Galilee Society Newsletter - Issue 20

1. The Galilee Society Newsletter
In This Issue: Issue 20, May 2006
• Galilee Society Participates in Doha • Health Rights Center Diabetes
Science Conference Project Takes New Direction
• Naqab Department Holds Study Day • Senior American Official Visits R&D
for Bedouin Youth Center
• Galilee Society Researchers Take
• Other News in Brief and How to
Part in Medicinal Plants Conference
Donate
in Tunisia
Galilee Society Participates in Doha Science Conference
Dr. Basel Ghattas, General Director of the Galilee
Society, and Dr. Ahmad Yazbik, Senior Researcher at the
Galilee Society Regional Research and Development
Center, recently took part in the first Conference of the
Arab Expatriate Scientists in Doha, Qatar. The
conference was held under the auspices of Her Highness
Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Misned, Chairperson of
Qatar Foundation for Education, Sciences and
Community Development. It took place on 24-26 April
2006 and included an elite cluster of renowned Arab
expatriate scientists from Qatar as well as other Arab
countries.
This conference therefore provided an excellent
opportunity for the Galilee Society representatives to
meet leading figures in science and technology in Qatar
as well as colleagues in the expatriate community. The
focus of the conference was on exchanging ideas
regarding the future of science in the Arab world,
especially in the areas of biotechnology, biomedicine,
environmental sciences and information technology.
During the various meetings and workshops, the Galilee
Society representatives had the opportunity to present the
work of the organization's Research and Development
Center, showing how scientific research can be done on a
smaller scale, in independent laboratories, and yet yield
important results. The Galilee Society is unique in that it

2. has managed to conduct highly advanced applied
research, frequently published in peer-reviewed journals
and leading to successful commercial activity, in a
relatively short time and with limited financial support.
In addition to this, Dr. Ghattas and Dr. Yazbik established
valuable networks for potential future cooperation with
their fellow scientists. Dr. Ghattas also gave an interview
for the local media, regarding the unique situation of
Arabs living in Israel. He explained the difficult
circumstances young Arab scientists in the country are
faced with, lacking equal opportunities in terms of
academic study and industry.
* Picture shows Dr. Ahmad Yazbik (left) and Dr. Basel
Ghattas (second from the right) at the science conference
in Doha.
Naqab Department Holds Study Day for Bedouin Youth
On 25 May, the Galilee Society Naqab Department
organized a “Health and Environment” study day for more
than 160 Bedouin high school youth. The event, held in
Beer Sheva, dealt with the health and environmental
issues specific to the Bedouin population in the Naqab
(Negev), such as nearby polluting industries, lack of
proper sanitation and so on. The study day mainly
targeted high school students specializing in
Environmental Studies. The participating students came
from schools in Kseife, Segev Shalom, Hura and Tel
Sheva.
After an introductory presentation by Mr. Adnan Said, the
Director of the Galilee Society Naqab Department, Dr.
Elana Belmaker, Head of the Ministry of Health for the
southern region in Israel, spoke to the youth. She gave a
presentation about the relation between health and
environment and the particular hazards present in the
area.
Dr. Isam Sabbah, Scientific Director of the Galilee Society
Regional Research and Development Center, in turn
spoke about environment as an important resource and
emphasized the importance of academic study and
research in this field. He emphasized the potential that
exists for community development through such

3. environmental research and innovation.
This reflected the concerns of Mr. Said who pointed out
that “environmental study is not seen as important in the
local schools”. Instead, it is something students feel they
have to do simply in order to finish high school. “This”, Mr.
Said said, “is what we want to change through events like
this as well as through our other educational projects. We
want to show the students that the environment is an
important subject in itself and highly relevant for the
Bedouin population in the Naqab”.
Following these presentations, the study day continued
with a talk by Mr. Lbad Abu Afash, a resident of Wadi
Na’am. He related his personal experience of living in the
area and spoke about how the environmental hazards of
the region affect him and the rest of the Bedouin
population in the area in their day-to-day lives.
Finally, a documentary film on environmental issues in the
region was shown. This was made by students at Segev
Shalom high school.
* Picture shows Bedouin youth taking part in the Study
Day in the Naqab.
Galilee Society Researchers Take Part in Medicinal Plants
Conference in Tunisia
The Second International Scientific Colloquium of
Bioplanta on Natural Products: Pharmaceutical Therapy,
Nutritional and Environmental Benefits was held on 4-7
May 2006. The conference was jointly organized by the
Higher Biotechnological Institute of Sfax, Tunisia, and the
Departments of Pharmacy of Monstair, Tunisia and
Montpellier, France. More than 150 scientists,
ethnopharmacologists, and graduate students from North
Africa and Europe participated in the conference, at which
more than 40 papers and 20 posters on medicinal plants
research were presented. The Galilee Society Regional
Research and Development (R&D) Center was
represented at the event by Dr. Hassan Azaizeh and Dr.
Omar Said.
The two Galilee Society scientists had the opportunity to
present their research at the conference. Dr. Azaizeh

