Galilee Society - Annual Report 2002

1. innovative ways, methods of
coordination, local networking, and
Introduction providing the opportunity for hundreds of
activist volunteers, many local
committees and national organizations to
2002 marked the anniversary of 20 years successfully participate in making the
on the establishment of the Galilee work decentralized, leaving the rich
Society. Although this document will public action without a central
only report on 2002, it is a great framework. The Galilee Society tried not
achievement for the GS to have become to play a solitary central role, but was
one of the largest Palestinian Arab obliged for a short time to act as the main
developmental organizations in Israel coordinator, and organizer. The relief
serving the Palestinian population to committee was able to mobilize teams of
achieve equity in health, environment, and doctors and nurses to visit various villages
socio-economic conditions. in the West Bank equipped with
medications to provide aid and treatment
One of the highlights of the year was the to the suffering Palestinians. These teams
celebration of the GS twentieth also demonstrated at the Israeli army
anniversary despite continued checkpoints and were able to enter Jenin
postponements primarily because of camp on April 20, 2002 shortly after the
political events. The GS published a book Israeli troops left the camp and were able
featuring twenty years of its work in the to extend medical aid to many. This
Palestinian community. A number of the experience also provided the GS with a
GS founders and active members were real opportunity to strengthen and
honored in a celebration at the Health improve our local relations through
conference. This honoring and reflection cooperation with the Arab Dentists’
on the past with all its good and difficult Association, Al-Zahrawi Society, the
times is an indicator of the strength, Triangle Society for Health services and
continuity and an expression of the well- many other relief and local doctors’
being and great heritage of the committees who worked commendably
organization. with many other individuals who have
since become active members of the
Galilee Society.
Galilee Society Honorees
Doctors and Nurses in relief trip to
The Galilee Society worked extensively
Jenin camp April 20, 2002
during the months of the first incursion by
the Israeli occupying forces into the West
Despite the winds of war on Iraq that
Bank, by activating and coordinating the
intensified in the beginning of 2003
relief committee and recruiting the staff,
constituting bad indications for the whole
part of the administration, and some
year, we still hold the hope that 2003 will
members of the organization for this
be a year generating a change towards
purpose.
peace for the entire region.
Work in medical relief posed vast and
new challenges regarding finding

2. which if properly exploited could reaffirm
Health Promotion and the GS position and through which
possibilities for the involvement of the
Education Department Palestinian minority in Israel in modifying
the official health policies for the benefit
of the community will increase. This
The Galilee Society has recently entailed the formation of a health steering
witnessed a decline in its public role for committee; the final session of the
several reasons. This decline was conference was dedicated to the purpose.
especially evident during the ten months The conference aimed at surveying the
in which the Health Department Director health situation of the Palestinian
position was vacant. community in Israel, defining its needs
Dr. Cameel Makhoul joined the staff as and attracting the professional specialist
Health Department Director in June 2002, skills within it. The wide attendance in
following a year as Board Chairman of the conference from the Israeli academia,
the Galilee Society during which he hospitals, researchers, and a group of
participated in overseeing the Paramedical researchers from the Negev and its
scholarship program as well as distinctive scientific level made it an
representing the GS in the Special important event at the general health level
Education Coalition led by Shatil. In that in Israel, as well as a resource relative to
capacity, he initiated a learning changing the discriminatory official and
disabilities project that became a focal unofficial health policies towards the
point in the GS as well as a national Palestinians in Israel.
address for those interested. The conference uncovered the extent of
negligence and marginalization of the
One of the main achievements of the Palestinian community, both at the level
department in 2002 was convening the of health service provision and in
conference on the health of the Palestinian extrication from positions of decision-
community in Israel. Dr. Makhoul' s making, despite the profusion of
efforts focused on organizing the competence, some very impressive,
conference and utilizing it for many scientifically and professionally.
possibilities:
1. Return of the GS to its former unique The conference also revealed the
public position. systematic policy of constriction
2. Attract Arab health professional represented by the amassed environmental
resources. hazards near our residential areas and in
3. Reaffirm the validity of the GS on the work sites restricted to Arab workers.
academic and official levels. Prominent representatives of the Ministry
of Health at the conference exposed the
The Health conference surpassed many extent of discrimination and
expectations by posing a serious challenge irresponsibility in dealing with the needs
and opening new fields of interests. On of the Palestinian community and the
the one hand, the GS was obliged to pay necessity to provide urgent health services
attention to certain distinct circumstances especially with regard to children’s health
in our society such as inter-relative and development centers, women, elderly,
marriage and the intense need to create a and psychological health. The negligence
learning disabilities diagnostic tool that is of Arab children with special needs and
culturally-appropriate, on the other hand, the intentional disregard for high
deal with, as in other developed countries, percentages of hereditary diseases in the
situations that arise from technological Palestinian community without gaining
advances such as the emissions from official recognition, which has excluded it
cellular phones and antennas and their from the health services package.
affect on public health. The conference
also opened new prospects of professional The lack of health education was clearly
cooperation with several organizations, shown because of the unavailability of

3. mechanisms and budgets to raise Institute, the School of Public Health at
awareness of preventative health the Hebrew University and others.
measures as a method to ensure individual 5. The Galilee Society has proved its
and community health. ability to combine between methodical
research to realize many
On the other hand, many of the accomplishments for the benefit of the
interventions showed scientific facts community and ensure its general
regarding positive features in the health and providing direct services
Palestinian community attributed to such as in the Negev and the
structural and cultural characteristics that Paramedical students' project.
must be encouraged selectively, especially 6. The health conference lifted the GS to
as the possibility of improving the health its pioneering position as a
situation of our community is great if we professional developmental
succeed in adopting preventative health organization able to connect between
behavior approach such as cessation of our community and the official health
smoking, reduction of obesity, and institution and the decision-makers, as
raising awareness of the importance of well as work jointly with parallel
medical supervision during pregnancy. organizations locally and
internationally.
On another level:
1. The conference proved the reality of
the magnitude of the projects that the
Galilee Society strived to implement
throughout many years, whether it was
the Mobile Clinic, planning and
implementing the Paramedical students
capacity building project, active
participation in the coalition for special
education issues, the initiative to
consider the issue of Learning
Disabilities as fundamental for the
future, or in diligently working to
create opportunities for the
improvement of the environment and
raising awareness of hereditary
diseases, inter-relative marriage, etc.
2. The conference also verified the need
for the Health department to
structurally plan to enable it to become
a center for health issues efforts.
3. The conference embodied the real
possibility to interact and interconnect
between the different departments of
the GS, as all the branches – staff and Pictures from the Health Conference
administration – showed a high level
of coordination, commitment, and
integration. A session of the
conference was dedicated to the R&D
Center and Al-Maissam achievements
and research.
4. The conference revived old
relationships in addition to creating
new ones of strategic importance, such
as the relationships with professionals
and researchers, the ICDC, the Gurtner

