Palestinians lay Foundation Stone for Museum

Ramallah: Palestinians have started construction in the West Bank of what organizers say will be the world’s largest museum devoted to their history.
Director Jack Persekian says the multimillion dollar “Palestinian Museum” will be an inclusive space that will tell the diverse stories of Palestinians on their land and the millions who live in exile. Organizers laid the ground-stone in the West Bank town of Birzeit, last month. Persekian says the $ 15 million first phase will take about two years to build and cover 3,000 square meters, or 32,000 square feet, of space. The project is being funded by a nonprofit development group backed by prominent philanthropists called “The Welfare Association.” The museum is not an official project, but has the approval of the Palestinian Authority.