A poetic debate is engaged in by professionnal Palestinian poet-singers, primarily at traditional Palestinian weddings in the Galilee region. Details are given regarding the extemporizing-singing of several poetic genres (©atāba, hida, m©anna, qarrādi, qasīdih), the sociocultural background of the groom's wedding eve, and the broader context in which the poetic debates are conducted. The major poetic and musical characteristics of poet-singers and folk-dancers are presented, followed by an explanation of the techniques of improvisation. The A. stresses the originality of the practise of poetic debate and its artistic, educational and cultural values.