4. to expand the Quarry were approved.
Environment Department The Quarry owners want to implement
the expansion now, members of the
Environmental organization, Hasviva,
and residents of the area near the
In 2002, a lawyer, Ms. Raida Karawani Quarry approached the GS requesting
was recruited to work in the Department, assistance in their struggle against the
starting in April. expansion. Information is currently
The Department undertook several legal being gathered on the Quarry and
cases and environmental action: from the preliminary data; it has
become evident to the GS that the area
1. Iksal Concrete-block Factor. The GS in which the Quarry wants to expand
was able to issue a closure order for to is designated as a forest area in the
the factory and remove it from the national forest plan TAMA 22.
residential area in Iksal. Letters of complaint on the expansion
2. Establishment of a fuel station in of the Quarry are being prepared, and
Shefa-Amr. A group of residents from in the event of refusal, the GS will
Shefa-Amr approached the GS with a take legal action.
complaint against the establishment of
a fuel station near their residences, the The Galilee Consortium
department made a field visit to the
site and presented professional counsel Many of the department' activities are
s
to them. Objections are being conducted through the “Guarding the
prepared for the local planning Galilee Project,” an initiative launched in
committee. 1998 by the Galilee Consortium (GC)
3. Kafr Kanna Antennas. The Kafr with a grant from the Israel Cooperative
Kanna Local Council approached the Program. The GC is a partnership of
GS concerning the installation of seven Arab and Jewish Israeli NGOs and
Mobile Phone Antennas near the Sport CBOs – The GS (the Coordinator),
Center in the village. The GS met Citizens for the Environment in the
with the Council' Engineer and
s Galilee, Living Waters Charity, El Ain,
Manager. Following our consultation, and Marj Ibn Amer, NAGA and LINK.
the Council decided not to grant a These organizations form the GC to
license for the aerials. systematically address the environmental
issues facing the Galilee region and to
4. Shefa-Amr Incinerator. In October preserve and protect the environmental
2002, the GC learned of plans to and health conditions of Galilee residents.
establish a factory to incinerate The Guarding the Galilee Project focused
garbage in the new Industrial park in on five priority fields in 2002: stone
Shefa-Amr. The GC has started to quarries, industrial zones, solid waste, and
collect information and learned that the asbestos.
plans are in the Regional Council
being discussed before being made
public in order to receive comments or Stone Quarries
complaints from the community prior
to final approval. The GS expects Eilaboun Stone Quarry. Legal
publication in February 2003 and has proceedings were initiated against the
started to rally public opinion and master plan of stone quarries, but the
complaints against this polluting GC was not able to stop the inclusion
industry. The GS will start legal of this quarry from the plan.
proceedings if deemed necessary. Following a professional report by the
owners of the Quarry stating that there
5. Tamra – Har Shikhainia Stone are no damaging effects to the
Quarry. This Stone Quarry has been surrounding environment, they
in operation since 1980. In 1985 plans presented the detailed plan of the

5. Quarry to the Committee for Building Alon/Sajour Stone Quarry. A closure
and Planning. The GC and the Local order was issued against the Quarry,
Area Committees are continuing to which specified that if any work is
raise public awareness of the issue and done in the quarry, the owners will be
calling on residents of the affected area subject to huge fines. A letter was sent
to submit their objections to the to the Local Committee for Building
Quarry, as well as coordinating these and Planning in Bekat Bet Hakerem
objections and injunctions. The (Majd el Kroum) stating that the
public campaign is coordinated by a closure of the quarry is being closely
media advertising company, Spin, monitored to assure it is not in
which the Local Councils have drawn operation, and if any work is done,
on for services to help raise public attention will be brought before the
awareness of the issue among the courts. The Quarry continued to
residents. A demonstration against the operate in spite of all the warnings.
Quarry was held in July, a meeting The GC sent letters to the Regional
was held with the Regional Committee Planning Committee, the Interior
for Building and Planning, letters and Ministry Building Official, and the
newspaper reports were published Attorney General to enforce
regarding the issue. An Environmental implementation of the court’s closure
Expert, Dr. Yossi Zuker, prepared a order and bring charges against the
report on behalf of the GC and the owners for contempt. The GC
Area Local Councils, which disproved Planner and Community Activist met
the owners report and talks about the with the Attorney General in May who
damaging environmental effects to the recommended that the GC approach
area as the Quarry if established, will the local Committee for Building and
be situated next to a nuclear weapons Planning – Bekat Bet Hakerem. A
and military storage site, which will letter was sent to the Head of the
enhance the damaging environmental Committee allowing for 14 days for a
effects on the area residents. The GC response or the matter will be brought
sent letters to the army, the ministries before the Supreme Court and the
of Environment and Interior requesting Head of the Environmental Ministry in
the deletion of the plan. The Area Plan, the North. To date, no response has
Master Plan Tama 14 originally been received; the GC is starting the
designates the area as a Green Area, legal process in the Supreme Court.
the GC and the Area Local Councils The GC anticipates the case being
utilizing the services of Advocate Bar submitted in the Supreme Court in the
Sela’, are working on restating the area coming months.
into an open space or Green Area
based on Dr. Zuker’s study. Kinneret Stone Quarry. The owners
Recently, the Ministry of Environment appealed to the court for postponement
sent a letter to the Regional Committee of the closure order. In December
for Building and Planning requesting 2001, a final closure order was issued
an expansion of the environmental by the Supreme Court. The GC
assessment done, because a new continues to monitor the closure order
settlement, Ramat Arbel, is planned in and is seeking approval for the
the area and was not taken into account restoration of the quarry by the
in the original assessment. Because of Ministry of Infrastructure, who sent a
these new developments, the plan has response that this possibility is being
been delayed several months. The GC studied and considered.
continues to monitor any changes and Sheikh Danoun Quarry. The GC
will take appropriate action when continues to monitor and struggle
needed. In addition, the GC is also against the establishment of the
striving to change the plans for the Quarry. To date, no detailed plan is
area from designated for a Quarry to a available. A case will be opened if
green area.

6. further steps are taken towards who will utilize government funds
establishing the Quarry. designated to clean up the sites. The
following factors are taken into
AlJish Stone Quarry. This Quarry is
consideration when choosing
located near the village of AlJish in the
restoration sites: 1) the willingness of
Upper Galilee. The Quarry has been
the local municipality to cooperate in
working illegally on a small area of
restoration efforts; 2) whether the land
land and is expanding without licenses.
is publicly or privately owned
The local Committee for Building and
(restoration of public lands is easier);
Planning in the Upper Galilee has
3) the severity of environmental
started legal proceedings to close the
damage of the given site (the GC will
Quarry. The GC is currently
focus on restoring the worst sites); and
examining the possibility of also
4) government cooperation. The GC is
initiating legal action against the
trying to gain approval to restore the
Quarry.
Kinneret Stone Quarry and have
Fasouta Stone Quarry. This Quarry is received a response from the Ministry
located near the village of Fasouta in of Infrastructure that it is being
the Upper Galilee. The Quarry has considered, as previously mentioned.
been working illegally and the issue A Quarry near the village of Nahaf has
was brought to the attention of the GC recently been restored and has become
by complaints from the public. The a public park. The GC monitored the
GC has started legal action by sending restoration process.
letters requesting the immediate Industrial Parks
closure of the Quarry to the Interior
and Environmental Ministries, the Western Galilee Industrial Park. After
local Building and Planning three years of targeted GC lobbying
Committee "Maa' Naftali", as well as
le and legal action against the Western
a formal complaint in the police Galilee Industrial Park, the Ministry of
department. The response from the Interior approved a change in Master
Ministries was positive and at the end Plan #2 transforming the Industrial
of December a closure order was Park area into an open space zone.
issued by the Ministry of Environment. The GC continues to monitor the site
The Quarry has closed and all and encourage non-polluting initiatives
machinery has been removed from the for its use.
site. The GC will continue to monitor
Tzippori Industrial Park. At the end
any changes that occur.
of 2001, the residents of the villages of
Lobby National Planning Committee. Mashhad and Kafr Kana filed
complaints to the board of the Tzippori
The National Plan, Tama 35 is still in
Industrial Park and the GC concerning
the pre-implementation stage and has
pollution from the Phoenicia Flat-
not yet been finalized or approved. The
Glass factory. The GC also followed
GC is continuing to lobby the national
with letters of protest. The response
TAMA 35 planning committees to
from the factory was that the filters
give full consideration to the impact of
had broken down. The GC had
stone quarries on sustainable
previously waged a successful
development in the region.
campaign to secure the installation of
Campaigning for environmental pollution prevention and monitoring
restoration of stone quarry sites. devices for this factory. In 1995, the
Industrial Park and the Ministry of
The GC is continuing to raise
Environment also installed 3 devices
awareness of the need for restoration
to measure the pollution levels in 3
of stone quarry sites, investigate new
locations around the Park area. These
sites for restoration and will serve as a
pollution prevention and monitoring
contact organization between the local
mechanisms were installed following
municipalities and government offices

