This Week in Palestine`s Print Edition

Issue No. 150, October 2010
The Right to Health......................................................................................................... 4
A Whole-istic Perspective on Holistic Health.................................................................. 6
Access to Health in East Jerusalem in Jeopardy…...................................................... 10
Health Reform.............................................................................................................. 16
The Case for Youth-Friendly Health Services in Palestine........................................... 20
Palestine Medical Complex.......................................................................................... 24
Nutritional Status and Dietary Habits among School Adolescents............................... 26
Safe Motherhood Committees...................................................................................... 32
National Health Insurance System............................................................................... 36
Beginning in Gloom, Ending with Hope….................................................................... 40
East Jerusalem Hospitals............................................................................................. 42
Mental Health Service Development in Palestine......................................................... 44
Palestine and Thalassemia…....................................................................................... 46
World Food Day 2010................................................................................................... 48
International Rural Tourism Workshop in Palestine...................................................... 52
Erez Crossing............................................................................................................... 54
A Curtain Rises in Jenin............................................................................................... 56
The Gaza Mono-logues................................................................................................ 58
Al- Kasaba ... 10 Years of Liberality.............................................................................. 60
In the Limelight............................................................................................................. 62
Reviews........................................................................................................................ 66
Events........................................................................................................................... 70
Listings....................................................................................................................74-92
Maps........................................................................................................................93-97
The Last Word.............................................................................................................. 98
Picturesque Palestine .................................................................................................. 99
After the initial hoopla surrounding the resumption of direct talks between
the Palestinians and Israelis in Washington last month, there has been a lot of
procrastination and foot-dragging, dates re-scheduled, positions altered, statements
retracted, etc. All this takes us back to square one, with the hopefuls feeling disappointed
and dejected and the sceptics feeling vindicated, with that I-told-you-so tone of voice.
When there is a will, there is a way – as the saying goes – but it seems there is
none. We will drag on in this state of limbo, creating more extremism on both sides
as time goes by.
The theme of this issue of This Week in Palestine is a topic that interests every
Palestinian, old and young. Health is an issue that is of the utmost importance. In fact,
in Palestinian parlance, one often hears the phrase “the important thing is health,” to
the effect of “to hell with money and other material comforts.”
In addition to articles on the situation of health-care services in Palestine, which in
general leave a lot to be desired, others deal with alternative medicine, naturopathy,
and other healing methods that are gaining ground and garnering wider acceptance.
Efforts are being exerted to modernise the quality of services offered by improving
the infrastructure and upgrading the quality and calibre of the service providers.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Health is in the process of instituting a national health
insurance plan that will cover all citizens with basic services at affordable prices.
Other articles deal with the impact of the Israeli occupation on the Palestinians’ access
to health services that are not available in the West Bank or in the Gaza Strip, and
the ordeal and suffering they have to go through in order to get these vital services in
East Jerusalem or in Israel. There have been many instances in which patients died
at checkpoints due to long delays in allowing them to pass through, or denying them
access outright.
While we are officially in autumn, the weather is still pleasant enough to enjoy a day
at the beach, a picnic, a hike, or simply a leisurely meal in the garden.
Tony A. Khoury
Editor-in-chief
Telefax: + 970/2-2-2951262
e-mail: [email protected]
www.thisweekinpalestine.com
Forthcoming Issues:
Printed by Studio Alpha, Al-Ram, Jerusalem
Binding by Al-Asdika', Al-Ram, Jerusalem
Maps: courtesy of PalMap - GSE
Distributed by
•Promoting Palestine - November 2010
Theme: Health Care in Palestine.
Cover: A Palestinian child from Gaza.
Photo by Basel Maqousi.
•Developing Palestinian Handicrafts - January 2011
•Bethlehem, Beit Sahour, and Beit Jala - December 2010
Advisory Board
Prof. Marwan Awartani
Chairman, Arab Foundations Forum
The views presented in the articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.
Maps herein have been prepared solely for the convenience of the reader; the designations and presentation
of material do not imply any expression of opinion of This Week in Palestine, its publisher, editor, or its
advisory board as to the legal status of any country, territory, city, or area, or the authorities thereof, or as to
the delimitation of boundaries or national affiliation.
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Simon Kouba
Simon Kouba Consultants
Samah Qumsieh Awad
Arab Hotel Association
Mahdi Al Masri
Al Ayyam Newspaper
Jamal Haddad
Palestine Investment Fund
Rana Nashashibi
Palestinian Counseling Center
3
The Right to Health
A Palestinian Vision
By Dr. Fathi Abumoghli
health indicators, although good, have
not improved in the last ten years. The
political situation plays a major role as the
immediate emergent needs take priority
over long-term development.
Our vision for the Palestinian right to
health should be on improving the quality
of health services and the completion
of the service delivery network, while
ensuring the sustainability of these highquality health services. It is important
to mention that through the proposed
compulsory health insurance law, the
sustainability of health services will be
guaranteed.
The World Health Organization defines
health as a state of complete physical,
mental, and social well-being, and
not merely the absence of disease or
disability. The enjoyment of the highest
attainable standard of health is one of
the fundamental rights of every human
being, without distinction as to race,
religion, belief, or political, economic, or
social status.
Article 25 of the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights affirms: “Everyone has
the right to a standard of living adequate
for the health and well-being of himself
and his family, including food, clothing,
housing and medical care and necessary
social services, and the right to security
in the event of unemployment, sickness,
disability, widowhood, old age or other
lack of livelihood in circumstances
beyond his control.”
The Arab Charter for Human Rights,
signed by ten Arab countries including
Palestine, states: The States parties
recognize the right of every member of
society to the enjoyment of the highest
attainable standard of physical and
mental health and the right of the citizen
to free basic health-care services and to
have access to medical facilities without
discrimination of any kind. (Article 39)
The Palestinian Public Health Act
of 2004 calls for the provision of
governmental preventive, diagnostic,
therapeutic and rehabilitative health
services and the establishment of the
relevant health institutions.
In Palestine, the Israeli occupation
and its barriers, fences, blockades, and
aggressions prevent the exercise of
the right to health for our people. The
siege on Gaza has seriously infringed
on people’s right to health and has
resulted in limited access to services
– damaged health facilities, scarcity of
food, high unemployment rates. Our
Palestine, readers will find additional
information provided by the Ministry
of Health regarding the health reform
initiatives currently in process,
including those in the areas of
improved service delivery and health
financing through the compulsory
health insurance system.
In conclusion, although the
occupation remains an obstacle to
development in all its forms, including
health development, and deprives
the Palestinian people of their
inalienable rights, including the right
to health, we have been successful
as a people. We must continue to
work to end the occupation and to
complete the construction of the
health system that will serve our
people and ensure their right to health
in an independent Palestine. We must
work to strengthen and activate laws
such as the public health law and the
law for the disabled. We must work to
complete and pass other laws, such
as the compulsory health insurance
law and the anti-drug law.
