The Israeli Knessent celebrated twice this week - Once her birthday And once - thirty years of Birding Of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel. During the events, the Internal Affairs and Environment Protection Committees discussed on minimizing damages caused by using pest controllers, which harms animals and human health.

1. ‫הכנסת‬

2. Jerusalem Mayor, Nir Barkat, observing Dr. Gidon Perlman ringing birds
in the Knesset garden

4. Amir Balaban (pointing), Gidon’s partner in managing the
Jerusalem Bird Observatory, Knesset garden ringing station

5. Dr. Martin Weill, Chairman of the Bracha Foundation, Naomi Zur, Deputy
Mayor and the Mayor, look satisfied…

6. Nir Barkat at the entrance to the new building
at the Jerusalem Bird Observatory (JBO)

7. General-Director of the Society for the Protection of Nature
in Israel (SPNI), Avinoam Ben-Yitzhak

8. The ribbon cutting ceremony – in the center, Michael Bailey,
Director for Development at the Keren Hayesod

9. The ceremony of the placing of the mezuzah
(by a religious birdwatcher…)

10. Zeev Labinger, the organizer of the the Hula Valley artists exhibition
presented at the Knesset

12. The second exhibition will be shown at the Knesset
for the next two months in the Kedma wing

14. Amir Ezer, a Navy man, organizer of the exhibition that used recycled windows he
collected from garbage dumps around the Jezreel Valley for framing the exhibits

16. General Manssour Abu-Rashed, our partner for all activities in Jordan, a guest
of honor at the Knesset, with Beit She’an’s previous Mayor, Pini Kabalo

17. The Jordanian General and Shauli Aviel from Sde Eliyahu,
partners in the Barn Owl and Kestrel project

18. The Efroni choir, conducted by Maya Shavit, rehearsing their
performance, all wearing T-shirts with the National Bird

19. The Interior and Environmental Protection Committee headed by MK
David Azulai. To his right, the retired Supreme Court judge Ya'akov
Terkel; to his left, MK Dov Henin, Chairman of the environmental lobby

20. About 80 guests participated in the committee’s meeting, on
the subject of pesticides and toxins

21. Yossi Leshem presents the objectives of the national project for reducing
the use of pesticides and toxins

22. SPNI CEO – Avinoam Ben-Itzhak

23. Left: MK Nitzan Horowitz, MK Henin’s colleague, joined the
committee’s discussion

24. The retired Chief of Police, Assaf Hefetz, presents the
summaries of the enforcement committee

25. Prof. Yoram Yom-Tov presents the effects of toxins on wildlife. To his right:
Attorney Zipi Isser Itzik, Director-General of the Israel Union for
Environmental Defense, warned of the pollution of drinking water by toxins

26. In the center, Prof. Yoram Finkelstein presents the summaries of the
committee on the topic of public health.
To his right: Prof. Eli Richter, a committee member

27. Dr. Ofer Bahat, co-ordinator of the public committee; Attorney Chaya Erez
presented the legal aspects; Dan Alon was in charge of the educational
committee, and Prof. Allen Shlossberg the committee on the topic of toxins

28. General Manssour Abu Rashed is hosted in the chambers
of the Knesset Chairman, Rubi Rivlin

29. The previous Minister for the Protection of the Environment, Gidon Ezra,
and the present Minister, Gilad Arden, join the meeting

31. The Minister for the Protection of the Environment and the Knesset
Chairman visiting the new exhibition

33. An audience of 400 in the Knesset auditorium for the festive event

34. The VIPs seem to be enjoying the program in the auditorium

35. MK Zvulun Orlev, Chairman of the Knesset’s educational committee

36. MK Uri Maklev shows much interest in environmental issues

37. The Efroni choir, conducted by Maya Shavit, during their performance of
three bird songs in the auditorium

40. MK Nitzan Horowitz was a charming host!

41. Knesset Chairman, MK Reuven (Rubi) Rivlin welcomes the guests

42. “The Jerusalem Hawk”…

43. The Minister for the Protection of the Environment, MK Gilad Arden

44. Uncovering the new series of Israeli stamps. On the right, Herzl Bar-Mag,
CEO of the Israel Postal Company

46. The Minister and Chairman enjoying the new stamps of the Hoopoe, the
National Bird, and the runners up, the Graceful Prinia and Goldfinch

49. The Jordanian General speaking from the Knesset podium – focus on
“Birds Know No Boundaries”

53. Guests from all walks of life leaving the auditorium at the end of the event

54. Students from a school in Ma’ale Adumim who are studying about birds.
At the front their teacher Shai Kehat, and to his left Judge Terkel

55. Our hope is that
together we will
take care of the
birds for future
generations!
The front cover of the booklet
produced for the event