1 Message from the Editor

These days, few issues carry as much relevance in our lives as the ongoing pandemic, while self-interest and calculation, rather than compassion or even the acknowledgment of responsibility, tend to guide vaccine distribution. The situation in Gaza is dire. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization warns that acute hunger may affect 20 countries, including not only Yemen but also Lebanon and Syria. Still, we tend to neglect the fact that our daily habits cause the destruction of nature, creating the conditions that facilitate the emergence and spread of viruses in the first place. Only 4 percent of mammals on earth are wild animals, 36 percent are humans, and 60 percent are domestic animals that we raise mainly for some form of consumption!* This month’s issue highlights the beauty of Palestine’s environment and draws attention to challenges that Palestine must tackle to preserve this treasure and protect the country’s flora and fauna. We wish to thank our authors Zayne Abudaka Cover: Toubas area. Photo by Fuad and Hammam Othman, the directors of research and operations, respectively, at Sawafta, courtesy of Palestinian advisory Board Momentum Labs; Dr. Mazin B. Qumsiyeh, director of the Palestine Museum of Assembly for Photography and Hani Alami, CEO of COOLNET Natural History and the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability, and Dr. Exploration. H.E. Mounir Anastas, Ambassador, Issa Musa Albaradeiya, director general of the Environmental Resources Directorate Alternate Permanent Delegate of the at the Palestinian Environment Quality Authority (EQA); anthropologist Dr. Ali Qleibo; State of Palestine to UNESCO Akram Halayqa, director of the Coastal and Marine Environment Department at the Sari Khoury, architect EQA; Hadeel Hisham Ikhmais, who works in the EQA’s climate change section; Mohammad Mahassneh, the EQA’s director of biodiversity; Dr. Shaddad Attili, an Rima Najjar, activist, researcher, and adviser-ranking minister at the Negotiation Department and former water minister retired professor of English literature at the Palestinian Authority; Roubina Bassous/Ghattas, founder and director general Muzna Shihabi, communications of Pioneer Consultancy Center for Sustainable Development; Majed Ghannam, a forthcoming Issues expert program manager at UNDP/PAPP specialized in water resource and integrated water Sari Taha, principal consultant, management; journalist Amira Gabarin; Imad Atrash, executive director of the Palestine May 2021 Momentum Labs Wildlife Society, and biology student and volunteer Maha Abu Gharbieh; Dr. Anton Palestinian Realpolitik Khalilieh, executive director of Nature Palestine Society, and Dr. Yara Dahdal, a project June 2021 manager at the society specialized in water desalination and wastewater treatment; This Is Sumud (Steadfastness) and Simon Awad, executive director of the Environmental Education Center of the July 2021 tWiP Team Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, and Bashar Jarayseh, an COVID-19 and Our Children Publisher: Sani P. Meo active research volunteer at the center. Art Director: Taisir Masrieh Our Personality of the Month is head of the EQA Jameel Mtour, Artist of the Month is Mohammed Alhaj, and Book of the Month is Checklist and Ecological Database of Graphic Design: Tamer Hasbun Wild Plants in the West Bank by Banan Al Sheikh. TWiP Kitchen presents a recipe for Editor: Tina Basem qatayef, and Ahlan Palestine Postcard takes you to Kifl Haris where you can learn to make maftoul. Enjoy the few listed events. The entire team at TWiP wishes a happy Easter and a blessed Ramadan to all who are celebrating religious holidays this month. We hope that everyone will emerge from this pandemic healthy and well! *https://www.livekindly.co/60-of-all-mammals-on-earth-are-livestock-says-new-study/. The views presented in the articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. Telefax: +970/2 2-295 1262 Maps herein have been prepared solely for the [email protected] convenience of the reader; the designations and Sincerely, presentation of material do not imply any expression www.thisweekinpalestine.com of opinion of This Week in Palestine, its publisher, www.facebook.com/ThisWeekInPalestine editor, or its advisory board as to the legal status of any country, territory, city, or area, or the authorities Tina Basem thereof, or as to the delimitation of boundaries or national affiliation. Printed by Studio Alpha, Al-Ram, Jerusalem. 2 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 3 THIS WEEK IN

Our Environment

Issue 276 April 2021 www.thisweekinpalestine.com THIS WEEK IN

Personality of the Month 94

www.thisweekinpalestine.com Book 68 of the Month 96 Greening Moonshot Artist of the Month 98

TWiP 6 36 Kitchen 100 Tackling Environmental Climate Change in Palestine Ahlan Challenges 72 Palestine Postcard 102 Palestinian Olive Trees

Events 104 42 12 Directory 105 The Status of Invasive The Palestinian Environment: Alien Species in Palestine 80 Threats and Opportunities Faqqua Iris The Last Word 106

52 20 84 Towards a Green The Palestinian Cultural Basin New Deal in Palestine Birds of Palestine

28 60 90 The Dead Sea Palestine in Focus Owls in Palestine

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renewable energy, water treatment, and waste management projects Tackling Environmental have been developed with support Environmentally from the Palestinian government and friendly agricultural international donor organizations ventures can preserve that today form the seed for the environment, Challenges environmental transformation. The strengthen resilience development of these projects has For a Sustainable Palestinian Future mainly been driven by the need to against the occupation, ensure the sustainability of vital and generate income resources such as energy and for thousands of water at an affordable cost. To build Palestinians. on existing efforts, more actors need to pay attention to resource sustainability in the agriculture sector. Palestinians in the West Bank and Out of over 5 million Palestinians in Gaza import most of their food, the West Bank and Gaza, around a while their ability to produce their third (1.7 million, mostly in Gaza) food on their land is increasingly alestinian life is are food insecure, and a further 16.8 constrained. To ensure food filled with cultural percent (841,000) are marginally security, Palestinians have little references that food secure.i Food insecurity is choice but to adopt technologies By Zayne Abudaka tie Palestinians only expected to increase due and practices that can radically and Hammam Othman to their “natural to population growth, increasing improve conservation of soil environment.” The international commodity prices, and quality, water resources, and other olive tree has become a symbol of Palestinian steadfastness, and hardly Israeli restrictions on trade (and agricultural inputs. This could enable a day passes in Palestine without a referenceP to the land, sea, and air that the sector to grow sustainably associated costs), in addition to the Palestinians have been denied. Despite the patriotic slogans, however, reduced capacity for food production to serve a growing population speaking about the environment and climate challenges is considered to be due to shrinking land area and water despite the challenges. Adopting a luxury in many Palestinian communities. Decades-long occupation has reserves. more advanced technologies clouded most of the discourse, with many Palestinians considering any other conversation to be secondary or “less important” at best, and “imported” or Plastic bags placed on arcuate faqqous grown in the town of Deir Ballout in the Salfit governorate. “Western,” at worst. Photo by Daoud Abdallah, Palestinian Assembly for Photography and Exploration. This understanding of the environment is extremely problematic, mainly because it ignores the importance of environmental and resource sustainability to Palestinian liberation from occupation, dependency, and underdevelopment. While Palestine’s contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions is miniscule, the impact of climate change in Palestine is expected to be severe. In Palestine and the region, the combination of rising temperatures and decreased rainfall is expected to dramatically increase demand for water, which is an already scarce resource, inflicting significant harm in agricultural production capacity. Combined with the impact of Israeli restrictions and settlement expansion on the water resources and land area available for agriculture, climate challenges are expected to have catastrophic implications for food security in Palestine. For this reason, efforts that focus on improving food security and sustainability in Palestine and the region are likely to intensify. Despite the absence of a clear and systematic approach to addressing environmental and climate challenges at the national level, a number of

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Despite the great potential of and access to networks of resellers, agricultural technology in the wholesalers, and in some cases As Palestine must Palestinian context, there are consumers directly. When farmers From the farm to deal with occupation- several challenges that impede its cannot access a feasible sales your plate: Palestinian related restrictions development. Advanced agriculture channel, they dump their produce farmers face and is expected to be is capital intensive and requires to avoid costly storage. In addition, difficulties in their particularly hard hit by tight operational management and the fluctuation in agricultural efforts to gain access to specialized expertise, which is often production, which is mainly caused global climate change, lacking in the local market. The by seasonality and the inability of markets. the development of availability of risk capital to invest in markets to allocate produce rapidly sustainable agriculture agricultural technology development and at a satisfactory price for both value chains is crucial can significantly expedite the pace of the farmer and the consumer. transition. the end users directly, circumventing to ensure food security. In our region, where the movement traditional open markets where Many Palestinians in the West of people, products, and capital is producers have to compete with Bank remember the images of restricted by layers of politics and local representatives of much larger cucumbers being disposed of in bureaucracy, shortening supply Israeli producers. In addition, using and cultivation methods such as empty agricultural areas in Tulkarem chains could contribute to improved controlled cultivation systems could hydroponic farming, vertical farming, during 2020. The dissemination of food security and the development help farmers produce much higher and fully controlled and monitored the images on social media channels of local productive industries, yields on smaller plots of land, environments (greenhouses), can triggered a public conversation. while playing a part in the region’s with reduced need for agricultural help farmers produce three to six Farmers reported their inability to adaptive response to climate change. inputs such as soil, fertilizers, and times the amount of produce, with sell their produce as storage costs To allow for this gradual transition pesticide. This enables farmers to significantly reduced water use and mounted, leading them to dispose of towards shorter supply chains, set up farms closer to the urban minimal levels of harmful chemicals. the produce. actors should pay more attention to markets which they serve. improved efficiency and planning of Hydroponic cultivation, for example, Difficulty in selling produce is a Importing agricultural inputs remains can save up to 95 percent of the major challenge for farmers in the cultivation process to improve the management of supply quantities a significant cost for the Palestinian needed water for growing greens Palestine and worldwide. Farmers economy. In 2019, animal feed and a range of vegetables, including often lack access to the networks, to match the less fluctuating demand. was Palestine’s third largest import widely consumed, water-intensive knowledge, or time to ensure that in terms of value, with around crops such as tomatoes and their produce reaches customers. Planning can be further improved US$204.6 million (9.6 percent of cucumbers. Marketing and sales require time through the adoption of advanced total import bill and 1.3 percent of cultivation technologies. One GDP in 2019) spent on imported advantage of controlled cultivation preparations used in animal feed. In Dumping of agricultural produce in Tulkarem, Palestine, 2021. systems is that they enable farmers Photo courtesy of Ultra Palestine. addition, conversations with local to grow crops during most of the producers of animal feed indicate year with shorter cultivation cycles. that most of the inputs used in local This allows farmers the flexibility production of animal feed are also to adjust their cultivation strategy imported from or through Israel. In throughout the year to smooth the same year, the value of imported fluctuations in demand and supply. fertilizers reached US$9 million. Sector stakeholders should also Although this amount is much focus on innovative solutions to smaller when compared to animal boost farmers’ access to local feed imports, the official figures markets and reduce the number are likely to be skewed due to the and control of intermediaries in the informality of fertilizer purchases supply chain. With improved public from Israel. Israel currently bans access to the digital world, new standard concentration fertilizers tools could be leveraged to better typically used for intensive link farmers to traders and even to agriculture; this continues to be a 8 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 9 Our Environment

To develop new agricultural inputs to ensure its fit to the local context. locally, a number of efforts need to We must strive to understand be coordinated among key sector the problem by researching actors. Seed capital is needed to pressing environmental challenges conduct research and test different and measuring their impact on combinations of inputs in order to Palestinian society and economy. identify products that are at least Sizing the magnitude of the problem equivalent to imported options, in and identifying the key affected terms of price, quality, and nutritional actors are critical first steps to value. To ensure feasibility and engaging policy makers and the scalability, large local actors such as private sector in efforts to respond private-sector dairy producers, larger quickly and effectively to climate agribusinesses, and the government challenges. Efforts must be made should be the first to adopt the new to identify potential solutions local products. through studying international Examples provided in this article are similar experiences and drawing not an exhaustive list of possible lessons from similar contexts. Pilot interventions nor are they a silver projects must be developed to Municipal solid waste statistics in Palestine, 2019. bullet that promises to solve all of test the compatibility of proposed Photo courtesy of Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung.ii Palestine’s problems. We believe, solutions and carefully situate them however, that by investing in in the local context. And we must major impediment to the sector’s waste (790,000 tons). Organic resource sustainability, especially invest in scaling up successful pilots development and drives farmers waste from both households and relating to food security, actors will to become sustainable impactful to avoid reporting purchases of the agricultural sector can be an ultimately strengthen the resilience businesses. fertilizers outlawed by Israel. important input to produce some of of Palestinians living on their land The increase in input prices is one the most essential products needed and provide them with more agency Zayne Abudaka is the director of the main issues that face the to establish a sustainable agriculture over their own well-being and of research at Momentum Labs, agricultural sector in Palestine and is sector, such as animal feed and development. a start-up studio and boutique fertilizers. consultancy that works at the sometimes the main reason behind The road to change is not going to intersection between technology, the losses incurred by farmers. [Municipal Solid Waste photo] be easy. The transition will require business, and social impact. Zayne Farmers report increases in input large amounts of capital, specialized Developing fertilizers and animal is an economist with a passion prices over the previous years with expertise, innovative business feed products from locally for nature, technology, and social an average annual growth of 10 models, and most importantly, the sourced organic waste can unlock justice. percent. The reasons behind the a structural challenge for the will and determination of the various increase include the fluctuation of development of Palestinian food actors in the agricultural sector. the dollar exchange rate against Hammam Othman is the director security. Relying on by-product To start addressing the challenges the Israeli shekel and increases in of operations at Momentum Labs from local industries, resource- cited above and other social and petrol prices. In addition, trading in and has extensive experience dependency on the Israeli market economic challenges in Palestine pesticides and fertilizers is limited in operations management, could be challenged while also and the region, we propose a to a number of trade agencies that HR management, and start-up growing local businesses and scientific approach, anchored in import heavily from Israel and development. creating jobs for Palestinians. The continuous testing and validation control final prices for Palestinian local production of agricultural inputs users. can also significantly contribute to Palestinians in the West Bank and the shortening of supply chains, Gaza generate a significant amount which result in savings in time and i “2020 Global Report on Food Crises, Food Security Information Network,” available at of organic waste; around 50 percent money required from farmers and https://www.fsinplatform.org/sites/default/files/resources/files/GRFC_2020_ONLINE_200420.pdf . of the 1.58 million tons of daily a reduction in the carbon footprint ii Nidal Atallah, “Palestine: Solid waste management under occupation,” Heinrich Böll Stiftung, municipal solid waste in the West associated with transporting October 7, 2020, available at Bank and Gaza is considered organic produce. https://ps.boell.org/en/2020/10/07/palestine-solid-waste-management-under-occupation . 10 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 11 Our Environment

and destruction, documented in many articles in peer-reviewed The Palestinian journals.i But even more damaging All stakeholders, have been the numerous occupation including the policies, including the building Environment Quality Environment: of walls, bypass roads, and Authority, academia, industrial settlements that pollute the Palestinian environment civil-society and with solid and liquid waste; the nongovernmental Threats and Opportunities ongoing depletion of natural organizations, and resources; urbanization caused by individuals must face socioeconomic restructuring and the existing challenges the massive migration of Jews from other countries to Palestine; the head-on and bring bantustanization/ghettoization of the their efforts together native Palestinian people; and last but to create meaningful not least, the policies and practices change – and avoid that prevent us from managing our irreversible damage. environment or protected areas. The any nations realize resulting habitat loss and decline in that we must create biodiversity not only destroys the both international economic and social benefits from By Mazin B. Qumsiyeh and local instruments ecosystems but also impacts human Jordan Valley (Lake Tiberias), which and Issa M. Albaradeiya (including health and well-being. dried up the Jordan Valley, destroyed conventions and This damage is no different from eastern habitats, and altered western laws) to address the significant decline in the state of our environment. The previous colonial impacts on our habitats in Palestine. The Israeli Palestinian environment suffers fromM some of the same challenges faced by occupation added further challenges native environments. Destructive environments in other countries, but our situation has been exacerbated by projects before 1967 include to the Palestinian environment with ongoing colonization. Finding ways to manage this task requires significant the destruction of native species its system of control that prevents thought, planning, and creativity in environmental conservation. This article and native mixed species as well us natives from exercising our provides a brief examination of the challenges and opportunities that face as forestation that used only sovereignty, including in the areas the Palestinian Environment Quality Authority, academia, CSOs/NGOs, and the European pine tree (Pinus of managing the environment and individuals. halepensis) rather than native natural resources and solving The Palestinian environment is straining under many challenges that include species, the draining of the wetlands pressing environmental issues. the loss of natural resources, the excessive use of pesticides/insecticides, in the Hula area and the diversion The Palestinian National Authority, climate change, and desertification, which have already led to habitat loss of water from the headwaters of the established in 1994, was expected by many to gradually acquire state authorities, leading to independence Suba Protected Area. after the interim transition period of five years. Yet under these Oslo/ Washington agreements, we were given only limited self-government, which prevented us from really gaining authority over such aspects as natural resources. Numerous studies – including those done by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the United Nations (e.g., OCHA, UNEP), and even the World Bank – show that we have

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systems of education that initially were supported privately and then developed into a number of school- The State of Palestine based projects, NGOs, and academic has signed 21 treaties projects. The opportunity for better and protocols organization came in the 1990s with of international the establishment of the Palestinian Authority and its Ministry of the conventions regarding Environment (which morphed into the environment, the Environment Quality Authority). indicating that it Despite the restrictions – as it seeks to embrace declared statehood in 1988 from its strengths and abroad, achieved some semblance of authority on the ground in 1994, opportunities even and gained the status of nonmember under occupation. observer state at the United Nations in 2012 – Palestine has proceeded to maneuver as best as it could to get leverage on environmental responsibility of the EQA but shared issues. As a state, Palestine has by all other Palestinian ministries, signed 21 treaties and protocols of academia, and other governmental international conventions related and nongovernmental organizations to the environment, including the and institutions concerned with Convention on Biological Diversity the Palestinian environment, based (CBD), the Paris Agreement under on the principle of partnership and the UN Framework Convention complementary work. on Climate Change, the Basel For the past two decades, Convention on the Control of significant capacity building has Transboundary Movements of been implemented locally in areas Hazardous Wastes and their related to biodiversity, including Disposal, and more. These carry with the establishment of several new them certain privileges and benefits environmental NGOs and at least two but also many obligations, some of academic biodiversity centers (at Al- which are difficult to implement in Najah and Bethlehem Universities), light of the Israeli occupation. and increasing funds have been The Environment Quality Authority spent on environmental projects (EQA) is the umbrella for all activities between 2005 and 2020. These and studies related to environmental efforts have not only contributed to significantly problematic trends in planning, protection, and control. expanding classical environmental areas relevant to the environment The EQA’s core mission is to protect education and awareness but have (such as population health, the environment with all its elements also led to a mushrooming of population growth, water resources, and prevent environmental hazards research regarding local fauna and greenhouse gas emissions, a decline from threatening any living organism. flora, published in peer-reviewed The Palestinian in green spaces, etc.). environment has This work falls under Environment journals, and to better conservation Even under occupation, Palestine Law No. 7 of the year 1999 and its on the ground. For example, numerous weaknesses has been ahead of other countries amendments, which gave the EQA management plans for Wadi al- and faces many threats. in realizing the importance of the the responsibility for leading the Quff were drawn up, and our team environment. In the 1960s, the coordination of work related to the (EQA with Palestine Institute for early work of Sana Atallah, the first environment. Such engagement, Biodiversity and Sustainability - Palestinian zoologist, sprouted however, is not solely the PIBS) published six research papers

