Galilee Society Newsletter - Issue 27

1. The Galilee Society Newsletter
In This Issue: Issue 27, September 2007
< Groundbreaking Conference Joins International < Tiberias AIDS Workshop Joins GS Peer Educa-
Scientists with R&D Center to Promote Tradi- tors with Young Church of Scotland Members
tional Arab and Islamic Medicine < “Your Life is in Your Hands”: GS Breast Cancer
< ‘Ataa Group Publishes Report Citing Wide- Project Produces Poster for National Campaign
spread Lack of State Emergency Services for < News in Brief
Arab Locales During 2006 Lebanon War < How to Support the Galilee Society
< GS Joins Concerned Citizens to Spray Town’s
Fields for Insects Carrying Deadly Virus
Groundbreaking Conference Joins International Scientists with R&D
Center to Promote Traditional Arab and Islamic Medicine
The Galilee Society’s R&D Center recently held Taking place on August 8-10, the conference was
the first ever Regional Scientific Conference on organized by the R&D Center in partnership with the
Traditional Arabic and Islamic Medicine (TAIM) Arab Group for the Protection of Nature (APN) and
in Amman, Jordan. The conference explored the sponsored by the Antaki Center for Herbal Medicine
current state of research and practice in this field, Ltd, Delass Co., and the World Health Organization
bringing together prominent international scientists. (WHO). The conference highlighted traditional
uses of herbs, agricultural research, pharmaceutical
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2. development, homeopathic remedies, as well as
medicinal products and marketing.
Participants included research scientists, local
and regional traditional healers, international
pharmaceutical and medical research companies,
medical doctors, ethnopharmacologists and other
parties interested in the study of TAIM.
The conference achieved its objectives of establishing
Participants in the First Regional Conference on Traditional
a framework for the advancement of TAIM, the Arab and Islamic Medicine in Amman
gathering of a wide body of TAIM scientists, and
the beginning of a system for increasing training of Switzerland, Tunisia, Uganda, and the USA.
new and existing TAIM practitioners.
The conference is part of the R&D Center’s efforts to
The conference consisted of seven scientific revive the rich culture of TAIM. In the last five years
sessions, including a presentation on historical and researchers at the Galilee Society R&D Center, in
current studies indicating that the Eastern region of cooperation with different institutes, have published
the Mediterranean has enjoyed a particularly rich more than twenty articles and review papers in peer
inventory of complementary alternative medicine. reviewed Journals demonstrating the importance of
Another presentation introduced in vitro test methods traditional Arabic medicine.
employing human cells that could be potent tools for
studies on drug efficacy, toxicity, and metabolism in The modern use of Arab botanical medicines has
the pharmaceutical industry. Market authorization historical roots in ancient Arabic medicine, for which
regulations for herbal products was the subject of Arab herbalists, pharmacologists, chemists, and
another presentation. In addition, Dr. Omar Said physicians in the Middle Ages adapted the ancient
introduced “Al-Maissam”, the Galilee Society’s medicinal practices of Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome,
Medicinal Plants Center, as an efficient model for Persia, and India. Medical innovations introduced
preserving and developing traditional knowledge of by Arab physicians included the discovery of the
Arabic medicinal plants. immune system, the introduction of microbiological
science, and the separation of medicine from
More than 35 presentations were given during the pharmacological science.
conference, and more than 65 papers were presented
as posters. Extracts hailed from 15 countries including The next conference on Traditional Arab and Islamic
Algeria, Denmark, Egypt, France, Iran, Jordan, Medicine is slated to take place in 2009 at a location
Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Pakistan, Palestine, yet to be decided.
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3. ‘Ataa Group Publishes Report Citing Widespread Lack of State Emergency
Services for Arab Locales During 2006 Lebanon War
A new report published by ‘Ataa, a committee created
by the Galilee Society and a group of Arab NGOs
to provide support to Arabs affected by the Israeli
war on Hezbollah and Lebanon, found a severe lack
of emergency facilities and services in war-affected
Arab villages in Israel.
Partners in the ‘Ataa committee included Adalah –
The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel,
the Ahali Center, the Arab Cultural Association,
‘Ataa report summary
the Arab Psychologists Association, Ittijah, and the
Medical Relief Committee.
Arab towns and villages in Israel. In addition, it
The report, entitled, “The Arab Population in found that Arab towns and villages lack the facilities
Northern Israel under a State of Emergency – and services required to contend with states of
Damages from the Second Israeli War on Lebanon,” emergency, such as air raid sirens or Arabic language
is based on a survey conducted in 24 Arab towns and emergency literature. Lastly, the report concluded
villages in northern Israel. The survey covered 1,129 that local authorities and civil society organizations
respondents living in these localities, including the were, and continue to be, unable to provide the
mixed city of Haifa, all of whom were harmed by necessary assistance to the Arab population that is
missiles in the course of the war. under bombardment.