In this issue of This Week in
Dr. Fathi Abumoghli has served as the
minister of health since 2007. Over the
last several years, Dr. Fathi has focused
on improving the health system by
building the capacity of the health care
staff while striving to complete the servicedelivery network. In addition, Dr. Fathi,
through the proposed mandatory health
insurance law, has been advocating for a
sustainable health financing mechanism
in Palestine. Prior to serving as minister
of health, Dr. Fathi worked at the World
Bank and the World Health Organization.
Photo by Shareef Sarhan.
4
5
A Whole-istic Perspective on Holistic Health
Stories of Complementary and Alternative Medicine
in Palestine
By Saleh A. Majaj
practising in Nablus who was trained
in India in the fields of naturopathy,
homeopathy, Arabic medicine, and
physiotherapy. He has a website that
presents well-written articles in the
Arabic language on various areas of
complementary and alternative medicine.
The doctor uses complex homeopathic
preparations to treat challenging ailments
such as autism and erectile dysfunction.
Homeopathy is one of the most exciting
advancements in the history of medicine.
It was developed a couple of hundred
years ago by an extremely learned
physician who was dissatisfied with
the medical practices of his day. He
developed a medicine whereby speciallyprepared medications gently stimulate
an individual’s life force back to a state
of equilibrium. His method survives
to this day, but several other schools
have further developed an approach to
healing that uses several homeopathic
preparations at one time and administers
them based on an understanding of
pathological processes.
A few years ago, while scanning
the pages of Al-Quds newspaper for
interesting articles, I came across an
interview with a doctor in Gaza who uses
bee venom therapy to treat diseases.
This interview thrilled me to no limit and I
wanted to learn more. After a few days the
Arab satellite agencies picked up on the
story and broadcast a short documentary
on the doctor and his methods. They
showed a demonstration of a treatment
on a boy while a long line of people stood
waiting to be treated. The doctor skilfully
used live bees to administer the venom
through their stings. This was a good
example of the healing power of nature,
using one of its natural inhabitants, the
bee.
Like all urban and rural areas in
Palestine, Gaza has a diverse group
of healers who practise their own
methods of treating illnesses alongside
the more orthodox MDs. This group
of healers includes individuals who
practise folk medicine, including the
use of medicinal herbs and commonly
found food ingredients such as spices.
The news media also covered the story
of another healer from Gaza. He was
famous for treating numerous ailments
using two simple tools: massage and
olive oil. Many came to him with their
troubles to emerge feeling relief through
the application of human touch coupled
with the healing power of olive oil,
another natural product. This healer is
a typical example of someone who has
inherited this profession from his family
and honed his talent through hard work
and enthusiasm. In Palestine we also find
many herbalists applying their knowledge
of botanical medicine, calling on the
help of local as well as Western and Far
Eastern herbs.
There is also the story of the doctor
Photo by Basel Maqousi.
as many physicians of old, knew of the
importance of exercise and diet. He
starts his recommendations firstly with a
discussion of the importance of exercise
and goes on to recommend categories
of exercises for various needs. His
dietary recommendations come next,
and he explains how to avoid common
ailments using diet alone. Modern science
confirms the importance of exercise and
diet in maintaining health. And if we
scan the latest scientific research for a
set of natural approaches that aid the
maintenance of health, no silver bullets
emerge other than proper posture,
exercise, and diet. To these, we would add
an essential set of practices that relate to
mental and emotional hygiene in terms of
how they influence the health of the body.
From the north to the south of the country,
we have examples of practitioners of
complementary and alternative medicine
who use effective natural approaches that
substitute or complement the orthodox
approaches of Western medicine. These
complementary and alternative methods
are very important resources when we
need extra help in managing our own
health issues. However, solutions to
our health problems are often closer to
home. These solutions relate to the way
we live our lives, and more specifically, to
habits involving posture, movement, and
diet. We tend to live abusive lifestyles,
abuses through excessive eating and
eating injurious types of foods, and
excesses of sitting in our offices and in
our cars. Ibn Sina (Avicenna), as well
Photo by Ahed Izhiman.
6
7
complementary and alternative medicine
come from? Human history is ancient and
rich with knowledge. Western medicine is
only a recent development in the history
of medicine. At one point in history, in one
geographical location or another, many
of our “alternative” medical disciplines
were considered mainstream and were
relied upon solely for the treatment
of illnesses. For example, Ayurveda
(4,000–5,000-year-old medicine of
the Indian continent), with its deep
philosophical roots, is perhaps one of the
oldest forms of medicine. It has proven
its efficacy in treating millions across
continents and across ages, and has
affected the development of other forms
of medicine including Arabic medicine.
As new forms of medicine emerge or are
re-invented, the old methods tend to be
forgotten or dropped. Current orthodox
medicine has abandoned many methods
in favour of the more recent surgical and
pharmaceutical approaches. However,
we are fortunate that in India, Ayurveda
is still practised in hospitals, in tandem
with the more orthodox medicine (and
along with other types of medicine,
including homeopathy). And in China
traditional Chinese medicine is also
offered in hospitals side by side with
orthodox medicine. When will we see
these treasures of medicine practised in
our hospitals alongside the surgical and
pharmaceutical options?
I distinctly recall a conversation several
years ago with my father (a paediatrician),
on the methods that medical students
learned and used in their first years of
medical school: leeches for removal
Palestine is rich with nutritionists and
dieticians who ought to be the first
“doctors” we consult, even if we are not
sick. How easy it is to just pop a pill and
regulate that blood sugar in a matter of
hours instead of investing in the slow and
laborious (but healthier) road through
changing our dietary and lifestyle habits.
Those who opt for the quick fix of the
pill with no attention to diet often find
themselves in a few years unresponsive
to their medication and having to move
on to stronger medications. A couple of
decades afterwards, they end up insulindependent and then move onto the
debilitating consequences of advanced
diabetes! Diet and nutrition do not fall
under the definition of complementary
and alternative medicine, nor should
they. They are grouped along with other
health professions that are allied to the
orthodox approach of pharmaceuticals
and surgery. This is unfortunate, for
nutrition and exercise ought to be our
#1 medicine!
Education is a significant factor in
the formula for change. The summer
of 2010 witnessed a festive graduation
ceremony of the first graduating class
of a Jerusalem-based Palestinian
college dedicated to complementary
and alternative medicine. Next year
will boast its first graduating class in
traditional Chinese medicine and will
initiate the first-year class in naturopathy.
This and other like initiatives are very
much needed because through their
mediation and those of their graduates,
new (old) ideas will spread.
Where do the various modalities of
8
of blood in certain blood pathologies,
and suction cups for ailments such as
pneumonia. A few weeks ago, during a
conversation with my father-in-law (also a
medical doctor), he recalled being taught
the use of colloidal silver (particles of
silver suspended in water) as an internal
antiseptic in infectious diseases. The use
of these methods was quickly abandoned
along with many other practices as the
pharmaceutical and surgical options were
further and further developed. These
older methods remain key to other, more
traditional healing modalities.