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Development Goals, national programs to combat desertification, national climate change adaptation The Palestinian or mitigation strategies, and relevant environment private-sector policies. suffers from many Third, the EQA contracted a local environmental team to examine signed and stresses, including unsigned international treaties colonial activities and and conventions as well as local laws and regulations with a view certain socioeconomic to making sure that we align local trends. These laws with international treaties and challenges are difficult conventions, benefit maximally to deal with without from signed treaties and fulfil our sovereignty. Yet, obligations, and look at signing other treaties that could help the State of we have significant Palestine protect its environment and opportunities to Mr. Jameel Mtour, head of the EQA, signs an MoU with Bethlehem University Vice Chancellor Brother human health. exercise our rights Peter Bray at the newly established Biodiversity Center (funded by the EU Peacebuilding Initiative), at and reclaim our Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability. Drs. Qumsiyeh and Albaradeiya are standing directly Furthermore, the EQA contracted behind them. a local team to develop a national sovereignty in strategy to mitigate and manage the ways that ensure threat of invasive alien species (IAS) sustainability for related to Wadi al-Quff in a special and Action Plans (NBSAP) in a in Palestine, including legislation to nature and for our prevent the introduction of new IAS issue of the Jordan Journal of Natural manner that reflects the country’s people. History.ii vision for biodiversity as well as and the spread of the already present IAS. This includes carrying out a risk But we look now to an even brighter the broad policy and institutional measures that the country will analysis, making use of information future. EQA strategies have called and communication technology to for the localizing of work, coming up take to fulfil the objectives of the CBD, comprising concrete actions carry out risk communication, and with better action plans, and even providing an infrastructure to gather the drafting of better environmental to achieve the strategy. The only funding and technical support from NBSAP for Palestine was issued in data and combat these species that Belgium, for example, we were laws that are in line with international destroy our native fauna and flora. standards and laws. Let us cite just 1999. It is essential that all sectors able to protect a unique rainwater three examples. whose activities affect biodiversity For the first time, such national catchment area near Wadi Qana that as well as the societal groups that projects engage local experts hosts an endangered ecosystem, First, PIBS is working on the sixth depend on biodiversity be brought in leadership positions in close including aquatic plants, toads, and final national report in line with into the NBSAP process. This will iii partnership with the EQA. The and crustaceans found nowhere Aichi Biodiversity Targets. While the engender a broad ownership of the preliminary study carried out else in the West Bank. Through the work contract was assigned to PIBS NBSAP, whereby all stakeholders between 2015 and 2020 showed European Union we have a project, for facilitation, this is a collective in biodiversity are engaged in its major achievements in environmental led by PIBS, where we partnered effort and indicates that between development and implementation. It conservation, environmental with the Palestinian Center for 2015 and 2020, significant progress also enables “mainstreaming,” which education and awareness-raising, Rapprochement between People has been made by the State of means the integration of biodiversity signing and implementing obligations and the Galilee Society to create Palestine in environmental research, considerations into relevant under international treaties, and a biodiversity center, a human education and awareness-raising, legislation, plans, programs, and developing and implementing diversity center, and an education and conservation, in line with its own policy, such as national development local conservation strategies and center. In partnership with the Royal national strategies and Aichi targets. plans, national strategies for action plans. The action plans Society and the Natural History Second, starting in July 2021, we sustainable development, poverty- being formulated are ambitious for Museum in London, we also built will embark on a project to design the reduction strategy papers, environmental conservation. They the first molecular labs dealing with new National Biodiversity Strategies strategies to achieve the Millennium cannot be done in isolation. Through environmental DNA. All these and

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Wadi Qana. Photo courtesy of Environment Quality Authority. many other projects are participatory, and we urge everyone to get involved. Despite the challenges and obstacles we face, including those created by Israeli colonial activities, we are confident in our abilities to face and shape our future. Respecting ourselves, respecting others, and respecting nature.

Professor Mazin B. Qumsiyeh Dr. Issa Musa Albaradeiya is teaches and does research at the director general of the Bethlehem and Birzeit Universities. Environmental Resources He is the founder and director of Directorate at the Environmental the Palestine Museum of Natural Quality Authority in the State of History and the Palestine Institute Palestine and responsible for for Biodiversity and Sustainability biodiversity management, water at Bethlehem University (http:// and wastewater resources, the palestinenature.org) and has combating of desertification, published over 150 scientific renewable energy, and information papers and several books on topics systems. ranging from cultural heritage to human rights, biodiversity, and cancer.

i See, for example, research conducted by the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability and Palestine Museum of Natural History, available at palestinenature.org/research. ii “Biodiversity Conservation of Wadi al-Quff Protected Area (Central Palestine): Challenges and Opportunities,” Jordan Journal of Natural History, 2016, available at http://www.rscn.org.jo/latest- issue-vol3-2016. iii In the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, held from October 18 to 29, 2010, in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, a revised and updated Strategic Plan for Biodiversity, including the Aichi Biodiversity Targets were adopted for the 2011–2020 period (https://www.cbd.int/sp/).

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dramatic climatic changes has Judeo-Christian-Muslim tradition and have prodded an ever-shifting process become part of the Palestinian national The Palestinian of adaptations, whereby the cult of St. George, known alternately environment came to yield infinite as Mar Jiries in the Greek Orthodox resources. This dialectic structured tradition or Al-Khader in the Muslim and conditioned the Palestinian narrative. In Greek icons, Mar Jiries may Cultural Basin unique spiritual legacy that the be depicted alone or in conjunction with diverse later religions adopted the rain-bringer St. Elijah, Mar Elias. The Valleys of Hebron within the Jewish, Christian, and Alternately, Sufi Islam empowered these Muslim discursive narratives. high places to become the popular Long before the Amorites and sanctuaries that dot the landscape astride the legendary arrival of our father mountaintops, under the generic name Abraham, the Hurrites, and in their of Al-Sheikh Saleh, the good sheikh. footsteps the Canaanites, had They may also survive under the garb forged the first spiritual relationship of Biblical iconography, such as the in Palestine. The Semitic sanctuary of Noah in Dura, Lot in Beni categories of thought, high/low, Naim, Matthew in Bet Ummar, Esau in sacred/profane, male/female, Al-Seir, Jonah in Halhul, and Samuel here is no prototype Bedouin,” Dr. and pure/impure were triggered southwest of Jerusalem. The primordial Emanuel Marx, expert on Al-Naqab by the Palestinian topography. nomadic culture, smiled gently The rugged, rocky, mountainous in answer to my query about the terrain exudes a prescient sense By Ali Qleibo authentic characteristics of the of the holy. Intimations of the “true” Bedouin. “The stereotypical “Other,” the elusive mystical feeling image of the Bedouin as the lonely, rugged nomad with a camel and a tent is of a transcendent presence, is merely an adaptation to aT particular environment.” inextricably related to the land. Throughout history, our nomadic predecessors’ interaction with the environment The early nomadic settlers’ initial has been a complex dynamic intellectual process, conditioned by the primordial confrontation with Palestine’s process of “sedentarization” within the basin of the Mount Hebron valleys as environment – the mountains, they were inhabited by successive waves of nomadic tribes. The semiarid caves, water springs, seasonal geographic region, a cultural eco-niche, is a backbone of Palestinian civilization changes, and trees – have come and highlights our ancestral heritage and cultural patrimony, as testified in the to imbue the Holy Land with Prophet Abraham en route to Egypt, portrayed as a extensive archaeological sites that are spread throughout the region. its mythos. Our mountaintops nomadic Bedouin with Ishmael and Isaac. The pioneering Hurrites’ dynamic perception of, adaptation to, and intuitive were perceived as the natural interaction with the natural environment structured and conditioned the unique habitat of the gods. Chief in their socioeconomic system and the religious, ideological, and spiritual legacy to pantheon was El ‘Elyōn, which, in Canaanite precept of Palestine as the Holy which the diverse Semitic and non-Semitic ethnic waves of invading settlers English, may be rendered as “God Land has played a major role in shaping adapted themselves. The rain-dependent, frail ecosystem that is vulnerable to Most High.” The contemporary the human person’s relationship to god Palestinian mountaintops are and that of god to the human person in dotted with sanctuaries, domed festivities and fertility rites that celebrate rooms amidst oak groves or the new season and that punctuate the “Ethnographical observation does not confront us with huge carob trees. These remote Palestinian peasant’s agricultural cycle, holy shrines, albeit under Muslim also present in the Greek Orthodox the alternative of either a plastic mind passively reflecting mystic Sufi veneer, attest to the liturgical calendar. the ecology outside, or universal psychic laws unfolding pervasive intimations of the other, The chasm that separates humans everywhere the same inborn properties, mindless of the sensed throughout Palestinian from their divinities parallels the ongoing history of each group and of the concrete features history as residing in high places. binary opposition of high/low, sacred/ of its natural and social surroundings.” Innumerable bimot (Canaanite profane, and pure/impure. Semites are Structuralism and Ecology, Claude Levi Strauss high religious places) have been fundamentally aniconic. Whereas deities absorbed within the classical dwelled high, humans were restricted

20 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 21 Our Environment to dwelling below. By extension, into a resource, and can be viewed the nineteenth century when the the two natures, human and divine, as the origin of the pragmatic Ottomans quelled the chaos and were strictly separated. Aniconism adaptability of the Palestinians to the built the city Beer al-Sabe’ as an “We witness, and should means that rather than using figural diverse challenges in war and peace, administrative center in the heart of try to describe, ever- images as objects of worship, under contemporary occupation and Al-Naqab. changing attempts to abstract symbolic forms such as in the diaspora. Throughout history, The roadway into the hinterland compromise between standing stones were used in the Palestinian society has preserved its followed the course formed by given historical trends representation of deities. The principal tribal structure of social solidarity the three major valley basins. The and special characteristics sacred object in pagan ancient within the clan. Unity within the four- expansive cultural basin extends of the environment on Semitic religion was the stone, either generation family unit is one of its from the confluences of the a rock outcropping or a large boulder, most salient political, economic, and western network of valleys into the the one hand, and on the often a rectangular or irregular black religious structures. Mediterranean Sea and from the other hand, fundamental basalt stone without representative As early as the Bronze, Iron, and eastern valleys into the Dead Sea, and psychic requirements sculptural detail. Betyls, a Greek Biblical periods and up to the via Wadi Araba to the Red Sea. This which, at each stage, anagram of the Semitic word Bet El, geographic cultural expanse marks are the outcome of the homeland for the various tribes previous ones. As a result, from Al-Naqab. In their demographic human history and territorial expansion towards Mount Hebron along the semiarid valleys, natural ecology become the nomadic tribes, their way of articulated so as to make life in itself an adaptive strategy, up a meaningful whole.” made further readjustments as they Structuralism and Ecology, moved from a mode of subsistence Claude Levi Strauss dependent on animal husbandry to a settled agrarian pastoral mode of production.

Al-Jurn al-Kabir is a remarkably arid geological formation in the shape of a basin strewn with quartz. Two major valleys radiate westward. For millennia the valley served as an access road between Wadi Araba in the east to Gaza and Their confluence at the Mediterranean of Mount Hebron, Early Bronze Asqalan on the Mediterranean. forms Wadi Gaza in Gaza, and Wadi Age Semitic settlements thrived al-Namel in Asqalan (Ashqelon). as city-states; Marissa in Beit house of the head of the Canaanite end of the nineteenth century, the Eastwards, a third major valley Jibrin, Lachish (Tell al-Duweir), pantheon El, was represented valleys of the Hebron mountains descends, beginning at Bani Na’im Azeka (Zakariya), Dhahiriya, Tell generically in the shape of cubes, have formed a cultural basin into via Wadi al-Mintar towards the al-Sabe’ (Beer Sheva), Beit Mirsim, cones, triangles, or rectangles. which the diverse tribal nomadic Dead Sea and Wadi Araba. In this Debir (Rabud), and Beit Maqdum, Such stones were thought to be the waves from the deserts of Al-Naqab geographic region, at the foothills to name a few. Our Edomite and residences of a god, hence the term and Sina forced their way into Nabatean ancestors developed for them, employed by Byzantine Palestine. Those successive invading the small Neolithic settlements of Christian writers in the fifth and sixth nomadic tribes expanded into the Subeita, Abdeh, Karnaba in the centuries. mountainous hinterland in endless northern Naqab into great trade In the lengthy process of ecological raids and counter raids (ghazzu), centers along the spice route from adaptation to the new environment, looting and stealing livestock and Yemen to Asqalan and to Gaza and the nomadic perception did not basic stored staples, expanding thence to Greece. merely reflect and react to but also into new pastureland, usurping The formidable Wadi al-Khalil incorporated the new ecological power, supplanting tribal chiefs, (Hebron Valley) drifts southwards and techno-economic resources, and replenishing the population. through Al-Dhahiriya and past working them into a system that was The image of captive chieftains Beer al-Sabe’ to reach the locked in a cave and killed by the conducive to the survival of the tribal Nabateans and Edomites used pyramids on top Mediterranean at Wadi Gaza. Barely structure as an integral whole. The invading tribes is a common theme of tombs to connect the dead underground with thirty kilometers farther north complex dynamic process underlies in the Old Testament and haunts the gods above. These symbolic liminal stones on the Mediterranean lies Wadi Palestinian historical narratives until in association with tombs are referred to as the transformation of the environment betyl-nephesh. al-Namel in Asqalan. The valley 22 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 23 Our Environment

Each culture is a totalizing, closed system of signification in terms of which the various cultural The contiguous Sina Edomite temple reused by Nabateans in the expressions acquire their referential and Al-Naqab deserts acropolis of Abda. The walled city stood value. Homology in form does not merge as the backbone along the caravan spice road from Yemen reflect structural semantic similarity. via Mecca, the Red Sea, and Wadi Araba of Palestinian culture, to Gaza. Abda, one of the chief centers Merely because a sanctuary or shrine and the geographic for wine export, had vineyards that were (maqam) is located in a place that irrigated by an extensive irrigation system corresponds to the Canaanite sacred basin formed by the that ensured that not a single drop of water major valleys in Mount was wasted. “high place” and may have been a Canaanite sanctuary (goren), we Hebron presents the cannot assume that it was used later ecological context for begins in Halhul to form Wadi al-Qif Prophet Mohammad, was enshrined on in the same way by, for example, the onset of the process that winds through Beit Jibrin and is for a few years before it was moved the Edomites, even if the present-day of “sedentarization” further enriched by tributaries from to Cairo into the famous Al-Hussein people are descended from the earlier of the Semitic nomads the famed Lachish. Each tributary Mosque. The beautiful pulpit of the ones. Religious symbolism and all and each twist and turn of these Mashhad al-Hussein Mosque was aspects of socioeconomic life are throughout time. This valleys bears a distinct name that is moved to its present place in the closely related to the particular details lengthy process in associated with different nomadic mosque of Hebron during the Mamluk of the individual culture in a particular the form of raids and tribesmen. The respective names, period when the fortifications of time and space. counter raids (ghazzu), their genealogical charts, traditional Asqalan were torn down, lest the In Yaqin, which commands which entail stealing, territories, and history are preserved Crusaders take shelter within them. a spectacular panorama that includes pillaging, and usurping for posterity in the Arabic discourse Unfortunately, the Israelis leveled the Dead Sea, the Muslim discourse known as Ilm al-Ansab, science of the mosque after occupying it and land and water wells situates Abraham in the apocalyptic and expanding into new kinship structures. forcibly evicting the Palestinians from moment when God unleashed his The Mount Hebron valleys provided their homeland during the Nakba. wrath on Sodom. territories (diyar) – itself the environment that has over Mount Hebron is a peninsula that juts As Abraham watches the cataclysmic a form of ecological the past six millennia served as into Al-Naqab Desert. On the eastern event, he comes to the firm adaptation – may well a cultural niche, replenished the side of Mount Hebron, a third major conviction in God’s promise be the case with the ,I bear Hurrites, Amorites“) اشهد ان هذا هو الحق اليقين early settlements which straddled valley, Wadi al-Mintar, descends from mountaintops, and infused the the village of Bani Na’im towards witness that this is the truth of Canaanites, Jebusites, mythos of the land with its spiritual the Dead Sea and forms the trail certainty,” a rough translation of the Edomites, Habirus, and tenor. From time immemorial, Wadi that is followed by nomadic tribes verse from the Qur’an). The rock sank al-Namel in Asqalan, Wadi Gaza from Al-Naqab and from the Arabian in the ground and in another spot his Nabateans. in Gaza, and Wadi Mintar in Bani Peninsula along Wadi Araba, famed foot stamp left a deep imprint in the Na’im have been associated with for its copper mines that were first rock. According to Muslim travelers holy shrines of local fame: Al-Muntar excavated by our Edomite ancestors throughout the ages, the place of Wadi Namel and Yaqin. Two of and came to be associated with King derived its name from his renewed these ancient sanctuaries on the Solomon’s wealth. confirmation of his faith in God, al- Mediterranean, where the mountains The sanctuary of Yaqin on the yaqin in Arabic. meet the sea, were consolidated, outskirts of Bani Na’im, a promontory The sanctuary that enshrines updated, and revitalized under a over the extensive system of the sunken rock leads to a cave Muslim Sufi veneer by Saladin in the valleys winding down to the Araba underneath where Fatima, the twelfth century as centers of local Valley, provides an insight into the granddaughter of Prophet Mohammad pilgrimages on par with Nabi Musa multidimensional aspect of religious- from his cousin Ali ben Abi Taleb, is near the Dead Sea. Previously, during cultural syncretism and highlights believed by the locals to be buried. the Fatimid period (tenth to twelfth the problematic that is involved with century), Wadi al-Namel acquired using archaeological ethnography to great prestige as the sanctuary interpret modern cultural expressions: A private Edomite villa outside the city walls of Abda. Mashhad al-Hussein, where the over time, perceptions change. The arch is remarkably similar to the famous arches head of Al-Hussein, the grandson of in Dura. 24 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 25 Our Environment