An October 19 study day is slated to take place in According to the survey, the number of fatalities among
Haifa to present the results of the survey to the public Arabs in the country resulting from Israel’s attack on
and to generate actionable recommendations to the Lebanon was 18, with 112 injured. This number accounts
authorities for improving the problems highlighted for 41 percent of the total number of civilian fatalities
by the survey. among Arabs and Jews who were killed from the first day
of the attack (July 12th, 2006) to the day on which it ceased
Among the clearest results of the report were that (August 14th, 2006). Seventy-eight percent of the total
the state, through its numerous apparatuses, did number of Arab victims was killed during the last third
not deal with the consequences of its attack on of the war’s duration (from August 3rd to August 13th),
Lebanon and the Lebanese missiles that landed on and 65 percent of the total number of Jewish victims died
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4. during the first part of the Israeli war against Lebanon. indicated that they had been psychologically harmed
The data contained in the report indicates an urgent during and after the hostilities. The percentage of
need among eleven Arab towns and villages for fire physical injuries was approximately 10 percent,
services during the hostilities. In spite of this need, and approximately 20 percent of those who were
however, there is no center to provide fire services in physically injured were children and young teenagers
any Arab town or village. From the data collected, 70 (0–14 years); around one third were within the 15–
percent of the families that sustained damages did 30 age group; and around 48 percent were in the 31+
not have alternative accommodation at their disposal. age group. A large proportion (46 percent) of those
Approximately 67 percent of those questioned injured was within the 20–50 age group.
GS Joins Concerned Citizens to Spray Town’s Fields for Insects Carrying
Deadly Virus
The Arab village of Majd al Kroum in Northern
Israel has long suffered from a lack of infrastructure
that has caused large-scale raw sewage overflow. The
smell notwithstanding, residents have endured the
effects of pollution of their natural springs and fields
and the resultant hordes of mosquitoes and other
insects that thrive in the contaminated fields. The
presence of untreated sewage near human habitation
poses the risk of infectious diseases, pollutes drinking Participants in the spraying of insecticides near the village of
and agricultural water, and severely degrades the Majd al Kroum
environment.
act. Mr. Agbaria met with Galilee Society staff and
Feet dragging by the local authority government agreed to donate sufficient quantities of insecticides
ministries to improve the situation has compelled to eradicate the possibly disease-carrying insects that
the Galilee Society’s Environmental Justice Center breed in the stagnant sewage ponds near the town.
(EJC) to launch a class-action lawsuit to compel the
authorities to fix this grave health risk. On Saturday, September 1st, Mr. Agbaria, aided by
five Galilee Society staff and eight Majd al Kroum
When the Israeli Ministry of Health announced citizens, sprayed the fields with his donated chemicals.
recently that insects from Majd al Kroum were suspected The group also marched through the town carrying
of carrying the deadly West Nile Virus, a concerned signs demanding accountability from the authorities
citizen of Majd al Kroum named Mahmoud Agbaria, and the allocation of funds to resolve the problem on a
the owner of Heteen Pesticide Company, decided to long-term basis. Near the village, the group observed
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5. a sewage pit 20 meters in diameter and at least 2 Environment initiated a criminal investigation
meters in depth, completely filled with raw sewage. against the Local Authority for failing to resolve the
problem. However, in real terms this brought little
The Environmental Justice Center has a long history improvement to the situation for residents. Although
of intervention on behalf of the environmental the Local Authority repaired the pumping machines,
rights of the citizens of Majd al Kroum. Following the sewage pipes remain neglected and ineffective,
action by the EJC in 2006, the Ministry of the leading to the current action by the EJC.
Tiberias AIDS Workshop Joins GS Peer Educators with Young Church of
Scotland Members
A group of young adults visiting Israel from the Church
of Scotland participated in an HIV/AIDS workshop
with Galilee Society peer educators at the Scots Hotel
on the lakeside city of Tiberias on 23 July.
Led by Galilee Society HIV/AIDS project
coordinator Abeer Ghantoos and Director of
Resource Development, Felice Nassar, the workshop
included information about the Galilee Society’s
Arab and Scottish participants in the Galilee Society HIV/
HIV/AIDS project and practical activities focusing AIDS workshop in Tiberias
on prevention and breaking stereotypes.
interaction fomented understanding between two
The Edinburgh-based Church of Scotland is the disparate groups of young people and provided
primary funder for the Galilee Society’s HIV/ a constructive forum for breaking down taboos
AIDS project. The Church of Scotland workshop associated with HIV/AIDS.
participants were visiting Israel to learn about its
Arab Christian community. The workshop was hosted by the historical Scots
Hotel, which is owned by the Church of Scotland.
