Galilee Society - Annual Report 2009

Annual Report

2009

Annual Report

The Galilee SocietyThe Arab National Society for Health Research and Services (R.S.)

Statement from the Management

Chairman of the Administrative Board General ManagerAbd el-Salam Masalha Baker Awawdy (since July 2009) Mohammad Khatib (until Jun 2009)

This annual report presents a brief summary of the most important activities and achievements of the Galilee Society during the year 2009 in the areas of health, environment, capacity building, development and practice. These programs are the fruit of a continuous and cumulative process, based on a clear vision for internal development within Palestinian society and improved self-reliance on our built-in capabilities when facing challenges. The work of the Galilee Society has increased and its responsibility has grown in the areas of health, environment and development this year, in light of the expanding gaps between Arab and Jewish citizens in all fields of life and service, in addition to the aggravation of ethnic tension between Arab and Jewish societies. There is no doubt that the increase in the rate and extent of poverty within Arab society, and concurrent reduction in productivity and economic growth, are disturbing signs of an absence of effective strategies on behalf of the state and its institutions to deal with these urgent issues, especially concerning the employment of women and academics, and the building of infrastructure for sustainable development.The Galilee Society is keenly aware of the obstacles to development, as well as of its internal and external structural issues. We believe in the essential need for each of the social, economic, educational, cultural, political and civil society stakeholders of our society to assume responsibility and take matters in hand with developmental initiatives in all fields of life. From this point of reference, we consider a vibrant partnership between sectors of society as being of utmost human and strategic value in order to strengthen the capabilities of a self-made society living with justice, equality and dignity.In addition to its developmental projects, we have not strayed from our humane obligation to provide aid in times of emergency; the Galilee Society launched its program to help our people in the Gaza Strip, as well as the children and families of patients from the beleaguered coastal region who travel to Israel to receive treatment in Israeli hospitals.On the organizational level, the past year has witnessed many changes: in late June, Mr. Muhammad Khatib concluded his duties as General Manager of the Galilee Society. He led the Society since mid-2007 performing a complicated task with sincerity and professionalism. Mr. Khatib has returned to his post as head of the Health Rights Center in the Society; in his stead, Mr. Baker Awawdy was chosen as General Manager of the Society and commenced duties beginning July, 2009. Through intensive monitoring and evaluation of our programs, envisioning future goals, defining mechanisms and establishing work plans, the Galilee Society has completed the process of strategic planning for the coming years. There has also been preparation for a core project in additional areas this next year.We extend our warm thanks to the directors of board, the members and employees of the Galilee Society, our partners and friends, as well as to our supporting foundations, for their contribution in developing the work of the Society. As we reflect upon the accomplishments of 2009, we reiterate our determination to move forward in the process of development, improvement and building to serve the just causes of our society.Respectfully,

�مركز�العدل�البي�ّ�The Environmental

�Justice Center

Objectives and Work Strategy of the Environmental Justice CenterThe Galilee Society considers proper environmental and health conditions a basic right which must be upheld for all citizens that they may live in a sound, healthy, just, and sustainable environment.In light of the lack of environmental infrastructure and the prevalence of environmental hazards (such as solid waste, quarries, polluting factories and inadequate sewage grids) in proximity to Palestinian Arab residential areas, the Environmental Justice Center was established to create solutions and defend the environmental rights of the Arab citizens in Israel.The Center’s philosophy in defending environmental rights is based on the principles of social justice and human rights, which include defending social and economic rights, as well as the human right to live in a safe environment with dignity.The Environmental Justice Center aims to achieve equal environmental conditions for Palestinian citizens of Israel by adopting complementary strategies: enhancing public awareness concerning environmental justice; improving environmental education and awareness, legal advocacy; and research, reports and surveys addressing emerging priorities and the changing environmental reality.

The Center’s Activities in 2009Legal Advocacy

The Environmental Green Line is a center

(switch box) and Internet link through which public complaints and inquiries regarding various environmental problems and issues are received – the first of its kind to serve Arab citizens in Israel. The Environmental Green Line continued to provide services to the public during the year 2009; documented cases included the spread of the West Nile Virus, the Venice Factory, follow up on the I’billin dump and water shortages.

Sanitation: During 2009, the Center continued to address the lack of infrastructure and problems of inadequate sewage grids in Arab localities. The Center dealt with sanitation problems by documenting instances of damage and demanding immediate intervention by officials. For example, complaints were lodged by residents of Ozeir and Rummana regarding free flowing sewage in al-Jarban valley, Majd al Krum, Tayibe and elsewhere.

Following Up on Three Maternal and Child Welfare Centers: In collaboration with Physicians for Human Rights, the Galilee Society documented the closing of three Maternal and Child Welfare centers in unrecognized villages in the Naqab. Documentation included the gathering of information and statements from residents of the three villages, and collaboration with other associations in addressing the High Court of Justice.

The Environmental��Justice Center

Environmental Education and Awareness The Environmental Justice Center continued

to conduct education and awareness activities in various environmental fields targeting different segments of society by holding lectures in schools and other educational and cultural frameworks concerning health and environmental issues such as cell-phone antennas and air pollution.

Scholarships: The Environmental Justice Center distributed 17 scholarships of NIS 2,000 to Arab students studying environment-related subjects at universities and institutions of higher education. These scholarships were issued as part of an educational and cultural project in the Arab schools with the aim of raising environmental awareness within Arab society. As part of this program, students receiving a scholarship commit to voluntarily work in Arab institutions active in fields related to their area of study.

A Supplementary Course on the Subject of Environmental Reinforcement and Education for School Teachers: The Environmental Justice Center initiated action to organize a supplementary course on the subject of environmental reinforcement and education for school teachers, with the aims of deepening educators’ knowledge in the field of environment and empowering them to become active through the framework of their institutions. The course also aims to embed environmental principles and raise environmental and health awareness in light of the changing local environment.

A Study Day on Electromagnetic Radiation and its Impact on Health: The Environmental

Justice Center held a study day entitled “Electromagnetic Radiation and its Impact on Health,” which centered on the subject of cell-phone antennas, their dispersion and impact. Several representatives from the Ministry of the Environment, the Environmental Units, the Federation of Environmental Quality in Cities, as well as other environmental organizations, participated in the study day. This event was initiated by the Center in the wake of increasing official, public and professional interest in the risk of exposure to electromagnetic radiation, increasing use of cell phones and construction of various types of transmission stations, and the posited correlation between electromagnetic radiation and increasing incidences of cancer and other diseases.