socioeconomic system, religion, and spiritual legacy to which the diverse “We witness, and should ethnic Semitic and non-Semitic settlers adapted themselves later on. These try to describe, ever- peoples are innumerable and include changing attempts to the Hurrites, Amorites, Jebusites, compromise between Canaanites, Hebrews, Edomites, given historical Arameans, and Arabs. Ancient non- trends and special Semitic peoples were composed of characteristics of the diverse origins: Greeks from Crete, environment on the one Ionia, the Black Sea, Anatolia, and Lydia were followed by Babylonians, Hellenic hand, and on the other Greeks, Roman legions, Persians, hand, fundamental Wadi Khursa, southwest of Mount Hebron, is one of the many tributaries of Wadi al-Khalil and starts in Byzantines, Crusaders, Kurds, and psychic requirements the village of Khursa. Turks. In modern history, Egyptians, which, at each stage, British, Jordanians, and Israelis have are the outcome of played an ever-increasing role in A few kilometers away stands the worlds of the dead, of the living, previous ones. As a result, sanctuary where Lot is believed to and of the gods. Lying betwixt and reorganizing the ecological system, human history and be buried. Until quite recently, Bani between, communication between expanding our resources in new Na’im, interestingly, had been famous the world of the dead and that of directions, and reshaping Palestinian natural ecology become for the plethora of sacred trees the gods parallels Jacob’s ladder modern identity. Heirs to all these articulated so as to make associated with various folk rituals. to the sky and for the Edomites peoples and cultures, Palestinians can up a meaningful whole.” claim neither racial genetic purity nor Situated within Nabatean and Edomite was consecrated as a connecting Structuralism and Ecology, ontological cultural homogeneity. spheres of religious influence, link between the different levels of Claude Levi Strauss the sanctuary in Yaqin reveals the the universe. At this interstice, the Palestinian cultural identity has multidimensional aspect of the sacred followers of the Edomite religion been produced within the context rocks. Betyls for the Edomites and set up the betyl-nephesh in their of Palestinian geography and bears later the Nabateans were erected not cemeteries. structural continuity with primordial Semitic categories of thought. exclusively as houses of god but also The dynamic process of ecological Anthropologist Dr. Ali Qleibo has Throughout history, each period to mark the burial place, nephesh- adaptation to the environment, lectured at Al-Quds University, was merely a fleeting moment that betyls. On the other hand, from the the cultural diversity of which the held a fellowship at Shalom in its transient fragility represented a Biblical perspective, Jacob’s betyl, Canaanite nascent city-states were Hartman Institute, and was momentary socioeconomic dynamic the ladder to God uniting heaven composed, and the influences of a visiting professor at Tokyo adaptation of the culture to the available and earth, derived from a theophany the various peoples with whom University for Foreign Studies resources, thus ensuring the survival of which took place at that spot; the the Palestinians mixed, reveals a and Kyoto University, Japan. As the family within the tribe. point at which the transcendent is tapestry of life that has witnessed a specialist in Palestinian social believed to enter the immanent. The continued adaptations that structured Palestinians remain a tribal people history and through his work at tomb, however, may be seen as a and conditioned the unique whose elementary kinship unit was the Jerusalem Research Center, liminal point of contact between the dynamically structured by the early he has developed the Palestinian pattern of cave dwellings that formed Social and Muslim Tourism the ancient cities and hamlets that Itinerary. Dr. Qleibo has authored remained inhabited well into the many books on Jerusalem and its twentieth century. In modernity, the history. A renowned oil painter, locus of the extended family, the subunit he has held numerous art shows. Wadi al-Namel was the scene of the of the tribe (hamuleh) in the Palestinian He may be reached at aqleibo@ annual local pilgrimage reinstituted village, is invariably the hosh, the four- yahoo.com. by Saladin following the defeat of the Crusaders in Asqalan. Highly favored as generation family-living courtyard. the burial grounds for Al-Naqab nomadic Bedouins, a special sanctuary was built there to mark the meeting place of mountain and sea. 26 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 27 Our Environment

Many factors have contributed to this decline, including the ongoing The Dead Sea climate change, witnessed by the The surface area of world in general and the region in the Dead Sea has A Treasure in Peril particular, which has led to a state decreased significantly of drought and scarcity of rain. This over the past seven situation has affected particularly the decades. formative springs of the Dead Sea as well as the rates of evaporation along its tributaries over the last sixty years. But the most important reason for the decline lies in Israeli But this amount has decreased water projects, implemented to dramatically during recent decades exploit the water of the Dead Sea to around 30 MCM today. Israel has tributaries to serve Israeli expansion also constructed many dams on the and settlement, especially in the main sources of some Jordan River Negev region. Most important tributaries, including the Yarmouk among these projects is the National River, the main feeder of the Jordan Water Carrier, implemented by River, and some dams on valleys natural phenomenon that is the Israeli government in 1964, that block rainwater from reaching unique in the world, the Dead Sea which diverts the waters of the the Jordan River. lies in an area that was part of Jordan River, transporting around On the other hand, Jordanian and the original homeland of the first 400 million cubic meters (MCM) Israeli industries that extract potash By Akram Halayqa humans, a cemetery for the major of water per year. Historically, the and the various beneficial salts monotheistic religions,i a place amount of water flowing annually from the Dead Sea consume huge where ancient civilizations emerged and flourished, a crossing point for trade from the Jordan River to the Dead amounts of water from the Dead routes, and an area that Aattracted military invasions throughout successive Sea is estimated to have reached Sea, estimated at about 200 MCM historical eras. The historical and touristic importance of the Dead Sea Basin around 1.4 billion cubic meters. annually. region is due to the sea itself and its shores, where important archaeological and religious monuments are located, such as Masada, Khirbet Qumran, and the Cave of the Prophet Lot. Moreover, it features natural salt formations and a prevailing desert climate with year-round sunny skies and dry air, all of which The Dead Sea. make the Dead Sea an attraction for international tourism, especially medical tourism. It is noteworthy that thousands of hotel rooms are concentrated mainly in northeastern part of Jordan and in the country’s western part that overlooks the southern basin of the Dead Sea. The area has been nominated as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The Dead Sea occupies the lowest area in the Syrian-African Rift Valley, covers about 1,000 square kilometers, and consists of two basins, with the northern basin occupying an area of ​​approximately 756 square kilometers, and the southern basin an area of 244​​ square kilometers. The salinity percentage of the Dead Sea water is about 30 percent, the highest salinity in seas and oceans worldwide, which is why the Dead Sea is devoid of fish and living organisms. The Dead Sea is shrinking, and the level of its surface drops approximately one meter per year. It has moved from 394 meters below sea level in the 1960s to 423 meters below sea level in 2012, reducing the total area of the sea by about one-third (from 950 square kilometers to 637 square kilometers).ii

28 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 29 Our Environment

several species, especially migratory birds. The use of the area as a military training zone has damaged World Bank sources both wildlife and vegetation. estimate that if the The Dead Sea is of great economic Palestinians were importance because it contains allowed to exploit their quantities of high-value salts and natural resources of minerals. Israel extracts and sells Dead Sea minerals potassium, magnesium, and sodium chloride salts, among others, in alone, they would earn amounts that in the year 2009 an annual income were estimated at 4.1 million tons, of US$918 million, generating US$3 billion of annual of which US$624 income from the proceeds. million would come On the eastern and western sides of from the extraction of the Dead Sea, there are a number of potassium and US$276 nature reserves that house a wide million from the variety of organisms. The most important protected areas located on extraction of iii the western side of the Dead Sea are bromine. Al-Fashkha and Ein Gedi. Al-Fashkha Nature Reserve is located on the northwestern coast

Dead sea surface area regression. Dead sea water level decline.

The most important problems that Overall, the Dead Sea has lost about have resulted from the decline of the 90 percent of the amount of water Dead Sea level include the following: that reached it in the mid-nineteenth The level of groundwater in the century. This has led to an imbalance surrounding areas has decreased in the environmental equation of the and its quality has deteriorated. delicate balance between the amount Around 4,000 sinkholes have formed of water that reaches the Dead Sea along the western coast of the Dead and the amount of water that the Sea that have caused much damage, sea loses as a result of evaporation, such as the collapse of streets and keeping the water level semi-static. even of hotels and resorts. There has Israeli activities in the Dead Sea been an increase in the Dead Sea’s region have led to the deterioration salinity and in the crystallization and of plant and animal species, as Israel deposition of salts. This affects the has established many industrial and springs located along the Dead Sea tourism projects on the shores of shore, such as Ein al-Fashkha, and the Dead Sea, fragmentating and disturbs the area’s biodiversity. It maiming this sensitive ecosystem, has also had a negative impact on which has led to the elimination of tourism and on the aesthetic view.

30 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 31 Our Environment

most significant in that group, is located at an altitude of approximately 390 meters below sea level on the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea, at the bottom of the limestone-rock mountains of the Jordan Valley. The water from the spring flows in seeps that resemble blood that flows from a head wound, an image that is captured by the word al-fashkha. The average Nubian ibex annual discharge of this spring is about 60–70 MCM. The Tarraba springs group consists of outbreaks that are concentrated in a small area located several kilometers south of the Al-Fashkha group. The springs of this group flow in the Al-Fashkha Spring form of veins and thus are similar to the spring of Al-Fashkha in terms of its flow mechanism. The average annual discharge for this of the Dead Sea and covers an area part of Ein al-Fashkha and on the group is about 16–18 MCM. of ​​about five square kilometers. It mountains overlooking the Dead The Al-Ghazal springs group is forms wetlands that include many Sea. Finally, there is the white stork located several kilometers north fresh- and saltwater springs and that passes over the reserve in very of the Al-Fashkha springs at an is one of the most important and large numbers during the migration Dead sea sparrow altitude of about 385 meters beautiful natural areas of the region. season. below sea level. The waters This reserve is considered to be an The reserve furthermore contains of this group are similar to the important home for many plants and many springs that are considered waters of the Al-Fashkha group animals. Among the most popular among the most important and in terms of quality, but the plants that grow in the reserve are largest springs along the Dead Sea, percentage of dissolved salts oleander, reeds, and palm trees, and called Al-Fashkha springs group. is less than in the Al-Fashkha among the most famous animals group. The annual rate of that live there are wild goats, Approximately 21 springs are located discharge of springs in this group mountain gazelles, Nubian ibex, rock along the northwestern coast of the ranges from O.5 to 2.4 MCM. hyrax, hedgehogs, porcupines, and Dead Sea, where the water flows desert chukars. eastwards towards the Dead Sea Al-Ghuwair Spring is located with an annual flow rate that ranges several kilometers south of the The reserve is also a home and from 90–106 MCM of relatively Al-Fashkha group at an altitude sanctuary for many resident and saline water. of about 390 meters below sea migratory birds, most famous level with an average annual among them are the Dead Sea The Al-Fashkha springs group discharge of about 11 to 14 Rock hyrax sparrow, lesser kestrel, and black contains more than ten springs, MCM. eagle. The night heron is considered which are the most important one of the migratory birds that have and largest springs along the Tannour Spring is located less begun to reside and breed in the western coast of the Dead Sea. than one kilometer south of the reserve; it is found in the western Al-Fashkha Spring, considered the Al-Ghazal group at an altitude of

32 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 33 Our Environment

Approximately 4,000 sinkholes have formed in the Dead Sea area due to low seawater levels that allow for the intrusion of fresh groundwater that dissolves deep- lying salt layers.

Dead sea sinkholes.

diameter usually ranges from several meters to several hundreds of The prevailing hypothesis regarding up-to-20-meter-thick salt layers The most important meters, while their depth is between the hydrogeological reasons for the that are located in the beach area springs located on the several centimeters to hundreds of sinkhole formation suggests that at a depth of 25–50 meters below Palestinian shore of meters. They can develop slowly the decrease in the Dead Sea water the earth’s surface are being and imperceptibly or may collapse level is accompanied by a decrease dissolved, causing the collapse of the Dead Sea are the instantly and catastrophically. springs of Ein Fashkha, in groundwater levels due to the the overlying layers. More than 4,000 sinkholes have hydraulic connection between the Al-Fashkha springs formed since the 1980s within a Dead Sea and the aquifer on the Akram Halayqa is the director group, Tarraba springs 60-kilometer-long and 1-kilometer- Dead Sea’s western shore, as the wide strip along the Dead Sea’s of the Coastal and Marine group, Al-Ghazal low Dead Sea water level allows Environment Department at the western coast due to landslides in for the penetration of low-salinity springs group, Al- the subsurface voids that are caused Palestinian Environment Quality Ghuwair Spring, and groundwater into the coastal area. Authority. by the flow of water through soluble As a result of this incursion, the Tannour Spring. rocks (carbonate, salt, anhydrite). While the decline in the level of the Dead Sea greatly contributed to the formation of these sinkholes, their formation in the region is related to i Konstantinos Politis, “Death at the Dead Sea,” Biblical Archaeology Review 38:2, March/April 2012, about 380 meters below sea level the hydrogeological situation. Three available at http://www.hsnes.org/pdf/BAR%20MA12%20DeathDeadSea.pdf. and has an average annual discharge main elements contribute to this ii “The Red Sea-Dead Sea Water Conveyer: The Project, the Assessments and Potential Benefits to of about 0.5 to 3.7 MCM. the Palestinian Territory,” Palestine Economic Policy Research Institute MAS, March 2013, available process: the salt layer, the aquifers at https://www.mas.ps/files/server/20141911184926-1.pdf; note: there is a mistake in the English Sinkholes are defined as circular with different salinity and hydraulic translation that cites the reduction as 1 cubic meter, whereas the Arabic original says 1 meter in depressions that occur in the conductivity, and the connection height. iii ground, especially in areas between these layers and the salt Orhan Niksic, Nur Nasser Eddin, and Massimiliano Cali, “Area C and the Future of the Palestinian Economy,” The World Bank, available at http://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/ composed of karst rocks. Their layer. en/257131468140639464/pdf/Area-C-and-the-future-of-the-Palestinian-economy.pdf.

34 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 35 Our Environment Climate Change in Palestine

he year 2016 heralded a Winter in Gaza. Photo by Sharif Sarhan. remarkable transformation for Palestine when it became party number 197 in the United Nations Being particularly vulnerable to the By Hadeel Ikhmais Framework Convention on The total estimated impacts of climate change, with cost of the State of Climate Change (UNFCCC). In the severe implications for its economy, st early morning hours of December 13, 2015, during the 21 Conference of living standards, and environment, Palestine’s adaptation Parties (COP) of the UNFCCCT in Paris, H.E. Ambassador Dr. Riyad Mansour, Palestine is committed to ensuring actions included in the Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations, submitted the that its emissions pathway is in National Adaptation instrument of accession to UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon. On March line with the objective of UNFCCC Plan for all sectors 17, 2016, Palestine became a state party to the UNFCCC. H.E. President and the Paris Agreement and aims amounts to US$ 3.544 Mahmoud Abbas signed and ratified the Paris Agreement on April 22, 2016, to stabilize greenhouse gas (GHG) in New York. Palestine was one of the first countries to do so. The COP 21 emissions at a level that limits the billion. marked a historic climate agreement that showed our responsibility as part of ongoing temperature increase to less humanity and a responsible state in the global fight against climate change. than 2°C relative to pre-industrial Shortly after becoming a party to the convention, Palestine was able to chair levels. In its National Determined the Group of 77 and China, the largest negotiation group in the climate change Contribution, submitted in August more frequent extreme weather intergovernmental process. Najla Latif pointed out: “Less than four years 2017, Palestine committed to reduce events, and a rise in the sea level. after being recognized as a state party at the United Nations’ climate change its GHG emissions by 12.8 percent These could lead to greater water negotiations, Palestine is now leading the UN’s largest group of developing by 2040, relative to the business-as- scarcity, reduced agricultural i nations.” usual levels under a scenario where productivity, decreased food and the Israeli occupation continues The active role of Palestine in climate change was marked ten years ago, water security, and saline water (status-quo scenario), and by 24.4 however, before joining the convention, when a strategy for adaptation to intrusion. Specifically, the impacts percent by 2040 under a scenario climate change was developed in 2010. The Climate Change Adaptation on the agricultural sector will where the Israeli occupation Strategy and Program of Action for the Palestinian Authority has identified include more frequent droughts and ends (independence scenario). water and food security as the most vulnerable issues in Palestine with knock- increased desertification, changes This reduction is conditional on on implications for all sectors. The Israeli occupation substantially reduces in the economic viability of crops, international support.iii Palestine’s adaptive capacities in many issues, thereby compounding climate increased water requirements vulnerabilities. These capacity limitations are most prevalent in Area C, which The climate change impacts that for crops, a decline in grazing covers 61 percent of the West Bank, and in the Gaza Strip, but the Israeli affect Palestine include decreased ranges and livestock, and higher occupation also increases vulnerabilities everywhere else all over Palestine.ii precipitation, significant warming, food prices. For the water sector, 36 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 37 Our Environment

young parents, parents of young children, the elderly, female- headed households, persons Israel’s occupation with disabilities, families with and the continuous member(s) in detention, and poor or growth of its underserved communities. illegal settlements, Adaptation to the adverse impact exacerbated by of climate change is considered offensive activities among the high priorities of the carried out by Palestinian government. In order to address expected climate change settlers in the West impacts, Palestine has adopted a Bank, including list of proposed adaptation actions East Jerusalem, in 12 different sectors, including the heavily pollute and water, agriculture, food, industry, deteriorate the natural local government, energy, gender, health, tourism, and transportation ecosystems and the sectors. Regarding the water sector, environment of the these adaptations include developing State of Palestine. In rainwater harvesting technologies. 2011, around 541,824 For the agriculture sector, they Floods in Gaza. Photo by Sharif Sarhan. illegal Israeli settlers include adopting climate-smart lived in the State of agriculture practices. To help the energy sector, a focus on the Palestine, emitting climate change will exacerbate the use of solar PV and solar water approximately effects of Israel’s current control on heating technologies is advised. 5,798 Gg CO2 eq. In 2011, emissions regional water sources. In addition, Although solar water heating is used These emissions are from the waste sector there is a grave concern over the extensively in the residential sector, higher than the total potential impact of climate change its capacity is still limited in sectors amounted to 751.7 Gg emissions of the State of CO2 eq. Emissions through decreased precipitation such as service provision and and sea-level rise on the coastal industry. Increasing energy efficiency of Palestine. of CH4 dominated, aquifer in Gaza. This could severely is another approach proposed to followed by N2O. affect communities that rely almost decrease energy demand. This is from international resources, Emissions of CH4 exclusively on the coastal aquifer essential, considering the differing especially with regard to technology for their water needs. Thus, if needs and requirements of women arose from waste transfer, capacity building, and Palestine can successfully address and men and their subgroups as decomposition and financial resources. The estimated climate change and lessen the related to climate change. The wastewater treatment, financial resources needed to fully related impacts, these measures will impact of climate change by gender implement the NDC are US$14 billion whereas N2O help improve the country’s energy has not been fully analyzed or for all adaptation and mitigation emissions arose during security and overall food production, addressed in current climate change actions from now until 2040. The biological nitrogen the environment, and people’s living adaptation actions, this gap was implementation of the NDC started removal in wastewater conditions and health. addressed in many other projects that were concluded recently. by granting US$23 million from treatment plants. A As it will increase physical and/ the Green Climate Fund to a water very small amount of or socioeconomic challenges, it is For future actions, Palestine’s banking project in northern Gaza CO2 was also emitted, expected that climate change will nationally determined contribution that is being implemented by the most severely impact Palestine’s (NDC) clearly identified specific which arose from the French Development Agency in most vulnerable populations, climate actions that are partnership with the United Nation’s burning of waste. including women, children, young implementable in case the means Food and Agriculture Organization, women and men, refugees, for implementation can be secured the Palestinian Water Authority, and

38 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 39 Our Environment the Ministry of Agriculture. As of recently, a number of concept notes for projects in seven sectors are In 2011, the energy under preparation, aiming to enhance sector emitted 1997.7 Palestine’s NDC implementation. Gg of CO2 eq., as To enable such implementation, CO2 dominated possible donors for climate the greenhouse gas change mitigation projects must emissions in the State be identified. We must solicit their of Palestine, with interest and potential to support the country through measures relatively very small that include considering the emissions of CH4 and N2O. All the emissions arose from fuel Photo by Sharif Sarhan. combustion.

donor’s priorities, access criteria, instructions and guidelines, and barriers to funding. The open burning of solid waste, although still occurring, has decreased substantially since 2012. With illegal dumping sites closing down and waste being shifted to sanitary landfills, waste burning has become a less common method of disposal.

