Galilee Society Newsletter - Issue 26

1. The Galilee Society Newsletter
In This Issue: Issue 25, May 2007
< EJC: Beach Cleanup Promotes Environmental < Al-Maissam Holds Open Day for Environment
Responsibility and Heritage for Arab Students Teachers
< Galilee Society P.R. Efforts Result in Use of < Minister of Science, Culture & Sport Im-
Rikaz Data by Religious Leader pressedby Applied Research Institute Visit
< Seven Arab Masters Students Receive Galilee < News in Brief
Society Scholarships to Conduct Public Health < How to Support the Galilee Society
Projects
EJC: Beach Cleanup Promotes Environmental Responsibility and Heritage
for Arab Students
The Galilee Society’s Environmental Justice Center Arab patrimony in Israel.
(EJC) led a group of 60 Arab high school students
to clean up the beach bordering the last remaining On June 1st, students from Shefa ‘Amr and EJC staff
Arab coastal village, instilling in the students the rode a Galilee Society-rented bus to the village of
importance of a clean environment and of respecting Jeser el Zarka, the only coastal village in Israel with
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2. an entirely Arab population. Upon arrival in Jeser
el Zarka, the group met up with students from the
local high school.
The goals for the cleanup were to impress on
students their obligation to respect Arab patrimony,
the importance of a clean environment, and to
promote cooperation between students of different
backgrounds.
Arab students participating in the Galilee Society’s beach
Before the cleanup began, Galilee Society
cleanup
Environmental Lawyer Shadi Azzam led a discussion
with the students on the importance of valuing Arab event by several local businesses. The Arab-Israeli
heritage, especially given the Arabs’ minority status Bank donated caps and Sobneh Nahlee, Ltd, a local
in Israel. Jeser el Zarka is the one remaining entirely coffee seller, provided t-shirts.
Arab village on the coast of Israel, he said, and
therefore merits respect and special consideration. Students collected all the rubbish they could in a
one-kilometer by 20-meter area, amassing 20 large
Azzam also discussed with the students their plastic bags of garbage, which were delivered to a
obligation to appreciate a clean environment, landfill.
impressing on them a sense of civic responsibility to
protect a right frequently taken for granted. “This activity was successful on two levels,” said
Azzam. “First, that students from Shefa ‘Amr and
The Galilee Society organized sponsorship of the Jeser el Zarka worked successfully together. Second,
that we were able to show the students the importance
of protecting their environment and their culture.”
Many schools other than the two participating had
expressed interest in participating in the activity but
could not because of exam schedules. Due to the
activity’s success, EJC staff has expressed interest in
repeating the activity not only at the Jeser el Zarka
beach, but at other Arab natural areas, such as valleys,
Arab students participating in the Galilee Society’s beach forests, and streams.
cleanup
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3. Galilee Society P.R. Efforts Result in Use of Rikaz Data by Religious
Leader
Expanded efforts by the Galilee Society to engage
the regional media, as part of the GS public relations
strategy, have resulted in the use of Rikaz data by a
religious leader in health-related sermons.
The Imam of Sakhnin, a primarily Muslim town
in the subdistrict of Akko, cited Rikaz statistics
regarding the incidence and effects of cigarette
smoking in the Palestinian community in Israel.
Several Arabic-language newspapers in the region
published the statistics based on a Galilee Society
press release distributed on World No Tobacco Day
Screenshot of a news article on an Arabic-language news
on 29 May 2007. website about a Galilee Society activity
The Imam, the regional Islamic authority, is highly on health and environment and with didactic
respected by the community both for religious materials that explain how to educate people on
guidance as well as advice on health and morality. these subjects.
The use of Rikaz statistics by such an esteemed leader
shows the public’s growing respect for the integrity The Galilee Society’s expanded public relations
of both Rikaz and the Galilee Society. efforts aim to promote activities and to disseminate
Rikaz data, thereby empowering Palestinians in Israel
Due to this successful application of Rikaz data to and their advocates to improve the Arab minority’s
empower Palestinians to improve their health, the health, socio-economic situation, and marginalized
Galilee Society plans to collaborate with regional status.
religious leaders, providing Rikaz-generated reports
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4. Seven Arab Masters Students Receive Galilee Society Scholarships to
Conduct Public Health Projects
The Health Rights Center (HRC) has awarded six In order to support the students in their projects,
Arab Masters in Public Health students scholarships the Galilee Society held a workshop on 4 May 2007
for outstanding academic achievement and the for the scholarship recipients, in which methods for
completion of a community health project. implementing public health projects were discussed.