During this past summer I was
privileged to meet several Palestinians,
all of whom had stories to tell of their
own healing and of how they became
healers themselves. Often they find their
calling later in life and harness their talent
either through practice or continue on to
obtain training in local and international
institutions. Their credentials vary: we
find MDs who went through the rigours
of the medical programme and who
later continued to pursue further training
in alternative methods. Others, such
as chiropractic doctors, osteopathic
doctors, and naturopathic doctors go
through an equally rigorous medical and
scientific programme but choose physical
manipulation, herbs, diet, supplements,
etc., as their main tools. And yet others
are born with an innate talent that is
harnessed by family tradition and long
years of practice.
What can complementary and alternative
medicine offer? It has provided solutions
to many diseases and ailments, whether
in general health or related to a specific
system: muscular, skeletal, epidermal,
nervous, circulatory, digestive, urinary,
immune, respiratory, and endocrine.
There is also a category of ailments not
classified under orthodox medicine due
to the lack of conclusive diagnostics
according to Western medicine standards.
They usually indicate something is wrong
but one cannot quite fit it into a certain
category. In Western medicine, treatment
is often withheld (except palliative) until
a clear diagnostic picture presents itself.
These ailments are often successfully
treated by complementary and alternative
medicine.
Finally, to help our people in Palestine
tap into these precious medical
resources, we look forward to a directory
of complementary and alternative health
care professions in the various regions.
A large part of this responsibility falls on
local bodies, such as associations, which
also have an important role to play in
regulating these professions.
Saleh A. Majaj, M.Sc., N.D., is a doctor
of naturopathic medicine, a graduate of
the Canadian College of Naturopathic
Medicine. He has a clinic in Jerusalem
and pursues other professional interests
in epidemiological studies, health
education, and alternative methods of
agriculture.
9
Access to Health in East Jerusalem
in Jeopardy
By Tony Laurance
“Each time I’m anxious,” admits Noor
N.* “How will I reach the hospital?
How long will I have to queue? Will
the soldiers search me?” Three times
a week she has to go for dialysis
at Augusta Victoria Hospital in East
Jerusalem. Every time she has to cross
an Israeli checkpoint on foot, although
she can barely walk. She is carrying
her portable oxygen pump, which
weighs five kilos and is connected with
a tube to her nose. She cannot put the
pump through the x-ray machine for the
luggage, therefore the metal detector
goes off. “Most of the time the soldiers
take me to a separate room, make me
undress and search me,” Noor says.
The Israeli Wall and checkpoints
combined with the permit system
limit Palestinians’ right to health, a
basic human right. The impact on
access to health is particularly severe
in regard to East Jerusalem where
six hospitals provide specialised
treatment unavailable elsewhere in
the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt):
dialysis, oncology, open-heart surgery,
neurosurgery, neonatal intensive care,
eye surgery, and rehabilitation for
handicapped children. Together, these
hospitals have 624 beds, 12.4 percent
of the total available in the oPt.
In 2009, over 19,000 patients from the
West Bank attended East Jerusalem
hospitals for treatment. In total, West
Bank Palestinians make up 61.7 percent
of all admissions at East Jerusalem
hospitals, and patients referred from
Gaza another 10 percent. Like all
Palestinians who do not have residency
rights in East Jerusalem or Israeli
citizenship, patients have to apply
for a permit to access Jerusalem.
Males between the ages of 15 and 30
often have their requests for permits
turned down on the grounds of security.
Furthermore it is difficult for parents
be obtained the same day through
the Palestine Red Crescent Society
(PRCS). Even if permission is granted,
emergency cases are frequently delayed
refusals lead to chronic lateness and
disruption in the efficient functioning of
the hospitals. The provision of special
busses has brought some improvement,
although problems continue.
The future of the medical system in the
oPt depends on the professional level of
its medical staff: access for students to
specialised training institutions in East
Jerusalem is crucial for the health of
the Palestinian population as a whole.
The main training institution for medical
professionals in the West Bank is
Al-Quds University in Abu Dis, which
is separated from East Jerusalem by
the Wall. Approximately 150 to 160
students from Al-Quds medical school
are eligible for training at East Jerusalem
hospitals. Some 90 percent of them are
from the West Bank and need permits
to attend training in various specialities
which is not available at the same level
elsewhere in the oPt. Various cases of
permit refusals have been reported.
In a joint report, the World Health
Organization (WHO) and the UN Office
for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (OCHA) call for the Israeli
authorities to guarantee access to
specialised hospitals in East Jerusalem
to all Palestinians from the West Bank
and Gaza Strip; to offer facilitated
passage for patients and a speedy
transfer of patients in ambulances;
to allow West Bank employees from
East Jerusalem hospitals to use all
checkpoints; and to ensure access to
specialised training in East Jerusalem
for medical students.
While the work to get these demands
implemented continues, Noor has to go
through her ordeal at the checkpoint
three times a week: “I’m sick, and the
checkpoint makes me even sicker. When
I get up in the morning, I sometimes ask
myself: Why don’t I just stay at home?
I’m tired of all this.”
Photo courtesy of PMRS.
of sick children or for family members
to obtain permits to escort patients to
Jerusalem.
Like all West Bank Palestinians,
patients are only allowed to use
the Qalandiya, Gilo, and Zaytoun
checkpoints, the three most crowded
pedestrian terminals. They have to cross
on foot like everybody else. Separate
lines for people with special needs either
do not exist or are out of service. Patients
requiring emergency treatment available
only in Jerusalem are especially affected
by the delay in accessing the city.
Permission for emergency cases can
at the checkpoints and patients have to
be transferred from one ambulance to
another at the checkpoint without privacy
or protection from the weather.
Israeli restrictions also affect West
Bank staff working at the East Jerusalem
hospitals. Despite a special stamp on
their permits, which was designed to
give staff facilitated access through all
checkpoints accessing Jerusalem, Israeli
authorities manning the checkpoints
refuse to let them pass through any
checkpoints other than Gilo, Zaytoun, or
Qalandiya. Only doctors are exempted
from this rule. Long delays and periodic
Tony Laurance is the head of the World
Health Organization’s office in Jerusalem.
Photo by Shareef Sarhan.
10
*Noor’s name has been changed.
11
Palestine Medical Relief Society (PMRS)
Over the past year the Palestine
Medical Relief Society (PMRS) has
treated 1.5 million patients, a reflection of
the unique medical problems we face in
this country. Palestinian health providers
always have their hands full with shortterm emergences, but we believe it is
not enough to treat the symptoms of the
disease without addressing the causes.
PMRS is proud to stand out as the
sole health provider functioning in both
Gaza and the West Bank, with 24 health
centres split between them. Our key
focuses have been on children, through
health initiatives in 600 schools, and
marginalised areas, such as those close
to the separation wall. Our mobile clinics
enable us to target specific groups we feel
have been unfairly neglected. Through
these clinics in 2009, we reached over
200,000 people who would otherwise
have suffered alone. Our commitment to
a patient does not end with treatment, and
for those with ongoing problems, we seek
to help them adjust through rehabilitation.
We recognise that amid physical
violence and hardship, mental problems
have been low on the list of priorities for
many providers. That is unacceptable
For more information
please visit our website
www.pmrs.ps
to us and we have expanded in this
neglected area. Our counselling
programme has helped 40,000 people
come to terms with the horrific trauma
suffered during the war on Gaza. Our
teams excelled during the brutal Israeli
assault, transferring hundreds of injury
victims and providing vital equipment to
communities under fire.
