Emir Abd Al-Qadr University for the Islamic Sciences in the city of Constantine, Algeria this year began offering Hebrew at its comparative religions faculty this year.

University administrator Abdallah Boukhalkhal called the study of Hebrew essential for intercultural and interfaith dialogue, and said that it was being taught in the framework of openness to the other, learning about the other's way of thought, and learning about Israeli culture.

He said that this year 200 students were enrolled to study Hebrew and that their number was expected to rise in the coming years.

Source: Kuwaiti news agency Kuna, September 16, 2009