Reports and Surveys• Sanitation Report in Arab Villages 2009: A report

was conducted about sanitation problems in Arab villages in 2009. The report, prepared by attorney Ala Haidar and researcher Nedal Masalha, presented critical information, data and updates on sanitation problems in Arab villages, compounded by inadequate waste management and underdeveloped internal water and sanitation grids. The report includes recommendations for decision makers and other stakeholders such as the Water Authority, water and sanitation companies, and the heads of local authorities, stresses the need to raise public awareness concerning associated risks, and advocates increased budget allocations to develop the grids.

• The Quarries Report: A new report was written regarding stone quarries, which follows the

solid waste.• Through this project, the Galilee Society

seeks to enhance the capabilities of local authorities to decrease the negative impacts of solid waste by developing their working methods and mainstreaming the general vision and objectives of the Galilee Society toward achieving a safe and healthy environment. Among these objectives are decreasing waste amounts; reuse and recycling; supervising improved handling of waste; and raising public awareness.

• The determined period of implementation for this project is two years, to be concluded by the end of December 2011.

report of 2006. It addressed the planning and health aspects of the quarries issue, and concluded with significant data, such as:

At the state level, 54% of people living in proximity to quarries are Arab citizens, though the percentage of Arabs in Israel does not exceed 20%.

In the northern district, 74% of people living next to quarries are Arab citizens, (though only 52% of the northern district citizens are Arabs).

It is no surprise or coincidence that there is not a single representative of Arab citizens on all committees concerning the issue of planning, forming and implementing policies regarding the quarries.

Arab residents face nearly double the environmental and health risks associated with quarries, which explicitly threaten the lives of these citizens.

At the end of the report, recommendations and advice were addressed to decision makers and stakeholders, including the ministries dealing with the issue of quarries.

o Reinforcing the Capabilities of the Local Authorities towards Environmental Development “Green Cities” – CIUDAD: At the end of 2009, a major project entitled “Reinforcing the Capabilities of the Local Authorities towards Environmental Development – Green Cities” was approved. This project aims to develop the capabilities of local and regional authorities in six Arab cities in Israel and Palestine concerning issues dealing with

The Health Rights Center

Vision and Objectives:The Health Rights Center of the Galilee Society

is a professional and pioneering regional initiative that takes a rights-based

approach to health, holistically advocating the physiological,

psychological and social elements of health as a

fundamental human right.The Health Rights Center aims to improve health conditions for the

Palestinian minority in Israel and achieve

equality in health service provision by:

• Improving health awareness among Arab citizens,

individually and collectively;• Enhancing their knowledge and

awareness regarding health rights and methods for actualizing them;

• Defending the health rights of Arab citizens;• Providing sound data about the health of Arab

citizens as a scientific basis for improving health conditions.

The Center’s Activities in 2009:In 2009, the Health Rights Center continued its activities within specific projects, in addition to general activities categorized under updated health priorities.Society Without AIDS ProgramThe center continued this program for the fifth year and incorporated new work strategies. As part of the health education activities, the following was achieved:• Lectures and workshops were held in eight

schools;• A new brochure was issued containing

information and instructions on means of disease prevention addressed to all segments of society – especially youth and adolescents;

• The Center’s staff participated in media-oriented awareness-raising activities including broadcast interviews and publishing articles;

• Strategies were developed in order to reach a wider group of beneficiaries. The Center began to work with eight associations and institutions within Israel, Jerusalem and the West Bank, in order to activate these frameworks in the prevention of AIDS;

• A survey was conducted regarding the needs of these institutions and associations in terms of the level of common knowledge, positions and beliefs, in addition to surveying organizational

The Health Rights Center

needs to develop an expanded joint work program.

Breast Cancer ProgramThe first half of 2009 witnessed the last stage of the Breast Cancer Program, which aimed to increase the knowledge of Arab women and their families concerning Breast Cancer, including screening for early diagnosis and treatment of the disease. In this framework, the following took place:• A group of lectures were held, addressed to

groups of adult women and female high school students about the disease, its diagnosis and treatment;

• In collaboration with the Cancer Society, arrangements were made to produce an instructional film about mammography screening. The film was prepared specifically for Arab women, meeting the cultural and social criteria of Arab society.

Health Rights and Patients’ Rights ProgramThe Center continued its work on raising awareness with respect to health rights and how to actualize them. In this framework, the Center’s staff did the following:• Facilitated lectures concerning the Health

Insurance Law and its conclusions, in addition to supplementary and private insurance;

• Trained female volunteers in education about legal rights as part of a training course held in collaboration with the Patients’ Rights Association in Israel.

General ActivitiesSwine Flu:• A scientific symposium was hosted on the

subject of swine flu by Dr. William Nseir (Head of the Department of Internal Medicine in the Holy Family Hospital). A group of teachers and educators from the city of Shefa-A’mr participated in this symposium, along with other professionals and staff of the Galilee Society;

• In collaboration with the Regional Union of Arab Parents, a leaflet was issued to the student public on the subject of swine flu.

West Nile Virus:Following the confirmation of West Nile Virus infection in Nazareth, the Center’s manager participated in a televised interview about the disease and how it can be prevented. A complaint was also submitted against local authorities for their failure to address the accumulation of wastewater within their jurisdictions, a key contributor to the proliferation of the disease.

Chronic Diseases (Diabetes, Heart and Cardiovascular Diseases, and others):Preparations were completed for a policy document presenting current gaps between segments of society regarding specific chronic diseases. This document includes work strategies and bases for intervention programs advocated by the Galilee Society and its partners for implementation by the government, the Ministry of Health and health foundations. This project is a collaboration of the Galilee Society, Adva Center, the Association of Civil Rights in Israel, Physicians for Human Rights and the Tene Briut Association.

Young Physicians Program:In collaboration with the Young Physicians Organization, the Galilee Society participated in the Young Physicians program, an initiative through which junior high school students of Majd al Krum were trained in medical and health subjects. More than 40 students participated in the first two courses, which featured workshops concerning preliminary medical tests such as blood pressure, pulse, breathing, and physiological evaluation. The program also included sessions on healthy growth, balanced nutrition, outdoors activities and sport. Students applied what they learned by conducting a “real” surgery utilizing pigs’ hearts. The courses ended with a comprehensive educational tour of the Holy Family Hospital in Nazareth. Escorted by the professional staff, students and their parents visited the various units and gleaned insight into the daily operations of the Emergency Room, Laboratories, Radiology Department, Cardiovascular Unit, Maternity and Delivery, and the Intensive Care Unit for Preterm Infants. The Galilee Society plans to carry on with this program with additional junior high school groups in 2010.