4. gave a lecture titled, Ethnopharmacological uses of
Arabic medicinal herbs and the status of the traditional
Arabic medicine in the Middle Eastern region. This was
based on an extensive survey conducted in Israel and
Palestine assessing the knowledge and skill of
ethnopharmacologists in the area.
Dr. Said on the other hand presented a lecture titled,
Efficacy of Palestinian medicinal herbs used by traditional
Arab herbalists for treating different human diseases. In
this presentation he discussed his research on the use of
traditional medicinal plants in treating diabetes, cancer, as
well as liver and skin diseases. In addition to these
presentations, several posters describing Al-Maissam’s
educational activities were exhibited during the entire
period of the conference.
Both scientists also attended a number of group meetings
where the participants discussed the possibility of
submitting joint proposals and cooperating on different
research projects. According to Dr. Azaizeh “other
participants showed great interest in our work in the field
of traditional Arabic medicinal herbs, and many were keen
to visit our sites or to develop collaborative projects in the
future”. In fact, Al-Maissam is the only center in the
Middle East that conducts research on natural products
based on traditional ethnopharmacological uses. This
conference therefore provided an excellent opportunity for
the center to present its activities.
During the Bioplanta 2006 conference, the organizers
also announced an upcoming conference titled “The
Revival of Traditional Arabic and Islamic Medicine”, to be
held in Amman, Jordan, during the summer of 2007. This
conference is being jointly organized by the Galilee
Society R&D Center and the Arab Group for the
Protection of Nature. Many research groups present in
Tunisia were interested in attending the conference and
assisting in finding sponsorships.
* Picture shows Dr. Hassan Azaizeh (left) and Dr. Omar
Said at the conference in Tunisia.

5. Health Rights Center Diabetes Project Takes New Direction
The Galilee Society Health Rights Center has decided to
change the focus of its Diabetes and Cardiovascular
Disease Awareness project in Tamra by increasing its
work with Kupat Holim Clalit doctors with their own private
clinics. This decision of the center to rethink its strategy is
based on the experience of running the project at its initial
stages and on a continuous project evaluation the Galilee
Society staff has conducted. Part of this evaluation is
based on the recently completed analysis of the patient
questionnaires used since the beginning of the project. (1)
Since this change in direction, the Health Rights Center
has signed up some 60 patients from local doctors in
Tamra and this number may increase as more doctors
express interest. After finalizing which doctors will
cooperate, a group meeting will be held to discuss both
the group patient program and the individual patient
program.
Initial collaboration on group meetings and workshops
with the main Kupat Holim Clalit health service provider in
Tamra has not attracted the number of participants
expected. Working with the doctors who have private
clinics will allow the Galilee Society to emphasize
developing its individual patient program. This program is
especially important due to the fact that many patients will
likely have needs beyond what is provided by the group
program. Individual assistance, such as home visits, is
also likely to increase participation and positive results
within the group.
In addition to this change in focus, the Health Rights
Center is also expanding the project to include the Arab
town of Tira in the center of Israel. In this location, the
Galilee Society's Diabetes project has reached an
agreement to work in cooperation with the Kupat Holim
Clalit and Maccabi providers there, showing that the
potential exists if institutions are properly coordinated.
Thus far, around 200 suitable patients have been
identified for the project in the town of Tamra.
In order to raise awareness and put more emphasis on
preventive measures, the Health Rights Center is also
initiating an educational program on diabetes prevention
in secondary schools in Tamra and Tira. This will serve as

6. a model project with the potential for nation-wide
implementation in the future.
(1) A report detailing the results of this data analysis will
be available shortly.
* Picture shows Mr. Mohammad Khatib, General Program
Director, and Ms. Hanan Mannaa’, Head of the Health
Rights Center. They work together to coordinate the
Galilee Society’s Diabetes project.
Senior American Official Visits R&D Center
Dr. John Marburger, Science Advisor to US President
George Bush and Director of the Office of Science and
Technology Policy for the US Government
(www.ostp.gov) visited The Galilee Society Regional
Research and Development Center on 24 April 2006. He
was accompanied by the OSTP Assistant to the Director
of International Relations, Ms. Joan Rolf, and Mr. Robert
Tansey from the American Embassy in Israel.
Dr. Isam Sabbah, Scientific Director of the R&D Center,
presented the activities and achievements of the Center
to the visitors. The Galilee Society Scientists also
discussed their individual research. Dr. Marburger
expressed interest in R&D Center research and
encouraged the scientists to seek more partnerships with
US Government institutions.
Dr. Marburger holds a PhD in Applied Physics from
Stanford University in California, USA. Prior to becoming
Science Advisor, he served as the Director for
Brookhaven National Laboratory, which conducts
research in the physical, biomedical, and environmental
sciences, as well as in energy technologies and national
security. He also served as President of the State
University of New York at Stony Brook.
Dr. Marburger was in Israel to attend the 50th Anniversary
of the Fulbright Program. He thus took the opportunity to
visit the Galilee Society R&D Center, the New Generation
Technology (NGT) Incubator Project, and to meet with
officials from Hebrew and Al-Quds Universities. He
indicated that he was very impressed with all of his
meetings.