Hadeel Hisham Ikhmais, originally from the village of Beit Nattif, near Hebron, which was occupied in 1948, lives in Bethlehem. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and medical technology and a master’s in environmental studies, and has been working in the climate change section of the Environment Quality Authority since 2016.

i Najla Abdellatif, Palestine Leading International Climate Negotiations, Heinrich Böll Stiftung, January 13, 2020, available at https://ps.boell.org/en/2020/01/13/palestine-leading-international-climate- negotiations. ii Initial National Communication Report, submitted to UNFCCC in 2016, available at https://unfccc. int/documents/81488. iii National Determined Contributions (NDC) submitted to UNFCCC (with Palestine listed as State of Palestine), United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, available at https://www4. unfccc.int/sites/NDCStaging/Pages/All.aspx. A young man surveying the damage caused by an Israeli attack. Photo by Sharif Sarhan.

40 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 41 Our Environment

According to IUCN Red Lists, IAS are responsible for more extinctions The Status of Invasive that have occurred worldwide than The global costs of IAS any other agent. Globally, almost 20 are currently estimated percent of vertebrates are thought at about US$50 billion Alien Species in Palestine to be in danger of extinction or per year. threatened in some way by invasive species. The impact of IAS extends beyond biodiversity loss to include effects on ecosystem services, agricultural and fisheries production, and water quality and supply – the IUCN assessments find that one- majority of which are associated sixth of the global land surface with the provisioning of food security is highly vulnerable to invasion, (agriculture, fisheries, etc.). The including substantial areas in ecological impacts of IAS include developing economies and habitat alteration, competition and biodiversity hotspots. The dominant

he term invasive alien species (IAS), i.e., a nonnative, nonindigenous, foreign, exotic By Mohammad species, refers to a species, Mahassneh subspecies, or lower taxon that is or has been introduced outside of its natural range (in the past or present) and carries dispersal potential (i.e., might spread outsideT the range it occupies naturally or could not occupy without the direct or indirect introduction or care by humans). According to the definition issued by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2000, it includes any part, gametes, or propagule of such species that might survive and subsequently reproduce. The increasing commercialization, globalization, and modernization of travel are causing environmental changes, including climate change, and facilitate the arrival and establishment of IAS. Thus, IAS – including plants, animals, and microorganisms – present a growing environmental and economic threat to biodiversity and affect agricultural crop production, threatening human livelihoods and biodiversity globally. Moreover, IAS are among the most significant drivers of species extinction and ecosystem degradation. These species negatively impact ecosystem services and human well-being and are considered the second-greatest agent of species endangerment and extinction after habitat destruction. Photo by Firas Jarrar, Palestinian Assembly for Photography and Exploration. The disturbance of natural habitats promotes the establishment of IAS. On a global scale, the most relevant disturbance factors are the expansion of predation, disease transmission, and invasion vectors differ between agriculture, changes in the composition of native communities as a result genetic dilution. While not all alien high-income countries (imports, of climate change (biome shifts), and increasing occurrences of wildfire. species have the potential to become particularly of plants and pets) Biological invasions are considered a direct driver of biodiversity loss and invasive or cause problems, there and low-income countries (air have a pronounced negative impact on supporting, provisioning, regulating, are many that can significantly alter travel). Uniting data on the causes and cultural services. Both the numbers and distribution of invasive species habitats and affect the associated of introduction and establishment are increasing in many parts of the world, to the extent that the biogeographic biota or result in a reduction in the can improve early-warning and distinctiveness of different regions is becoming blurred. quality of economic services. eradication schemes. Most countries 42 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 43 Our Environment have limited capacity to act against IAS. Thus, demonstrating proactive To implement this obligation and the invasions. In particular, a clear need capacity requires comprehensive related global initiatives (e.g., the for proactive invasion strategies has border-control policies and programs Global Invasive Species Database The typical pattern been revealed in areas with high for research, monitoring, and public GISD), Palestine, as a contracting of establishment for poverty levels, high biodiversity, and engagement. party of CBD in 2015, shall set IAS involves an initial low historical levels of invasion. The Convention on Biological up a national strategy on IAS. It lag period after their must develop legislation to prevent To demonstrate a strong reactive Diversity (CBD) highlights the arrival, followed by capacity in controlling the spread of adverse effects of IAS. Article 8(h) the introduction of new IAS and the spread of the already present the rapid spread. The already introduced IAS, countries stipulates: “Each contracting Party vectors that facilitate must first recognize that IAS shall, as far as possible and as IAS, carry out a risk analysis that are threatening that country’s appropriate, prevent the introduction uses the available information and IAS movement also environment and economy. They of, control or eradicate those alien communication technology, and determine their must furthermore have identified species which threaten ecosystems, provide infrastructure for the control subsequent geographic of IAS. The control of IAS is the the IAS already present and show habitats or species.” The Aichi spread. evidence that an IAS policy can be Target 9, made under the CBD, most cost-effective and frequently turned into management actions. also states that “By 2020, invasive feasible only during the lag phase. To have a strong proactive capacity, alien species and pathways are The future spread of these species countries must attempt to prevent identified and prioritized, priority threatens the unique assemblage of our biodiversity and natural heritage. the introduction of IAS that are new species are controlled or eradicated plants within this world-renowned Considerable attention should be to that country and control species and measures are in place to site, a cost that is difficult to quantify focused on the various plant and that are already established and are manage pathways to prevent their in monetary terms. But its potential animal species that have been beginning to emerge as problematic introduction and establishment.” constitutes an unquantifiable loss to introduced, whether intentionally or accidentally, over the last 100 years or so. Moreover, significant Red anemones dot the hills during spring. Photo courtesy of Palestinian Assembly for Photography and Exploration. efforts should be directed towards preventing the establishment of cross-border invasive species, which means that we must move towards the development of a national strategy and provide guidance on the control and eradication of the main problematic species. Furthermore, an overview of the IAS present in Palestine is needed and must include the detailing of the main vectors of spread and the pathways for the various species, also indicating their impact on biodiversity and the associated socioeconomic implications. A proposed strategy for managing IAS at the country level is urgently required. The investigation of IAS in Palestine should follow the hierarchical approach that incorporates three key elements: prevention, early detection and eradication, and control and long- term containment and management. 44 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 45 Our Environment

An ongoing national project on IAS and subsequent spillover to local is proceeding with main objectives species, possibly resulting in an Acridotheres tristis: The common that include the survey of IAS increase of disease risk for humans, myna or Indian myna, sometimes present in Palestine, the pathways of domestic animals, and native spelled mynah, is a member of the introduction, the vectors of spread, wildlife. An increase of the local family Sturnidae, native to Asia. the techniques to combat and disease risk may also occur if the An omnivorous open woodland eradicate IAS, and the development introduced IAS is susceptible to, and bird with a strong territorial of a national strategy to deal with able to transmit, local pathogens. instinct, the common myna has IAS. Pathogens acquired by IAS may be adapted extremely well to urban There are three main strategies for amplified and possibly spill back environments. controlling invasive alien species: to humans and local species. A first major constraint in addressing • Their introduction should be the issue of disease emergence prevented in the first place. There connected to IAS is given by the Ligustrum robustum: Bora-bora, should be a ban on intentionally lack of comprehensive data on Ceylon privét, Sri Lankan privet, tree keeping, breeding, cultivating, pathogens that affect IAS. In this privet grows as a shrub or small transporting, placing on the market, sense, we recommend the gathering tree up to 10 meters (30 ft) tall, and importing invasive alien plants of an ad hoc database that includes though old specimens of more than and animals. all the available information on a hundred years have been observed • When IAS are introduced IAS pathogens that affect human with a height of 15 meters (50 ft). unintentionally, the animals must be and animal health, including their The fruit of the shrub is an ellipsoid removed from the environment as geographical distribution and berry, bluish-purple when fully ripe, quickly as possible. Plants must be prevalence in IAS populations in that can reach 7–10 mm × 4–5 mm destroyed. both native and introduced ranges. in size. It would also be advisable to • If invasive alien populations are improve our understanding of the so large that they can no longer be key epidemiological events and caught or eradicated, measures factors that drive the emergence of must be taken to stop them from infectious diseases following IAS spreading further. establishment. There is an urgent It is urgent to raise awareness need for research efforts that aim Myocastor coypus: The coypu, among people working in the fields to develop transparent and flexible also known as nutria, Bewerrot, of animal and public health, making tools that might be able to prioritize Biberratte, coipù, or coypu, is a them aware of the need to consider IAS based on the risk of transmitting large, herbivorous, semiaquatic IAS as a health threat. Awareness pathogens with the potential to rodent. Classified for a long time and action will be influenced by impact the health of humans, as the only member of the family and must consider the wider public production animals, and native Myocastoridae, Myocastor is perspective, not just researchers wildlife. now included within Echimyidae, and institutions. Initiatives that Many of the 100 most dangerous the family of the spiny rats. The aim to sensitize citizens about the IAS worldwide are established in coypu lives in burrows alongside health threats associated with IAS Palestine, exerting significant threats stretches of water and feeds on are needed to promote responsible and adverse impacts on biodiversity, river plant stems. Originally native behavior when crossing borders and public health, and socioeconomic to subtropical and temperate South America, it has since been introduced to to improve the general public attitude conditions. Some of these IAS are North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, primarily by fur farmers. Although it toward IAS-control and eradication introduced below. is still hunted and trapped for its fur in some regions, its destructive burrowing programs. and feeding habits often bring it into conflict with humans, and it is considered IAS may host pathogens that are an invasive species. absent in the area of release and may cause their establishment

46 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 47 Our Environment

Rattus rattus: The black rat, also Prosopis juliflora var. juliflora (Sw.) DC. Known as Prosopis, known as the roof rat, ship rat, Mathenge (Kenya), mesquite, algarroba, ironwood eterai (Turkana), or house rat, is a common long- this species belongs to the family Fabaceae (Leguminosae) and the tailed rodent of the stereotypical subfamily Mimosoideae. Prosopis juliflora is invasive in parts of Palestine, rat genus Rattus, in the subfamily mainly the Jordan Valley. Prosopis juliflora thrives in most soils, including Murinae. It likely originated in the sandy, rocky, poor, and saline soils within an altitude range of 300–1,900 Indian subcontinent but is now meters above sea level. Its deep taproots help it access subsurface found worldwide as an invasive waters. species.

Ailanthus altissima: Known as Chinese sumac, tree of heaven, or stinking, this is a very aggressive plant and a prolific seed producer (up to 350,000 seeds in a year) that grows rapidly and can overrun native vegetation. It also produces toxins that prevent the establishment of other plant species. The root system is aggressive enough to cause damage to sewers and foundations.

Ambrosia artemisiifolia, also known by the common names common ragweed, annual ragweed, and low Mohammad Mahassneh is the director of biodiversity at the Environment ragweed, is a Quality Authority-EQA. species of the genus Ambrosia, native to regions of the Americas. Ambrosia artemisiifolia Photo courtesy of Palestinian Assembly for Photography and Exploration. is a widespread invasive species and can become a noxious weed. Its windblown pollen is highly allergenic.

48 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 49 50 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 51 Our Environment

green sectors and sets out three objectives: economic recovery, Towards a Green poverty eradication, and reduced From Kyoto to the carbon emissions and ecosystem Paris Protocol, the degradation. world has faced a In 2009, following the announcement dilemma that has New Deal in Palestine of the GGND, the World Bankii and lasted half a century. Amnesty Internationaliii published two reports that highlight how Palestinians are denied access to water and sanitation and face Israeli restrictions on the development of apartheid, as reported by the French their water sector. As the State of National Assembly,v enclaved by Palestine is considered among the hundreds of Israeli settlements and least developed countries that must outposts. Palestinian access to water bear the consequences of climate and natural resources is restricted,

s the world fails to curb rising temperatures, the consequences of global warming pose a serious By Shaddad Attili threat, particularly in regions that suffer from water and food scarcity, political conflict, instability and insecurity, and financial inability, such as Palestine,A among many others. Not all countries contribute equally to greenhouse gas (GHG)i emissions or are equally vulnerable to climate change, and the responsibilities and duties to mitigate the situation vary from one country to another. The achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and their 169 targets is becoming increasingly difficult. Responsibility lies mainly with the industrialized countries, including the United States, China, India, Europe (mainly Germany and France), and the Gulf petroleum countries as the heavy users and producers of fossil fuel. Efforts to reduce GHG emissions have led to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its extensions: the Kyoto Protocol of the 1990s, superseded by the Paris Agreement that entered into force in 2016. As of 2020, the UNFCCC has 197 signatory parties, and the Conference of Parties (COP) meets annually to assess Flooding in Gaza. Photo by Sharif Sarhan. progress in dealing with climate change. In 2020, despite countries’ engagement in efforts to address climate change and a slowdown in industrial activities due to COVID-19, CO showed the highest 2 change, there is a great need for and Palestinians face movement and concentration in the past 800,000 years. adaptation and mitigation measures. access restrictions in 60 percent of The United Nations Global Green New Deal (GGND), announced in Palestinians in Gaza have been living the West Bank territory where they 2008, comprises various sets of policies that aim to make systemic under siege for more than a decade, are unable to build structures or change to reduce GHG emissions. Measures include transitioning away in conditions that a UN report has implement development projects, from fossil fuels, introducing higher energy standards, and undertaking deemed unlivable.iv In the occupied and frequently must undergo a massive industrial projects to scale up green technology. The GGND West Bank, Palestinians live under lengthy and complicated process calls on governments to allocate a significant share of funding to military control and face water to enter equipment in particular to 52 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 53 Our Environment

Gaza, where it may be refused under The Palestine Water Authority issued Resolution 67/19 that the pretext of dual use. Reports by has failed to facilitate the reuse of considers Palestine a nonmember the World Bank and United Nations treated wastewater in agriculture observer state in the assembly. The Palestine Green have repeatedly affirmed that the due to the lack of permits for This decision paved the way for New Deal initiative occupation is the main obstacle projects in Area C. Only 1 the State of Palestine to accede strives to mitigate that prevents the Palestinian state percent of treated wastewater to international conventions that climate-change- from attaining a viable economy that has been reused in the West strengthen Palestine’s position in could lead to prosperity and self- Bank. Palestinians are allowed the international arena. related damages reliance. Many international reports to use only 15 percent of the in the absence of a There is a fundamental political peace agreement with affirm that Israeli policies and groundwater in the West Bank benefit to Palestine joining practices undermine the resilience aquifers and are given no access Israel and despite the of Palestinians and increase their ongoing occupation vulnerability to climate change. and denial of Palestine has committed to the Palestinian rights. 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, but little has been achieved in terms of reaching these goals and have agreed on sets of rules, targets. Many economic, financial, principles, and obligations that and social indicators show that the aim to address the threats and State of Palestine has been crippled challenges associated with pollution, in fulfilling its commitments and climate change, and environmental inspired objectives, showing high protection. In the region’s political rates of poverty, food insecurity, and reality, many consider water and poor health conditions. environmental issues as less One example of how the occupation political in nature, allowing Israel hinders development efforts is the and Palestine to reach a form of denial of permits to develop clean understanding and advance towards energy projects in Area C. This shared efforts to tackle issues prevents Palestine from advancing related to climate change. Despite and implementing its strategy to the ongoing political conflict, the two diversify energy resources, causing countries could work together, sign a the country to fail in its commitment memorandum of understanding, and to generate ten of its energy Clean water is a rare resource in Gaza. develop environmental protocols. needs from renewable sources. Photo by Sharif Sarhan. No one, despite the political conflict, The Palestinian Energy Authority would disagree that we all share in announced in 2020 that the country to the waters of the Jordan River international legal frameworks the pain. Why not share in the benefit currently relies on renewable energy or the Dead Sea. Gaza under to which Israel, the occupying of working toward minimizing the for only 3 percent of its energy siege is hampered in efforts to power, is a member. These risks and threats of climate change? needs. treat wastewater by a severe agreements, such as the A recent initiative published by lack of energy, yet it manages to Convention on Biological EcoPeace Middle East has called reuse 9 percent amidst a severe Diversity and the Basel and upon Israel in a proposed Green shortage of fresh water. Access Paris protocols, set a new Blue Deal for the Middle Eastvi to Israel’s control of to water and a solution to Israel’s environmental reality in the resolve the issue of water rights, Area C hampers control over the Jordan River and region, especially regarding restore Palestinian water rights, Palestine’s plans for the the shared groundwater aquifer the relation between Palestine enable access to shared resources, remain issues pending permanent and Israel. When both states cooperate in addressing climate- diversification of energy status negotiations. resources. are members in the same change-related challenges, and On November 29, 2012, the environmental agreement, it advance cooperation over the nexus United Nations General Assembly can be understood that they of water, food, and energy. 54 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 55 Our Environment