The six students received the first installment This capacity building effort will train young
of 2,000 NIS ($500) after submitting proposals Palestinians on the value of health maintenance and
for community health projects, which they will awareness.
implement this summer. At the completion of the
project and following the submission of a final report At the end of the project, the Galilee Society will
in July 2007, the students will receive the scholarship produce a publication detailing all the individual
balance. projects carried out by the scholarship recipients.
The students and projects are as follows:
Name Project
Waleed Shalata Childhood Obesity
Tharwat Yasseen Hypertension in the El-
derly
Ghazala Khatib Reducing Accidents
Nasser Badarna Health Effects of Nargila
(Water Pipe) Smoking Scholarship recipients with Galilee Society Consultant Mo-
hammed Khatib, General Program Director Dr. Naim Karim,
Amira Isarakra Reducing Accidents and Chairman of the Board Wael Omari
Kheir Omari The use of seatbelts among
Arab children
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5. Al-Maissam Holds Open Day for Environment Teachers
Al-Maissam Medicinal Plants Center held an open
day for environment teachers on 12 May, attended
by Inspector of Environmental Courses from the
Ministry of Education, Dr. Medhat Ossman.
Dr. Ossman gave a lecture in which he presented
the latest updates in national exams related to the
environment. He also highlighted the importance
Participants in Al-Maissam’s open day for Environmental
of considering the needs of students with learning
Teachers
disabilities, to give them additional time to complete
exams, for example. presented Al-Maissam’s activities, especially its
Young Researchers project, in which high school
Dr. Naim Karim, Galilee Society General Program students attend a series of 13 meetings where they
Director, and Dr. Omar Said, founder of Al- participate in science classes and laboratory work.
Maissam and specialist in Arab-Islamic medicine, They prepare and implement research proposals with
the assistance of Al-Maissam’s trainers, using the
center’s facilities. At the end of the course, students
present their research results at Al-Maissam and in
their own schools.
Dr. Said spoke about the importance of Al-Maissam
in encouraging environmental and scientific study
by young people in Israel, especially for the Arab
minority.
Dr. Naim Karim with environment teachers
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6. Minister of Science, Culture & Sport Impressed by Applied Research
Institute Visit
Israeli Minister of Science, Culture & Sport
Ghaleb Majadle, in a June visit to the Galilee
Society Institute for Applied Research (formerly
the Regional Research & Development Center),
expressed his appreciation of the Institute’s research
quality and scope and promised to explore increases
in government funding.
The Minister was joined by the ministry’s main
scientist, Dr. Mina Tyher, who expressed her From left, deputy of the mayor of Shefa-’Amr, Minister of
Science, Culture & Sport Ghaleb Majadle, and Shefa-’Amr
amazement at the Institute’s accomplishments.
Mayor Orsan Yesseen
The Minister’s visit was joined by the Galilee During the visit, the Minister learned about the
Society’s Chairman of the Board, Wael Omari, Institute’s in-house and field research, history,
General Director Dr. Basel Ghattas, Institute staff, and accomplishments, in order to learn about the
and the Mayor of Shefa ‘Amr. Institute’s role in Arab society in Israel.
News in Brief
Asbestos: Fire in Condemned Classrooms Aerates Asbestos into Arab Village
A fire at the Omar Eben Kataab School in Majd asbestos into the air and threatening the health of
el Kroum, where Environmental Justice Center students and Majd el Kroum citizens. The World
pressure had previously resulted in a promise by the Health Organization has identified asbestos as a
government to remove asbestos from classrooms, dangerous carcinogen, maintaining that breathing
resulted last month in the extensive burning of this asbestos can increase the risk of cancer. When
still present carcinogenic substance. asbestos burns, it enters the air, where it can be
respired into the lungs.
The fire, which school officials speculate to be the
result of arson, tore through the classrooms, sending Previous Environmental Justice Center legal
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7. advocacy resulted in action taken by the school to risk of the aerated asbestos in Majd el Kroum.
remove the asbestos. A bid for contractors had been The Environmental Justice Center received a
published but work had not yet begun when the fire prompt reply that the letter had been referred to
struck. the Development Department of the Ministry of
Education where the problem would be dutifully
Immediately following the fire, the Environmental resolved. The Environmental Justice Center will
Justice Center sent an urgent letter to the local continue to monitor the progress at the Omar Eben
authority and the Ministries of Education and Kataab school carefully.
Environment to alert them to the significant health
GS Celebrates Graduation of Third Preschool Teaching Assistants Class
The Naqab Department celebrated the graduation the Galilee Society’s intent to continue the project
of its third group of preschool teaching assistants at and to focus Naqab Department attention on
Kay College in Beer el Sabe’ last month. supporting preschool education in the Naqab.
The 44 female students, their parents, special guests, Graduates were presented with diplomas from the
and Naqab Department staff attended the ceremony. Galilee Society and Kay College as well as first aid
Renda Zrek, Preschool Inspector for the Ministry of kits, the value of which was 5,000 NIS ($1,250).