ر�از-�بنك�املعلومات

www.rikaz.org

Rikaz Databank Center

Vision and ObjectivesRikaz has built a comprehensive database of

strategic importance with an aim to provide a critical lens through which the experiences

of Palestinian society can be observed, our needs understood and potential envisioned. By analyzing the realities of our community and presenting actionable data to decision makers, planners and

stakeholders in both the public and private sectors, Rikaz aspires to be a sustainable

and central catalyst of economic and social progress for the Palestinian community in Israel.

Rikaz Projects in 2009Conference: “Palestinians in Israel – Reality in

Numbers”Rikaz Databank hosted a conference

with the participation of the Regional Committee of the Heads of Local

Authorities entitled, “Palestinians in Israel – Reality in Numbers,” in which the results of the second Socio-economic Survey were presented. The conference

was attended by a large group concerned with the reality of the

Palestinian minority in Israel, among whom were representatives of various

Arab political parties, the High Follow-Up Committee of Arab Citizens of Israel and

the Regional Committee of the Heads of Local Authorities, in addition to representatives of several non-governmental organizations. The conference was widely covered by local and international media.Among the most notable results of the survey were the following:1. The Palestinian community is young with an

average age of just 19 years;2. 58.3% of Palestinian households in Israel will

be in need of at least one additional housing unit within the next ten years;

3. Among the Arab population, the participation rate in the workforce is 43% – compared to 58.5% amongst Jews. Only 18.9% of Arab women (15 years and above) participate in the workforce – compared to 56% among Jewish women;

4. About 32.5% of Arab households depend on state welfare allocations (children’s allowances, old age, pension, unemployment, mental disability, and income supplement) as a primary source of income;

5. The rate of holders of a B.A. degree is about 7.5% (8.6% among males, and about 6.3% among females);

6. The average monthly gross income for the Palestinian household in Israel is NIS 6878, whereas the average amongst Jewish households reached NIS 13245 in 2006. In 2006, the monthly average of expenses for

Rikaz Databank Center

the Palestinian household in Israel reached NIS 7450, whereas the monthly average of expense for the Jewish household reached about NIS 11494;

7. 68% of elderly Palestinians – both male and female – suffer from chronic diseases.

Project: Gender- and Minority- Mainstreaming of the Israeli National BudgetFollowing revelations in the Rikaz surveys of vast differences in economic and social indicators relating to women, Rikaz initiated a qualitative leap forward in its aim to study and evaluate proposed governmental economic and social policies through an analytical prism of gender. The project seeks to elucidate governmental social and economic policies by analyzing ambiguous figures within the general governmental budget – thereby clarifying them – in order to widen the range of civil society participation in the allocation of public resources. Ultimately, this three-year intervention is designed to build a budget that meets the requirements of the various minority and gender groups in Israel in an attempt to combat rampant poverty in the Palestinian community in Israel. The Project is managed by Rikaz in collaboration with Mada al-Carmel – the Arab Center for Applied Social Research, and I’lam – The Media Center for Arab Palestinians in Israel.

Work Strategies:1. A steering committee was formed to guide

project development and implementation. This committee consists of Members of the Knesset, employees of the public sector, and members of various civil society organizations. Moreover, other specialized sub-committees

were formed, each of which is responsible for directing staff according to various fields of specialization.

2. A comprehensive budget analysis was conducted, focusing on the axis of gender and nationality – and the impact of these factors on Palestinian women in Israel – in parallel with a comparison of indicators from the Socio-economic Survey conducted in 2007. The study concluded that employment, education and health are the most significant factors affecting levels of poverty. By cross examining interrelated data, the researchers concluded that strategic increases in budget allocations could be key to catalyzing development for the Palestinian minority in Israel and help this community overcome the barrier of poverty. Among the findings:• When an Arab woman is employed, the

chance of the household to overcome the cycle of poverty increases by 20%;

• Poor health conditions impede Arab male participation in the labor market by 31%, and Arab female participation by 14% - compared to 12% for Jewish men and 10% for Jewish women;

• Academic study by the head of the family improves the chance for Arab households to overcome the cycle of poverty by 14%.

1. A model was built to

Participation of different Ethnic groups, Age and

Gender in the labor market in Israel 2008

analyze the budget through a prism of gender and nationality, which contributes to understanding these dimensions of the governmental budget. There is great significance in ensuring contributions of the budget to fighting poverty among the Arab minority, and among women in particular.

2. Implementers conferred with decision makers and legislators, including Arab Members of Knesset, some of whom participated in the project’s steering committee. Such communication facilitates networking with decision makers, and facilitates understanding

of budgetary shortcomings. 3. It is clear that influencing

policy makers requires strategic media support to crystallize public opinion in such cases. In collaboration with I’lam, work has begun to train 15 Palestinian (male and female) journalists to

understand the economic situation, analyze the budget from national

and gender perspectives and effectively communicate its various dimensions to the

Palestinian Arab community. 4. A press conference entitled “Poverty in the

Arab Community in Light of Israeli Attempts to Join the OECD” was held. The press conference dealt with data derived from the 2007 Rikaz Socio-economic Survey. It also dealt with the prospect of Israel joining the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The conference was attended by Members of Knesset, representatives of civil society organizations, and journalists from

local and international media. At the end of the conference, there was an announcement about the initiation of a project to form a specialized economic sub-committee to guide the High Follow-Up Committee of Arab Citizens of Israel on economic issues concerning the Arab sector.

5. Dr. Mahmoud Khatib, the lead analyst researching the budget in the field of health, was invited to join the forum of economic researchers in the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute, which is responsible for exploring issues of “health differences within and amongst the various racial groups and between the two sexes in Israel.” This forum will provide theoretical and practical mechanisms to deal with the issue of health and its impact on ethnic and gender groups – an added value of the project.

A Study Day about Training and Employing Arab WomenIn collaboration with al-Zahra Association for the Advancement of the Status of Women, Rikaz organized a study day in the city of Sakhnin entitled, “The Possibilities of Training and Employing Arab Women in the Arab Community.” The study day took place in the building of the Towns Association of Environmental Quality in Sakhnin, with wide participation from representatives of active women’s associations, as well as heads of local authorities in Sakhnin, Arraba, Deir Hanna, and Kaukab Abu al-Heija. During this day, sobering information was presented about limited employment and poor integration into the labor market of Arab women in comparison with their Jewish counterparts.