This initiative falls in line with comprehensive action plan, solicit a recent debate, facilitated by and facilitate project implementation the Palestinian Center for Policy and financing, and enhance local Among the Research and Strategic Studies and regional connections and international MASARAT, in which Palestinian cooperation. agreements and water experts discussed and Taking the Basel Convention as protocols to which debated water rights and an example, signed by Israel the State of Palestine proposed not to delink water and Palestine, the parties to the from the conflict but rather to has acceded following convention can reach arrangements its recognition as a adopt a phased approach in regarding the transboundary resolving the conflict under the movement of waste, provided that nonmember observer motto “Water Comes First.” these do not dilute the convention’s state at the United This approach would help all, requirements or stipulate provisions Nations are several provide an example of goodwill, that are less strict. and constitute a step that could important water encourage further engagement To align with the signed international and environmental in issues of conflict between environmental agreements, Palestine conventions such as Israel and Palestine. has to receive full political and the Convention on financial support – and dedicated Arava Institute for Environmental development assistance – in Biological Diversity, Studies, in collaboration with implementing and administering the Basel Convention the Palestinian NGO Damour a system that enables it to fulfill on the Control of for Community Development its commitments. Palestine must Transboundary and in cooperation with Oxford also harmonize its local laws and Martin School of Oxford Movements of regulations, provide training and Hazardous Wastes University, is advancing a Track capacity building, and secure the II Dialogue for the environment After rain in Gaza. Photo by Sharif Sarhan. tools necessary to implement, and their Disposal, in the Middle East and the monitor, and follow up on the United Nations region. This endeavor has projects and the enforcement of Convention on the Law received assistance from large, Cooperation in such issues is a must environmental laws. internationally well-known of the Sea, the United and should not in any way prejudice the With Palestine joining the 1992 UN Nations Framework figures and actors and aims outcome of political dispute, in particular to advance the agenda of Convention on the Law of the Sea, Convention on the Palestinian right to self-determination it has acceded to a comprehensive addressing climate change and independence and to a viable and Climate Change, the resilience in the vulnerable regime of laws that is applicable to sovereign state. All parties have made the world’s oceans and seas and Paris Agreement on Middle East region, with water efforts to bring about a just solution, climate change, the UN and energy at the top of its establishes rules that govern the use even if they are acting against the of their resources, the delimitation Convention to Combat agenda. political will of many others. of state boundaries, environmental Desertification, the All stakeholders behind these Israel, like many other countries, control, economic and commercial initiatives wish to solve the UN Convention on including the United States, the European activities, and the settlement of the Law of the Non- Israeli-Palestinian conflict based Commission, and other European disputes between states. Palestine on the two-state solution and countries, has appointed an ambassador can use the convention to defend its Navigational Uses international law; they agree that for climate change. Palestine should rights in the coastal waters of the of International pollution and climate change do the same to participate in and lead Gaza Strip. Watercourses, and know no borders (with the internal and international debates A specific legal right provided by the many others. COVID-19 pandemic serving and orientation efforts to implement as “proof of the concept”: the Law of the Sea gives coastal states projects that foster the development of sovereign rights in a 200-nautical- region and its populations are a green and circular economy. Such not safe until all are safe, as the mile exclusive economic zone over ambassadors of climate change must natural resources and regarding pandemic knows no borders). push the regional agenda towards a 56 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 57 Our Environment

climate change, from the political conflict; striving to reach a bilateral understanding between Israel and Joining conventions Palestine that aligns with both that Israel has acceded states’ commitment to signed to gives the State of international agreements; working Palestine increased to reach a mutual understanding regarding the SDG targets related leverage in securing to climate change by enabling the implementation projects of resilience, adaptation, of their and mitigation; enabling Palestine recommendations and to fulfill its obligations as well as stipulations. benefit from being a member to key environmental treaties and conventions; enabling access to Solar panels. financial environmental instruments and encouraging a circular economy levels; and securing financing in and clean energy in various sectors; different sectors to facilitate a clean circular economy. certain economic activities. our responsibility to environmentally pressuring Israel to enable projects Palestine’s economic future and protect the Mediterranean. The that address clean energy, treated the corresponding well-being of its development of our gas field will wastewater reuse, sustainable Dr. Shaddad Attili is an adviser- people could immensely benefit from also secure the energy requirements consumption, and fair allocation and ranking minister at the Negotiation the exploration and development for the future desalination facility joint management of shared water Department. He is a former deputy of natural gas offshore the Gaza for the Gaza Strip. The West Bank resources; making Palestine’s voice secretary-general to the Union for Strip, as all Palestinians have will benefit from swapping energy heard through assigning a climate the Mediterranean and a former the immediate need for access with neighboring countries such as change ambassador to ensure water minister in Palestine. The to additional sources for power Jordan and Egypt or Israel. internal and inter-sector discussion views expressed in this article and external outreach that addresses represent only those of the author. supply. Access to our natural gas Importantly, Palestine also has climate change at local and regional would greatly improve the power become a signatory to the Law of the supply conditions in Gaza, which Sea Convention and the 1997 draft suffers from a lack of energy, as UN Convention on the Law of Non- Gazans must cope daily with the Navigational Uses of International most severe shortages. Moreover, i Watercourses (UN Watercourse A greenhouse gas (GHG) is a gas that absorbs and emits radiant energy within the thermal gas is less polluting compared to Convention) that is based on the infrared range, causing the greenhouse effect responsible for global warming. GHGs come from many sources, including carbon dioxide (CO ), methane (CH ), nitrous oxide (N O), and fluorinated other fossil fuels. Responding to 2 4 2 principle of equitable and reasonable gases (HFCs, PFCs, and SF ). CO makes the largest contribution to global GHG emissions. Gaza’s energy requirements will also 6 2 utilization of transboundary water ii Assessment of Restrictions on Palestinian Water Sector Development, The World Bank, ensure the functioning of the various while also promoting environmental Apil 2009, available at http://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/775491468139782240/ sewage treatment plants that are protection of international pdf/476570SR0P11511nsReport18Apr2009111.pdf; see also Toward Water Security for currently paralyzed due to a lack of Palestinians, World Bank Group, 2018, available at http://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/ watercourses, thereby encouraging en/684341535731512591/pdf/Toward-Water-Security-for-Palestinians.pdf. power. Many have remained out of regional integration and sustainable iii Troubled Waters – Palestinias Denied Fair Access to Water, Amnesty International, 2009, available order for many years, contributing development around the world. The at https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/48000/mde150272009en.pdf. to the polluting of the aquifer whose State of Palestine cannot be viable iv Gaza in 2020: A livable place? UN Country Team in the occupied Palestinia territories, 2012, available at https://www.unrwa.org/userfiles/file/publications/gaza/Gaza%20in%202020.pdf. waters have become unfit for human without access to an “equitable and v Lionell Luca, Jean Glavany, “La géopolitique de l’eau” (The Geopolitics of Water), French National consumption as well as to the reasonable” share of its freshwater pollution of the Mediterranean Sea Assembly, October 5, 2010, available at https://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/13/pdf/rap-info/i4070. resources. pdf. along Gaza’s shores. As Israel forced vi Gidon Bromberg, Nada Majdalani, and Yana Abu Taleb, Green Blue Deal for the Middle East, the desalination facility to stop twice In conclusion, the Palestine Green EcoPeace Middle East, December 18, 2020, available at https://old.ecopeaceme.org/wp-content/ in 2018, ensuring the functioning New Deal joins the world effort uploads/2020/12/A-Green-Blue-Deal-for-the-Middle-East.pdf. of Gaza’s wastewater treatment of going greenvii by delinking vii Such as the US Green New Deal and the European Green Deal that comprise sets of policy facilities will contribute to fulfilling the environment, particularly initiatives with the overarching aim of making these countries climate neutral by 2050. 58 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 59 Our Environment

The Eastern Mediterranean Wetlands are among the important Palestine in Focus ecosystems that enrich the region Wetland habitats are with unique biodiversity and important ecosystems Wetlands in the Eastern contribute to human well-being and of unique biodiversity livelihood with valuable ecosystem that contribute to Mediterranean Region services. These areas are known to contain water in whole or in part reducing soil erosion, or a high percentage of moisture controlling floods, and water throughout the year or and decreasing their for a temporary period. They are adverse impact. divided into natural wetlands, such as lakes, rivers, swamps, marshes, and stretches with fresh or salty surfaces, and artificial ones such as dams and others. Wetlands across the Eastern Mediterranean region constitute a key source of income provide a wide variety of ecosystem in the area. Furthermore, they run services, including water, food, and water-powered grain mills, as local income. The main services provided communities traditionally used water by wetlands include reed-plant to generate energy to grind their he Eastern Mediterranean region harvesting, with reeds being used harvested wheat. In addition, they includes the southern Levant as fodder and material to make are a source for sea salt harvesting, and part of Mesopotamia – roofs, baskets, and fences; they as salt ponds adjacent to the Dead By Roubina encompassing Palestine, Jordan, Bassous/Ghattas Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq – and Wadi al-Badan. Artwork by Anwar Al-Fares. is known for its rich base of ecosystems and biodiversity hotspotsi where unique endemics and species mix are found.ii In general,T the region is characterized by riverine ecosystems with small lakes, coastal lagoons, aquatic systems, and single large river systems. The freshwater eco-region includes the upper Tigris and Euphrates, the Orontes, the coastal Levant, and the Jordan River. This eco-region covers a narrow coastal plain backed by mountain ranges up to 3,000 meters high. The coastal Levant eco-region includes the coastal strip of the Levant that ranges from the western slopes of the Jabal an-Nusayriyah Mountains in Syria to the Lebanon Mountains, the Central Highlands in Palestine, and the Sinai. The Jordan River is an internal river of 360 kilometers in length that originates at the Syria-Lebanon border. Its tributaries are the Hasbani, which flows from Lebanon, the Banias River, which emerges from a spring at Banias at the foot of Jabal as-Sheikh (Mount Hermon), and the Dan River, also sourced at the base of Jabal as-Sheikh. The Jordan River then flows through Buhaira at-Tabariyya (Lake Tiberias) before it receives its main tributaries, the Yarmouk River and the Zarqa River. Due to the diversion of the Jordan River’s flow, however, it has become not more than a stream. Wadis – valleys with intermittent watercourses – that flow into the Jordan include Wadi Mujib, Wadi Mousa, Wadi Hassa, and Wadi Zarqa. The river’s waters feed into the Dead Sea, the hypersaline lake located in an elongated depression in the Jordan Rift Valley. The wetlands around the Dead Sea are home to the indigenous bird called the Dead Sea sparrow (Passer moabiticus).

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Sea are used for the production of of the 1,236 species studied by salt and hence provide employment IUCNiii of freshwater fish, mollusk, for local communities. The saltpans There are a number of odonate (dragonfly and damselfly), Wetlands gain secure a safe breeding location wetlands in Palestine. freshwater plant, bird, amphibian, economic importance for flamingos (Phoenicopterus crustacean, and mammal, up to 29.8 as they are considered roseus) in several sites along the percent are endemic to the Eastern productive natural Eastern Mediterranean wetlands. Mediterranean region.iv Finally, there The wetlands provide runoff that contribute to the maintenance is the indirect value of the Eastern wealth that provide management services, as the of ecological continuity in natural Mediterranean wetlands that provide livelihood materials sedimentation of eroded soil systems and as high-quality leisure flood control, groundwater recharge, for people, services, increases the soil fertility in valleys, and recreation areas between and climate change mitigation. and ecological and and groundwater is purified from urban areas and within cities. Palestine is characterized by its environmental sediments and organic pollutants. They are habitats for a diversity of great ecological diversity, dense functions for various Rivers function both as corridors freshwater fish and other species: vegetation, and wide wildlife base. living organisms. In It is an essential crossing-land addition, they are a for migratory birds between the continents of Europe, Asia, and continuous renewable Africa. Among the ecosystems source of groundwater. available in Palestine is the important wetland system that comprises interconnected habitats for the rarest or most endangered birds and Wadi al-Malih, and Wadi Gaza and other freshwater species. However, Gaza beach, among others. Some Palestine’s multiple surface-water famous wetlands of aesthetic and resources, including the Jordan ecological value are described River and the permanent and below. nonpermanent valleys that flow Wadi Gaza extends along the into the Mediterranean Sea, the eastern borders of the Gaza Strip. Jordan Valley, and the Dead Sea, Its springs lie in the Negev hills and are now considered scarce, as there the southern heights of Hebron. The is currently a limited number of tributaries that feed Wadi Gaza have surface-water sources in the West their sources in the central mountain Bank and Gaza Strip, as most valleys areas, the low heights north of the flow for only a few weeks a year, Negev, and the west and southwest usually in the form of temporary parts of the Hebron Mountains. flash floods, and this source is The feeding and drainage basin of difficult to collect and exploit. In the valley covers an area estimated most valleys, complex geological/ at 3,391 square kilometers, while geographic characteristics are the wadi’s length is about 105 transformed due to the absence of kilometers from its source to the major natural storage dams (few coast where it discharges into the plains and an underground layer of sea. Its circuitous route from the limestone). There are many regions Strip’s eastern border to the sea that are considered wetlands of is 7 kilometers, with a maximum interest, and some of them are of elevation of 30 meters above sea international importance. These level. Thousands of ducks, herons, areas include the Jordan River, storks, cranes, flamingos, waders, Wadi al-Badan, Wadi al-Qelt, Ein raptors, quails, passerines, and al-Fashkha, Marj Sanur, Ein Qinina, other birds have been reported

62 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 63 Our Environment to pass through Gaza. The most permanent springs in the village measures to sustain the natural common endemic bird is the of Al-Badan, distributed through resources, landscapes, and the Palestinian sunbird (Nectarinia streams that all converge to form tourism sector that it relies on. Wetlands preserve the osea) found throughout the year. Wadi al-Badan. As a result of the Marj Sanur is an inland valley gas balance in the air Studies show that there is an urgent abundant availability of water, about with an area of ​​about 583 square and the hydrological need to protect Wadi Gaza and its 12 ancient water mills were built kilometers, located in the Jenin and chemical balance surrounding vegetation communities, in the past that were used to grind governorate in the West Bank. of water; they also as these habitats contain the highest grain. Streams and water channels Several villages and towns overlook value for the flora and fauna. The cover the permanent vegetation, support other habitats the valley and share ownership of and food chains. threats to these habitats are quite especially reed trees, which are still its lands, namely, Sanur, Mithloun, severe, and Wadi Gaza faces many exploited in handicrafts and used Jerba, Musalla, Sir, Al-Jadida, and environmental problems that affect in parks or to make mats and roofs public health, as it is used as a for sheds. In the village of Al-Badan collection point for sewage from there is an eight-kilometer-long the refugee camps in Gaza’s central walking path that enables tourists area and as a dumping site for to see the picturesque landscapes solid waste. Thus, Wadi Gaza has throughout the year, as it passes been placed on the Tentative List along many rocky slopes and of UNESCO’s World Heritage List through varied vegetation. The path Nominations.v also sheds light on the Palestinian Wadi al-Badan is located in the culture in the village of Al-Badan, Nablus governorate. It is an area where one can see the lands that attracts tourists because of planted with almonds and citrus its natural beauty and distinctive fruits, in addition to the existing scenery, the diversity of its terrain, natural forests in the surroundings. its vegetation, and the abundance However, the area needs appropriate of water springs. There are seven environmental and conservation

Wady al-Badan. Mahmiyat.

Eín al-Fashkha.

Siris. Marj Sanur is located to the 26,500 Palestinians depend on the southeast of Jenin and is famous water and economic resources of for its fertile land, as there are water this area, and it is an important wells that support vegetable farming. tourist area especially when the marj At times, it is completely filled with is full of water. water and looks like a beautiful Ein al-Fashkha, located on the lake. The marj sometimes brings western side of the Dead Sea, is great losses to the inhabitants due home to the springs called Oyoun al- to the flooding of a large portion Fashkha. They are small, but they are of its lands with rainwater and the considered to be a refuge for many consequent loss of the agricultural migratory birds, as large plants grow season, in addition to the spread in the area, the most important of of insects and rodents. More than

64 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 65 Our Environment which is the reed. The water of al-ain Wetlands are considered to be of these areas. We must obtain emerges from the ground very close particularly sensitive to activities support through the signing to the Dead Sea. Thanks to this that affect them. On the level and of the International Ramsar A Ramsar site is a spring, the spot was transformed quality of water, wetlands suffer from Conventionvi to help ensure the wetland site designated into agricultural land, which has been a reduction in their water volume, conservation and sustainable to be of international exploited by the Israeli occupation planting along their borders, and development of these areas importance under to obtain agricultural products neighboring urban development, in and hence become registered and foodstuffs. Previously it had addition to the excessive exploitation under the International Wet Zone the Convention on been an important resource for the of their resources. Despite the List. This will contribute to the Wetlands, known Palestinians living near the area. It is significance of these areas, few continuous evaluation of the as the Ramsar worth noting that this area, which is are aware of their importance and status of these areas as well Convention, which is a rich in economic and vital resources, the need to preserve them as an as to their rehabilitation, the UNESCO-established cannot be accessed or used by the integrated ecological and biological elimination of pollution causes, intergovernmental Palestinians. system. and the conservation of plant and animal species that depend environmental treaty on them, while focusing on that came into force in their value in order to preserve 1975.vii their natural components for maintaining and sustaining environmental, social, and economic balance.

Roubina Bassous/Ghattas is the founder and director general of Pioneer Consultancy Center for Sustainable Development (PCC). She holds a master’s degree in biological sciences from Birmingham University, United Kingdom, and has extensive experience in nature resource management and conservation, food security, livelihood enhancement, and agriculture sustainability. PCC aims to provide expertise/services in diverse fields, including heritage and biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation, clean environment, and green solutions. It also works to generate economic/educational benefits and empower local communities. Contact PCC at [email protected].

Passer moabiticus. i Hotspots are regions that contain at least 1,500 species of vascular plants (> 0.5% of the world’s total) as endemics, and have lost at least 70 percent of their original habitat. For more information, please visit the webpage The Mediterranean Red List of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), available at https://www.iucn.org/regions/mediterranean/our-work/biodiversity- knowledge-and-action/biodiversity-status-and-trends/mediterranean-red-list. These areas are among the most There is an urgent need to study ii For an outline of the area, visit the interactive map provided by the organization Fresh Ecoregions of important characteristics of the these areas and declare the most the World, available at https://www.feow.org/ecoregions/details/436. country, as they maintain an important of them to be natural iii K.G. Smith, V. Barrios, W.R.T. Darwall, and C. Numa, eds., 2014, The Status and Distribution of integrated and homogeneous protected areas, a task for the Freshwater Biodiversity in the Eastern Mediterranean, Cambridge, UK; Malaga, Spain; and Gland, environmental system. But their relevant stakeholders, mainly the Switzerland: IUCN, pp. xiv+132. iv They are found nowhere else in the world (https://www.iucn.org/regions/mediterranean/our-work/ environmental and strategic Environment Quality Authority. It is of biodiversity-knowledge-and-action/biodiversity-status-and-trends/mediterranean-red-list). importance has not spared them the importance to equip the governing v Wadi Gaza Coastal Wetlands, UNESCO Tentative List, available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/ risk of neglect and erosion, as their and/or managing bodies with the tentativelists/5722/. existence is threatened by sewage necessary mechanisms and tools vi Ramsar organization’s website is available at https://www.ramsar.org/. water and other human excesses. to achieve sustainable management vii For more information, please go to Ramsar organization’s website at https://www.ramsar.org/.