Peer educators are high school students trained by Following the workshop, participants were provided
the Galilee Society to act as peer role models and with lunch and used the hotel’s swimming pool.
who lead the development of HIV/AIDS awareness
programs in their schools. Ten peer educators Ms. Nassar also recorded a video interview that
participated in the Tiberias workshop, providing will be used by Church of Scotland organizers for a
the visiting Church of Scotland members with the program for congregation members in Scotland on
perspective of Arab-Israeli youth. This positive NGOs and Arabs in Israel.
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6. “Your Life is in Your Hands”: GS Breast Cancer Project Produces Poster for
National Campaign
A public education poster encouraging early
detection of breast cancer has been produced by the
Galilee Society’s Breast Cancer Awareness project.
It will now be posted in health centers, hospitals,
clinics and schools throughout Arabic-speaking
Israel.
The poster is part of a public health education
campaign that promotes breast cancer awareness
among Israel’s Arab population. In addition to the
poster campaign, the project will produce an Arabic-
language film on breast cancer, conduct an advocacy
campaign to improve breast cancer education by the
national healthcare provider, organize a study day,
Breast cancer poster detail
train women to give self breast checks, and create
Arabic-language printed resources.
and encourages women of different ages to perform
The poster includes the statistic that one in every self-checks, and receive regular clinical breast
14 Arab women in Israel suffers from breast examinations and mammograms.
cancer, and that early detection can help cure 90%
of those sufferers. It encourages women to seek Through this campaign the Galilee Society hopes to
further information about breast checks or clinical encourage a more open debate on the issue of breast
examinations from family doctors or local HMO cancer among Arab women in Israel and to make
clinics. The post also contains a list of recommended the community more aware of the disease.
activities to promote early detection, such as monthly
self breast exams and professional breast exams every Israel-based TEVA Pharmaceuticals Industry, Ltd.,
year for at-risk groups and those older than 50 and a donor to the Galilee Society project, provided
every two to three years for those between the ages support for the poster campaign. The US-based
of 40-50. private foundation, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, is
The poster includes statistics stressing the low rate also a major donor to the Breast Cancer Awareness
of mortality if breast cancer is detected promptly project.
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7. News in Brief
Al-Maissam: Workshop Prepares Employees for Busy Year of Educational Programs
In preparation for an academic year that could
possibly see the number of visitors double from
last year, Al-Maissam Medicinal Plant Center for
Research & Education held a staff workshop on
August 31 to prepare new and existing employees to
conduct educational programs.
The training was organized by Al-Maissam
coordinator Hussein el Hajj, Galilee Society General Al-Maissam employees participating in a workshop at the
Program Director Naim Karim, and Dr. Medhat natural spring near the village of Safoori
Ossman, Inspector of Environmental Courses from
the Ministry of Education. In June, Dr. Ossman control), recycling (residential, industrial, and
participated in a workshop organized at Al-Maissam agriculture), environmental conservation, and the
for environmental high school teachers. interconnectedness of all living things.
The August training introduced newly hired In addition to educational training, participants left
student guides to Al-Maissam’s different science, Al-Maissam to visit the industrial zone of Kafr-
conservation, and medicinal plants stations. This Kanna, the village where Al-Maissam is located, to
year, Al-Maissam has increased the number of observe environmental conditions. Following this
stations and subjects. The training also instructed tour, the group inspected the natural spring (pictured)
guides in the use of the various scientific equipment in the nearby village of Safoori for environmental
used to illustrate the production of medicines from degradation.
traditional Arab medicinal plants.
Education programs at Al-Maissam enable
The workshop also trained employees to lead students to gain hands-on, practical and technical
students to stations on botany and regional expertise and information, and provoke interest in
indigenous plants, marine life (algae and fish), biotechnology.
beekeeping, insects (including use as organic pest
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8. GS Staff Meets with Naqab Department Donor and its Middle East Partners in Bethlehem
The Galilee Society’s General Director, Dr Basel
Ghattas and Naqab Department Director, Adnan
Said attended a meeting on July 12 in Bethlehem for
local recipients of grants from ACSUR Las Segovias,
a leading Spanish NGO. ACSUR also acts as an
intermediary to channel funds to local partners from
the Spanish Government’s Development Fund, and
has been the Galilee Society Naqab Department’s
primary donor from 2004 until 2007.