As a community partner PMRS seeks
to be in people’s lives and in their homes.
We are not content to be a passive
presence but actively seek out those we
feel would benefit from our expertise.
Home visits are a vital part of our work
and allow us to serve those who are
unable or unwilling to visit one of our
centres. Our community health school
graduated 60 community health workers
to provide education and services for
people in marginalised areas.
As far as possible it is desirable for
people to help themselves. Education
initiatives today will save valuable
resources tomorrow by empowering
communities with the knowledge
they need to deal with problems. Two
thousand people received our first aid
training courses in 2009, equipping them
with basic skills to help their communities.
PMRS is concerned that unhealthy
practises are swamping Palestinians
with preventable diseases. Poor diet and
hygiene are major causes of sickness
and we visit community centres to
educate people on avoiding bad habits.
Where possible we target these at
schools so that awareness of these
issues is ingrained from a young age.
Children will always be a priority and we
pour resources into effectively protecting
them. We identify the most serious
threats to our young people and target
them through multi-lateral initiatives. Our
collaboration with the Ministry of Health
on anaemia sickness has led to a decline
in victims. Neither is it just disease that
is our concern. The social issue of child
abuse is one that needs addressing
now, and we are lobbying hard for a
child protection law that would come
down harder on perpetrators of violence.
Further it is important to remember that
children growing up in Palestine have
been forced to grow up too fast and
we provide days of art and activities to
allow kids to just be kids in a safe, social
environment.
Our role does not begin and end
with health issues; PMRS is an active,
progressive institution that promotes
democratic values and campaigns
tirelessly against the illegal occupation
and discrimination which corrosively
penetrate every sphere of Palestinian
society. PMRS is not apolitical and
openly calls for the end of the unjust
and inhumane occupation that causes
so many of today’s health problems. We
make a point of providing resources for
non-violent demonstrations.
We also tackle domestic taboos. Our
frank, open forums for sex education
emphasise our desire to tackle thorny
issues even where they court controversy.
We seek to cut across racial, religious,
and gender divides to make health care
available to everyone.
Experience over 31 years has enabled
us to improve the scope and quality of our
treatments, and we strive to find new ways
to serve our patients more effectively. To
that end we seek alliances to create a
spirit of cooperation at home and abroad.
From regional clinics to the Brazilian
government we are in constant dialogue
with external agents. Our doors and minds
are always open to any method of building
capacity and benefiting patients.
While our practises develop, our core
values remain the same: to prevent
marginalisation, to empower communities
through education, and to fight for social
justice where it is under threat. While it
is pleasing to see a number of success
stories over the past year, there is no sign
that the challenges are decreasing. Our
goal – to bring about a free, progressive,
and comprehensive health service for
all Palestinians – will remain until it is
achieved.
Health Reform
A summary of the health reform initiatives under way
in Palestine
By Aisha Mansour
information in Palestine is incomplete,
fragmented, unreliable, and outdated.
Last month, a national workshop was
held to conduct a comprehensive
assessment of the current health
The Ministry of Health (MoH)
believes that every Palestinian
has the right to health. During
the last several years, the MoH
has worked to improve the health
system in order to better serve the
Palestinian people. The priority
areas for health reform in the
Palestinian health system focus
on state building and improved
governance, health promotion,
accessible and quality service
delivery, and sustainability through
appropriate health-financing
mechanisms and a competent
workforce.
The MoH recently published
the 2011–2013 National Health
Strategy. The strategy serves
to highlight the reform priorities
of the Palestinian health sector
– governance and institutional
development, human resource
development, healthy lifestyles, and
access to quality health services.
Photo courtesy of Lutheran World Federation.
Governance/Institutional
Development
Policy and Planning: The MoH
has institutionalised the planning
process during the past few years.
The planning team within the
MoH has been established and
formalised. Under the direction of
the policy and planning director and
the office of the minister of health,
the planning team facilitates the
planning process through all phases
involving the stakeholders from
inside and outside the MoH. This
ensures a rational process where
the health system is assessed
and problems are identified, with
priorities and actions set to address
the issues. In the development of
the 2011–2013 National Health
Strategy, stakeholders within the
Palestinian health sector were included in
the process as well as other governmental
bodies, local NGOs, the private sector, and
the international community.
Health Financing: In order to ensure a
future mechanism for sustainable health
financing, the MoH has developed a new
mandatory national health insurance system
that has been approved by the ministerial
cabinet and awaits the president’s decree.
A health financing committee has been
established that has been tasked with
undergoing a thorough study of the costs
within the Palestinian service delivery
system. This will provide a base for a pricing
scheme.
Health Information: In order to ensure
evidence-based decision making, there
has been a major focus on improving the
health information system. Currently, health
16
information system using the WHO Health
Metrics Network assessment tool. The
results of the assessment will serve as
the base to develop a national health
information strategy. In addition, USAID
through the Flagship project is funding a
health-information-system project that will
provide an electronic clinical information
system in governmental hospitals and clinics.
Human Resource Development: The
MoH, in collaboration with the relevant
stakeholders, has begun to develop
continuing education requirements for the
re-licensure of physicians and dentists. The
MoH plans to develop similar requirements
for the other health-related disciplines. In
addition, the MoH has started to develop
the terms of reference for a national human
resource development thematic group which
will be charged with developing a national
17
strategy for human resources
development. Most recently, the
MoH has initiated an emergency
medicine residency programme. At
this time, there are no emergency
medicine physicians in Palestine.
Healthy Lifestyles: The rise of
non-communicable diseases (NCD)
continues to burden the health
system. The MoH is constructing
a national NCD centre that will be
responsible for conducting health
education and health promotion
campaigns, and maintaining a
surveillance system. Further,
the MoH NCD department, in
collaboration with WHO technical
assistance, has developed a
national strategy for the prevention
and management of NCDs.
Access to Quality Health Services:
During the last year, the MoH has
renovated and expanded several
of its secondary care facilities.
And to ensure access to primary
health care services, the MoH
has initiated the establishment of
several primary health care centres
and clinics. The MoH serves as
the main health care provider in
Palestine. As such, the ministry
is working to complete its service
delivery network to ensure that
every Palestinian has access to
health services, especially primary
health care. In the next year the
ministry, in collaboration with the
relevant stakeholders, will develop
a comprehensive service coverage
plan that will map existing services
and highlight the gaps in the service
delivery system.
Some progressive steps have
been initiated to improve the
hospital infrastructure of the MoH,
including the establishment of the
Palestine Medical Complex (PMC)
in Ramallah. This consists of two
newly established hospitals and two
existing facilities. The consolidation
of these facilities into one entity
aims to serve as a national centre
Children’s wing patient registration
area at the Palestine Medical
Complex.
drugs. Unfortunately, most of the drugs
brought into Gaza were expired or not
needed. The ministry has stressed on
multiple occasions the need for the
donor community to coordinate with the
ministry in order to ensure that items
sent to Gaza are those that are needed.
Challenges: The main challenge to
the sustainability of the Palestinian
health system is the Israeli occupation.