The Naqab Department

Vision and ObjectivesThe Naqab Department of the Galilee Society works to improve the general health conditions of the Arab citizens in the Naqab region (Negev), and empower individuals to affect their own development by leveraging partnerships with local Arab organizations in this field.

Activities in 2009:The Mobile Clinic Program:The Mobile Clinic of the Galilee Society continued to provide services for the remote villages of the Naqab, especially the unrecognized villages. Since 1992, the mobile clinic has provided basic health and prevention services for thousands of Arab residents in the Naqab – services governmental institutions have neglected to provide.

Throughout 2009, the mobile clinic worked three days a week.Study Day: Patients’ Rights Law:The Health Rights Center in the Galilee Society, in collaboration with the Patients’ Rights Association in Israel, facilitated a study day about the Patients’ Rights law and its implementation in therapeutic and public health frameworks. The study day was held in the Beer Sheva Private College and was attended by academic physicians, representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Soroka Medical Center, and Social Services.

Participants discussed the importance of the struggle for health rights, including the rights of patients, regardless of affiliation or socio-economic status. In addition, participants spoke of the importance of public awareness of the law, its problems and details, as well as the importance of ensuring its implementation by the Ministry of Health. A discussion circle was held, in which a group of professionals analyzed the problems of implementing the law in the Naqab region, as well as the role of professionals in providing needed information related to health rights and the development of public knowledge in this regard.

Follow Up on the Closure of Three Maternal and Child Care Centers:In collaboration with Physicians for Human Rights, the Naqab Department documented the closure of three Maternal and Child Care centers in the unrecognized villages of the Naqab. Documentation included statements from the residents of the three villages and will be utilized in the preparation of an appeal to the Supreme Court of Justice against the closures, which violate a court ruling issued in 1999.

The Naqab Department

��معهد�األبحاث�التطبيقيةThe Institute of

Applied Research�

Background and ObjectivesThe Institute of Applied Research, a scientific-strategic project of the Galilee Society, was founded in July 1995 and is the first such center in the Palestinian Arab community. It is acknowledged by the ministry of science and technology and is

academically affiliated with the University of Haifa. The institute aspires to

become a mega research and development institute with a

leading scientific team, and aims at providing Arab

students with access to scientific educational e x p e r i e n c e s ; developing existing fields of research through receipt of

regionally oriented grant opportunities

and; encouraging Arab investment in industry,

technology and science through leveraging of its scientific

innovation and expertise of its scientists. Thus, it focuses on the development

and enhancement of economic opportunities for the Arab community. The Institute`s research highly considers the Arab community needs and is undertaken in cooperation with local, regional and international research organizations and universities

in the fields of Biotechnology, Health, Environmental biotechnology & Engineering, Agriculture, Medicinal Herbs, Renewable Energy, Human Genetic Disorders, Bioinformatics, and Food preservation. Since its inception, the Institute has maintained high levels of achievement and excellence.

During 2009 the institute moved to its new facilities and now has over 600 square meters of laboratories and offices, and is adequately equipped to carry out implement a variety of experimental and analytical techniques.

The institute`s activities in 2009 In the course of 2009, parallel to its 8 on-going research projects in the various fields, the Institute’s researchers submitted 16 new research proposals to both local and international research funds and were awarded three grants by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST). The Institute also won its second prestigious Levi Eshkol award this year and had over 16 publications in peer-reviewed journals and books and 13 presentations in local and international conferences and/or workshops. 4 M.Sc students are currently conducting their thesis research under the supervision of the Institute’s researchers in collaboration with researchers from the Technion and the University of Haifa. During 2009 13 graduate students from various collages carries out their graduation projects in the Institute’s labs under the supervision of its researchers.

The Institute of Applied Research�

Research projects approved for funding during 2009 1. Title of Project: Utilization of olive oil

waste water ingredients for a biocontrol preservation of food & The Biological control of storage diseases using bioactive safe ingredients from Olive mill wastewater. Funded for three year starting August 2009, the ultimate goal of the project is to utilize the OMW produced in the Mediterranean region during olive oil extraction for the production of economical and environmentally safe antifungal & antibacterial products for food preservation.

2. Title of Project: Recombinant Yeasts for Effective Ethanol Production from Olive Mill Solid Wastes. In the field of renewable energy. Funded for a year starting October 2009 through a “Levi Eshkol” grant, the goal of this research is to develop a molecular method for obtaining recombinant yeast, which ferments lignocellulose raw materials from Olive Mill Solid Wastes to ethanol.

3. Title of the project: MO-1, Novel Obesity Gene: Genotype and Phenotype Characterization of Obese and Lean Arab Groups from the Galilee. In collaboration with Bni-zyon medical center. In the field of human genetic disorders and bioinformatics. Funded for the duration of approximately three years starting September 2009, this project aims at building a comprehensive clinical and biochemical database for families with obesity and leanness from Sakhnin city, to further analyze the MO-1 gene in the

individuals from these families, by examining the MO-1 gene sequence alterations including mutations and SNPs and to characterize the metabolic and biochemical significance of the MO-1 gene’s new alterations at the cell level.

On-going Research

Medicinal plants, medical and food microbiology and agriculture

1. Title of Project: Development of a novel Anti Acne product, using Arab traditional medicinal plant. Funded by MOST for the duration of three years (1/12/2006-30/11/09) in collaboration with the Hebrew University, this research aims at substantiating novel anti-acne preparations and their combinations in topical application.

2. Title of Project: Examination of Recovery and Use of Polyphenoles from Olive Wastes for Innovative Products. Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and the Research MOST (BMBF-MOST) cofund for the duration of three years (1/7/2007 – 30/6/2010) and in collaboration with the Technical University of Munich, this project utilizes the olive mill wastes (OMW) produced in the Mediterranean region during olive oil extraction for the production of economical and environmentally

safe antioxidants and antimicrobial products with innovative uses.

3. Title of Project: Medicinal plants- a potential source for antimicrobial and antipathogenic compounds. Funded by MOST for the duration of three years (1/7/2008 -31/6/2011), the main objective of this study is to investigate the antimicrobial and antipathogenic properties of medicinal plants, as well as their antimicrobial

potential against several important pathogenic bacteria of medical

importance.