Map showing the location of Bethlehem
The meeting was held to evaluate ACSUR’s current
grant-making strategy in the Middle East, especially
Israel and the Palestinian Territories, and to allow
local NGOs and partners to participate in plans for
ACSUR’s future direction in the region.
The Galilee Society Welcomes Two New Staff
The Galilee Society welcomes two new staff members  Emily Antoon joins the Resource Development
this September. Department from Jordan, where she was studying
and living for one year as a Fulbright Fellow, after
 Dr. Soleman Abu-Bader, an Associate Professor majoring in International Comparative Studies
at the School of Social Work at Howard at Duke University in North Carolina.
University in Washington, D.C., joins the Rikaz The Galilee Society is excited to welcome such
team as a statistical specialist. talented and dedicated people to its staff.
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9. Al-Maissam: GS Employees Sample Honey Harvest
Galilee Society staff took a break from workaday
duties to participate in the honey harvest at Al-
Maissam. The results indicate a productive year for
the Kafr-Kanna bees.
Al-Maissam’s beekeeping facilities make up one of
its many educational stations, which serve to provide
visiting students with hands-on demonstrations of
ecology, conservation, and the value of traditional
Arab medicinal plants.
Students make candles from the beeswax produced
by Al-Maissam’s bees, assist in harvesting honey, and
learn about maintaining bees. One beehive yields
15 kilos of honey per year. Al-Maissam plans to
increase the number of beehives in the coming year Al-Maissam Coordinator Hussein al Hajj harvesting honey
from three to 12.
HRC Conducts AIDS Prevention Workshops for Boarding School Employees and Orphans
The Health Rights Center, as part of its HIV/AIDS young people about the dangers of HIV/AIDS.
awareness project, conducted workshops in August
for employees of a boarding school and for students Twenty orphans from the Vitso High School in
of a school for orphans. Nazareth attended an August 8 event where they learned
about HIV/AIDS transmission and participated in
About 20 employees of the Dar es Salaam Boarding conversations about the traditionally taboo subject of
School in Abilene, including teachers, administrators, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS.
mentors, and the school’s psychologist, attended a
three-day event on August 27-29. The workshop The Galilee Society provided students with special
focused on the promotion of AIDS awareness, study packs complete with leaflets and literature on
strategies for prevention, and the particular roles of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS, on
men and women in AIDS prevention. Participants confidential HIV-testing clinics and a PowerPoint
were provided with information on the work of the presentation containing a wide range of HIV/AIDS
Galilee Society and with publications on talking to related information.
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10. GS 25th Annual Board Meeting Welcomes Three New Board Members
A lawyer, a mayor, and an educator were elected as the The new board members are Mohammed Al-
Galilee Society’s newest board members during the Shayeb, a lawyer; Dr. Fathee Dakka, the mayor of
25th Annual Board Meeting at the Galilee Society Zeemr; and Abd-Elrahman Jssar, a retired high
headquarters in Shefa-‘Amr on July 14. school economics teacher. The makeup of the board
is the following:
In addition, the Board scrutinized and approved the
2006 audited financial statement and report by an
independent CPA.
Name Profession Position
Mr. Wael Omari Head of Health and Nursing, Rand Institution for Handicapped Chair
people and Special Education
Mr. Abd-Elrahman Jssar Retired Teacher, B.A Economics Co-Chair
Dr. Fathee Dakka Mayor of Zeemr Board Member
Mr. Mohammed Al-Shayeb Advocate Board Member
Dr Iyad Jahshan Gynecologist Board Member
Mr. Abed Massalha Nurse Board Member
Ms. Rosland Daem Lecturer Board Member
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11. How to Support the Galilee Society
Help achieve equitable health, environmental, and socio-economic conditions and development opportuni-
ties for Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel by supporting the Galilee Society.
How to Donate to the Galilee Society
Tax-Exempt 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
kassis25@comcast.net
Tel: +1 610 662 3693
Bank transfers to the Friends of the Galilee Society can be made to the following account:
Account Name: Friends of the Galilee 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:
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12. P.O. Box 330
Shefa-Amr, 20200
Israel
Alternatively, bank transfers (in any currency) can be made directly to the Galilee Society’s bank account:
Account Number: 9800
Bank Name: Bank Hapoalim
Branch Number: 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 disk utility commu-
nity-based Arab NGO. The overriding goal of the Galilee Society is the achievement of equitable health and socio-
economic conditions for the Palestinian citizens of Israel.
The Galilee Society
P.O. Box 330, Shefa-Amr 20200, Israel
Tel.: +972 4 986 1171
Fax: +972 4 986 1173
Email: admin@gal-soc.org
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