Importing medical equipment and
supplies is often subject to delays by
the Israeli authorities. Furthermore,
the Israeli authorities have recently
prohibited the entry of medical devices,
drugs, and consumables from the West
Bank into Jerusalem. This has had a
detrimental impact on the operations
and fiscal status of the East Jerusalem
hospitals. In addition, health workers
and patients from the West Bank
and Gaza continue to face difficulty
accessing the health facilities in East
Jerusalem.
Another challenge that faces the
Palestinian health system is the rapid
rise of non-communicable diseases.
During the last several years, there
has been a shift to urbanisation that
leads to unhealthy lifestyles – poor diet,
smoking, and lack of physical activity.
of excellence and is a pilot approach to
decentralised hospital management.
The PMC will serve as a pilot for
improving the quality of the services and
meeting the patient-safety standards
set by international organisations, the
Joint Commission International, and the
World Health Organization.
Further, in order to improve the
quality of the service delivery system,
the quality improvement department
within the MoH has been revitalised and
staffed. To date, four of the governmental
hospitals have established quality
improvement committees. Also, a quality
improvement coordinator has been
appointed within the primary health care
directorate. In addition, the theme of the
second national health conference held
on 13 May 2010, was “Our Goal: Patient
Safety.” The national health conference
kick-started the MoH’s patient-safety
initiative.
Gaza: As a result of the Israeli closure
and the abnormal situation resulting
from the coup d’état, the MoH is not
able to manage the health system in
the Gaza Strip. At this time, the ministry
is sending the needed drugs and
equipment, and continuing to pay the
salaries of its employees. The number
of referrals abroad has increased due
to the lack of capacities. According to
recent data, Gaza has received over
10,000 tons of drugs through Rafah
and other donor support. However, the
health system in Gaza has only been
able to benefit from 30 percent of these
Aisha Mansour serves as the assistant
to the minister of health and health
reform coordinator with the World Health
Organization. Ms. Mansour can be
contacted at [email protected]
and 059-894-9101.
18
The Case for Youth-Friendly Health Services
in Palestine
By Barbara Piazza-Georgi
and youth in order to better respond to their
health and development needs.
In 2010 the estimated Palestinian
population in the occupied Palestinian
territory (oPt) is 3.9 million, of which about 27
percent are between the ages of 12 and 24.
These young people have been particularly
affected by the occupation and socioeconomic and political challenges in the oPt.
Both boys and girls are subject to various
Adolescence and youth – the ages between
12 and 24 – are phases of enormous physical
and psychological change. Young people
face new, sometimes frightening, physical
and mental issues; at the same time, they
acquire new capacities and opportunities.
It is a time for developing behaviours that
have lifelong consequences for health and
well-being. Since youth represents a key
element in terms of future economic growth,
Photo by Basel Maquosi.
social stability, and development, this agegroup is generally targeted by educational
and vocational training programmes from the
point of view of its economic potential; but
such initiatives, essential as they are, need
to be complemented by proper attention to
physical and psychosocial health. All over
the world, governments and civil society
organisations are focusing on adolescents
forms of political, social, and gender-based
violence; new risky behaviours are quickly
introduced due to the weakening of family
and social safety networks. Young people
have developed a negative outlook on the
world and their own future; opportunities
abound for adolescents and youth to be
exploited for negative purposes of all kinds.
Caring and meaningful relationships, a
20
feeling of being trusted and respected, as
well as social connections with individuals
and social institutions are essential to reduce
risks and promote healthy and positive
behaviour. Yet adults often have insufficient
patience and understanding towards young
people, and society either uses them for its
own purposes or treats them as a risk group.
Young people are very sensitive to this.
The health sector has a vital role in helping
young people stay physically and mentally
healthy, and successfully complete their
journey to adulthood. However, there is a
gap in health services for adolescents and
youth in Palestine. There are many schooland university-based health-outreach
programmes; but one-third of Palestinian
youth aged 15 to 18, and two-thirds of
those between 18 and 25, are not enrolled
in educational institutions; and these are
exactly the disadvantaged youth who are
most in need of better health services,
both preventive (healthy lifestyles, healthy
development, psychosocial counselling)
and curative (problems related to risky
behaviours, abuse, malnutrition, STIs,
poverty-related illnesses).
While existing services at the primary
health care (PHC) level seem accessible
to adolescents and youth, preliminary
information indicates that several sociocultural, geographical, and other barriers
are preventing adolescents and youth from
deriving the full benefit of these services.
They fear that they will be treated badly
or misunderstood; they worry about lack
of privacy and confidentiality; they face
inconvenient hours and locations of facilities;
they are uninsured and cannot cover the
costs. In addition, many young people have
a poor understanding of their own problems,
know little about available services, are
confused about what they want, or are
deterred by shame or embarrassment.
As a result, adolescents and youth in
need of health advice rely on: a) their
families and other peers; b) private medical
services, if they can afford them; and c)
pharmacists – in this order of priority.*
Clinical services for non-age-specific
illnesses are the least problematic, and this
age group has a low rate of use for them.
But crucially, the adolescent and youth
need healthy development services – health
issues related to physical development,
consequences of risky behaviours,
healthy lifestyle counselling, psychological
counselling, premarital counselling; and
sometimes, physical and mental health
issues arising from abusive situations.
Family and untrained peers are often not
the ideal source of such help.
Provision of youth-friendly health
services
Palestine already has a network of health
facilities that can be adapted to meet
adolescents’ needs, especially treatment
needs that are best met in adequately
equipped and staffed clinics. Three basic
models can be used:
- Dedicated full-time clinics; ideal but costeffective only in large urban centres
-Dedicated spaces and special times
(e.g., three afternoons a week) at
existing PHC clinics
-Dedicated spaces within educational
institutions or youth centres, which are
staffed on a part-time basis by personnel
(ideally, a male and a female nurse plus
a counsellor) detached from the Ministry
of Health
The minimum requirements are speciallytrained, youth-friendly staff; age-appropriate
provisions for privacy and confidentiality;
availability of a standard package of
services; and age-appropriate counselling
and information sources. Complementary
approaches include peer outreach, mobile
clinics, and programmes in schools and
workplaces.
A distinctive feature of youth clinics is their
use of integrated medical and psychological
counselling services. Equal emphasis
must be laid on medical and psychological
21
counselling and healthy lifestyles lectures.
Providers must be responsive, know what
problems youth have, and understand the
risks connected with various behaviours.
are in school/university; they capture only
obvious health problems or issues affecting
learning; youth will tend to avoid sharing
risky-behaviour issues with school health
services. Thus, self-referral remains the
most important entry point into youth-friendly
health services.
Health centres themselves have a role
to play in creating demand for themselves.
Orientation sessions on healthy development
and lifestyles will attract young people to the
centres, allow them to get used to the clinic,
and encourage them to go to the clinic when
needed.
Demand for youth-friendly health
services
Community support for youth-friendly
services is critical to their successful use.
Advocacy is essential to create awareness
of the needs and rights of young people in
terms of health; to inform about the existence
of the services; and to encourage families
to direct their young members to these
services.