4. Title of Project: Pistacia lentiscus as

Natural Drug against G a s t r o - I n t e s t i n a l Worms in goats. Funded by MOST for the duration of three years (1/12/2007

– 30/11/2010), in collaboration with the

Volcanic Center, this research aims to extract

multiple phenol compounds from the plant Pistacia lentiscus

and study their curative effects against intestinal worms in goats.

Environmental microbiology, environmental engineering and environmental biotechnology

1. Title of Project: Persistent organic matter, endocrine disrupting chemicals and pathogens in treated wastewater and soils: Identification, monitoring, transport, effects, treatment, and removal for

sustainable reuse. An infrastructure research funded by MOST for approximately three years time (1/10/2007 - 30/9/2010) in collaboration with 8 Israeli research institutes and universities, this project focuses on the removal from sewage influent --via advanced membrane technologies-- of selected anthropogenic persistent organic pollutants (POPs), endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), nonionic surfactants, alkylphenol etoxylates (APEOs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), selected anthropogenic hormones, pharmaceuticals and pathogens. In this context, the general objective of this research is to facilitate the sustainable, health-safe reuse of treated sewage effluents.

2. Title of Project: Endocrine disrupting activity of steroid hormones and their biodegradation in treated domestic and swine wastewaters. Funded by MOST for three years (1/11/2007 -30/11/2010) in collaboration with Uranim College and the University of Haifa, the main objectives of this research are to determine the fate of synthetic steroid growth promoters in domestic and agriculture effluents in sewage treatment plants in Israel, and to identify the microbial population present in different sources of sludge and/or surface soil contaminated with swine wastes responsible for their biodegradation process.

3. Title of Project: Decentralized Wastewater Treatment in Arid Regions: Up flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) and Intermittent Sand Filter (ISF). Funded by BMBF for three years (1/4/2007-30/3/2010)

in collaboration with 6 foreign research institutes and universities, the main goal of this research is to develop, test and optimize the combination of UASB with Intermittent Sand Filter as a low cost and simple to operate wastewater treatment. The developed system will be tested for a high quality of effluent for safe reuse.

4. Title of Project:� Low-Cost High Surface Area Carbonaceous Materials (HSACM) for Environmental Application: Contaminated sites remediation. Funded by MOST for three years (1/7/2008-30/6/ 2011), the overall goal of this project is to develop a new treatment technology that incorporates low cost charred Jift as a high-surface-area carbonaceous material (HSACM) into contaminated soil as an immobilizing agent for toxic chemicals.

Renewable Energy

Title of Project: Production of Bioethanol from Agricultural Wastes. Funded by MOST for the duration of three years (1/12/2007 – 30/11/2010), in collaboration with the Technion this project, the ultimate goal of the current project is to utilize the olive mill solid wastes (OMSW) produced in the Mediterranean region during the olive oil extraction for the production of economical and environmentally safe bioethanol.

Bioinformatics1. Title of Project: Classification and biomarker

identification using gene network modules and support vector machines. Funded by MOST for three years (9/2008-6/2010)

in collaboration with Al-Qasemi Academic College, the University of Haifa, and the Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, the main goal of the project is to develop an algorithm which integrates network information with recursive feature elimination based on support vector machines (SVM) for discovery of biological biomarker.

2. Title of Project: MicroRNA Gene Target Predictions. A “Levi Eshkol” supported research for the duration of 2 years (October 2008- September 2010). The main goal of this research is to develop a computational algorithm in order to predict the target for the miRNA.

Seminars and Guest Lecture

The Institute holds regular seminar lectures as an integral part of its scientific activity. During 2009 the Institute hosted the following seminars:

January 22nd – Mrs. Nour Abu Ahmad from the Clinical dietitian at Nazareth Hospital presented a lecture entitled, “L- carnitine supplementation in chronic renal failure. Does the evidence justify its use?”

March 12th – Dr. Zaid Afawi of Soroka Medical Center in Tel Aviv and Ben Gurion University

Medical School lectured on “Clinical and Genetic Aspects of Progressive Mycoclonic Familial Epilepsy”, discussing the medical and genetic causes of epilepsy.

April 2nd – Mr. Zohar Yakhini of the Department of Computer Science at the Technion gave a lecture entitled, “Integrating Genomes Using Microarray Principles and Flexible

Applications”.

April 12th – Sirg Jan Landu of the Volcani

Center led a seminar on Self-Medication in Free-

Range Herbivores. Dr. Landu discussed the potential benefits from studying these animals further in light of their unique ability to self-

medicate from the plants they consume.

April 30th – Dr. Adel Shalata from the Simon

Winter Institute for Human Genetics, Bnai-Zion Medical Center,

gave a lecture on ”Genetic Diseases in the Arab Community, Disease Gene Mapping and Cloning”.

International meetings

During the cost action meeting held on April 2009 at Szeged, Hungary, Dr. Hassan Azaizeh gave a presentation on removal capacity of

constructed wetland for enteric pathogens and protozoan parasites from treated wastewater used in irrigation. In another cost meeting held on October 2009 at Ascona, Switzerland he presented Biomethylation and Biotransformation of Selenium by Rhizosphere Microorganisms.

Conferences

Within the Integrated vision of urban and agro-industrial wastewater treatment, monitoring and reclamation conference held in Terni, Italy, on 2nd -3rd of July 2009, Dr. Isam Sabbah presented a paper entitled, “Agro-industrial Wastewater = Good” Biogas Potential, Why?, and on Synergetic effect of photocatalytic degradation and adsorption processes on the removal of phenolic compounds from agro-industrial effluent.

Dr. Sabah presented the results of his team in the 6th Israeli Water Association conference held on 25th of March, 2009, at Kfar Hamkbia talking about the development of biomass adaptation for the treatment of strong wastewater (Agro-industrial)-Olive Mill Waste (OMW) as a model. In the same conference, Nidal Massalha, an environmental engineer working with Dr. Sabah, talked about combined Chemically Enhanced Primary Treatment CEPT with Intermittent Bio-Filter for WWT in Rural Areas.

In the Xenowac-2009 conference held on 10-13th of March, 2009 at Pathos, Cyprus, Dr. Sabbah, presented a lecture on Modeling the Effect of Aging on Naphthalene and Phenanthrene Desorption Rates from

Environmental Solids, as well as a poster on Synergetic effect of photocatalytic degradation and adsorption processes on the removal of phenolic compounds from agro-industrial effluent.