66 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 67 Our Environment

into a smart UN facility. One way to improve energy supply and reduce Greening Moonshot deficit was to find new sources of To credibly claim electricity. With Gaza enjoying 300 climate neutrality, days of sunny weather per year, solar UNDP is committed to energy is most promising to add new reducing greenhouse resources to the electricity grid. gas emissions from On average, the office has access global operations by to the electricity grid between 4 and 25 percent by 2025 and 12 hours per day. Therefore, to meet the consumption demands, the office by 50 percent by 2030, uses three generators of 500-kVA, implementing the best 250-kVA and 65-kVA capacity that waste management in use diesel as fuel, and the cost of all UNDP premises and chieving the ambition of the diesel for the generators is US$0.7/ minimizing the use of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable liter. Development requires a new resources. approach to everything we do: the By Majed Ghannam more disruptive we are, the more transformational the solutions will have to be. UNDP knows from experience that incremental change is not enough. We have to be committedA to “walking the talk,” adapting the way we operate internally to mitigate, minimize, and offset the impacts of our own operations and programs, and challenge ourselves to define new standards both in the UN and beyond. One of UNDP’s commitments is to be green, sustainable, and just. While UNDP has been climate-neutral in its global operations by procuring carbon credits since 2015, offsetting is not enough. Over the years, colleagues throughout the organization have developed innovative and effective approaches to reducing UNDP’s environmental footprint, from introducing policy and procedural measures needed to support a 100 percent green electricity target to upgrading UNDP’s fleet to electric vehicles, making UNDP operations paperless, and developing “green” criteria for UNDP facilities. Hence came the launch of the “Greening Moonshot” initiative. The first round of the Moonshot Facility call for proposals, targeting UNDP country offices, was launched in order to support this transformation and incentivize contributions to the Moonshot targets. As UNDP’s Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People, we were ready to replicate and scale existing initiatives, using what we have learned and enabling © UNDP/PAPP – Abed Zaqout. transformations so that we can operate in an environmentally sustainable manner. We competed with other UNDP Country Offices across five regions, and The proposed solution will not only fuel, and increase the autonomy of our business case was among those selected to receive reduce the carbon emissions but also the energy asset in case of outages. support from the Greening UNDP Moonshot Facility. significantly increase the reliability The solar PV installation, supported Our business case focused on our office building in Gaza and the electricity supply to the by a storage system, will generate 60 and the chronic electricity crisis facing the Strip. The idea premises, cover the critical load while KWp and provide a battery storage was to take initial steps towards transforming the building reducing dependency on generator capacity of up to eight hours.

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Energy scarcity and lack of access to energy are among the major constraints to Palestinian socioeconomic development, particularly in Gaza. Clean energy can provide affordable solutions that are in line with climate targets and that can help mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 crisis on people’s livelihoods and the local economies. © UNDP/PAPP – Abed Zaqout.

With economic savings being agencies can also benefit from Majed Ghannam holds a master’s degree in water resource management and strongly dependent on electricity implementing a green energy conducted advanced studies in integrated water management. He has been and diesel fuel prices, we estimate solution, compared to a traditional working as a program manager at UNDP/PAPP since 2011. Prior to that, he an annual cost saving of around setup. It will also encourage the worked as a water and wastewater facilities quality assurance manager in US$19,000 or 71 percent of local community to adopt a similar several countries, including Kuwait, Yemen, Jordan, and Canada. Majed has generator diesel usage reduction, approach and contribute to the extensive experience in water, energy, renewable energy, and environmental respectively. Switching to renewable achievement of the sustainable projects, in addition to the social, health, and educational infrastructure energy also has strong environmental development goals. sectors. incentives. The proposed system UNDP, through its projects in can save approximately 75 tons of Gaza, has already generated CO emissions yearly, effectively © UNDP/PAPP – Abed Zaqout. 2 approximately 2.5 MW of solar reducing the carbon footprint on the energy in educational, health, social, environment. and wastewater treatment facilities, The project is expected to be with a total investment of more than completed in May 2021, followed US$6 million, thanks to the support by a commissioning and testing of multiple partners, including Japan, phase for the whole system, and Norway, Islamic Development Bank, accompanied by staff training for its Qatar Fund for Development, Saudi operation and maintenance. Fund for Development, and OPEC Since our office in Gaza does not Fund for International Development. only host UNDP staff, other UN

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that the conditions in Palestine are near perfect, various environmental Palestinian Olive Trees challenges have had severe consequences for olive trees and “Olive trees represent the farmers, many of whom rely on An Environmental Tragedy or them for their survival. Even though both our history a Tragedy of the Conflict? olive trees are resilient, climate and our future.” change has had a negative impact. Mohammed Ruzzi, The Olive Oil Times reported in late manager of PTFA. 2020 that production dropped by nearly 70 percent in the current crop year, moving from 39,500 tons in 2018–2019 to 12,000 tons in 2019– 2020. Global olive oil production farmers don’t have. As we discuss was also predicted to be at its lowest what appears to be an environmental level since 2016–2017. This is a challenge, Mohammed reminds me regional and indeed global problem that it has a political component: “It’s that affects other Mediterranean difficult to find water in Palestine. countries as well. We are not allowed to dig wells live trees have a special place in Mohammed agrees that lack of rain, because Israel controls everything the heart of every Palestinian. Not caused by the warming of the Sahara below the ground. If a farmer digs only do they provide an economic Desert and Mediterranean Sea, is a well, the Israeli authorities will lifeline for the more than 80,000 among the greatest environmental destroy it, forcing the farmer to pay By Amira Gabarin families that grow them in the i obstacles that Palestinian farmers for the destruction.” The occupation West Bank alone, they also serve face. While irrigation could help authority’s restrictions on access to as a symbol of steadfastness and political resistance as olive trees that are improve this, it requires water which water, Mohammed explains, affect thousands of years old linkO our people to their land in one of the greatest and most beautiful living examples of Palestinian identity and cultural heritage. Olive tree farming goes back almost 6,000 years in the MENA region, and of Photo by Emile Ashrawi. course, olive-based products are also a key ingredient in Palestinian cuisine. This article includes the insight of two people who appreciate both the national importance of olive trees and the many obstacles that face those who grow and cultivate them. Dr. Husam Zomlot, is the Palestinian ambassador to the United Kingdom and has previously served as the head of the PLO mission to the United States. Mohammed Ruzzi is the manager of the Palestine Fair Trade Association (PFTA), a nongovernmental “If the olive trees knew organization founded in Palestine in the hands that planted 2004 as a union for all Palestinian fair trade farmers and those them, their oil would interested in working in fair trade. become tears.” Historically, Palestine’s Mahmoud Darwish Mediterranean climate with long, hot summers and cool but mild winters has been ideal for olive trees to grow and prosper. While the natural environment might imply

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a daily basis, the more shocking attacks are systematic, as the Israeli military and state frequently “The uprooting of engage in orchestrated attacks. Dr. trees is not just a Zomlot states, “What the uprooting crime against the trees of olive trees in occupied Palestine or the Palestinian represents is the attempt by Israel – the settlers and the occupying people, it also harms military that protects them – to rid the environment themselves of the land’s indigenous and undermines the population. They wish to defeat our natural habitats of our struggle for freedom, statehood, and environs, setting back justice.” Between 2001 and 2012, the global struggle the Israeli military and settlers have collectively destroyed at least half a against climate million olive trees.iv change.” Mohammed also mentioned a recent Dr. Husam Zomlot In the fields of Deir Ballout. Photo by Daoud Abdallah, incident in Deir Ballut village near courtesy of Palestinian Assembly for Photography and Exploration. Salfit, where much of the land is located near settlements and the not only olive trees but all kinds of While the environmental challenges separation wall. “Last month, Israeli asserts that the PFTA has a positive crops. Possible solutions have been that result from global warming are bulldozers uprooted more than 3,500 impact on farmers by encouraging advocated regionally. But whereas shared by nations all over the world, trees. No reason was given. If you sustainability, fair prices, and the in Tunisia, farmers are advised to most damaging and heartbreaking asked the Israeli authorities, they existence of Palestine unions. The grow olive tree species that resist to Palestinian farmers and the would say that they were planted PFTA works with over 1,200 farmers dry weather and focus their efforts Palestinian people collectively is the in Area C which is under full Israeli as direct beneficiaries in over mainly on the parts of the country intentional uprooting and destruction control. The Israeli authorities 50 West Bank villages. “Our role where there is more rain, Palestinian of their olive trees. The destruction informed the farmers that they includes helping farmers produce farmers cannot follow such advice of ancient and precious olive trees were planning to uproot the trees. high quality products with added due to the tight confines to which is more than a symbolic blow. The farmers appealed, but no legal value, which includes fair trade and they are restricted, particularly Described by journalists as a “war decision has been made so far, organic certification.” They export in Area C, where the majority of on the environment,” 2020 was the and the army uprooted the trees to over 19 countries internationally. farmlands are located. harshest year for farmers so far, as anyway.” PFTA engages to ensure that farmers over 8,400 olive trees were uprooted An important dimension is the obtain better prices for their products On a positive note, although olive iii trees have suffered in recent years or burned. The first months of financial significance of the olive if they are of the finest quality and due to climate change, some 2021 have shown no signs that this market and its importance in the produced under fair trade conditions. researchers and agronomists believe destructive trend might be slowing Palestinian struggle to achieve This benefits all farmers by driving that climate change impacts them down, as Moataz Bisharat reported economic sovereignty. As many up the market price. Mohammed positively, predicting that an increase to Anadolu Agency on January 27, farmers depend mainly on olive reminds me that in 2005, the market of the average yearly temperature by 2021: The military destroyed over trees for income and financial price for olive oil was 8 shekels per 1.8 degrees Celsius might increase 10,000 forest trees and around 300 security, the State of Palestine liter and the fair trade price was 16 olive production among 97 percent olive trees in a nature reserve of over National Export Strategy reported shekels, whereas now, the minimum of the olive oil producers in the 98 acres in Ainun area in the city of that the olive sector employs over 15 fair trade price is between 25 and 30 v world.ii This study also argues that Tubas. percent of working women and is shekels. higher temperatures might alleviate It is important to clarify that the worth between US$160 million and PFTA’s work benefits not only the vi the problem of fruit flies damaging destruction of olive trees is not US$191 million. producers of olive-based products oil production because these just an act of extremist settlers Understanding the economic power but also the environment. Through pests would thrive less in higher who attack all types of Palestinian that olive tree cultivation brings to the Trees For Life program, created temperatures. property. While this happens on the Palestinian people, Mohammed in 2006, it has distributed free 74 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 75 Our Environment

and the end of the illegal Israeli occupation. Palestine must face the environmental challenges of global “If environmental warming as it tries to navigate the questions were not military occupation. Given that about politics, then Netanyahu continues to lead Israel, governments all over it is difficult to see how change could come from the inside. Dr. the world would have Zomlot stresses, “We are constantly taken much stronger reminding the international action much earlier. community of its responsibility to In Palestine, the hold Israel accountable, raising occupation masks the issue of settler violence with a multitude of sins, governments and parliaments worldwide with specific demands one of which is that for protection and accountability, resources are diverted and appealing to the International from efforts to secure Palestinian farmers inspect the damage done to their olive trees that were cut down Criminal Court for justice.” the proper care and by Israeli settlers. Issam Rimawi /Anadolu Agency. Consumers can help this along by protection of the supporting Palestinian fair trade products and continuing to support environment in a of charge thousands of almond between Palestinians and Israelis.” the BDS movement. To protect the manner that would and olive trees in Palestine. The Mohammed also urges farmers environment, we must also support befit our heritage program targets people from all to keep careful records, including those who are trying to protect it. walks of life, including young notes on what grows, when it was and treasures and couples, poor families, and women. planted, who planted it, and so on. Protecting Palestine’s natural preserve the natural “Anyone interested can apply. In Agreeing with Mohammed on the environment is a historical, environment.” the last planting season, more than importance of replanting trees, Dr. religious, environmental, and human Dr. Zomlot 230,000 olive and almond trees Zomlot also stresses the importance were planted in the West Bank, and of “international scrutiny and thousands of farmers benefited from accountability, given the role of the Stolen harvest, photo courtesy of Grassroots International. our program that was funded by Israeli military in protecting these fair trade partners and supported settlers.” by international solidarity efforts,” Olive oil from Palestine is considered Mohammed explains. among the highest quality olive oil Protecting olive trees and the worldwide.vii As global warming environment in Palestine is also threatens olive trees everywhere, it a form of resistance. The PFTA is likely that this oil will become even works with Zaytoun, a nonprofit more precious in the coming years. social enterprise founded to support Moreover, the assault on olive trees Palestinian farmers who plant new is an assault on history as some of olive trees daily in the places where the destroyed trees are thousands trees have been uprooted. “Planting of years old. Historians should be the trees is risky,” Mohammed as outraged about their destruction admits, “but we need to plant and as they are when Daesh destroys link the farmers with their lands. It’s ancient churches or libraries in Iraq. important that farmers go to their The protection not only of olive land every day and show the Israelis trees but of all Palestinian property that we own this land. Ownership and, most importantly, of people of land is the soul of the conflict is intrinsically connected to peace 76 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 77 Our Environment

Palestinian farmers protest after Israeli security forces uprooted olive trees reportedly located within Area C in the occupied West Bank village of Deir Ballut. rights issue. While the creation farmers and all citizens can enjoy of trade unions is a step towards their land and its fruits in freedom functioning statehood, the PFTA and peace.” and the Palestinian unions are also essential in our resistance to Israeli Amira Gabarin is a 23-year-old aggression, enabling us to voice our journalist based in London. She needs and represent our citizens. writes for a range of publications, Asked for his advice to farmers, Dr. including The Telegraph and CBS Zomlot replied, “Remain steadfast News. She is passionate about and have faith. We have survived charity work and international wars and the attempt to wipe us out. affairs. We will survive this. Whenever we can, we work together to ensure that

i “Olive harvest marked by access and protection concerns,” United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), December 2017, available at https://www.ochaopt. org/content/olive-harvest-marked-access-and-protection-concerns#:~:text=The%20annual%20 olive%20harvest%20is,and%20cultural%20event%20for%20Palestinians.&text=Between%20 80%2C000%20and%20100%2C000%20families,per%20cent%20of%20working%20women. ii Bob Yirka, “Study suggests global warming may be a boon to Mediterranean Basin olive growers,” phys.org, 2014, available at https://phys.org/news/2014-03-global-boon-mediterranean-basin-olive. html. iii Dr. Ramzy Baroud, “War on nature: How Zionist colonialism has destroyed the environment in Palestine,” Middle East Monitor, 2019, available at https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190211- war-on-nature-how-zionist-colonialism-has-destroyed-the-environment-in-palestine/. iv Harriet Sherwood, “Israel urged to protect West Bank olive trees after settler attacks,” Guardian, October 13, 2012, available at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/oct/15/israel-oliver-trees- settler-attacks. v “Olive harvest season: expected record yield compromised due to access restrictions and settler violence,” Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs OCHA, November 2019, available at https://www.ochaopt.org/content/olive-harvest-season-expected-record-yield-compromised-due- access-restrictions-and-settler. vi “Infestation expected to affect olive harvest in the West Bank,” OCHA, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, September 11, 2018, available at https://www.ochaopt.org/ content/infestation-expected-affect-olive-harvest-west-bank. vii Eleanor Ross, “Six of the best non-European olive oils,” Guardian, February 9, 2016, available at https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2016/feb/09/six-non-european-olive-oils-to- beat-the-price-crisis. Photo by Firas Jarrar, Palestinian Assembly for Photography and Exploration.

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organizations and NGOs in the The National Flower of Palestine West Bank and the Gaza Strip as Iris haynei is also called well as the EQA have succeeded the “royal iris” because in identifying and protecting natural sites and their creatures. it grows only one flower Faqqua Iris Thus, Palestine’s national bird, the at the top of the stem Palestinian sunbird (Cinnyris osea that dies while standing and the straight. It is a tuberous ,(عصفور الشمس الفلسطيني national flower, the Faqqua iris ground plant that grows are now 30 to 60 centimeters (سوسن فقوعة Iris haynei) considered to be intrinsic symbols of the State of Palestine. tall and may even reach 75 to 80 centimeters in Faqqua irises thrive in the special climate of the Faqqua mountains height, depending on where they bloom in an area the amount of rain in a he concept of distinguished by natural diversity particular year. protecting Palestine’s and beautiful terrain. In general, they natural environment exist in ranges from Marj Ibn Amer By Imad Atrash and has been gaining to the Bisan mountains and valley, Maha Abu Gharbieh prominence in the eastern foothills of the Jordan Palestinian society, Rift Valley, and the slopes of the at both regional and global levels. The Environment Quality Authority (EQA) mountains east of Jerusalem. Our The concentrated iris area is was established in 1996 and united inT partnership with the Palestine Wildlife field survey found that the Faqqua found in between Arabuna village Society in 2001. Both organizations work with civil and official institutions in iris is widespread in the mountains and Deir Ghazaleh, and from the the fields of nature protection and awareness raising regarding the value of surrounding the village of Faqqua village of Faqqua to the borders of Palestine’s nature and Palestinian cultural heritage. after which the flower is named. Jalboun village in the south. This area has a view of the Nazareth Since 1967, Israeli occupation mountains, and its original authorities have aimed to borders are the lands of Bisan separate Palestinian society from and Jabal Tabor. It includes the its natural surroundings while villages and towns of Deir Abu presenting themselves as the Daif, Al-Mughayir, and Zababda. protectors of the environment. The specific area of dense iris However, many Palestinians fields is within the borders of were determined to preserve the village and mountains of nature long before the Palestinian Faqqua, covering no more than Authority was established 20–25 square kilometers; the following the Oslo Agreement. In only country in the world that 1999, 13 Important Bird Areas possesses such a dense field were identified in the West Bank is Palestine. That particular and Gaza Strip and recognized area is a fascinating display of nationally. Most recently, 15 Key natural terrain, with hills rising Biodiversity Areas in the West 450 meters above sea level, the Bank have been proposed and highest in the eastern region are waiting to be approved at the of the mountains of Marj Ibn national level. Amer. It rains at the high rate of Despite the Israeli occupation 500 mm annually, and its fertile and the associated destruction soil and attractive rocks permit of natural areas, grassroots the iris to grow comfortably. In