Peer-to-peer counselling networks, often
implemented through local NGOs, are a
vital complement to youth-friendly health
services, taking the role of “first-stop”
counselling and information-educationcommunication sources, as well as informal
referral points to youth-friendly health
services.
School referral systems play a crucial role
and must be integrated into the system.
However, they deal only with youth who
Barbara Piazza-Georgi is the United
Nations Population Fund representative
in the oPt.
This article was first published in Arabic
in the September/October 2010 issue
of Keef Assiha public health magazine.
*The 2006 MICS/PAPFAM study cites private and public
medical facilities as the overwhelming first choice. This
question, however, refers to specific clinical services, not to
healthy development, healthy lifestyle, and psychological
counselling needs as explained in the text.
22
Palestine Medical Complex
A model of decentralisation and improved quality care
By Aisha Mansour
PMC leadership will be empowered and held
accountable to run the complex efficiently
in order to meet patient needs. The MoH
expects that efficiency in hospital operations,
service quality, and staff satisfaction will
improve under this decentralised model.
The PMC leadership has also been working
with the ministry’s quality improvement
director to establish a culture of continuous
quality improvement in the services delivered
at the PMC. The team will begin with
the implementation of the patient safety
goals established by the Joint Commission
of Accreditation and the World Health
Organization. The ultimate goal is to be a
patient-friendly and safe hospital focused on
serving our people.
Aisha Mansour serves as the assistant
to the minister of health and health
reform coordinator with the World Health
Organization. Ms. Mansour can be
contacted at [email protected]
and 059-894-9101.
specialised surgical wing with 45 beds, and
the emergency room (formerly Sheikh Zayyed
Hospital). In the next phase, a blood centre will
be established. The complex provides a wide
range of services including maternity care,
neonate care, internal medicine, paediatrics,
general surgery, and cardiovascular surgery.
On 6 August 2010, the first kidney transplant
procedure was successfully conducted at the
specialised surgical wing. In the near future,
neurosurgery will also be provided.
The decree establishes the PMC as a
public, semi-autonomous entity, with a
separate budget and human-resourcemanagement system. The leadership of
the PMC must operate within the given
budget to provide high-quality services
to the Palestinian people. As such, the
establishment of the PMC will serve as
a first attempt in the decentralisation of
public hospitals. To date, all governmental
hospitals are completely centralised, with
budgetary and staffing decisions being
made at the MoH-headquarters level. The
The Palestine Medical Complex (PMC)
officially opened on 8 August 2010, under
the patronage of President Mahmoud Abbas.
According to the decree signed by President
Abbas, the PMC is a public, semi-autonomous
entity, established to provide the Palestinian
people with high-quality secondary and
tertiary care services. The PMC is led by a
chief executive officer who is responsible to
the board of trustees. The board of trustees, in
turn, is responsible to the ministerial cabinet.
Until recently, Palestinians needing
specialised and highly complex medical
services had to be referred abroad in order
to receive the needed care. Although the
Ministry of Health (MoH) continues to refer
patients abroad, the levels have decreased
dramatically as the capacity within the PMC
as well as the other governmental hospitals
has increased.
The PMC is composed of four different
facilities, including the Sons of Ramallah
Wing (formerly Ramallah Hospital) with 154
beds, the paediatric wing with 60 beds, the
24
25
Nutritional Status and Dietary Habits among
School Adolescents
in three West Bank governorates in the occupied
Palestinian territory
By Dr. Nahed Mikki
Palestinian society has been undergoing nutrition and epidemiological transitions
including changes in food-consumption patterns towards a more Westernised diet
and a more sedentary lifestyle. Non-communicable diseases such as heart diseases,
cerebrovascular diseases, and cancer are the current main causes of death among
Palestinians. Risk factors of these diseases, such as smoking, overweight, diabetes,
hypertension, and hyperlipidemias are very common among Palestinian adults. These
transitions have taken place in a population under occupation and in a state of political
turmoil. The Palestinian areas are separated by the Wall and by hundreds of checkpoints
that have affected people’s food security, freedom of movement, and quality of life.
Conditions of under-nutrition, such as anaemia (low haemoglobin for age and sex) and
stunting (short stature) still exist among Palestinian children and are becoming a greater
cause for concern in the context of rising food insecurity.
Adolescent nutrition and health are related to the development of diseases both during
adolescence and later in life. Studies have shown that obese adolescents tend to grow
into obese adults and adolescents with poor dietary habits tend to have these same
dietary habits during their adulthood. Palestinian adolescents comprise approximately
one-quarter of the Palestinian population, thus it is of utmost importance to study this
age group and to establish proper dietary habits and interventions during this period.
This article will present the results of a study on selected aspects of nutritional status
indicators of Palestinian adolescents and their dietary habits conducted between March
and May 2005. Participants in the study included a total of 2,952 adolescents from 13
to 15 years of age from the eighth and ninth grades in 96 schools in the Ramallah,
Nablus, and Hebron governorates. Weight, height, and blood measurements were
taken for the students in the Ramallah and Hebron governorates, and self-administered
questionnaires were used to study meal patterns and dietary habits of all the students
in the three governorates.
Nutritional status indicators among Palestinian adolescents
Ramallah
Overweight/obesity
Underweight
Stunting
Anaemia
Boys
18%
9%
9%
6%
Girls
22%
3%
6%
9%
Hebron
Boys
13%
13%
9%
23%
Girls
17%
6%
4%
9%
The findings showed that the prevalence of overweight/obesity among adolescents
in the study ranged from 15 percent among adolescents in Hebron to about 20 percent
among adolescents in Ramallah. Female adolescents from Ramallah and those with
a high standard of living had a higher prevalence of overweight/obesity. In certain
groups of adolescents, the prevalence of overweight/obesity reached 32 percent.
Underweight (low body mass index for age and sex) and stunting were less common
but were higher among boys than among girls. The prevalence of underweight was
higher in Hebron than in Ramallah, while the prevalence of stunting was similar in both
26
similar for boys and girls (58 percent
versus 55 percent), but with clear
differences in standard of living, region,
and parents’ education. Residents
of Ramallah and those with a high
standard of living and high parents’
education had higher consumption of
these items. However, the majority of
the adolescents in the study did not
achieve the World Health Organization
recommendations of five daily servings
of fruits and vegetables.
governorates. Stunting was negatively
associated with father’s education
among boys and with urban residence
and medium standard-of-living levels
among girls.
The prevalence of anaemia was
surprisingly high among boys in Hebron
compared to boys in Ramallah or to
girls in general. Possible contributing
factors might include environmental
causes such as infections that were not
investigated in this study. Differences
Photo by Basel Maqousi.
in anaemia prevalence were highly
significant between schools, ranging
from 0 percent to 42 percent.
Irregular meal patterns were common,
especially among girls. Only one-quarter
of the students had the three main meals
daily, 26 percent of the boys and 51
percent of the girls had breakfast one
to two times per week or less often.