Within the 10th Bar-Ilan Symposium on the Foundations of Artificial Intelligence (BISFAI, 2009) Dr. Malik Yousef gave presentations on “One-Class or Two-Class Machine Learning for MicroRNA Target Prediction” and “Recursive gene Networks Elimination (RNE) For Feature Selection and Classification from Gene Expression data”.

Dr. Waleed Khalifa working with Dr. Malik Yousef presented an abstract on “MicroRNA Target Predictions Based Exclusively on Positive Examples” at the Israeli Bioinformatics annual Symposium (2009).

During the 4th International Symposium on Health Informatics and Bioinformatics, held in Turkey on 2009, Dr. Malik Yousef, talked about One-Class Machine Learning for MicroRNA Target Detection.

Workshops

During a workshop that was held in the Volcanic Institute in December 2009, Dr. Hassan Azaizeh presented a paper entitled, “Pistacia lentiscus crude extracts inhibit molting of gastrointestinal worms in goats”.

On October 7th a workshop was held at the Technion to discuss the results of the United National Infrastructure Research Project (UNRIP): Persistent organic matter, endocrine disrupting chemicals and pathogens in treated wastewater and soils and their identification,

monitoring, transport, effects, treatment, and removal for sustainable reuse. The workshop included 4 different sessions during which researchers from the nine related research groups presented their latest results. Dr. Hassan Azaizeh, who was the chair of one of the sessions, gave a lecture on “The potential of constructed wetlands in the removal of enteric pathogens and protozoan parasites”. In the same event Dr. Jeries Jadoun gave a lecture on “Assessment of the microbial removal efficiency of different wastewater treatment technologies via standard and advanced e n u m e r a t i o n methods”.

Dr. Isam Sabbah and Engineer Katie Baransi attended the third workshop within the framework of the Dead-Sea Project funded by the BMBF foundation. The two presented the latest outcomes of an ongoing research entitled, “Decentralized wastewater treatment in arid regions: Up flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) and intermittent sand filter (ISF)”. Researcher form Germany, the Technion, Jordan and Palestine also attended this meeting that was sponsored by the Helmholtz Association.

Educational activities As part of the first national scientific festival

held on October 5th, the Institute invited the public and high schools students to participate in a seminar entitled, “Agricultural waste as a source for antimicrobial compounds and renewable energy.”

In cooperation with MOST, the Shefa-Amr municipality’s Department of Education

and principles from high schools in the city, the Institute held a

seminar in the Galilee Society and invited the public to

discuss the potential reuse of polluting agriculture waste as an efficient, available and sustainable source for renewable energy, as well as

for the production of antimicrobial

compounds. The seminar was attended by over 50

students who emphasize in their studies topics such as

biology, chemistry and environment, and consisted of four lectures in the

following topics: Agricultural waste as a source for biogas, solid olive mill waste as a potential source for bioethanol, utilization of enzymes for generating biodiesel, olive mill wastewater as a source for antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds. The lectures were given by the Institute’s researchers and research assistants, as well as by M.Sc students

and were accompanied by a guided tour in the labs during which the visitors witnessed some of the Institute’s research methods.

Publications in peer-reviewed journals/Books

1. Bal Ram Singh, Satish K. Gupta, Hassan Azaizeh, Stefan Shilev, Damien Sudre, Won Yong Song, Enrico Martinoia, and Michel Mench. 2009. Safety of food crops on land contaminated with trace elements. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture (submitted).

2. Hassan Azaizeh, Paula Castro, Petra Kidd. 2009. Microbial biodegradation of organic xenobiotic pollutants. Chapter in: Organic Xenobiotics and Plants: from Mode of Action to Ecophysiology. Authors Peter Schroeder, and Christopher D. Collins. (Submitted).

3. Siqing Liu, Yebo Li, Hassan Azaizeh, Fengjie Cui, Ahmad Tafesh and Kenneth M. Bischoff1 2009. Production of value-added products by lactic acid bacteria. (Submitted).

4. Hassan Azaizeh, Paula Castro, Petra Kidd. The potential for growing food crops in soil contaminated with organic pollutants: Root exudates and Rhizosphere effect on the biotransformation and biodegradation of organic pollutants. (Under review).

5. Hassan Azaizeh. 2009. Effects of nutrients on physiological and biochemical of secondary metabolites of medicinal herbs. Chapter in a book. (Under review).

6. Said O, Saad B, Fulder S, Amin R, Kassis E , and Khalil K. Hypolipidemic activity of extracts

from Eriobotrya japonica and Olea europaea, traditionally used in the Greco-Arab medicine in maintaining healthy fat levels in the blood. The Open Complementary Medicine Journal, 2009, 1, 00-00 1.

7. Said O, Fulder S, Khalil K, Kassis E, and Saad B, (2009) Efficacy and safety assessments of Ferula assa-foetida L., traditionally used in Greco-Arab herbal medicine for enhancing male fertility, libido and erectile function. The Open Complementary Medicine Journal, 2009, 1, 00-00 1.

8. Said O, Khalil K, Fulder S, Marie Y, Kassis E, and Saad B, (2009) A double blinded- randomized clinical study with “Weighlevel”, a combination of four medicinal plants used in traditional Greco-Arab and Islamic medicine The Open Complementary Medicine Journal, (In print).

9. Bashar Saad, Rola JadAllah, Harbi Daraghmeh, and Omar Said (2009) Medicines and Method of Therapy in the Arab and Islamic Medicine International Journal, Bioscience Biotechnology Research Communications, (In print).

10. Saad B and Said O., (2009) Chapter 5: Tradition and Prospective of Greco-Arab and Islamic Herbal Medicine in Herbal Remedies: Toxicity and Effects on Clinical Laboratory Test Results” edited by Amitava Dasgupta and Catherine Hammett-Stabler. Wiley-Blackwell John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

11. Said O, Zaid H., and Saad B., (2009) Greco-Arab and Islamic herbal medicine and cancer treatment/prevention. In: Foods, Herbs,

and their Extracts: Cancer Treatment and Prevention, Ed. Watson and Preedy, Taylo &Francis Group (In print).

12. Khatib A., Aqra F., Yagi N., Basheer S., Sabbah I., Al-Hayek B., and Musa M., (2009); Environmental pollution resulting from olive oil production in Palestine, South. Braz. J. Chem., Vol. 17, 17

13. Krasnits E., Friedler E., Sabbah I., Beliavski M., Tarre S., and Green M, (2009); Spatial distribution of microbial population in a well established c o n s t r u c t e d wetland treating m u n i c i p a l wastewater, J. Ecological Eng., 35, 1085-1089.

14. Khatib A., Aqra F., Yagi N., Subuh Y., Hayeek B., Musa M., Basheer S., and Sabbah I., (2009). Reducing the environmental impact of olive mill wastewater, Amer. J. Environ. Sci., 5, 1, 1-6.

15. Massalha N., Shaviv A. and Sabbah I.; Modeling the Effect of Immobilization of Bacteria on the Rate of Biodegradation of phenol under inhibitory conditions, (under review).

16. Borisover M., Sas A., Sabbah I., and Lavie G., (2009). Characterization of effluent DOM

using fluorescence spectroscopy. Water and Irrigation: 506:26-32. (Hebrew).

17. Malik Yousef, Naim Najami and Walid Khaliefa ,A Comparison Study Between One-Class and Two-Class Machine Learning for MicroRNA Target Detection ,Journal of Biomedical Science and Engineering (2009).

18. Malavika S. Giri, Michael Nebozyhn, Andrea Raymond ,

Bethsebah Gekonge, Aidan Hancock, Shenoa Creer,

Calen Nicols, Malik Yousef, Andrea S. Foulkes, Karam

Mounzer, Jane Shull, Guido Silvestri, Jay Kostman, Ronald G. Collman, Louise Showe and Luis J. Montaner ,Circulating Monocytes in HIV-

1-Infected Viremic Subjects Exhibit an

Antiapoptosis Gene Signature and Virus- and

Host-Mediated Apoptosis Resistance. The Journal of

Immunology, 2009, 182, 4459 -4470.

19. Michael Showe, Anil Vachani, Andrew Kossenkov, Malik Yousef, Calen Nichols, Elena Nikonova, Celia Chang, John Kucharczuk, Bao Tran, Elliot Wakeam, Ting-An Yie, David Speicher, William Rom, Steven Albelda, Louise Showe, Gene Expression Profiles in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear

Cells Can Distinguish Patients with Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer from Patients with Non-Malignant Lung Disease. Cancer Research, 2009.

20. Malik Yousef, Mohamed Ketany, Larry Manevitz , Louise C Showe, Michael K. Showe, Classification and biomarker identification using gene network modules and support vector machines. BMC Bioinformatics 2009, 10:337.

21. Malik Yousef, Louise C Showe and Michael K Showe, A study of microRNAs in silico and in vivo: Bioinformatics approaches to microRNA Discovery and Target Identification, FEBS J. 2009 Apr; 276(8):2150-6.

22. Malik Yousef and Waleed Khalifa, MiRNAs: a review of bioinformatics approaches. Biotech International, July 2009.

مركز�امل�سم

للنباتات�الطبية

مركز�امل�سم Al-Maissam Medicinal�Plant Center for Research�

and Education

Objectives and Work Strategy Al-Maissam focuses on reviving the popular Palestinian folk culture, maintaining a variety of medicinal plants, educating the local public on the traditional medicinal utility of these plants, and guiding student research in the fields of environment, biology, chemistry and herbs.

Activities in 2009:The Daily Visit ProgramThis year, about 4,000 students of various educational levels visited the center. Students get to know Al-Maissam, starting with the greenhouse and its medicinal plants. They progress to the educational bee and compost stations, observe fish and algae, conduct research activities, manufacture natural cosmetics and plant herbs.

The Young Researcher ProgramThe Young Researcher program consists of ten meetings, through which students come to know various types of scientific research. Each group of students then carries out its own research project under the supervision and instruction of Al-Maissam’s instructors. A particularly engaging element of this program focuses on the subject of bees – students explore bee cells, the honey harvest, and natural beeswax products. More than 130 fifth to eigth grade students from several schools participated in the program and presented the results of their research at the end of the course.

Al-Maissam Medicinal Plant Centerfor Research and Education

High School Matriculation AssistanceAl-Maissam provided instructional services to high school students to help them finish their final papers at the level of 4-5 units in the subjects of environment, biology and chemistry. Researchers of Al-Maissam and the Applied Research Institute contributed to the instruction of over 730 students in 2009.

Educational Lectures for the PublicAl-Maissam continued to hold public lectures in a number of villages and cities throughout the country; in 2009, more than 30 lectures were held in different schools.

Training Courses for TeachersAl-Maissam Center facilitated a series of workshops and supplementary courses for teachers of environmental subjects in high schools through which teachers learned about herbs and their medicinal utility, as well as Al-Maissam’s role in encouraging students to engage in scientific research.

The Department of�Resource Development�

and Public Relations

The Department of Resource Development and Public Relations fosters relationships between the Galilee Society and its international benefactors and implementing partners in order to widen our base of collaboration and affect issues of mutual concern.

In coordination with each of the professional departments, the Department of Resource Development and Public Relations works to develop programs of the Galilee Society, identify partners and secure the requisite financial resources. The department follows up throughout the various stages of implementation and promotes community awareness of our work through media outreach. In addition, the department contributes by issuing electronic reviews, annual reports and updating the website and various publications of the organization.

The Department of Resource Developmentand Public Relations

The Institutional Donors of the Galilee Society in 2009:

• European Union• Open Society Institute• Sigrid Rausing Trust• Misereor • Church of Scotland• Healing Across the Divides

Other General Activities�شاطات�عامة

Special Relief Campaign during the War on GazaIn response to the devastating attacks upon the civilian population of Gaza, the Galilee Society initiated an emergency relief campaign in coordination with global health institutions (such as the World Health Organization), the Center for Management of Crisis and Emergency of the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, and Physicians for Human Rights. Through this cooperative framework, the Galilee Society sent significant amounts of medical equipment to Gaza, gathered through the generous donations of Arab pharmacies throughout Israel. This approach was met with a rapid popular response and public readiness never before seen in Israel.

Amid the critical deterioration of the health institutions in Gaza and resulting cessation of therapeutic services, medical professionals had reached a point at which they could no longer provide proper treatment for the wounded. In this context, the Galilee Society issued a statement that was circulated to international human Rights organizations and others working in the fields of health and environment, demanding immediate intervention, pressure on the Israeli Government to desist in its attack on Gaza and to make possible the delivery of medical aid to the Gaza Strip.

Care for the Families of Young Patients in Tel Hashomer HospitalThroughout the past year, the Galilee Society continued to support the families of the Palestinian children of Gaza hospitalized at the Tel Hashomer Hospital in Ramat Gan. Nearly 70 Palestinian children from Gaza, aged 1 month to 14 years, are receiving treatment in the hospital; the period of treatment ranges from a few months to a few years. During this period, each child is accompanied by a single custodial guardian, all of whom are forbidden to leave the hospital grounds. We provide care for these families by making periodic visits, facilitating entertainment programs and other activities, and distributing funds or in-kind aid gathered from generous donors throughout our community and among the staff of the Galilee Society.

Honoring Dr. Hatem Kana’ne on the Occasion of the Publication of his Book The Galilee Society, in collaboration with Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, organized a ceremony honoring Dr. Hatem Kana’ne (a founder of the Galilee Society and General Director for many years), on the occasion of the publication of his book Physician from the Galilee. The ceremony was attended by many of the Galilee Society’s original founders.

Other General Activities

Grand Opening of the Institute of Applied Research On 30 September 2009, the Galilee Society crowned a two-year construction effort with a celebration of the opening of the new Research and Development Center. In attendance was Minister of Science Daniel Hershkovitch, former Minister of Science Shulamit Aloni, Member of Knesset Hanin Zouabi, Member of Knesset Ahmad Tibi, representatives of the Ministry of Science, and researchers from several universities, in addition to the members of the Board of Directors, heads of other non-governmental organizations, local civil society activists and others. The new facility of the Institute of Applied Research of the Galilee Society

features state-of-art tools and meets the highest standards of rapidly advancing research systems.

A Volunteering Day in the Galilee SocietyIn November, a volunteer work day was held in the Galilee Society, attended by the staff and members of the Board of Directors, in collaboration with the Islamic Scout Center in Shefa-A’mr and a group of volunteers and craftsmen. Participants conducted repairs and maintenance work throughout the building and its surroundings, including planting seedlings and flowers. This activity is part of the employees’ contribution to the completion of the new facility of the Institute of Applied Research.

The Galilee Society is an unaffiliated, non governmental Palestinian Arab institution in Israel. The Galilee Society was founded in 1981 by 4 healthcare specialists: Dr. Hatem Kana’ne, Dr. Anwar A’awad, Dr. Shoki A’atallah, and Dr. Rona Makai, and with time evolved from an exclusively voluntary initiative to a regional institution working in the fields of environment, health and social development, with a large professional staff. The Galilee Society is dedicated to achieving equality in the fields of health, environment, and socio-economic development for Arab citizens in Israel. To this end, the Galilee Society works with local, regional and international bodies, including civil society organizations, local and municipal authorities, and a range of professional institutions.By virtue of its projects, the Galilee Society has become a major contributor in the fields of private health and sustainable development, and is the primary address for the Palestinian citizens in Israel and their elected representatives in the fields of health and environment at the local level. At the international level, the Galilee Society is involved in struggle to provide health, environmental, and developmental justice for national ethnic minorities in industrialized countries. The Society works within two frameworks: the General Program and Strategic Program.

The General Program includes four professional centers:1. Health Rights Center2. Environmental Justice Center3. Rikaz – Databank on the Palestinian Minority in Israel4. The Naqab Department

Strategic Program elements include:1. The Institute of Applied Research2. Al-Maissam Medicinal Plant Center for Research and Education3. Biotechnological patent companies In the various projects and activities, the Galilee Society always aims to empower the community and enhance its abilities, employing a bottom-up strategy to sustainable development through strategies that reinforce leadership within the Palestinian community in Israel.

Organizational Overview

Board of DirectorsAbed Masalha – Chair of BoardWael OmariRoseland DaemMajd HaddadIsam OmarDr. Ali GniemMohammad AbbasEmtanes ShehadeHabib Keryanne

Administrational StaffGeneral DirectorBaker Awawdy (since July 2009)Mohammad Khatib (until June 2009)

Administrative Coordinator and LibrarianRima Hayek-Zayed

CPA and Director of Financial DepartmentSuhier Hanna-Armali

Health Rights CenterMohammad Khatib – DirectorAmira Othman –Breast Cancer Project CoordinatorMahmoud Abd al Halim – Sexual and HIV/AIDS Educational Program

Environmental Justice CenterShadi Azzam, Lawyer - Director (until July 2009)Ala Haidar, Lawyer - Director (since August 2009)Lina O. Knnane, Lawyer - Project Coordinator*Morad Habiballah - Environmental Education CoordinatorMai Assadi - Environmental Education Coordinator*Lilian Khalil - Environmental Education Coordinator*

Rikaz DatabankAhmad Sheikh Mohammad – DirectorAid Rohana – Senior EconomistMahmoud Khatib – Economy ResearcherLeena Abu Mukh Zoabi, Lawyer* - AdvocatorLiana Fahoum – Resource Development and Community Coordinator*Suheil Swaid – Field Research Coordinator

The Naqab DepartmentKhuloud al Assad – SecretaryMaher Abu Ratyoush – Mobile Clinic Driver

The Department of Development and Public RelationsJammie Mandel – Director (until July 2009)Naama Blatman – Director (since October 2009)Sarika Sanha – InternJonathan Langer – InternFarra Kahalnik – Manager of Resource Development

Institute of Applied researchDr. Jeries Jadoun – Researcher and Scientific DirectorDr. Hassan Azaizeh – ResearcherDr. Sobhi Bashir – ResearcherDr. Walid Khalifa – ResearcherDr. Bashar Saad – ResearcherDr. Isam Sabbah – Researcher and Manger of Agrobex CompanyDr. Ahmad Tafesh – ResearcherDr. Naim Najami – ResearcherDr. Ahmad Yazbek - Researcher and Manger of Syntatex CompanyDr. Malek Yousef – ResearcherHeba Abu Tayeh – M.A. StudentKaty Baransi – M.A. StudentFaris Halhly- Co-researcherAlaa Hamadi - Co-researcherGhadir Zraik - Co-researcherAnwar Masalha - Co-researcherMohammad Majdoub - Co-researcherRana Jarjoura - Co-researcherKefah Khshiboun - Co-researcherNejme Abbas - Co-researcherMajeda Jeryes - Co-researcherHanadi Azzam - Co-researcherGhassan Baransi – AccountantClair Tawafshe – Administrative Assistant

Al-MaissamDr. Naim Kraim – Director (until July 2009)Tareq Omar – Director (since August 2009)

GuidesGhaidaa Abu AhmadDoua BsoulEmad Abu AliAhmad HejaziRasha Zar’eniHoda Othman

*Joined the staff during 2010

www.gal-soc.org

The Galilee SocietyThe Arab National Society for Health Research and Services (R.S.)