7. an agreement between the Galilee to give a chance for the owners of the
Society and the Factory obligating site to provide a solution or an answer.
them to keep these systems running When there is no response, then legal
continually. These devices were in action can be initiated in the courts.
operation until the beginning of 2000 These letters did not bring a response
when they were shut down for lack of from the managers of the site, and the
funding. lawyer began legal proceedings in the
courts for closure of the site. Several
The GC requested:
court hearings have been held.
1. All work in the factory must be Meanwhile, a temporary closure order
halted until the filters are fixed. was issued by the Matay Asher
2. The pollution monitoring devices Regional Council for two months. The
must become operational again, and owners were then able to obtain an
if pollution levels are high, then operating license for three months after
work must be stopped until levels which closure must be implemented.
return to normal. This period ended in July, and was
extended and is still in effect till the
3. Participation in the meetings of the next hearing. The GC will continue its
Industrial Park' Board to monitor
s legal action to attain a permanent
work. closure and cleanup order of the site.
The factory repaired the filters and The Sheikh Danoun site is the national
they were made operational again, but site for asbestos dumping; after it is
the residents of the surrounding area closed alternative sites must be found
still complain of pollution. The where the asbestos is dumped
pollution monitoring devices are still according to regulation and where the
not working and further letters have health and environment of the area
been sent to the Industrial Park chosen are taken into consideration so
Administration and the Ministry of minimal damage is done. The GC has
Environment to make them operational learned that the Ministry of
again. Meetings have also been held Environment is considering turning the
with the local Councils of Mashhad site into a solid waste dumping site.
and Kafr Kana to hear their complaints The GC is examining this possibility
and to work on a strategy of and the impact resulting from this
cooperation in combating the pollution option. The GC is also examining and
affecting their residents. It was also monitoring the restoration of the site.
decided that the Councils would set up A professional study by a consultant of
a video camera to record the black the environmental damage to the
smoke arising from the Factory in Sheikh Danoun site and of the negative
order to secure documentation of the health impact of the site' vicinity on
s
pollution. The GC is planning to have the residents of Sheikh Danoun village
a meeting with the Park was completed and used as evidence in
Administration and the Ministry of the case for closure of the site and for
Environment in the next few months. other public awareness raising
Legal action will be considered if no activities.
positive steps are taken. The Ministry of the Environment' s
Asbestos Waste asbestos waste survey was completed
and the GC is continuing to monitor
The GC lawyer began legal the process to make sure the results are
proceedings for the closure of the implemented.
Sheikh Danoun asbestos waste-
dumping site by sending letters to the The GC continues to campaign for
Ministry of Environment and the public awareness of the dangers of
owners and managers of the site. This asbestos and location of legal and
is a formality required by law in order illegal dumping sites in the region
issue by issuing press releases on the

8. waste-dumping problem in the media To celebrate Earth Day, on 22 April
and writing letters to government 2002, the Galilee Consortium organized a
ministries and to local municipalities clean-up of the Wadi Salameh Valley in
demanding an end to the transfer of the Galilee region, north of Israel. The
asbestos waste to the region. initiative met two goals: (i) conduct the
clean-up of an open space polluted with
A Study Day on Asbestos waste and
solid waste; and (ii) empower
its damaging effects was held on
environmental organizations to work in
December 19, 2002 as part of the
cooperation for the protection of the
Galilee Society' Conference on Health
s
Galilee.
in the Arab community. There were
50 participants in the workshop Fifty people participated in the initiative,
covering the dangers of Asbestos and including:
its effect on health and the Members of the Galilee Consortium
environment. (GC), and local environmental activists
Solid Waste and residents living near the Valley,
including children and their parents.
The GC was able to initiate legal action
in the Supreme Court against 20 illegal The Wadi Salameh Valley is a famous
dumping sites in the Galilee. In the tourist site in the Galilee, visited by
beginning of 2002, the GC sent letters to school-students and tourists throughout
the Ministry of Environment and Local the year. Water is present in the valley at
Councils in which the sites are located all seasons, which makes it a beautiful
requesting immediate clean-up of these and green area. However, the flow of
sites because of the environmental people causes environmental damage to
hazards and health risks to the residents the site, where solid waste accumulates
of these areas. Due to the non-action on (e.g. cans, paper, bottles, glass, etc.).
behalf of the respected authorities, the The participants devoted five hours to
GC decided to start litigation in order to clean-up the valley on a 2-km area,
enforce cleanup. A case was brought picking up the waste and collecting it in
before the Supreme Court in this regard, plastic bags. At the end of the day, they
but unfortunately the Court refused to had a small celebration and dinner. The
deliberate the issue, following a report participants were enthusiastic about the
submitted by the Ministry of clean-up initiative and said they would
Environment on the treatment, removal like to be informed of such activities in
and cleanup of the sites in the case. The the future.
Supreme Court Judges recommended that
the environmental organizations present
trial cases against specific environmental
hazards to the local courts while
reserving the right to approach the
Supreme Court in the future on this issue.
The Court also decided to organize a joint
tour of representatives of environmental
organizations and the Ministry of
Environment to the dump sites included
in the case.
The GC' next step is organizing a public
s
campaign against illegal dumping and
bringing several cases against a few sites.
Joint Effort of the GC member
organizations:
Pictures from the Clean-up Day

9. Networking and Information Exchange - Exchange of expertise, working
- Conferences and Meetings methods, and experience of the
organizations in confronting
Building and Planning Law Reform environmental hazards.
Coalition. The GSED continued to be The participants in the conference
part of this coalition of environmental presented their activities, problems and
organizations such as Shatil, Adam environmental hazards they deal with.
Teva Ve' and the Heschel Center
din, Overall environmental harms in the
for Environmental Studies. The aim of Mediterranean basin and ways to
the coalition is to draft amendments to combat them were explored as well as
make the national building and possibilities of cooperation between the
planning laws in Israel more different organizations on various
environmentally friendly. projects.
The Arab Center for Alternative The Jerusalem Institute for Israel
Planning. Cooperation on the Northern Studies. The Institute has funded
District Plan 2/change 9 and the research on Stone Quarries, which is
National Plan TAMA 35, as well as the being carried out by the GSED
alternative plan for the Sakhnin area Director.
and a Databank on submission and Boston University survey on
approval of plans. Sustainable Development and the
Life and Environment. Participation in Johannesburg Conference.
meetings of this coalition of
Environmental Organizations. Study Days and Workshops
Adam Teva' Vedin. Cooperation with
on legal issues in the environment. The GSED took part in study days and
Heschel Center for Environmental workshops on the Environment:
Studies. Cooperation on Environmental The Wadi Shagour Environmental
Leadership Project as well as research Unit. The GSED gave a lecture on the
on Environmental Justice. Planning and Building law.
The Nahef Development and Welfare "Power of the Environment"
Association. The GSED provided Conference The purpose of this annual
counsel and assistance in conference is to bring together
environmental awareness raising environmental organizations in Israel
course. to raise discussions about various
Israeli Cancer Association. environmental issues affecting their
Legambiente. The Largest work, as well as encourage networking
Environmental Organization in Italy. between groups. This year, the GSED
The GSED Director participated in an presented a lecture on Environmental
environmental conference for NGOs Justice.
working in the environment in the The Kafr Yassif Cultural Center. The
Mediterranean basin organized by GSED gave a lecture on combating on
Legambiente in November 15-18. The the installation of Mobile Phone
conference was funded by the Antennas in Kafr Yassif.
European Union and was held in the Alternative Planning Center.
Italian city of Grosito. The conference Participation in land and Residence
was attended by representatives of Issues Conference in Nazareth.
NGOs from Italy, Spain, Israel, Technion. Participation in a study day
Portugal, Lebanon, Jordan, Greece, on "A healthy environment – a healthy
Cyprus and Turkey. The main community".
objectives of the conference were:
- Introduction to organizations and Student Research Exchange. Every year,
environmental association working the GS offers students of Environmental
in the Mediterranean. Studies or Urban Planning from the
Technion and Haifa University, as well as

10. Environmental Engineering students from
the Western Galilee College the
opportunity to utilize the information
available in the Department for their
research and studies.
Media
The GSED Director, Naim Daoud used
the local and national media on numerous
occasions during 2002 to raise public
awareness on illegally operating stone
quarries in the Galilee, industrial zones,
asbestos waste, and the water crisis in
Israel.