80 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 81 Our Environment

participants; in 2018, more than 500 International Union for the Protection people attended; in 2019, more than of Nature (IUCN), the Faqqua iris 10,000 people from various parts of is placed at the top of the list of The Faqqua iris can be the West Bank and around the world vulnerable species. The number of found in poetry and participated in the flower season. irises has decreased dramatically, music. Famous singers Furthermore, the Palestine Wildlife and there is a high possibility of and artists such as Tariq extinction. Therefore, the Palestinian Society was able to obtain funds for Abu Obadiah, Abdullah two consecutive projects to support community must make an effort to unite with the official and civil al-Hajj, Hawa Hassan, the conservation and sustainability Fairuz, and others of the iris at both the national and authorities to develop a plan to global levels. The first project was protect it as much as possible. mention it in their implemented through the Small Realizing that Iris haynei is a songs. Grants Programme, the Global vulnerable species, the IUCN has Environment Facility program, and directed its attention to efforts to the United Nations Development improve the circumstances that are Programme (GEF-SGP-UNDP-PAPP) threatening its survival. to support the iris’s conservation at When the public was given the national level in partnership with information about the iris and the awareness of the importance of the EQA. This successfully led to the village, the Palestinian Authority protecting the environment. Our establishment of a field laboratory issued a Palestinian stamp with natural environment and national that specializes in irises in Faqqua its image, and tourist paths were heritage must be safeguarded from village. marked for visitors. Mr. Barakat theft and counterfeiting in efforts The second project is currently in Al-Omari, head of the Faqqua village that demonstrate the strength of progress, supported by Birdlife council explains that for many Palestinian civil society. International’s Critical Ecosystem years, Faqqua village had not been Partnership Fund, and carried out placed on the Palestinian tourism Imad Atrash is the executive by EQA in cooperation with An- map. But with EQA support, the director of the Palestine Wildlife Najah University, the Arab American village has benefited from several Society, an organization that University, and in cooperation projects, including being connected engages in the conservation addition, it exhibits great biological with Dr. Magda Abi Daher at Saint to a water network, the construction and enhancement of Palestinian diversity, featuring a wide variety of Joseph University in Lebanon. In of agricultural roads, and more. biodiversity and wildlife through plants and natural land. It is on the addition, the World Forum for Nature The village has flourished and been the protection and management path that global migratory birds take Protection and the village council revitalized as the local community of species and habitats. For more on their seasonal journeys between of Faqqua provided donations to welcomes visitors with a passion information, please visit https:// Europe and Africa in autumn and protect its land. This project focuses for nature paths, plants irises in a www.birdlife.org/middle-east/ spring. primarily on research regarding the variety of different colors, and strives partners/palestine-palestine- More than a century ago, the iris’s reproduction processes. Amer to coexist with the wide biological wildlife-society-pwls. English botanist John Gilbert Baker Brahma, a master’s level student, diversity of its natural surroundings. Hence, the Faqqua iris was never (1834–1920) insisted on naming the works with researchers Munir Salah Maha Abu Gharbieh is a student unique flower of the iris family with and Ahmed Al-Omari to prove that abandoned. It has been introduced into the educational curriculum of business administration at its distinct colors and scent after the this flower can reproduce through Bethlehem University and a name of the village that he visited for seeds, whether in the laboratories and gained attention at the highest international levels of cooperation volunteer with the Palestine the first time. of local universities or directly in Wildlife Society. nature. This is critical to prevent the even though it is not yet as widely In 2016, the Palestinian Council mentioned as it deserves. of Ministers declared the Faqqua decimation of this iris and the loss of iris the national flower of the State the national flower of Palestine. Today, the Faqqua iris is considered of Palestine, according to EQA According to the standards of the to be an element of Palestinian recommendations. In 2017, the first largest institution for the protection national heritage and efforts Iris Celebration was held with 50 of nature and the categories of the are under way to raise national 82 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 83 Our Environment Birds of Palestine Status, Threats, and Conservation The griffon vulture is among the largest flying birds in the world, with a wingspan of up to three meters. The breeding population of this vulture is extinct from Palestine, but some individuals can be seen during migration or dispersing from nearby countries. It can soar up to a height of 10,000 meters while migrating or foraging.

ince the outbreak long-eared owl. Finally, there are are destroying birds’ nesting of the COVID-19 species that are a mix of both, sites and foraging territories. The pandemic, most of categorized as “complex breeders,” unsustainable use of pesticides By Anton Khalilieh our meetings have such as the Spanish sparrow. and other chemicals in agriculture and Yara Dahdal been held online, as Around 150 bird species, such as is poisoning birds and decreasing is the case for many the stonechat, visit Palestine during their numbers tragically. Climate people. The other day, during one of these meetings, an old ecologist friend the winter season to enjoy its mild change and its consequences who lives abroad remarked: “It seemsS you live in a good and healthy place. I cold weather. In addition, there are (rising temperature, dryness, and can hear birds singing in the background.” His comment reminded us that we more than 220 species that pay a shifting in seasons) affect the often forget how blessed we are to live in such a rich and diverse spot of the visit to Palestine twice a year on their annual lifecycle of birds and their world. epic spring journeys of migration ability to nourish and reproduce. Anthropogenic disturbances by Birds continue to be the most varied group of land vertebrates in our globe, from Africa to Europe, and vice wildlife photographers, hikers, and Palestine has a good share of this wealth due to its distinct location in versa during the autumn season. It and curious individuals constitute the heart of the Middle East, as well as at the junction of the three continents is worth mentioning that Palestine a major threat to nesting parents of Asia, Africa, and Europe. Furthermore, four different biogeographic zones sits on the second most important and their chicks. Moreover, bird (Mediterranean, Irano-Turanian, Sudanian penetration, and Saharo Arabian) migration flyway route, as 500 capturing, nest poaching (eggs are packed within a small area that is directly linked to the rich flora and fauna million birds pass through our skies. within. Palestine is characterized by various natural habitats that include Sometimes they stop for a few days natural and manmade forests, a desert and coastlines, plains and cliffs, rocky or weeks to feed and rest at what slopes and cultivated fields, and mountains and hills, each accommodating we call stopover sites, attracting distinctive bird species. birdwatchers, birders, scientists, and nature lovers from all over the world The Palestinian According to our comprehensive survey at Nature Palestine Society, there are during the migration seasons. environment faces 367 bird species that inhabit our surroundings at various times of the year. Around one-third of them breed in Palestine. Breeding birds may stay all year The Palestinian environment threats that directly long, such as the chukar, spectacled bulbul, and Palestine sunbird, the national in general faces major threats affect the habitats, bird, and are usually referred to as “exclusively resident breeders.” Others and challenges that are directly well-being, and reflected in birds’ habitat, well- come only during the spring to breed and raise their chicks, and afterwards diversity of birds. migrate by the end of the summer. These are usually identified as “exclusively being, and diversity. Habitat summer breeders” and include the lesser kestrel, woodchat shrike, and fragmentation and urban expansion

84 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 85 Our Environment and chicks), and hunting habits critically endangered majestic lovers, and our amazing volunteers. embedded in our culture exacerbate Bonelli’s eagle. The story begins The journey has started, and we the war that authorities, civil society when one of the nature lovers are proud of our achievements. Conservation efforts organizations, and nature lovers learned about an eagle that had But achievements must always be are direly needed, as must wage every day. been captured by hunters. Initially, accompanied by responsibilities. 35 percent of bird If readers are still not convinced he was not aware of the importance Nature Palestine Society has a species in Palestine about the importance of bird of the bird (currently only two pairs mission to maintain and sustain. are in the red zone conservation efforts, the following reside in the West Bank), but his Despite all the conservation efforts, of threat or near sense of duty urged him to approach numbers should change their minds. more needs to be done. Authorities, extinction. Studies show that on the national the Nature Palestine Society. After civil society, stakeholders, and level, eight bird species are critically some negotiations, the hunters every member of the Palestinian endangered, seven bird species are agreed to hand over the ill bird. The family must work hand in hand to endangered, nineteen bird species eagle suffered from dehydration, maintain bird habitats and natural are vulnerable, eighteen bird species malnutrition, and broken talons. areas. Development is unavoidable are near threatened, and seven bird After months of rehabilitation, a but must be done in a sustainable species are extinct. This means that GPS telemetry was installed on the way to minimize harm to nature and more than 35 percent of the total back of the bird for the first time in its components. There is still room in Palestine should be revised, number of breeding bird species Palestine. The eagle was freed in for more research to better evaluate modified, and updated to be able in Palestine are in the red zone. Tamoun Nature Reserve during a the status and distribution of bird to address current environmental Conservation efforts will help to large event under the auspices of the species in Palestine. Additional challenges and to comply with protect many of these species from EQA that included local authorities public awareness campaigns need signed international conventions and extinction. in the Tubas governorate and to take place in order to educate the treaties. The revised environmental community members. The eagle has community about the importance law should contain deterrent Numerous conservation efforts are been free for two years now, flying being channeled towards conserving of birds to our environment and penalties against nature crimes and over 20,000 square kilometers. The health. Stakeholders must engage outline reinforcement mechanisms. birds in Palestine, all with the eagle seems to like both the east and support of the Environmental Quality society in their conservation efforts Finally, the establishment of a well- west banks of the Jordan River (see and activities to encourage a equipped national bird rehabilitation Authority (EQA) and the help of the map that tracks its movement). Environmental Police. The authorities sense of responsibility, especially center must be the ultimate goal are constantly following up on A golden eagle, another critically among the younger generations. among all players in Palestine’s complaints concerning captured endangered species with only one The governing environmental law environmental sector. birds that are then inspected by pair remaining, was handed to the ornithologists, freed when possible, Nature Palestine Society by another or rehabilitated if needed before responsible environmental activist. setting their wings free. This eagle suffered from lead poisoning due to tens of bullets that One of the most exciting and were shot at him by hunters (see successful efforts was the X-ray image). The long rehabilitation The Palestine sunbird is the rehabilitation and freeing of the process was successful, and the Palestinian national bird. eagle was freed back into nature, It is a small Nectariniidae carrying our hopes and wishes that it bird that feeds mainly on would soon find its spouse. flower nectar, but during In 2020, the Nature Palestine Society the breeding season it Much work remains succeeded in rehabilitating and feeds the fledglings on to be done to preserve freeing 50 different bird species, small insects. The plumage of breeding males is bird habitats in an effort that would not have been possible without the close mostly black but appears a Palestine. cooperation and coordination glossy mixture of blue and between the EQA, the Environmental green in the light. Police, local authorities, nature

86 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 87 Our Environment

The Egyptian vulture is a medium-sized The golden eagle is the largest true scavenger raptor that used to breed in bird of prey that breeds in Palestine Palestine until 2007. It is one of the Old and belongs to the family Accipitridae. World vultures and the only member The adults are dark brown in color, of the genus Neophron. The adult bird with lighter golden-brown plumage is recognized by its white plumage on their crowns and napes that gives with black flight feathers in the wings, the species its common name. These while those that are immature can birds have powerful feet and massive, be recognized by their dark brown sharp talons to snatch up a variety of color. The vulture can be seen in small prey. numbers during migration seasons.

Photo by Ala’a Kan’an. The little owl is a member of the typical or true owl family Strigidae. It is a small species, cryptically colored for camouflage and mainly nocturnal, but it can be seen during the daylight standing on a rock or a short tree. It usually feeds on insects, earthworms, other invertebrates, and small vertebrates such as rodents. A pair of common kestrels being freed after they had been confiscated by the EQA and the Environmental Police and rehabilitated by the team of Nature Palestine Society on the Map of the Bonelli’s eagle flight route. hills of Wadi Fasayel Nature Reserve. The European roller is the only member Photo by Wasem Dawwas. of the roller family of birds to breed in Palestine, and the number of breeding pairs is decreasing at an alarming rate. The bird is mainly blue with an orange- Article photos by Anton Khalilieh. brown back. It is usually seen perching prominently on trees, poles, or overhead wires, watching for the large insects, small reptiles, and rodents that Dr. Anton Khalilieh is the executive Dr. Yara Dahdal holds a PhD in they eat. director of Nature Palestine Society water desalination and wastewater an environmental NGO that aims treatment. She has two postdocs, to research, protect, conserve, the first in water contamination and The white stork is a large bird in the and educate about nature, the second in science diplomacy. Ciconiidae family. It is characterized biodiversity, and environment Yara is currently the projects by its mainly white plumage, black in Palestine. He holds a PhD manager at Nature Palestine feathers on the bird’s wings, long red in ecophysiology, ornithology, Society. She is an active member legs and long pointed red beak in adult and nature conservation. He is of the scientific basis task force in birds, and long neck. It passes over also a birdwatcher and wildlife the East-Mediterranean and Middle Palestine in large flocks twice a year photographer. Anton has much East Climate and Atmosphere during the spring and autumn migration experience in environmental Research Center led by the Cyprus seasons. This migratory species assessment and conservation Institute. She can be reached at spends between a few days and a few projects. He can be reached at [email protected]. weeks at stopover sites to feed and [email protected]. rest in Palestine.

88 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 89 Our Environment

In Palestine, ten species of owls Photo by Simon Awad. have been recorded. Today, nine Owls in Palestine of them are still present in the Palestinian environment after the extinction of the Brown Fish Owl (Bubo zeylonensis). These species represent six genera and two families. Environmental Educational Centre (EEC) researchers recorded all owl species and ringed (band) five species. The following are some characteristics of owl species found in Palestine. • Barn Owl (Tyto alba): It is the only species representing the Tytonidae family. It is an elegant medium-sized bird with a distinctive white Photo by Simon Awad. heart-shaped face, white underparts with black spots, and brown and grey upperparts. It feeds mostly on rodents, and it is estimated that a pair irds have inspired of Barn Owls consumes more than 1,000 rats a year. Therefore, many projects focus on using mythologies and Barn Owls in biological pest control in agricultural religions throughout areas. The Barn Owl is resident mainly in the By Simon Awad north and center of the county. It prefers open history and been fields and cultivated farmland with scattered trees, and Bashar Jarayseh rendered in drawings, and it rarely resides in mountainous areas. poems, mottos, and social beliefs that have played a role in forming the folklore of many cultures and societies. The eagle is associatedB with a positive image and serves as Photo by Simon Awad. a symbol of pride and strength. Adopted in most Arab countries as well as in Palestine as a symbol of the state, it is also the main emblem in most communication and postal systems worldwide. Other birds are not associated with such positive images. The owl is among the most popular birds in human heritage and is considered a symbol of wisdom and optimism, on the one hand, especially in Indian folklore and most Western cultures. On the other hand, and in most African and Middle Eastern cultures, this bird is deemed a symbol of death and associated with bad luck. In Palestinian folklore, owls are believed to bring bad luck. In addition, many Arabic proverbs mention owls as a sign of doom, for example, “Like the shriek of an owl that foretells disaster.” Owls are considered nocturnal birds of prey that are active primarily at night, but some of them continue to be active during the day as well. Owls in general are characterized by their large heads, round bodies, and camouflaged • Brown Fish Owl (Bubo zeylonensis): A large owl plumage. They are carnivorous and primarily hunt rodents, insects, and with a flat broad head, mostly brown in color with pale streaked underparts. It hunts fish from rivers birds, though they occasionally eat reptiles, such as lizards and snakes. They or lakes by a sudden attack from a perch or by catch their prey by launching a rapid surprise attack, and with the aid of their flying low over water with its legs dangling. Before its extinction in 1975, the Brown Fish Owl used to extraordinary hearing and vision, they can locate the prey accurately even in live in wetland habitats in the north of the country. • Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo): A huge owl the dark of the night. Moreover, owls have special structures on the edge of The EEC’s Natural History Museum has a rare that is between 59 and 73 cm in length, with a specimen of this species. their primary feathers that reduce the sound of air rushing over the surface wingspan that reaches 170 cm, it is considered of the wing feathers, enabling them to fly silently. Owls’ heads are perfectly the largest owl species to be found in Palestine. It preys on rodents, hedgehogs, hares, and some adapted to facilitate their senses. They have elliptically shaped facial feathers birds. The Eagle Owl is an uncommon resident in to collect and direct sound towards the ears, big eyes located at the front of the Mediterranean climate, rare in the desert and the skull, and a neck that is able to turn 270 degrees. All these features make semidesert areas. It inhabits rocky slopes, valleys, and farmlands. It is one of the species that is owls very specialized and successful for life at night. most affected by the illegal trapping of nestlings. 90 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 91 • Tawny Owl (Strix aluco): A Photo by Bashar Jarayseh. medium-sized owl with a bulky body and black eyes. It is considered an uncommon resident especially in the northern parts of the country. It prefers woodlands and forests. • Hume’s Owl (Strix butleri): Also called Desert Owl or Desert Tawny Owl, this is a medium-sized owl with yellow eyes and pale sandy-brown plumage. It is an endemic species to Palestine, Jordan, and parts of Photo by Bashar Jarayseh. Sinai and the Arabian Peninsula. It is an uncommon resident that inhabits rocky wadis, cliffs, and canyons in • Pallid Scops Owl (Otus brucei): police confiscate them from people the desert. The Hume’s Owl is very Very similar to the Eurasian Scops who keep them illegally. The EEC difficult to see because of its shy Owl, but with paler color and duller has been able to release many nature and the remote harsh habitats appearance, it is a resident bird and owls, falcons, and buzzards back it lives in. • Little Owl (Athene noctua): A small and can be found along the Jordan Valley into nature after rehabilitation. In compact owl with bright yellow eyes, long legs, and around the Dead Sea, especially addition, EEC has also been working and a short tail, it is the most common owl in palm tree farms and cultivated on raising public awareness, species in Palestine. Its popular Arabic name Photo courtesy of EEC. is Um Quwaik. Found almost everywhere from areas. especially in schools and in the local forests, mountains, and rocky wadis to the community, about the importance of harshest parts of the desert, it is also commonly The presence of owls in nature found near humans in villages and cities. This is significant for a healthy and protecting birds in general and owls species is partly diurnal, which means that it is in particular. often seen active and hunting during the day. balanced ecosystem. They control the number of smaller rodents and insects, which are considered Simon Awad is the executive Photo by Bashar Jarayseh. pests. Unfortunately, owls face director of the Environmental many threats in Palestine, the Education Center of the • Long-eared Owl (Asio otus): A medium-sized most common of which are illegal Evangelical Lutheran Church in owl with distinctive long ear tufts, long wings, and a narrow body. An uncommon resident, rare hunting and trapping. For example, Jordan and the Holy Land. An passage migrant, and winter visitor, it is observed many owls fall victim to illegal environmental activist and wildlife mainly in the Mediterranean climate in the north conservationist, he is an expert in and center of the country. hunting in rural areas, yet some people kill them to deter “bad luck,” birds (ornithologist) and the first and in the best cases keep them person to hold an international in cages, especially their young license to identify birds in Palestine • Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus): owlets. Another common threat and the Arab world. He has A medium-sized owl with very that owls face is the intensive use authored and co-authored several long and narrow wings, it has very of pesticides, which affects owls books on the environment and on short ear tufts and heavily streaked • Eurasian Scops Owl (Otus scops): The by reducing the available food human rights issues. pale-brown plumage. It is considered smallest owl species in Palestine with a length resources or poisoning them when a rare migrant and winter visitor, of only 19–21 cm, it feeds mainly on insects they consume prey contaminated and invertebrates. A common migratory bird in Bashar Jarayseh is an active mainly recorded in autumn. This Palestine found mainly in the spring migrating with these chemicals. The EEC is research volunteer in ecology and species prefers meadows, open season, it is an uncommon breeding summer collaborating with the Environment biodiversity, with special interest agricultural fields, and marshes. The visitor and a very rare winter visitor. The Scops Owl is observed in a wide range of habitats, from Quality Authority (EQA) to reduce in birds at the Environmental short-eared owl feeds mostly on open areas and farmlands with scattered trees the threats that face wild birds. Education Center. In addition, he small mammals and can detect the to thick forests and woodlands. It is very difficult EEC experts work hard on the is a biology student at Bethlehem presence of its prey in flight through to see this species because of its plumage that blends perfectly with the bark of trees where it rehabilitation of trapped or injured University. hearing. sleeps during the day. birds of prey after the environmental