Only one-third of the students drank
milk daily; of these, there were more
boys than girls (42 percent versus 27
percent). Daily vegetable consumption
was common and similar for boys and
girls (75 percent for both). Daily fruit
consumption was also common and
Energy-dense foods such as sweets,
salty snacks, and sugar-sweetened
soft drinks were consumed daily by
a high proportion of students in the
sample, especially by those residing
in Ramallah and by students with a
high standard of living. The findings
showed that 42 and 50 percent of
the boys and 49 and 62 percent of
the girls consumed sweets and salty
snacks at least once a day, respectively.
Results for soft drinks showed that 40
percent of the boys and 28 percent of
the girls consumed soft drinks daily.
The Palestinian market is full of these
products both produced locally and
27
Photo by Saad Halwani.
imported from many countries. These
products are of varying prices, and some
of them can be quite cheap. The Ministry
of Education and Higher Education has
issued regulations for school canteens,
however, these regulations have not
been strictly implemented and were not
supported by a national policy to control
the advertisement and marketing of
these products.
In conclusion, the study showed that
under- and over-nutrition co-exist in
Palestinian adolescents, but with clear
differences in terms of region, sex, and
standard of living. Irregular meal patterns
were common, especially among girls.
Residence in Ramallah and a high
standard of living were associated with
frequent intake of energy-dense foods,
but also with frequent intake of fruits
and vegetables. With the accelerating
nutrition transition and the rapid
urbanisation in Palestine, we expect
that the prevalence of overweight/
obesity and the intake of energy-dense
food will increase. On the other hand,
anaemia and stunting still exist, and now,
with the situation of food insecurity, there
is a concern that they will also increase.
Nutrition education for adolescents
and their parents is needed to promote
a healthy lifestyle. The health and
education authorities should pay
more attention to the increased
intake of high-energy and Westernstyle foods and to the relationship
between intake of these foods and
the development of obesity. Further
research is needed to elucidate the
mechanisms by which the political and
social environments are contributing
to unhealthy dietary and physical
activity patterns among adolescents.
An in-depth understanding of these
factors and the extent to which they
can be modified is crucial for designing
context-appropriate and sustainable
interventions.
Nahed Mikki is a paediatrician and an
epidemiologist. She earned her medical
degree and specialty in paediatrics from
Jordan and finished a PhD in nutritional
epidemiology from the University of Oslo
in Norway. She currently works as a
researcher at the Institute of Community
and Public Health at Birzeit University and
as a paediatrician in Ramallah. She can
be reached at [email protected].
References
Mikki N., Abdul-Rahim H., Stigum H., Holmboe-Ottesen G. “Anaemia prevalence and associated sociodemographic and dietary
factors among Palestinian adolescents in the West Bank.” Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, forthcoming.
Mikki N., Abdul-Rahim H., Shi Z., Holmboe-Ottesen G. “Dietary habits of Palestinian adolescents and associated sociodemographic characteristics in Ramallah, Nablus and Hebron governorates.” Public Health Nutrition. 2010; 13 (9): 1419–29.
Mikki N., Abdul-Rahim H., Awartani F., Holmboe-Ottesen G. “Prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of stunting,
underweight, and overweight among Palestinian school adolescents (13–15 years) in two major governorates in the West
Bank.” BMC Public Health. 2009; 9, 485.
Husseini A., Abu-Rmeileh N.M.E., Mikki N., Ramahi T.M., Ghosh H.A., Barghuthi N., et al. “Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes
mellitus, and cancer in the occupied Palestinian territory. Lancet. 2009; 373:1041–9.
28
Safe Motherhood Committees
A model for PRCS health and community work
well-known for their dominant masculine
culture, where women’s participation
outside the home is weak, and women’s
roles are limited to reproduction, domestic
tasks, and nurturing children.
After the training and awareness-raising
process, the committee members begin
to organise various activities around local
and international events, including World
Health Day, Palestinian Child’s Day,
Mother’s Day, International Women’s
Day, and others.
It is interesting that while the activities
executed by the Safe Motherhood
Committees focus on disseminating
health messages, the entertainment
aspect is also important. In addition, at
least one activity involves children with
special needs taking part alongside other
children.
Community activity has become a
prominent feature of the work of the
Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS).
Over the last five years in particular, the
PRCS has maintained a distinguished
presence in this field, in comparison with
other national institutions in Palestine.
One of the most notable PRCS
successes is what has become known
in the West Bank and Gaza Strip as the
“Safe Motherhood Committees,” in which
large numbers of women are engaged
in various educational and awarenessraising programmes through committees
that have been formed in scores of
communities. The establishment of the
committees was an initiative by the PRCS
that falls within its remit of empowering
and developing society, as well as
promoting and protecting health.
The project comprises 75 committees
under the Community Health Programme
implemented by the PRCS on a wide
scale throughout Palestinian territory. Via
the committees, the PRCS aims to reach
the largest sector of society by relying on
various groups in various regions, mainly
women. Various training programmes
have been delivered to approximately
1,150 women committee members to
promote their health-awareness role and
develop their capacity.
Self-driven planning and
implementation
The committees plan, execute, and
coordinate their various activities. The
fact that committee members vary in
educational attainment, age, and social
status gives the committees and their
work a special character and liberates the
women’s energies.
The experience of Zain Zaied, a member
of the Motherhood Committee in the town
of Anabta in the Tulkarem region, is an
example of the success achieved in this
project. Zaied says, “I was enthusiastic
about the project idea when it was
presented to me and to other women,
mainly housewives, who welcomed it and
joined various lectures organised by the
PRCS.”
The lectures covered a variety of topics,
including public speaking. Zaied was
thrilled by the potential; “I never expected
to be able to give a lecture myself, but it has
become a reality because of the training we
received, and the result has brought about
real change in our lives,” she says.
Varied themes
The awareness training of committee
members focuses on six themes, namely,
mother and child, conjugal relations and
family problems, care of the elderly, bad
habits such as smoking and addiction,
women’s participation in society, and
nurturing children and addressing the
problems they face.
The 75 motherhood committees are
located in refugee camps, villages, and
cities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Committee members are able to create a
kind of movement in communities that are
32
happy with the achievements of the
Motherhood Committees, and their
view of women and what women can
do has changed, which has led them to
appreciate the committees.
PRCS communicates with the members
of Motherhood Committees through its
social workers and coordinators in various
regions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The committees were first established
in 25 regions where PRCS has primary
health care clinics. Additional committees
were established later in the neighbouring
region.
The Anabta Motherhood Committee
started with 15 women members and
now has twice that number. Zaied points
out that women have started to form subcommittees in the neighbouring villages of
Bazaria, Kufr Labad, and Bal’ah, bringing
the number of women members to 70.
The committees in this region organise
their activities collectively, with open
motherhood days and celebrations of
various social and national occasions,
as well as organising lectures and other
activities. However, the most significant
success of the Motherhood Committees
Photo by Basel Maqousi.
in this region has been the launch and
management of several projects such
as a fitness centre in Anabta, which
has benefited 100 women since it was
established a few months ago.
Zaied explains that the women
themselves run the fitness centre, having
received the relevant training in project
management. “We, as members, run
the centre by taking it in turns, and the
symbolic fees we charge the beneficiaries
contribute to keeping the project going.”