11. formatted and made accessible through
Databank Department the website.
The OLSDB-SE is divided into three
different components:
A. The Application Component,
including the division of data into
seven main fields: demography,
education, labour force,
employment, living standards,
socio-economic indicators and
Since 1998, and with the support of the health, and according to several
Ford Foundation, the GS Databank variable categories, including;
(GSDB) Department designed and gender, nationality, age group,
operated an innovative computerized marital status, level of education,
information system to address the need religion, locality, district, sub-
for information on the Palestinian citizens district, employment status etc;
of Israel. The Rikaz Databank was
B. The System Component,
officially launched at the GS Health
comprised of user feedback, help
Conference on December 19 and can be
system and user interface;
accessed at http://www.rikaz.org.
C. The Software Development and
Rikaz is a unique Internet information Installation Component, including;
system, based on relational database tools for Web development,
technology, for the storage, retrieval, and system management, development
manipulation of up-to-date, accurate, and production environments, and
statistical data on the Palestinian minority configuration management.
of Israel. A valuable characteristic of the The Progress accomplished for
Databank is that the information available each of these components in Phase
relates to both the Palestinian and Jewish 2 of Rikaz development is detailed
citizens of Israel. Rikaz will allow below;
potential users at the local, national or
international levels - NGOs, universities, A. Application Component
research centers, students, and others - to
easily retrieve precise data via the The socio-economic sub-system now
Internet, which is currently unavailable in comprises seven application components,
an accessible form from any other source. which have been developed in the
following way during Phase 2:
Activities in phase 2 of the project can be Demography:
divided into three main areas; Data for this field was derived from the
technological development, database 1995 Census and the Labour Force
concept development and marketing; Survey (1998-99) and then prepared,
1. Technical progress has focused on filtered and imported into the data
the development of the socio- resource files of the Oracle database.
economic subsystem using Data The team also developed a model to
Analysis Methodology. This provides forecast population distribution over the
users with interactive tools to conduct next 20 years, based on the parameters:
research and identify patterns/pertinent district, sub-district, locality, religion,
comparative indicators from the sex, age group, religion, and on data from
available data. Data identification, the 1995 Census of Household and
analysis and extraction have now been Population. Suitable information
completed in seven major socio- classification was developed, leading to
economic fields for the years 1995, the establishment of the following
1998 and 1999. This has been information categories, which were then
divided into around 50 further data-sets:

12. Historical and Projected Population Years of Education – by nationality,
Distribution – available by district, age group, gender, marital status,
sub-district, locality, religion, gender, economic branch, detailed occupation
age group and religion, from 1995 type.
until 2020.
Household Distribution – available by Employment:
nationality, religion, household, This data was derived from the Census
housing density, employment. and Labour Force Surveys and then
analyzed and standardized to ensure
Labour Force: accurate comparison between years and
Data for this field was extracted and data sources.
analyzed from the following sources: Occupational Data
Census 1995, Labour Force Survey 1998 Employed Persons by General
and 1999, National Insurance figures Occupation Type (CBS Census 1995)-
(1998). The data was prepared, filtered by nationality, gender, level of
and imported into the data resource files education, marital status, and district.
of the database and has been arranged
Employed Persons by Detailed
into the following categories (around 100
Occupation Type (CBS Labour Force
data sets):
Survey) by nationality, gender, level of
Civilian Labour Force - participation education, marital status,
of civilian population of working age Economic Branch Data
(15-64) in the labour force, divided
into the following variables; gender, Employed Persons by General
nationality, age group, last school type, Economic Branch – by nationality,
level of education, district and marital gender, highest academic achievement,
status. age group, marital status, last school
type, and district.
Employment Rates - by nationality,
gender, religion, age group & marital Employed Persons by Detailed
status Economic Branch (CBS Labour Force
Survey) – by nationality, gender, last
Unemployment Rates – by nationality,
school type, age group, and marital
gender, age group & marital status status.
Estimated Work Places needed – by
district, locality, gender, age group and Living Standards:
religion Data Source is the National Insurance
Employment Intensity Data - by and Census. This information is divided
employed/self-employed status, and into three main fields, comprising around
working months 33 data sets:
Income Group data – by the variables;
Education: district, sub-district, locality,
Information for this category was derived nationality
from the 1995 Census and the Labour Earnings data – by the variables gender,
Force Survey (1998-99). This was then locality, relative to min/average wage
analyzed and divided into the following
Home and Car ownership data – by
data sets:
the variables; district, sub-district,
Population Distribution by Academic locality, nationality, religion
Achievement – by locality, nationality,
religion, gender, age group, economic Health:
branch. Data derived from National Insurance
Population Distribution by Last School figures, in just one unit:
Type – by nationality, age group, Medical insurance membership,
gender, marital status, economic according to locality.
branch, detailed occupation type.

13. Social Indicators: Development Environments. This process
This section includes comparative data, has included:
selected from other areas of the database, - the creation of a socio-economic home
which highlight the most meaningful and page, links and new domains,
dramatic trends specified by Rikaz. These according to the requirements of the
statistics will also be comparable with data-sets
similar indicators available on other - the import of CBS, National Insurance
minority groups in different countries. and Census statistics, after analysis,
into the Oracle database
B. System Component - Definition of about 170 data-views
The system components have been built based on the data-sets, and extraction
to enhance the accessibility and usability of relational data-views through
of the on-line statistical database. reverse engineering.
User Feedback: users can now contact - Generation through Designer 6i of
the databank team or submit their views, about 170 web modules using the
questions and comments through the relational data-views.
following media: - Design and implementation of user
- an online forum (discussion group) feedback functions
aimed at canvassing feedback, - Design and implementation of a data
providing a communication platform projection model for the informational
for users to discuss socio-economic units - Population Distribution and
matters, helping users utilize the Population Entering the Labour Force.
system and accepting inquiries on data - Design and implementation of all GUI
needs. aspects of the website
- e-mail/ mailing addresses on the - Construction of dialogues in all seven
website parameters of the Database
- an online survey, canvassing user - Testing of website, dialogues, models,
needs and potential subscriber profiles links and effects of multiple
User Interface: The publicly accessible asynchronous users
pages have now been launched onto the - Launch of Rikaz socio-economic
internet, including homepage, logo, links, database onto the internet – December
log-on pages, data samples, charts, 2002
research articles and subscription
- Potential for revisions, new data
information. Meanwhile the subscriber-
inclusions to be constructed in
only pages have been completed,
development environment before
detailing all the aforementioned data
subsequent releases
categories, including links and drop down
menus for relevant variables, data sources
and years. System Development
On-Line Help System; An online The tools used to develop and maintain
dictionary of parameters and terms used the Database include:
in the database has been structured, - Oracle 8i: holds the database.
written and installed onto the website.
- Designer 6i: specifies the data and web
modules, and generates the web
C. Software Development and applications.
Installation Component - PL/SQL: develops stored procedure
To make the statistical database and PL/SQL procedure, where it
accessible through the Internet with a cannot be generated by the designer.
standard browser, we have built web - Oracle 9ias: hosts the application.
applications using Oracle Web - Web Alchemy: converts HTML code
to PL/SQL code.

