Issue24

The Galilee Society Newsletter

In This Issue: Issue 24, March 2007

Environmental Injustice: Galilee Society Re-port Presented at Study Day Shows Discrimi-nation in Placement of Stone QuarriesJewish Artist Couple to Work with Bedouin Youth-to-Youth Students to Create Art from Recycled TiresRikaz Databank Begins Work on E.U.-Funded 2007 Socio-Economic Survey

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Galilee Society General Director Meets with Donors, Friends of Galilee Society Board in U.S. TourR&D Center Urgently Seeks Intern News in BriefHow to Support the Galilee Society

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Environmental Injustice: Galilee Society Report Presented at Study Day Shows Discrimination in Placement of Stone Quarries

More than 50% of those negatively affected by stone quarries in Israel are Arabs, a population group that constitutes only 18% of the general population, according to Galilee Society report funded by the Jerusalem Institute for Israeli Re-

search whose results were presented at a Study Day on 31 January in the Arab town of Um Al Fahem.

The report found that for communities affected by stone quarries, the closer to the stone quarry, the

greater the concentration of Arab residents and the more harmful the effects on the Arab population. The report analyzed a number of characteristics of residents living within a 3km radius of both exist-ing and planned stone quarries, in six, 500m rings. These characteristics included demography, age, and socio-economic status. Of the existing stone quarries in Israel, more than 60% of the population within the first 5 rings (i.e. 2.5km) is Arab, and almost 70% of Arabs live within areas close to ex-isting stone quarries. In the northern region of the country, where the majority of Arabs in Israel live, the situation is worse: 71% of the population lives within 3km of a stone quarry. Within the inner rings, i.e. up to 1,500m from the centre of a stone quarry, this figure goes up to 85%. In the northern district of Akko, where 63% of the population is Arab, 88% of the population within the 3km radius of a stone quarry is Arab.

The dire picture of high numbers of Arab commu-nities living in close proximity to existing quarries does improve for planned quarry construction proj-ects. In these cases, 65% of the population living

within a 3km radius of planned stone quarries will be Jewish and 35% will be Arab. However, this is still not proportionate to the division of Jews and Arabs in the population as a whole, and there will remain a disproportionate concentration of stone quarries close to Arab residents.

The recommendation of the Galilee Society’s Stone Quarry Report is to amend the Israeli Master Plan #14, which regulates stone quarries in Israel. It also recommends to minimize the allocation of stone quarries near Arab villages and to involve Arabs more in the planning procedures, enabling them to have a say. This report will be submitted to the Environmental Committee of the Knesset in the coming months.

The presentation of this significant report consti-tuted the central thesis of the Study Day, which was co-sponsored by the Um Al Fahem Environ-mental Unit and Local Authority, and was entitled “Environmental Discrimination against Palestin-ians in Israel.” Galilee Society General Director Dr. Basel Ghattas and Naim Daoud of the Envi-

Study day program

Shadi Azzam, Environmental Lawyer for the Galilee Society and study day host

ronmental Justice Center presented survey find-ings to an audience of more than 100 politicians, policymakers, representatives of non-governmental organizations, Galilee Society staff, and citizens.

In addition to discussion of the Stone Quarry Report findings, a range of human rights and policy professionals, academics, and governmental officials gave presentations on environmental discrimination against Palestinians in Israel.

The first part of the study day included introduc-tory comments from Muhammed Rabah, General Director of the Um Al Fahem District Environ-mental Unit; Um Al Fahem Deputy Mayor Zeki Eghbaria; and Wael Omari, Chairman of the Board, the Galilee Society.

The second section included an insightful speech from Jousef Jabaren, senior lecturer at Technion – Israeli Institute of Technology in Haifa and visiting lecturer at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Mr. Jabaren discussed the concept of environmental justice, its definition, application, and meaning to the Israeli government.

Also included in the section part of the study day was a perceptive speech from Suhad Bishara, Coordinator of the Legal Department for Adalah, the Legal Center for Arab Minority Right in Israel. Ms. Bishara discussed the lack of environmental planning in building procedures in Israel and the complete exclusion of Arabs from discussions of environmental planning.

Following these speeches, Karmit Levnov of Life & Environment, Israel’s umbrella organization for environmental NGOs, commented on the survey’s findings.

EJC Awards First Half of Scholarships to Students Pursuing Environmental Studies

The Galilee Society disbursed the first installment of scholarship funds during the Environmental Jus-tice Study Day to participants of an Environmental Justice Center (EJC) program aiming to encour-age environmental study for university students in Israel.

In a ceremony presided over by Dr. Basel Ghattas,

Galilee Society General Director, Naim Karim, General Program Director, and Shadi Azzam, EJC lawyer and Scholarship Program manager, 20 stu-dents received the first installment worth 1000 NIS ($234). They will receive the remainder of the funds upon completion of their responsibilities in July 2007 and submission of a report about their work during the program. The students will also be re-

Karmit Levnov of Life & Environment

quired to attend another EJC study day on Sustain-able Development in August 2007.

These students have received training from the Galilee Society to qualify them to conduct environ-mental education for children aged 10-14 in their local communities. The scholarship recipients are holding weekly meetings with the children, educat-ing them on a variety of environmental issues rel-

evant to the Arab communities in Israel. Environ-mental information materials in Arabic, prepared by the Environmental Justice Center, have been given to the students. The program includes field trips and other outdoor environmental activities, such as cleaning public parks and planting trees.

Examples of accepted proposals are a green yard, a community environmental hazard report, and an aviary. The Galilee Society will report in this newsletter on student projects at the end of the five-month period.

Funding for the project comes from MISEREOR, the German Catholic Bishops’ Organization for Development Cooperation. Discussions are also being held with various Arab Local Authorities to try to secure financial support for further envi-ronmental students to take part in the scholarship project, in addition to that provided by the Galilee Society.

Galilee Society General Director Dr. Basel Ghattas awarding first disbursement of scholarship to a recipient

Jewish Artist Couple to Work with Bedouin Youth-to-Youth Students to Create Art from Recycled Tires

The Naqab Department has signed an agreement with Jewish artists Alon and Abital Aharone to work with Bedouin students from the Galilee Society’s Youth-to-Youth project to create practical and artistic objects out of discarded rubber tires.

The Ahrones have collaborated with the Galilee Society Naqab Department’s projects in the past, leading a workshop on parent-child communica-tion as part of a Women’s Health Education course. Bedouin youth participants of the Youth-to-Youth

program creating art from recycled materials at the Arad studio of Alon and Abital Aharone

The Galilee Society has a history of collaboration with Jewish, Arab and international organizations, both governmental and non-governmental. This agreement is evidence of this emphasis, which is the result of the belief that coexistence initiatives, if properly implemented and sustained, can improve the quality of Arab/Jewish relations.

The Arad-based Aharones, who are known for their creation of art out of recycled materials, will work with the 15 Youth-to-Youth members that meet at the Almostaqba primary school. The purpose of the activity is to introduce to the Youth-to-Youth students the enlightened use of discarded materials, with an emphasis on the preciousness of natural re-sources. With the Aharone’s guidance, the students will create such practical items as chairs, flower-beds, and roofing, all from recycled tires.

The Youth-to-Youth project, which aims to train Bedouin students to act as peer leaders in the fields of health and environment, operates in three Naqab schools and involves 54 total students. Participants attend workshops where they learn such topics as

the importance and meaning of health and envi-ronmental education, the human body (build and function), infectious diseases and their transmis-sion, hygiene and nutrition, the importance of vaccinations, household and road accidents and their prevention, first aid, the dangers of drugs and smoking, hereditary diseases, local environmental hazards in the area, and good environmental prac-tice.

The Youth-to-Youth project is a component of a larger Galilee Society’s project, entitled, “Programs for Strengthening Health and Education in the Bedouin Unrecognized Villages in the Naqab,” which is financed by the Spanish Government’s Development Fund, via the development agency, ACSUR. Aiming to promote women’s participa-tion in development, this project provides women’s health leadership training, women’s health/first aid education, peer health education, campaigns of legal advocacy on behalf of Bedouin communities, and public health and environment campaigns.

Rikaz Databank Begins Work on E.U.-Funded 2007 Socio-Economic Survey

Rikaz Databank staff have begun work on the 2007 Socio-Economic Survey of Palestinians liv-ing in Israel, which is part of its E.U. Partnership for Peace- funded project. The project is entitled, “Strengthening Civil Society in Israel and Empow-ering the Palestinian Minority via the Applied use of Rikaz Databank.”

The 2007 Socio-Economic Survey, which will gather extensive data on the condition of Pales-tinians living in Israel, is a follow-up to Rikaz’s 2004 Socio-Economic Survey, which constituted a unique and complete data source for the socio-eco-nomic and other aspects of Palestinian life in Israel, including demography, education, culture, health, environment, housing conditions and labor.

The 2007 Socio-Economic Survey entails extensive preparation. The first meeting of the steering com-mittee, an association of data management profes-sionals that will oversee the project and assure the integrity of data collection, took place in January. Since the initial meeting the steering committee has been building the questionnaire that will be distributed to Palestinians living in Israel. Between 3,200 and 3,500 households will participate in the survey.

In addition, the steering committee has begun to develop the statistical strategy that will ensure the accuracy of collected data.

The goal of the 2007 Socio-Economic Survey is to assure that the Databank contains the most re-cent and accurate data on the living conditions of Palestinians living in Israel. Moreover, the publica-tion of a second, later survey will empower citizens, lawmakers, and advocates by providing them with invaluable data on statistical trends. This latest sur-vey will advance Rikaz’s goal of promoting the use of reliable information to combat discrimination against Palestinian citizens in Israel, thus advancing equality, tolerance, and peace.

In order to facilitate the Databank’s function as a tool for combating discrimination, the Galilee

Society will apply the survey’s findings to a myriad of vital advocacy and instructive uses. First, the Galilee Society will issue a call for proposals to encourage research utilizing the survey’s findings. Second, Rikaz staff will add the survey’s data to the Databank to ensure the universality of access, en-abling researchers worldwide ease of access. Third, the Galilee Society will hold a study day where survey results will be published. Fourth, the Galilee Society will conduct training workshops for those active in civil society and in NGOs in the Arab community in Israel. Fifth, the Galilee Society will publish the final results for distribution to human rights activists, policy makers, and members of Arab advocacy NGOs nationally and internation-ally.

2007 Socio-Economic Survey Pilot Committee in session

Galilee Society General Director Meets with Donors, Friends of Galilee Society Board in U.S. Tour

General Director Dr. Basel Ghattas attended a board meeting of the Friends of the Galilee Society (FGS) in Maryland and visited with representatives

from Galilee Society donors Ford Foundation and The Open Society Institute during a short U.S. tour in late January.

The FGS board meeting, attended by Dr. Ghattas in addition to all eight members, focused on stra-tegic planning and included such topics as fundraising accomplish-ments and needs and member recruitment.

The FGS in the U.S. was estab-lished in 2005 in order to support the Galilee Society in its work to promote the legal, social, and economic rights of the Palestinian minority in Israel. The FGS is a legally registered charity organiza-tion with 501(c)(3) status, which allows for tax-exempt donations in the U.S.

The goal of the FGS is to establish relationships with individuals and organizations in the U.S. to develop networks of support and assist the Galilee Society in furthering its mission to provide tech-nical, moral, and financial support to the General

Program and Strategic Projects of the Galilee Society.

The FGS board will expand as members are re-cruited in the months to come. The table above shows thecurrent board members of the FGS.

Member Title Home State

Dr. Shouki Kassis Chair PA

Dr. Ali Fatton Secretary MD

Dr. Soleman Abu Bader Treasurer VA

Dr. Mohammed Abu Nimir Member VA

Dr. Mariam Marai Member MD

Mr. Nasser Omari Member CA

Mr. Deen Dabbah Member IL

Dr. Yousef Sahly Member CA

R&D Center Urgently Seeks Intern

The Regional Center for Research & Development (R&D Center) is urgently seeking an intern at its Shefa-‘Amr office. R&D Center Interns work with the Galilee Society´s scientists, lab technicians and local university students at the R&D Center. Intern work will focus on sustainable development projects and other scientific projects. Other re-search opportunities may be available based on the applicant’s skills and interests.