92 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 93 Our Environment Personality of the Month

Among the many hunger strikes in conferences in the environmental field which Jameel participated to achieve that produced significant decisions his and other prisoners’ rights was in support of Palestine. He served Jameel Mtour the 1992 strike in which 12,000 as a member of the Higher Planning prisoners participated. During the Council, the Technical Committee for solidarity actions that were carried out National Spatial Planning, the Palestine From Life Imprisonment to to support the prisoners, Jameel’s Higher Green Buildings Council, the Environmental Conservation brother, Anwar Matour, was killed by Palestinian Industrial Estates and the Israeli occupation army. Yet, Jameel Free Zone Authority Board, the Traffic persevered in his conviction that peace Higher Council, the Environment and based on justice is achievable, and he Health Committee for Jerusalem, the participated in many dialogue sessions Palestinian National Water Council, with the various delegations, visiting and the board of the Palestine the prisoners alongside his fellow Standards Institution. He headed the leaders in prisons. Preparatory Committee for the Second In 1999, after the agreements made Palestinian Environmental Conference between the PLO and Israel, Jameel in Palestine and the Environment was released from prison and joined Quality Authority Work Team of the the Environmental Quality Authority, National Reform and Development getting involved in environmental Plan; served as coordinator of inspections. He got married (and the Environment Committee for now has three sons and a daughter), Negotiations and the Jerusalem completed a master’s degree in public National Popular Conference; and health at Birzeit University in 2004, and was the EQA representative in the rose within the ranks of the EQA until PLO’s Coordination Committee for the he was appointed vice chairman and Monitoring Group in the Palestinian served in that position for almost ten Negotiations Affairs Department. years before being appointed as head Under Jameel’s leadership, the of the EQA. EQA’s capable team is embarking on important initiatives such as preparing Jameel’s contribution to Palestinian th efforts in environmental conservation the 6 National CBD report, a new is impressive. He chaired the National Biodiversity Strategy, various ameel Mtour was appointed head of the Environment Quality Authority delegation of the State of Palestine in action plans, and much more. in July 2020. Born in Sair, Hebron, Palestine, on May 3, 1961, Jameel many prominent regional and global holds a degree in public health from Bethlehem University. During his J university studies he was elected to the student council and also played an important role in promoting the student youth movement, contributing as well to Mr. Jameel Mtour, chairman of the EQA, freeing a pair of common kestrels. Photo by Ala’a Kan’an. the establishment of youth committees for social work. But in 1986, immediately after graduation, he was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment for his participation in resisting the illegal Israeli military occupation. Inside and outside of prison, Jameel has held many positions, including being a member of the Prisoner Central Committee, cultural director in Junaid Central Prison, coordinator of the Struggle Committee in Nafha Prison, and editor of political magazines. He authored many studies, some of which have been published, whereas others are still waiting for publication. His writings include (in Arabic) “The September Revolution,” “Behind the Bars of Oppression,” “Zionist Racism between Theory and Practice, “The Desire for Independence,” “The Uprising of Prisoners in the Occupation Prisons,” and “Rules of Behavior in Detention,” as well as many articles in a number of local newspapers and magazines.

94 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 95 Our Environment Book of the Month

Checklist and Ecological Database of historical Palestine – the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Despite its small size of 5,856 Wild Plants square kilometers, the West Bank contains over 1,612 of the West Bank – Palestine species of vascular plants By Banan Al Sheikh in 117 families. The species occur in habitats that range from the Sudanese/Ethiopian areas around the Jordan Valley, through semi-arid regions of the Jerusalem eastern slopes to the mountainous Mediterranean habitats. This is indeed the most comprehensive reference that details the flora of the West Bank and will be valued by both professionals and interested lay people. This checklist of all the wild plants in the West Bank includes their scientific names and common Arabic names. For each species, the author also gives scientific synonyms, family names, By Banan Al Sheikh blooming periods, and some ecological and growth National Agricultural Research Center, Jenin, 2019 indicators, such as whether 229 pages, 240 color images they are annual or perennial, Available at the Palestinian Museum of National History, NIS 50 geophyte (having tubers/ bulbs), chamaephyte (dwarf shrub), shrubs, trees, aquatic plants, or vines. The author also notes abundance: whether the plant is rare or common he few books that address the flora of Palestine were written and in which climatic zone primarily by either international visitors (during the period of the the species grows naturally, Palestine Exploration Fund in the nineteenth century, for example) namely, Mediterranean, semi- T or by Israelis. It is rare to find locally produced books on the arid, desert, or high mountains. fauna and flora of Palestine. Banan Al-Sheikh’s contribution is a The book includes 420 color welcome addition, especially for the growing list of nature enthusiasts in pictures arranged according Palestine. As more people become interested in Palestine’s natural beauty, to flower color, which greatly there is a need for authoritative books that provide an understanding of facilitates the finding of species the rich natural environment and encourage its protection. This updated even by nature lovers who have checklist of Palestine’s flora is the result of more than two decades of the no botanical knowledge. author’s research and experience. The book focuses on only a part of

96 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 97 Our Environment Artist of the Month Mohammed Alhaj

Displacement Series, Untitled #6, 100 x 80 cm, Displacement Series, Untitled #8, 100 x 80 cm, acrylic on canvas, 2020. acrylic on canvas, 2020.

he experience of Mohammed Alhaj is typical for many Palestinian artists, passionate about experimenting with different materials and techniques and which has implications for the status of contemporary art in Gaza. This keen on including Palestinian heritage symbols in his various artworks. small area does not exceed 365 square kilometers yet is a locus for In recent years, Mohammed’s interest and research have focused on T numerous economic and political complications. Gaza has suffered from topographical maps. Inspired by his father’s descriptions and poignant two wars in the last decade, and, most importantly, under siege has been memories of his hometown of Kawkaba, he aims to create relationships almost entirely disconnected from the other Palestinian cities, the Arab World, and between these maps and the demographic expansion of the population, the world. thereby illustrating the transformations caused by the 1948 Nakba in which The son of refugees displaced from the village of Kawkaba during the Nakba, many Palestinian were forced to leave their homes and have remained Mohammed Alhaj was born in Libya in 1982. He returned to Gaza in 1995, where displaced. he finished his schooling and The temporal dimensions have a strong presence in the virtual remedy for obtained a bachelor’s degree the fate of deserted Palestinian villages whose inhabitants have left, leaving in art education from Al-Aqsa no traces or remains and carrying with them nothing other than memories. University in 2004. The works The artist thus makes visible the topographical and demographic changes of Kamel Al Moghani, Ismail that result from a political reality whose effects we are still witnessing Shammout, Suleiman Mansour, today. These works pose questions about the fate of this village that and other great Palestinian is representative of many villages that have been exposed to similar artists strongly influenced him. conditions. Yet like that of any young artist, Mohammed’s artistic practice In his last exhibition, titled Displacement, Mohammed broadens his view explored various schools as he and poses questions about the fate of places and people in the entire moved from abstract painting Arab region, as many have been forced to leave their homeland in the last to other expressive styles, decades in search of safe and suitable locations, far from conflicts. tackling local issues in his Since 2007, Mohammed Alhaj has participated in many solo and collective choice of subject matter. He was exhibitions, both locally and regionally. For more information, please visit his page on traces at https://gazatraces.wordpress.com/mohammed-al-haj/. Kawkaba Village, 70 x 50 cm, mixed media on wood, 2014. Collection: Lana and Nasser Abdel Hadi. 98 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 99 TWiP Kitchen Qatayef

1. Pour the water, milk, sugar, and yeast into the blender, mix with a large spoon, then leave it for ten minutes (bubbles should form). 2. In another bowl, whisk together the flour, semolina, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. By Riyam Kafri AbuLaban 3. Slowly add the flour mixture to the water mixture in the blender and blend well, adding the rose water at the end. Pour the batter into a bowl, cover, and store in a warm, draft- free spot for at least 30 minutes. s I try to make sense of the world, the kitchen seems to be the only place I 4. Heat a large nonstick pan or a pancake griddle until it is rather hot (I preheat mine on have control, and the aroma of fresh qatayef makes me feel safer and more medium heat for 15 minutes). Pour small amounts of the batter (¼ cup) into the center at home than ever before. of the pan. Watch as bubbles form and pop. If the pan is too hot, the qatayef won’t have A time to form bubbles and will cook too quickly. If the pan is too cold, the batter will stick Servings: feeds an army, or the neighborhood and not cook all the way through. Play with the heat until you get the perfect setting, watching the qatayef closely. When all the bubbles have popped, remove the qatayef, Tools: blender place them on a large plate, and cover them with a towel. Repeat until the batter is finished. 5. Take the qatayef in your hand, make a small pocket, place a teaspoon of crushed Ingredients Filling walnuts and cinnamon in the middle, then bring the edges together by pinching the • 260 g flour • 2 cups coarsely chopped walnuts dough between your fingers to seal the qatayef closed. Do the same for cheese. • 100 g semolina • 1 tsp cinnamon 6. Make the qater by bringing to a boil the sugar and water in a saucepan on medium • 1 tsp baking powder heat. Allow sugar to dissolve completely, and leave it to boil until it thickens slightly. Turn • ½ kg sweetened Palestinian goat cheese. • 1 tsp yeast (I use instant yeast) off the heat, stir in the lemon juice and orange blossom water. • ¼ tsp baking soda Qater (simple sugar syrup) 7. Preheat the oven to 180° C. Generously brush the filled pockets with butter, place on a baking sheet, and bake in the preheated oven until they are a deep golden color and the • Dash of salt • 2 cups sugar center is crunchy. Remove and soak them in lukewarm qater, serve immediately. Note: • 2 cups water • 1 tbsp sugar Many choose to fry qatayef, which is equally delicious. Heat some oil and deep fry • 1 tbsp milk • 1 tbsp lemon juice them, then quickly transfer them to the qater. • 2 tbsp rose water • 1 tsp orange blossom water • 750 ml warm water On weekends, Riyam’s kitchen smells of za’atar, cinnamon, lemon, and honey. Her writing and food adventures can be found on www.riyamoskitchentable.com and on Instagram @riyamoskitchentable. 100THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 101 Our Environment Ahlan Palestine Postcard

By Malak Hasan and Bisan Al-HajHasan We were delighted over the invitation our grandmothers considered maftoul but even more excited when we entered a festive food and frequently prepared Learn to Roll Palestinian the kitchen to see a woman hunched it on special occasions and holidays over a big silver bowl, about to prepare when the whole family gathered. To the maftoul from scratch. prepare large quantities, women used Maftoul in Kifl Haris Kefaya welcomed us with motherly to sit together for hours, sharing stories affection and invited us to sit next to her and memories and singing traditional as she rolled the maftoul, encouraging songs. We felt blessed to have had us to roll up our sleeves and dig in. the opportunity to connect with our heritage and learn this skill, considering There are different methods to make that more and more Palestinians, maftoul. Kefaya started by drizzling including our own families, are now olive oil in the bowl, sprinkling white buying ready-made maftoul rather than flour over it, and then using her making it at home. fingertips and palms to lightly roll the mix. Adding a touch of water and Kefaya then steamed the maftoul another sprinkle of white flour, she in a steamer pot over a deliciously repeated the process, rolling and aromatic chicken broth with chickpeas, mixing the ingredients until we started but not before burying one chopped to see small balls forming. When a onion, coated in a mix of cumin, salt, portion of the mix became the right black pepper, and mixed spices, in size, she gently scooped it into another the maftoul. She explained that this is bowl and continued the process. a special trick to give the dish more flavor. And how right she was! Sitting crossed-legged on the floor, with our hands and arms covered in white Once the maftoul was fully cooked, flour, we talked about life in Palestine, we scooped it onto a platter, soaked our dreams and ambitions, our families it with the seasoned chicken broth, and work, joking continuously about and sprinkled the cooked chickpeas our poor maftoul-rolling skills. The on top. Kefaya served it with pickled atmosphere made us appreciate why cucumbers, olives, and the cooked chicken she had basted with olive oil and roasted in the oven. ince we launched Ahlan Palestine and began to tour villages, cities, and refugee camps to share with the world what it truly means to be This experience encouraged us to a Palestinian, we have been introduced to more than just picturesque explore our Palestinian cuisine even S landscapes, nature reserves, and historical sites. We have also become further and share it with anyone who friends with many Palestinian women who have shared with us and taught us how is traveling the world in search of the to make the most famous and iconic Palestinian dishes. best culinary experience. We are so proud of our Palestinian mothers and In this postcard, we share our experience of learning how to prepare Palestinian grandmothers who are preserving our maftoul, a traditional festive food that is closely associated with our culture and a heritage every time they cook a meal must for tourists looking for an authentic experience of Palestine and its cuisine. for their loved ones. Maftoul is a traditional Palestinian dish after which many annual festivals are named, a perfect winter dish, comforting and hearty, loaded with aromatic spices. Malak and Bisan are the founders Associated with both the Levant and the Maghreb, it is similar to Moroccan of Ahlan Palestine, a travel blog that couscous but made with flour instead of semolina – and might have been brought promotes tourism in Palestine. You to Palestine by Moroccan migrants. can watch them roll maftoul step by When we decided to visit the village of Kifl Haris in the northern West Bank, located step if you visit their Instagram page six kilometers west of Salfit, we were invited to a local family’s home to eat maftoul. @AhlanPalestine. 102THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 103 Events Directory

RAMALLAH

BOOK LAUNCHES SYMPOSIA R awabi Saturday 10 Saturday 10 17:30–18:30 A Garden among the Hills: The 17:00–20:00 “Social Protection in the Cultural ACCOMMODATIONS Floral History of Palestine is the museum garden Sector” is the second part of a symposium catalogue that documents the floral variety found presented by Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center in in the Palestinian Museum gardens and provides 2020. For registration, please contact info@ information about each plant’s history, etymology, sakakini.org. biology, and medicinal and aesthetic benefits, as well as other popular uses. It also details GAZA

the plants’ national and cultural significance, RESTAURANTS thus shedding light on their association with SPECIAL EVENTS Palestinian identity. Like the Palestinian Museum Thursdays 1, 8, and Saturdays 3, 10 gardens themselves, this catalogue recounts 15:00–18:00 Seaborne Dreams is a workshop the floral and horticultural history of Palestine series with sessions in creative writing and across different eras. English and Arabic editions art workshops for children from 9 to 13 years are available and are opened with forewords by old. Held with the participation of the artists Dr. Omar Tesdell and writer and poet Zakariya Mumen Khalifa (origami), Ahmad Muhanna Mohammad. The event will be in Arabic and (Arabic calligraphy), Maher Daoud (creative moderated by Dr. Omar Tesdell, with speakers Dr. writing), and Mahmoud al-Haj (video), it explores Jamil Harb, Dr. Munir Nasser, and Lara Zureikat. manifestations of the Palestinian coast as a Broadcast via https://zoom.us/j/91704751441. material and emotional geography in our everyday Wednesday 21 lives. The works created by the participating children will be presented as an art installation in 16:00–17:30 The launch of Thorough the museum’s upcoming exhibition that aims to Surveillance: The Genesis of Israeli Policies evoke a sense of being present on the coast while of Population Management, Surveillance and also illuminating the worlds that are dreamt up in Political Control towards the Palestinians in its its absence or amidst its siege. The installation translated Arabic edition by Professor Ahmad will be accompanied by representations of these Sa’di, published by the Arab Center for Research worlds in Palestinian narratives. Organized by and Policy Studies. This book presents a thorough the Palestinian Museum in partnership with analysis of the Israeli policies enforced to manage Hope Foundation. Tejwal Centre, Khan Younis. and control the Palestinian population that For registration, please contact activities@ remained on the lands occupied in 1948 during palmuseum.org. the military rule period that was imposed by Israel from the Nakba until 1966. Sa’di chronicles the living conditions of the Palestinians who remained in the country while tracking the Israeli discourse towards them and outlining how the four years that followed the Nakba were foundational to the formation and establishment of that discourse. The event will be in Arabic and moderated by Dr. Honida Ghanem. Broadcast via https://zoom. us/j/92680643119. SPECIAL EVENTS Friday 23 17:00–17:20 Yoga in the Palestinian Museum Gardens is a yoga sequence that is specially designed to relieve stress as well as shoulder and neck tension. Organized by the Palestinian

Museum in collaboration with Shadana Yoga, the ATTRACTIONS event is in Arabic. Broadcast via the Palestinian Museum social media platforms and Shadana Yoga YouTube channel.

104THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 105 The Last Word You’ve Got a Friend When you’re down and troubled And you need some love and care And nothing, nothing is going right Close your eyes and think of me And soon I will be there To brighten up even your darkest night You just call out my name And you know wherever I am I’ll come running, to see you again Winter, spring, summer or fall All you have to do is call And I’ll be there You’ve got a friend If the sky above you Grows dark and full of clouds And that old north wind begins to blow Keep your head together And call my name out loud Soon you’ll hear me knocking at your door You just call out my name And you know wherever I am I’ll come running, running, yeah, yeah, to see you again Winter, spring, summer or fall All you have to do is call And I’ll be there, yes, I will Now, ain’t it good to know that you’ve got a friend When people can be so cold? They’ll hurt you, yes, and desert you And take your soul if you let them, oh, but don’t you let them You just call out my name And you know wherever I am I’ll come running, running, yeah, yeah, to see you again Winter, spring, summer or fall All you have to do is call And I’ll be there, yes, I will You’ve got a friend You’ve got a friend From Carole King’s song You’ve Got a Friend (Tapestry, 1971) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAR_Ff5A8Rk Long Live Palestine! Sani Meo Publisher

106THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 108THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE