arab organizations, enhancing the role of Palestinian museums in highlighting national identity, and strengthening their presence in international forums.

The establishment of ICOM Palestine represents an important step towards building an effective professional network that connects Palestinian museums with the regional and international museum landscape, contributing to the development of museum work standards and the exchange of experiences and knowledge, thereby enhancing Palestine's status on the global cultural map.