7. * Picture shows Dr. Isam Sabbah, Scientific Director of
the R&D Center, (right) and Dr. John Marburger.
Other News in Brief and How to Donate
R&D CENTER ACTIVITIES:
- Ms. Razan Zuayter and Ms. Zeina Kwar, both on the Board of Directors of the
Arab Group for the Protection of Nature, visited The Galilee Society and Al-
Maissam on April 18, 2006. Ms. Zuayter was interested in learning more about the
Center's projects and programs and in finalizing her group's commitment to jointly
host a conference on traditional Arab and Islamic medicine. To follow-up on the
visits of Ms. Razan Zuayter and Ms. Zeina Kwar, members from the R&D Center
(including Dr. Hassan Azaizeh, Mr. Khaled Khalil, Dr. Isam Sabbah, Dr. Omar Said,
and Ms. Arisha Ashraf) met with the Arab Group for the Protection of Nature
(www.apnature.org) in Amman, Jordan on Tuesday, May 9, 2006. They discussed
more details on the Traditional Arab and Islamic Medicine Conference to be held in
the summer of 2007.
- On Saturday, May 6th, Dr. Isam Sabbah, Scientific Director of the R&D Center,
attended a conference on higher education in Nazareth. The Association of Arab
Lecturers & Investigators in Higher Education Institutes (ALQINDEL)
(www.alqindel.com) held their first annual conference entitled “Higher Education &
Research Among Arab Society in Israel”. ALQINDEL is a newly established
network of Arab educators, researchers and students who seek to create greater
opportunities in higher education for the Palestinian minority living in Israel. This
complements the work of the Galilee Society R&D Center which trains and
educates young scientists. Dr. Sabbah presented the work of the R&D Center
during this conference.
NAQAB DEPARTMENT TEACHES HEALTH EDUCATION TO ILLITERATE
WOMEN
In a recent initiative, the Galilee Society Naqab Department is teaching health
education to illiterate women in the Bedouin village of Arara. The group includes 25
women and the course focuses on general health education as well as breast
cancer awareness.
GALILEE SOCIETY DELEGATION TO TOUR THE UNITED STATES
On 3-12 June a delegation from the Galilee Society will be touring a number of
cities in the United States to meet with several individuals and organizations. The
delegation is comprised of Dr. Basel Ghattas, General Director of the Galilee

8. Society, and Mr. Wael Omary, Chair of the Board, accompanied by Ms. Riham
Barghouti, Coordinator of the Friends of the Galilee Society. It will be visiting a
number of major cities in the US including Sacremento, San Jose, San Diego, Las
Vegas, Chicago, and Washington D.C.
The main objective of the visit is to strengthen ties with the local community in the
United States, expand the Friends of the Galilee Society membership, and present
some of the Society’s priority projects which are in need of funding. The Friends of
the Galilee Society is working to promote two major projects that would greatly
enhance the work of the Galilee Society and meet some of its priority needs. The
two projects aim to support the Society’s Regional Research and Development
Center and Al-Maissam Medicinal Plant Center.
During the delegation’s visit, a Board meeting for the Friends of the Galilee Society
will also be held.
SHEFA-AMR GOES ONLINE
The town of Shefa-Amr launched a new public website in April (www.shefa-
amr.com). This Arabic site is publicly accessible on the internet and the Galilee
Society intends to use it to inform Shefa-Amr residents and others of its activities.
The site has already published an article on the visit from Dr. John Marburger,
Science Advisor to US President George Bush and Director of the US Office of
Science and Technology Policy.
DONATE
Help achieve equitable health, environmental, and socio-economic conditions and
development opportunities for Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel by supporting the
Galilee Society's work.
How to Donate to the Galilee Society
Tax-Exempt Donations
In 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 Kassis
Chair, Board of Directors
7 Lee Road Audubon, PA 19403
United States
Tel: +1 610 662 3693
Bank transfers to the Friends of the Galilee Society can be made to the following
account:

9. Account Name: Friends of the Galilee Society
Bank Name: PNC Bank
Branch: Audubon Village Shopping Center
Account Number: 86-0943-9642
Please inform Friends of the Galilee Society of your donation: rbarghouti@gal-
soc.org.
Direct Donations
To donate to the Galilee Society directly, please send checks (in any currency)
payable to the Galilee Society at:
PO Box 330
Shefa-Amr, 20200
Israel
Alternatively, bank transfers (in any currency) can be made directly to the Galilee
Society's bank account.
Account Name: The Galilee Society – The Arab National Society for Health
Research and Services
Account no.: 9800
Bank name: Bank Hapoalim
Branch no.: 731
Bank address: Jabour Street, Shefa-Amr 20200, Israel
SWIFT code: POALILIT
Please inform us of your donation at fnassar@gal-soc.org.
The Galilee Society - The Arab National Society for Health Research and Services is a leading
community-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 Society
P.O. Box 330, Shefa-Amr 20200, Israel
Tel.: +972 4 986 1171
Fax: +972 4 986 1173
Email: admin@gal-soc.org