14. - FrontPage: generates part of the identification of new information
HTML code. sources and the broadening of existing
- HTML: generates and customizes the sources. In view of this, GS submitted
user interface, and is used to create a third proposal to the Ford Foundation
cascading stile sheets for the different for Phase 3 funding which was
regions and types of the web pages. accepted in November 2002.
Key issues include the:
a) Identification of updated and new
System Management
data sources to make the Databank
- Software: Completion of the as relevant and useful as possible
installation process of Oracle 8I to potential users. To date, this has
version 8.1.7, Oracle Designer 6i, and far included the purchase, analysis
Oracle 9ias Internet application server. and inputting of data from the
- Definition of a security concept on latest Census (1995), the 1998 and
both levels – web server and database 1999 CBS Labour Force Surveys
– to restrict access to the website and and 1998 National Insurance
its content to registered users. statistics. The 2000 and 2001
- Design and implementation of Labour Force Survey has been
procedures to separate the production purchased and will be analyzed
environment from the development and programmed into the site,
environment giving depth to existing dialogues.
- Development of a concept to control One of the potential new
source code and configuration information sources, which Rikaz
management, covering the needs of the hopes to feature, are health
Rikaz application; this includes ministry statistics from the
version and maintenance management. government. Initial contacts have
already been made in this regard
- Weekly backup: Oracle data files,
and will be followed up in Phase
Designer export files, and developed
3. Meanwhile, data from existing
scripts and packages.
sources will also be exploited
- Performance tuning for data views to further, through the addition of
improve the response times to parameters regarding migration
dialogues where response time is not and poverty.
satisfactory.
b) Discussion of management models
- Hosting Services – an external hosting – initial discussions have already
firm has been chosen, with taken place concerning the long-
responsibility to: term management of the databank,
- Monitor connectivity and activity and include the following options:
on the server ongoing management and
- Interface with the ISP for remote development by the GS, separate
trouble shooting board and management for the
- Maintain and provide operational Databank with close links to the
support for Oracle GS, shared responsibility for the
Databank with suitable partners, or
- Administer website users sale/transfer of the Databank to a
- Ensure firewall security suitable organization.
- Generate reports on website c) Ensuring the long-term
traffic, according to GS sustainability for the project
specifications required further development in
the fields of data sourcing,
2. Development work has focused on maintenance and marketing. This
identifying ways to sustain and led to a further GS proposal to the
manage the Database, including the Ford Foundation in November
2002, which was accepted for a

15. two year period. This funding launch; marketing materials
allows the Databank team to (including brochure) prepared and
enrich existing data sources, input distributed to local users; 20 minute
new data to compliment existing presentation on the databank given
data, and above all make sure the at The Galilee Society health
Databank reaches the widest conference, 19 December 2002.
potential audience, including f) online subscriber questionnaire
planners, researchers, NGOs and (including reduced fees) to identify
campaigners for Arab minority potential user needs, modifications
rights. It is hoped that the and additions to existing data,
enrichment of existing data and the pricing strategy, etc.
wider marketing effort to win
paying subscribers will help the
project become self-sustaining and
a permanent asset for those
seeking to improve minority
rights.
3. Marketing work to secure the long-
term success of the database has begun
with the identification and initiation of
consultations with local organizations
and NGOs who are likely to want this
data. Wider scale promotion began
with the site' live internet launch in
s
December 2002, allowing the site to
act as a self-promoting entity,
alongside direct contact and marketing
with healthcare professionals and local
authorities at the GS Health
conference, 19 December 2002.
In Phase 2, preliminary marketing
activity, mainly the identification of
potential subscribers and market
research to define user requirements,
has been conducted. This can be
divided into the following categories:
a) identification of possible users –
these were divided into 4 groups –
Israeli Palestinians, Israeli Jewish,
institutes outside Israel and
specialist sectors.
b) market research on user needs
conducted with 200 potential users.
c) one-to-one contact with 15 potential
local subscribers in order to obtain
direct feedback and attract
subscribers.
d) website design and launch in
December 2002 as a tool to support
marketing and publicity.
e) publicity – alert e-mails to nearly
200 potential subscribers on website

16. towards wider advocacy efforts to
Negev Department achieve systematic changes in the field
of health and education
- Efforts to increase Arab Bedouin
women’s health awareness, including
The Arab Bedouin living in the Negev personal hygiene, food hygiene, sexual
account for 12% (about 120,000) of the health, pre and post-natal care and
Palestinian minority in Israel, which nutrition
constitutes 20% of the total population of - Efforts to encourage Arab Bedouin
the country. The Arab Bedouin of the women to act as health resource
Negev constitute one of the neediest persons within the community due to
populations in Israel. Presently, about their central role as home makers with
56% of the community lives in seven control over early childhood care,
government-established towns – Rahat, family nutrition and healthcare
Hura, Tel Sheva, Lakia, Segev Shalom, - Training programs to enable Arab
Kesifa, and Aror. These recognized Bedouin to act as pre-school assistants
towns rank at the bottom of all national and teacher assistants
socio-economic indicators: they have the - Work within local groups and
highest rates of poverty and community organizations to coordinate
unemployment, the lowest levels of and maximize the effect of these
educational attainment, the poorest activities
housing conditions, and the worst health
status in comparison with Jewish Program Activities
communities in Israel.
Mother and Child Clinics – 7 + the GS
The remaining Arab Bedouin in the Mobile Clinic
Negev (44%) live in “unrecognized
villages” scattered throughout the desert, Campaigning, advocacy and the use of
they are excluded from official maps model services to demonstrate community
because they are viewed as illegal, and support and need, resulted in the
deprived of the most basic government groundbreaking High Court ruling of
services and resources because of this 1999 which ordered the Israeli
status. government to set-up 6 on-site Mother
and Child Clinics in the unrecognized
villages of the Negev. After a further
The Galilee Society' Negev department
s appeal on a motion of contempt by the
focuses on two main goals, which it Galilee Society and ‘Adalah; the legal
believes most effectively contribute to center for Arab minority rights in Israel,
improving the conditions of this the Ministry of Health established 5 of
marginalized community: these clinics in 2001 and has set-up 2
- Projects to improve the health more this year (2002).
conditions of the Negev community
- Projects to increase the educational These clinics are working well for the
opportunities and achievements of the communities with access to them,
Arab Bedouin children although the Negev Bedouin are still
under-resourced in terms of mother and
childcare. A part of this need is met by the
These goals are targeted through the
mobile GS clinic, which receives half of
following initiatives:
its funding from the Israeli government,
- Advocacy, public campaigns and legal
following the High Court ruling.
action to compel the Israeli government
to assume its responsibilities towards
In the last year, the government provision
its citizens in the Negev
of mother and child services in larger
- Direct services in the case of urgent
villages has allowed the GS clinic to
requirements, and only as a first step
concentrate on outlying areas and other

17. underserved districts. It operates for 3 Dental examinations by a mobile
days a week – serving areas including clinic; 53 village children between the
Al-‘Azazmeh, Al-Atrash, Al-‘Asem, Al- ages of 6-12 were examined
Nabari, and Al-Derjawi. The clinic This day was more successful than
averages 10-12 visits a day, providing expected in terms of providing immediate
care and treatment to pregnant women, dental treatment to children in Tel al-
children and women with young families. Maleh:
The initial establishment of the mobile 25 children were in need of urgent
clinic, the public campaigning and dental treatment
advocacy and the court action to compel only one child had previously visited a
the Israeli government to meet its legal dental clinic
obligations to provide such care to the only two children had teeth in good
Negev has made important inroads into condition
improving mother and child healthcare 18 children had problems with at least
provision. The project has also been a two teeth
vindication and recommendation of the
Galilee Society’s working methods – All of these factors confirm the need for
research, direct action, public action in this field by means of prevention
campaigning, official lobbying and legal and early discovery. GS Negev will write
action. The GS plans to use a similar an official professional report on this and
approach to redress the lack of pre-school send it to the relevant authorities. There is
facilities available to Negev 4-5 year olds. also an urgent need to repeat this program
in other villages.
What remains now is to improve the
provision of mother and child healthcare Presentation on Bone Health - The village
to other villages in the region, an effort of Tel al-Maleh is home to a large family
which includes persuading the called al-Nasasira, in which marriage
government to take on the full costs of the between close relations and multiple
mobile clinic, so that GS resources and wives is extremely common. This has
efforts can be concentrated in the most been a direct factor in the increase in the
effective way. number of children with special needs in
the village.
Health Awareness and Education
For this reason, one of the GS
This project area remains one of the key Paramedical scholars, Fatima Abu Jaber,
GS focuses, as it empowers individuals, was invited to speak in the village about
and particularly women, to take informed problems relating to childhood bone and
decisions to improve their own health and spinal development and the possibility of
those of their families. identifying these problems early on in the
child' life. This talk attracted 25 women
s
This year the GS has undertaken the from the local area.
following courses and awareness raising
exercises: Household Accident Courses – this
program of lectures ran for a total of 40
Oral and Dental Care Day – This hours across the unrecognized villages,
education day attracted 68 children and 32 and attracted nearly 500 women to learn
women. Activities included: about common household accidents and
ways to prevent and treat them.
Presentations for mothers about oral
and dental hygiene The lectures were given by Arab
Practical sessions on these issues Paramedical students who had benefited
targeted at children; free toothbrushes, from the GS Paramedical Scholarship
toothpaste and information sheets were program. This scholarship program,
given out to children funded by the Helen Bader Foundation,

18. has provided funding for over 100 Model Nursery Proposal – As part of
students in the past two years, with the these advocacy efforts, GS Negev is
aim of increasing the provision of putting forward proposals to set up a
Paramedical professionals in the Arab model nursery in the Negev with above
sector, particularly in the Negev, and the average facilities and tuition to
quality of treatment for children with irrevocably demonstrate the requirement
special needs. Part of the scholarship and local support for these facilities in the
guidelines included a provision to provide area. Some government departments have
health-related courses within their argued that the Bedouin community
communities on household accidents and doesn’t want/ or won’t utilize these
work within the government sector for facilities for their children. This model
two years after qualification. will immediately become a point for
campaigning, information and lobbying
Health in Ramadan – This program of purposes and will likely become a central
four lectures dealt with health issues argument in any legal action to compel
arising out of Ramadan, the Muslim the Israeli government to recognize its
month of fasting and (sometimes) dietary legal obligations to Negev preschool
excesses. Around 22 women attended children.
each of these culturally-relevant courses
which were held in Tel al-Maleh, Lagiyya The GS feels that only government
and Kesifa. resources and expertise in this field will
suffice in the long-term to allow Bedouin
Early Childhood Care Negev children the quality of preschool
teaching available to Jewish children and
Most of the work within this field is give them the best start in their academic
undertaken within the Early Childhood lives.
Network, a group of four NGOs
concerned with early childhood education Administration - Adnan al-Sani’
in the Negev and coordinating on these continues to direct the Negev department,
activities for best effect. hiring freelance personnel for specific
projects and presentations. However, the
Participation in Preschool Nurseries - Negev department continues to feel the
The four preschool nurseries funded by lack of a female nurse/educator due to
members of the ECN (1 at Tel al-Maleh, 2 insufficient resources.
at Qafar al-Sir, and 1 at Awjan) continue
to operate, giving 100 children in these
areas a chance to benefit from nursery
education.
The GS has also been involved in
lobbying, meeting with education officials
and research on the implementation of the
compulsory education provision law for
children aged 3-5, in order to encourage
systematic change in this regard. .
In the next year, the GS and ECN will
concentrate on pushing forward its
advocacy efforts for preschool education,
including lobbying, campaigning, and
public information efforts, in order to
compel the government to meet the
extreme need for more such facilities in
the Negev.

19. engineers, and research assistants, and
The Regional Research & hosted a number of college and graduate
students who conducted research in
Development Center cooperation with R&D Center staff.
(R&D Center)
New Equipment
The R&D Center purchased new
The Regional Center for Research and
equipment for advanced applied research,
Development (R&D Center) is the
including:
scientific arm of the Galilee Society.
Scientists at the R&D Center conduct
1. Denaturing Gradient Gel
independent applied research in
Electrophoresis
cooperation with local and international
2. PCR for molecular biology research
research institutes and universities on
3. New computers
issues related to water conservation, the
environment, and agriculture. The Center
New Partners
has gained official recognition as an R&D
center with support from the Ministry of
During 2002, The R&D Center
Science, and is affiliated with Haifa
established research cooperation with new
University.
partners from the Jordanian Royal
The R&D Center also works to enhance
Scientific Society and scientists from
high school and elementary curricula
Germany, Greece, Poland, Italy, and
through the provision of practical
Romania, Turkey and French universities
resources and hands-on expertise in
and institutes.
subjects such as environmental
conservation, biotechnology, organic
Research activities:
agriculture and medicinal plants.
The research strategy of the R&D Center
Goals:
is to create projects that capitalize on
unique aspects of the regional
Absorb Arab scientists and researchers environment and strongly reflect the needs
and provide opportunities in their fields of local Galilee residents. Research
of advanced specialties. conducted by R&D Center staff falls into
Perform advanced scientific and two broad categories: (1) Environmental
technological research that seeks Health
economic growth based on progressive (2) Agriculture and Medicinal Herbs.
industry and technology (in Health,
Agriculture, The Environment, Medicinal 1. Environmental Health
Plants and Biology).
Encourage local and international Alternative Solutions for Sewage
investment in industry, technology and Treatment and Reuse in Rural
science. Improve the standards of living Areas in Israel in cooperation
through research and application with other Middle East scientific
(Environment, Farming, Industry, and institutes.
Socio-economics). The Use of Methanogenic
Bacteria to Aid Biogas
Staff: Production in Agricultural Waste
for Use as an Alternative Energy
In 2002, the R&D Center employed four Source.
full-time Ph.D.' and 2 part-time Ph.D.’s,
s
Reducing the Environmental
in addition to two scientists from the GS,
Impact of Olive Mill Wastewater
who conducted projects through the R&D
in the Middle East; in
Center. The Center also employed a
complementary staff of technicians,

20. cooperation with other Middle permaculture. In addition, each year a
East scientific institutes. number of post and under-graduate
Biofilm formation in water pipes students from various institutions
and methods for prevention. including the Technion, and Haifa
Biomethylation and University complete research projects
bioremediation of heavy metals under the supervision of R&D Center
from contaminated soil and water scientists in a variety of fields.
using wetland plants and
microbes. Publications:
2. Agricultural & Medicinal Plants Saad B, Abu-Hijlah G, and Suter UW, ed.
R. Arshady. 2002. Cell culture techniques
Traditional Herbal Remedies – for assessing tissue compatibility of
R&D center scientists are biomaterials. In: Polymers in Medicine
investigating the effectiveness of and Biotechnology, Volume 1: Polymer
traditional herbal remedies for the Chemistry and Biodegradation, (in print).
treatment of cancer, diabetes, skin,
and liver diseases. Azaizeh, H.A., N. Salhani, Z. Sebesvari,
Molecular Aspects of the Use of and H. Emons. 2002. The potential of
Medicinal Plants for the rhizosphere microbes isolated from a
Treatment of Liver and Skin constructed wetland to biomethylate
Diseases. selenium. J Environmental Quality 32:55-
Biological Pest Control, 62.
controlling insects, bacteria, and
fungi using botanical pesticides Azaizeh, H., Fulder, S., Khalil, K., and
derived from local plants. Said, O. 2002. Ethnobotanical Survey of
Greenhouse & Botanical Garden - Local Practitioners of the Middle Eastern
More than 200 medicinal plant region: the Status of Traditional Arabic
species which represent our seed Medicine. Fitoterapia, 74: 98-108.
and field gene bank are being
cultivated in perma-culture and Said, O., Khalil, K., Fulder, S., Azaizeh,
preserved at the R&D Center H. 2002. Ethnopharmacological survey of
greenhouses and botanical medicinal herbs in Israel, the Golan
gardens. Heights and the West Bank region.
J. Ethnopharmacology 83: 251-265.
Education and Training:
Fauzi S. Silbaq, Steven E. Ruttenberg and
R&D Center scientists offer their Gary D. Stormo. 2002. Specifity of Mnt
interests and expertise to develop a “master residue” obtained from in vivo
broad array of educational opportunities and in vitro selections. Nucleic Acids
for elementary and high school Research, Vol. 24:5539-5548.
students. These are supplementary
subjects not covered in the curricula. I. Sabbah, B. Ghattas, A. Hayeek, Y. Haj,
They cover study activities and research S. Admon, and M. Green. 2002.
of medicinal plants at the Kafr Kanna Intermediate sand filtration for wastewater
facility (Al-Maissam); and treatment in rural areas of the Middle East
environmental subjects at the Pilot – A pilot study. 5th special conference on
Wastewater Treatment Site in Sakhnin. small water and wastewater Treatment
At both centers, students and teachers are Systems, Istanbul, Turkey.
able to explore and learn about organic
agriculture, water resources and use, Conferences and Workshops:
native plants, composting, alternative
building methods, irrigation techniques, During August – September 2002 - Dr.
wastewater treatment, medicinal Hassan Azaizeh was a guest scientist at
attributes of regional plants and the Research Center Juelich, Juelich,

21. Germany. He worked on the
biomethylation of the heavy metals such
as Arsines by microbes and the uptake of
these heavy metals by wetland plants such
as Phragmites and Typha. The
volatilization of heavy metals by microbes
is a safe way to detoxify it by converting
it to nontoxic gases such as Mono- and
Dimethylarsenie.
Dr. Basel Ghattas and Dr. Isam Sabbah
participated in the 5th special conference
on small water and wastewater Treatment
Systems, in Istanbul, Turkey at the end of
September where they presented a paper
on Intermediate sand filtration for
wastewater treatment in rural areas of the
Middle East – A pilot study.

22. Appropriate Technology
Consortium (ATC)
The Appropriate Technology Consortium
(ATC) is a cooperative effort of Israeli,
Palestinian, and Egyptian NGOs, research
scientists, consultants, and municipalities
started in 1998 funded by MERC to
establish low-cost, efficient, and
replicable wastewater treatment and reuse
systems with a complementary training
and support program to promote Constructed Wetland in Sakhnin
sustainable agricultural development in
rural areas of the Middle East.
The Galilee Society is the coordinator of
the Consortium’s efforts, which are
collectively known as the “Appropriate
Technology for Wastewater Treatment
and Reuse in Rural Middle East Areas”
project.
3 Vertical beds in Sakhnin
The four leading Consortium partners are
the Galilee Society (Israel), the
Palestinian Hydrology Group (West
Bank), the Egyptian Center for Organic
Agriculture (Egypt), and the Technion
(Israel).
2002 was the last year of the project,
progress at the Sakhnin plant progressed
as planned, but there was delay in the
West Bank and Egypt because of the
difficult political situation and a no-cost
extension for 2003 was approved so the Trench Excavation for sewage pipeline
work could be completed. A two-year in Beny Zaid, West Bank
follow-up project has been submitted and
approved by MERC and is expected to
start in mid- 2003.
Constructed Wetland in Egypt

23. Reducing the Environmental Impact of bioreactor, a pilot-scale system for OMW
Olive Mill Wastewater in the Middle treatment will be designed, constructed,
East and studied in Hebron.
In addition to contributing new data on
UASB applications to OMW treatment,
The project began in June 2001with the other unique contributions and scientific
support of USAID/MERC. benefits of the project include: using
The project partners are the Galilee sludge produced by this system to
Society R&D Center (Israel), Hebron generate compost and fertilizer for
University (HU) (Palestine), Royal agricultural applications, and using biogas
Scientific Society (RSS) (Jordan), and the produced during the anaerobic treatment
Technion – Institute of Technology process to generate energy for electricity
(Israel) and/or heat.
Approximately 250,000 tons of olives are Activities in 2002:
milled every year in Jordan, Palestine, and
Israel (JPI), to produce around 48,000 1. OMW characteristics: To determine
tons of olive oil. About 370,000 cubic the characteristics of OMW in Israel,
meters (m3) of olive mill wastewater OMW samples were collected during
(OMW) are produced annually during the the harvesting season (October-
olive oil production process. OMW November 2001) from 11 local
contains high concentrations of organic representative olive mills.
materials-such as phenols, tannins and 2. Sludge selection: Different types of
lipids, which are toxic to microorganisms. biomass (sludge), their activity and
Currently, much of the OMW in JPI is tolerance to OMW in laboratory scale
discharged directly into sewer systems batch were tested. Five different types
and water streams or concentrated in of sludge were collected from
cesspools despite the fact that this is different locations.
prohibited. In addition, due to the current 3. Lab-scale experiments using UASB
lack of appropriate, alternative technology reactors: In order to study the use of
to treat OMW properly, it is often UASB reactors and conduct
concentrated in ponds and left to dry experiments, two prototypes of
during summer time. OMW negatively cylindrical units have been
impacts the regional environment due to constructed at the R&D Center.
its toxicity to microorganisms in domestic 4. Survey: A survey is being conducted
wastewater treatment plants, its strong on the olive mills in Jordan (about
and unpleasant odor after anaerobic 100 olive mills) and Israel (about 70
digestion, and its potential threat to olive mills). A questionnaire was
surface and groundwater. designed by RSS and approved by the
This project proposes to design an partners. The survey will cover 100
appropriate anaerobic bioreactor so that olive mills in Jordan, 70 mills in
the biologically treated OMW meets Israel and in Palestine including
standard environmental regulations prior details of sites, types of olive mills,
to its discharge into domestic sewage production capacity, amount of
systems. The proposed treatment wastewater and solid waste generated,
approach is comprised of two phases: (1) and current methods of olive mill
pretreatment, based on physico-chemical waste disposal. All partners will
treatment methods to reduce toxic discuss the results after completing
materials present in OMW, and (2) the the data collection. The survey results
use of adapted anaerobic bacteria in a and OMW characteristics will be
suitable up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket made available to RSS for entry in the
(UASB) bioreactor. This is the first time GIS database.
UASB will be examined in conjunction
with OMW in the region. Based on data
collected from a laboratory-scale

24. The hiring of personnel started in
Al-Maissam – The Center November of 2002; the staff includes
instructors, researchers and maintenance
for Research & Study of workers. The new instructors were trained
Medicinal Plants on the different activities and subjects of
study and research. After preparing the
training materials, additional cross-
functional training took place to raise the
The Center for Research & Study of level of instruction, and to provide
Medicinal Plants in Kafr Kanna has flexibility with planning the training
evolved from a research greenhouse and activities. The marketing efforts parrelled
labs to a center that offers instruction and construction on the site and actual
research opportunities to local Arab instruction to school students started in
students with a rich variety of programs January 2003.
supplementing the curricula of the During the first two months, a total of 941
Ministry of Education. This was made students visited the center, of which 340
possible by a loan from the Ford are involved in the “young researcher”
Foundation. program where students attend 13-15
weekly seminars and research meetings to
cover specific areas of interest.
Plans for Summer Camps activities are
underway and it is expected to have ten
such camps in 2003.
Al-Maissam, the center at Kafr Kanna.
The center started planning its activities in
the summer of 2002. Work on the
infrastructure started in August by adding
3 new classrooms and management
offices. The landscaping work in the
greenhouse and grounds was completed; A small group of students researching
new research and study activities were medicinal plants
added and enriched with applicable
equipment and related tools and displays:
Beehives & beekeeping
Composting methods (organic and
with worms)
Marine biology (algae & fish life)
Medicinal herbs (plant collection,
preservation, extracts of beneficial
and specific compounds)
Aeroponics Instructors being trained on
Laboratory work beekeeping practices
Local domestic and wild farm birds
aviary
Each of the above topics has multiple
stations for instruction and demonstration
of related subjects.

25. Plants, Kafr Kanna, Galilee. With a
loan from the Ford Foundation this
Business Development project has risen from a research
Department greenhouse and labs to a center that
offers instruction and research
opportunities to local Arab students
This business unit was established in with a rich variety of programs
August 2002 to support economic projects supplementing the curricula of the
of the Galilee Society. Ministry of Education.
As a result of growing economic Plans to combine the marketing
opportunities within the GS, and the efforts of the two centers at Kafr
increasing pressures from grant makers on Kanna and Sakhnin are being
the GS over the past few years to develop explored and evaluated; this could
and nurture self-sustaining activities, result in great exposure to both
finally the time came to set up the centers in different geographical
business unit. areas and increase the benefit to
our local students by offering a
Projects supported by the department: richer program of study.
1. R&D initiatives: d. The Waste Water Treatment
Center:
a. Fluorine-Ex: A startup project This center in Sakhnin, Galilee also
exploring innovative methods for received a loan from the Ford
application of fluoride to teeth for Foundation to support
prevention of dental carries and infrastructure improvements
plaque removal. The startup allowing enhancements of already
company was formed in December existing instruction and research
2002, and a provisional patent opportunities to local Arab students
application was filed by its with a rich variety of programs
founders: Maher Ju’beh, The GS supplementing the curricula of the
Regional R&D Center & Kamal Ministry of Education. The
Khawaled. Ever since its education is based on
establishment, initial laboratory environmental and waste water
experiments have taken place to treatment themes.
finalize and validate the concept. Another activity planned for this
Additional testing is underway, and center is a Design & Consulting
development considerations and Unit that would provide services in
research options are being studied the field of urban planning relative
and evaluated. Research is also to waste water reclamation and
currently taking place to explore treatment. This activity is targeted
market potential and future growth to start in the year 2003.
patterns. An introductory Power
Point presentation was completed
to present the project to interested
potential collaborators and
partners.
b. Opportunities through the Israeli
Ministry of Industry & Trade:
Explore programs and means to Students at the Sakhnin Waste
provide funding for emerging
Water Treatment Center.
economic projects.
c. Al-Maissam: The Center for
Research & Study of Medicinal

26. 2. Corporate activities: ongoing process that requires
a. Rikaz Databank: This databank has continuous research.
been under development for the
past few years, it went online as an
internet database service in
December 2002. As a project with
growing economic potential, it
received business development
support and marketing direction to
explore its marketability. A pre-
marketing survey was initiated to
solicit feedback from potential
users; in addition, support was
given in the design of the website
from a marketing standpoint.
Presently the database development
and maintenance setup is being
evaluated for improvement in the
service levels and for cost
containment.
b. Information Technology: The
internal needs of the GS and the
R&D Center are being evaluated
for the establishment of a central
information technology unit that
could provide internal PC support
with all related connectivity,
internet, networking and data
safeguarding features needed for an
organization that has some 28
workstations and a server.
c. Organizational Structure: As the
GS is considering the use of
outside consultants for the study
and redesign of the internal
organizational structure (if
required), the business
development unit, together with the
other departments are evaluating
the internal Operations Manual for
required updates. It is envisioned
that this process would also align
all units in the process of working
better with the outside consultants
on the organizational evaluation.
d. The department also provides
support to explore new business
opportunities, initiatives and
projects that are aligned with the
organizational goals, while having
economic potential. This is an

27. income for the GS. The PDD continues to
Program Development be involved in the GS attempts to
implement more market-oriented and
Department income-generating activities, which have
now come under the responsibilities of
the Business Development Department.
The Program Development Department
(PDD) works to increase the financial Reporting on grants. The PDD wrote and
resources of the GS in the short, medium produced the 2001 Annual Report, in
and long-term. coordination with department directors
and other staff. In addition, PDD staff
Staffing. The PDD continued its work drafted progress and activity reports for
with Ms. Susan Barhoum as Director and various foundations throughout the year
interns Ms. Soheila Comninos (October as required by grant agreements.
2001 – July 2002), and Ms. Catherine
Hunter (September 2002 – January Major Achievements in 2002
2003).
Contracts Awarded. The following
Functions and Methods contracts were awarded for GS activities:
PDD' methods remain diverse and
s Ministry Grants
require the utilization of abroad range of The R&D Center received Grants from
skills. The major department functions the:
and methods are described below. 1) Ministry of Science for different
research projects on medicinal plants
Project Development. The PDD worked and biofilm.
closely with department directors in 2) Ministry of Infrastructure for
conceptualizing and building new research on the degradation of organic
initiatives for the organization. This compounds of swine wastewater.
included creating project work plans with 3) Ministry of Environment for
a focus on goals, objectives and methods; research on the Agricultural aspects of
identifying project staff requirements; and Bet Netofa in cooperation with Haifa
building appropriate budgets. University.
4) Ministry of Education for research
Researching potential donors. The PDD on the scientific aspects of Youth
used various methods to increase its Education.
knowledge of potential donors, including 5) Ministry of Absorption for cell
individual and institutional contacts, the biology research.
Internet, libraries, and embassies. 6) The Jerusalem Institute for Israel
Studies for developing blood tests for
Writing grant proposals. The PDD team hereditary diseases.
wrote several proposals for funding
during 2002, the majority of which were The Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies.
requests for project funding. The PDD The Environment Department received a
has found that the trend in NGO funding grant from the Institute to conduct a study
is increasingly toward project funding, on the Environmental Hazards and
and away from general support funding. Environmental Justice with Stone
Quarries as an example.
Diversifying the nature of resources. The
The Ford Foundation. The Databank
present funding situation requires
Department received a generous grant of
organizations to diversify their strategies
$300,000 for two years (2003 – 2005)
in order to survive in the increasingly
from the Ford Foundation for Phase 3 of
competitive environment. Foundations
the Rikaz project.
can no longer be the only source of

28. The Open Society Institute. The Galilee
Society started contact with the Open
Society Institute who gave a grant of
$50,000 for the general support of the
organization.
Proposals or New Initiatives. In addition
to the contracts awarded, the PDD wrote
several new project proposals and
budgets. These proposals were forwarded
to potential donors, and await funding.
Internship Program. In 2002, the PDD
had two interns, one from France and one
from Britain. The interns have made great
contributions to PDD' efforts in donor
s
research, project development, and donor
contacts.