Education gave a speech in which she praised the
Preschool Training Assistants program, saying that Since the project’s inception, 17 graduates of Galilee
it raised the quality of preschool instruction. Society Preschool Teaching Assistants program have
been employed in preschools recently opened by the
Adnan Sa’id, Naqab Department Director, declared Israeli government.
GS Co-founder Still Supporting Organization, 26 Years Later
Galilee Society Co-founder Dr. Runa Mackay that founded the Galilee Society. We wish to express
recently made a donation to the organization after our gratitude for Dr. Mackay’s original vision for the
receiving the May 2007 newsletter. In 1981, Dr. organization and ongoing support.
Mackay was one of the four healthcare professionals
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8. GS Staff Engages with GS Members with Two Round Table Meetings
Galilee Society staff held two separate round table
meetings with the organization’s members last
month in order to reach out to new members and
to improve communications between the Galilee
Society and its members.
One meeting was held in Nazareth at the home of
Dr. Khalid Suleyman, and the other in Jat, at the
home of Dr. Ziyad Khalaileeya.
Galilee Society General Director Dr. Basel Ghattas (right)
with Galilee Society members
Galilee Society General Director Dr. Basel Ghattas
spoke at the meetings, providing prospective and
accomplishments and current projects. Staff
current members an overview of the organization’s
distributed various Galilee Society publications.
Galilee Society and Mada al-Carmel Host Seminar on Weapons of Mass Destruction
The Galilee Society and Mada al-Carmel – The Hill, International Coordinator for the International
Arab Center for Applied Social Research – hosted a Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)
special seminar on 21 June on the subject of weapons and the International Physicians for the Prevention
of mass destruction. of Nuclear War (IPPNW).
The seminar, entitled “Weapons of Mass Destruction: The seminar, attended by local community members,
Between Local, Regional and Global,” featured representatives of NGOs, and Galilee Society staff,
lectures by Merav Datan, Middle East Political took place in the conference room at the Galilee
Advisor for Greenpeace International, and Felicity Society headquarters in Shefa-‘Amr.
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9. Galilee Society Headquarters Building Expansion Project in Full Swing
Architect’s drawing of complete project Construction progress as of May, 2007
Workers began construction in earnest last month building in another part of Shefa ‘Amr.
to add two new floors to the Galilee Society
Headquarters Building in Shefa ‘Amr, Israel. This expansion will facilitate inter-organizational
Mahmoud Al Hafaz Construction Company won communication, increase integration of research
the bid for the contract. and development activities with social programs and
advocacy, and reduce overhead costs. In addition,
The new part of the building will be home to the Galilee this project provides an opportunity for support from
Society Institute of Applied Research (formerly called donors who believe in the Galilee Society’s mission
the Regional Research & Development Center), and the need to aid the Palestinian community in
which currently resides in a rented old and insufficient Israel.
Delegation from Trade & Investment, British Embassy, Visits Galilee Society
A delegation from the British Embassy’s Trade & Advisor Yigal Levine.
Investment Department visited the Galilee Society
last month to exchange ideas to increase collaboration The Trade & Investment Department previously
with Arab and British businesses. supported the participation of three Galilee Society
staff in trade and investment conferences in Great
The delegation included Trade & Investment Britain.
Director Richard Salt and Senior Trade & Investment
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10. The Galilee Society Publishes its 2006 Annual Report
The Galilee Society proudly distributed its 2006
annual report this month, summarizing 12 months
of striving to achieve equitable health, environmental
and socio-economic conditions for Palestinian Arabs
in Israel.
The opening letter from the Chair of the Board of
Directors Wael Omari and General Director Dr.Basel
Ghattas pointed out the pioneering and influential
role the Galilee Society has taken, especially in the
last year. In addition, they highlighted the role of
the Galilee Society in supporting Arab communities
mostly in Northern Israel affected by last summer’s
Page from the 2006 Annual Report
war but whose needs were largely ignored by the
government. They also took the opportunity to
An electronic version of the 2006 annual report will
thank all those that support the Galilee Society,
be available on the Galilee Society website shortly
whether they be donors, volunteers, or staff.
(www.gal-soc.org).
The Health Rights Center Welcomes Two New Project Coordinators
The Galilee Society welcomes two new staff members Masters in Public Health from the Hebrew
to its Health Rights Center. University in Jerusalem, is the new coordinator
for the Health Rights Center’s Breast Cancer
< Abeer Ghantoos, whose background is in social awareness project.
work and is a specialist in sex education, has
taken the role of coordinator for the Health The Galilee Society is excited to welcome such
Rights Center’s HIV/AIDS awareness project. talented public health leaders to the organization.
< Amira Othman, a registered nurse who has a
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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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