Intern responsibilities: Maintain contacts with USAID, project partners, and international organizations; organizing training workshops and partner meetings; and fundraising. Assist the Project Manager in writing and editing English-language letters, reports, meeting sum-maries, brochures, etc.Skills: Minimum BA/BS, excellent English writing (native level only), computer literate,

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knowledge of Middle East development issues.Languages: English, with some Arabic pre-ferredCompensation: Monthly StipendStart Date: RollingTime Commitment: 1 year minimumLocation: Shefa-Amr, Israel (north of Israel, close to Haifa and Nazareth)Areas of Focus: Development, Health, Envi-ronment, Socio-Economic Conditions, Water/Wastewater, Environment, Agriculture

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To apply, please e-mail the following to Felice Nas-sar with “R&D internship” in the subject line:

Cover letterCV (Resume)2-3 page writing sample (showing your best writing capacity)1 recommendation letter -or- contact informa-tion for 1 reference

Fax: +972-4-950-4525

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News in Brief

R&D Center: Call for Papers Issued for Traditional Arabic Medicine Conference

The R&D Center has issued a Call for Papers for its First Regional Scientific Conference on Tradi-tional Arabic and Islamic Medicine, to take place in Amman from 8-10 August.

Abstracts should be sent via e-mail as an attach-ment to [email protected] no later than

31 March 2007. For full abstract requirements, click here. Papers to be considered for publication should be submitted via e-mail as an attachment to [email protected] no later than 30 April 2007. For full paper requirements, click here.

The conference will discuss historical and cultural aspects of the Arabic Islamic medicine and its con-tribution to modern medicine and to human well-being. In addition, it will review the global scientific research on medicinal and aromatic plants, phar-maceutical research, clinical trials, and international legislation and intellectual property rights on Arabic and Islamic medicinal plants of the region.

Registration and further information on the con-ference can be obtained at the conference website, http://www.arabic-islamic-medicine.com/.

Website for the Arabic and Islamic Medicine Confer-ence, to be held in August 2007 in Amman, Jordan

R&D Center: Arab Medicinal Plants Expert Presents Lecture at R&D Center on Traditional Treatments

Medicinal plants expert Dr. Rachid Soulimani of the Department of Botany and Pharmacology of Metz University in France presented a lecture at the R&D Center on 29 January on the use of plant extracts to treat depression and other illnesses. A Moroccan by birth, Dr. Soulimani is a member of the scientific and organizing committee of the First Regional Scientific Conference on Traditional Arabic and Islamic Medicine, to be held from 8-10 August in Amman, Jordan. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.arabic-islamic-medicine.com/.

In addition to his lecture on the use of medicinal plants, Dr. Soulimani also met with R&D scientists to discuss conference practicalities such as financial support and sponsorship.

Dr. Soulimani (right) of the University of Metz, with R&D Center staff

German scientists Dr. Roland A. Müller and Dr. Oliver Bederski visiting the R&D Center

R&D Center: Prominent German Scientist Presents Activities of Wastewater Treatment Research Center

Prominent German scientists Dr. Roland A. Müller and Dr. Oliver Bederski visited the R&D Center

on 27 and 28 February to present their organiza-tion’s research on decentralized wastewater treat-ment and to discuss joint R&D Center/Helmholtz Center collaborations.

Dr. Müller is the head of the Environmental and Biotechnology Department at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research in Leipzig, Germany. Dr. Bederski is a member of the Water Recycling and Resources Recovery group, also at the Helmotz Centre.

Drs. Müller and Bederski’s presentation, which was entitled “The Helmholtz Centre for Environmental

Research – Focus on Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Technologies,” outlined their organiza-tion’s activities and accomplishments in the field.

The R&D Center and the Helmholtz Center are working closely to study constructed wetland and

sand filters to treat wastewater in arid and semi-arid regions. In addition to meeting with Galilee Society staff, Drs. Müller and Bederski visited the R&D Center’s wastewater treatment pilot site in Sakhnin, where the two organizations will con-struct a new joint wastewater treatment prototype.

Staff Changes: New Faces at the Galilee Society

The Galilee Society has made the following addi-tions to its staff:

Naim Karim – General Program DirectorNabi Bashir – Economics Researcher, Rikaz DatabankSouhail Suede – Field Work Coordinator for the Rikaz 2007 Socio-Economic SurveySarhan Eskandar – IT SupportAlexandra Carrera – Intern, Resource Develop-ment

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Galilee Society Annual Planning Meeting Focuses on Project Impact, Sustainability

Staff, board members, and members of the Galilee Society attended the annual planning workshop at the Rimonim Hotel in Nazareth on 17 February.

Chairman of the Board Mr. Wael Omari intro-duced the activities by thanking the board for its time and efforts. Dr. Basel Ghattas, General Di-rector, reviewed Galilee Society accomplishments from 1982 to the present and reviewed recommen-dations from last year’s planning conference.

Dr. Isam Sabbah, Scientific Director of the R&D Center, then introduced the vision of the R&D Center. Following Dr. Sabbah, Naim Karim,

General Program Director of the Galilee Society, discussed Al-Maissam activities, and shared his vi-

Participants in the Galilee Society’s annual planning meeting

sion of a medicinal plants and educational center in the Naqab region. Activities of the Naqab Center would be based on the rich knowledge and experi-ence of Al-Maissam - The Medicinal Plant Center for Research and Education in Kafr-Kanna, which serves the residents of Northern Israel. It would bring together science and tradition and will create a link between human and environmental health. Serving as a research, education, and demonstration institute, the Center in the Naqab would specifi-cally serve the Bedouin community as well as the general population of the Naqab. Visitors to the Center would experience the world of medicinal plants and Bedouin folk medicine as well as gain skills they will be able to employ in their own homes and/or schools.

Dr. Ghattas then discussed the importance of the efforts of the Friends of the Galilee Society (FGS) in the U.S. and reported on his recent U.S. tour (for details click here). Moreover, Dr. Ghat-tas outlined the organization’s 2007 strategic plan, which included a focus on the impact and sustain-ability of projects. Dr. Ghattas also highlighted the organization’s commitment to maintaining and strengthening community-based health and envi-ronmental activities and long-term planning for the Rikaz Databank and R&D Center.

Following these remarks, individual department heads presented the successes, challenges, and goals for their respective departments.

How to Support the Galilee Society

Help achieve equitable health, environmental, and socio-economic conditions and development opportuni-ties for Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel by supporting the Galilee Society.

How to Donate to the Galilee Society

Tax-Exempt DonationsIn order to facilitate giving, the Galilee Society has recently received tax-exempt status in the United States, via the Friends of the Galilee Society. To donate in the United States, please make checks payable to the Friends of the Galilee Society and send them to:

Dr. Shouki KassisChair, Board of Directors7 Lee Road, Audubon, PA 19403United [email protected]: +1 610 662 3693

Bank transfers to the Friends of the Galilee Society can be made to the following account:

Account Name: Friends of the Galilee SocietyBank Name: PNC BankBranch: Audubon Village Shopping CenterAccount Number: 86-0943-9642

Please inform Friends of the Galilee Society of your donation:[email protected].

Direct DonationsTo donate to the Galilee Society directly, please send checks (in any currency) payable to the Galilee Soci-ety at:

P.O. Box 330Shefa-Amr, 20200IsraelAlternatively, bank transfers (in any currency) can be made directly to the Galilee Society’s bank account:

Account Number: 9800Bank Name: Bank HapoalimBranch Number: 731Bank Address: Jabour Street, Shefa-Amr 20200 IsraelSWIFT Code: POALILIT

Please inform us of your donation at [email protected].

The Galilee Society - The Arab National Society for Health Research and Services is a leading disk utility commu-nity-based Arab NGO. The overriding goal of the Galilee Society is the achievement of equitable health and socio-economic conditions for the Palestinian citizens of Israel.

The Galilee SocietyP.O. Box 330, Shefa-Amr 20200, IsraelTel.: +972 4 986 1171Fax: +972 4 986 1173Email: [email protected]