Zaied has noticed that many men feel
Service-providing community projects
The success of the committees has
motivated the PRCS to allocate funding
to them in order to enable the execution of
various societal projects and initiatives. Over
two years ago, PRCS allocated funding to
a number of committees to initiate small
service-provision projects run financially
and administratively by the committees
themselves. These projects include the
establishment of children’s nurseries,
kindergartens, fitness centres for women,
women’s cultural centres, public parks, etc.
33
Ministry of Education is under way to
work on a school health programme with
the participation of PRCS specialists.
Dweikat says that the plan will focus on
issues such as the school environment,
nutrition, awareness of certain diseases,
sexual health, first aid, school accidents,
road safety, and school violence.
In order to guarantee successful
management of the projects, PRCS
provides training for members of the
beneficiary committees in running small
projects such as tendering price offers,
budgeting, as well as administration and
other related issues.
The implementation of the projects
is evidence of a remarkable societal
participatory process to which many
parties have contributed, including
local commissions and institutions that
provided venues for the projects. PRCS
branches also supported the efforts of the
committees in launching their projects by
providing appropriate consultancy and
support.
Committees have already executed 24
projects from among 35 initially approved,
and it is expected that the remainder of
the projects will be realised by the end
of this year.
Success despite challenges
The success achieved by the committees
does not negate the many challenges
they face, mainly that of the dominant
culture.
Fatima Skaik says that the most
difficult challenge facing the project is
the traditional role of women and the
stereotype of this role which exists in
some communities. This prevailing
attitude towards women creates
difficulties for them in their efforts to
assume a leading role and to undertake
the interactions necessary. The problem
is gradually being overcome, as the
project has released the latent energy
of women and directed it towards the
development of society.
Hanan Mansour, PRCS social worker
in the Beddo and Qatannah regions to
the north west of Jerusalem, believes
that the masculine culture and women’s
lack of confidence in their own abilities
are part of the challenges faced by the
Motherhood Committees established in
some of the towns and villages in that
district. Nevertheless, Mansour draws
attention to the vitality of the committee
members and their persistence in working
to overcome the difficulties and to create
a positive change in how society views
women.
“With time,” says Mansour, “the
situation has changed and the number
of Motherhood Committee members in
Qattanah alone has reached 40, with
another 65 members in committees
in the neighbouring villages of Beddo,
Beit Ijza, and Beit Anan.” She notes
that her relationships with many other
women and institutions in the region
have expanded and strengthened,
Health care achievement
The Safe Motherhood Committees were
able to make a significant leap forward
on health, with committee members
contributing to raising health awareness
about several diseases and related
issues, including chronic illness, seasonal
ailments, mother and child health, breastfeeding, thalassemia, and emergency
health issues such as swine flu.
The committee members also provide
assistance to nurses in the primary
health care centres by giving lectures
and distributing information leaflets once
they have completed the relevant training
provided by the nurses.
Fatema Skaik, coordinator of the
Community Based Development
Programme, says that a specific health
topic is selected and covered in monthly
lectures and symposiums given to the
committees. Raising awareness on
health problems such as smoking and
endogamy is also given special attention.
Dr. Anwar Dweikat, director of Primary
Health Care, asserted that the future
health plan would target school health.
He reported that coordination with the
34
Photo courtesy of Lutheran World Federation.
giving her the confidence to impact
others. Mansour has great admiration
for the level of interest shown by the
women who have joined the activities
organised by the committees. “There
are elderly ladies who are keen to work
in the project and this is something that
we have not seen before.” She believes
that the impact of the project is clearly
demonstrated in how it has encouraged
women to continue their education and to
obtain their secondary general education
certificate years after they had quit school
mainly due to early marriage and having
children. Mansour is especially proud of
having a committee member elected to
a municipal council in the region. The
success of the committees has enhanced
networking among community institutions
and raised health awareness especially
concerning disease prevention, which is
a particular focus for the PRCS primary
health care clinics and its social care
programme. Having achieved this kind
of success, the PRCS is now thinking
of increasing the number of members
in the committees. “We receive many
requests to establish committees or to join
existing committees, so we are seriously
considering increasing the membership of
existing committees,” says Skaik.
Societal Change
The project has been able to effect an
important cultural change – the assertion
that women are capable of playing an
effective role in society. Alone, PRCS
cannot access all sectors of society, so
it is important to encourage and promote
this initiative, not only to change health
aspirations but also to bring about a
change in society.
The project was able to put down strong
roots and has succeeded in empowering
many marginalised and remote
communities. It has transformed many
women and boosted their self-reliance,
and they in turn have empowered their
communities through creative initiatives
and projects.
This experience is, by any standard, a
unique one, especially in its creation of
a partnership with women. It has been
a revelation to witness the energies
employed by the members of the
Motherhood Committees and their ability
to create a qualitative transformation
in their communities. These projects
executed and run by women may be
the basis for entrepreneurial projects in
the future.
35
A brief overview of the proposed national health
insurance law
The MoH is also committed to the
efficient management of its financial
resources. It will ensure that there is
a health financing strategy and sound
expenditure framework with reliable
costing. There will also be transparent
allocation of funds based on priorities
and more evidence-based, cost-effective
services and treatment. The ministry,
in collaboration with the Ministry of
Finance, the Ministry of Planning and
Administrative Development, and
development partners will also ensure
that its financial management be
transparent and accountable.
The ministry anticipates that a future
health financing mechanism will be in
the form of funding the national health
strategy through a sector-wide approach
and/or direct budgetary support.
There is a new proposed Palestinian
national health insurance scheme. The
objective of the scheme is to increase the
umbrella of services available to citizens
to meet their needs while protecting
their rights. The current health insurance
system in Palestine has provided a
generous basket of services and drug
benefits for its citizens compared with
surrounding countries. The available
basket of services is large in comparison
to the allocated budget within the Ministry
of Health (MoH) and the PNA. As such, the
debt burden is heavy, especially for health
care abroad. In 2009, health insurance
covered approximately 350,460 families,
or 60.4 percent of the Palestinian
population. Of the beneficiaries 29.9
percent pay premiums, whereas 30.5
percent receive benefits without paying
into the system. The proposed national
health insurance law aims to ensure a
sustainable mechanism for financing
health services by mandating all citizens
to contribute based on a percentage of
their income.
Proposed Law for Health Insurance
Reform
An overview
1. Summary: The overall goal of the
proposed health insurance reform
law is to: a) separate the health care
provider from the health care purchaser,
increasing competition in the market/
sector; b) ensure the system’s financial
sustainability through compulsory
participation; and c) improve access to
quality health care services which will
result in decreased referrals abroad.
Premium contributions will be prorated for
each person based on a percentage of
his/her salary, therefore ensuring equity
in the provision of health services. The
insurance will also provide coverage to
the unemployed and the poor by involving
the line ministries.
Ministry of Health Policy on Health
Financing and Financial Management
The Palestinian National Authority
is committed to ensuring access to
affordable and quality health services
through the national health insurance
scheme. There will be a change
from voluntary participation in health
insurance to compulsory national health
insurance. This will improve equity
and access to those health services
covered by insurance, especially for
the poor and unemployed. The MoH in
close collaboration with the Ministry of
Labor and Ministry of Social Affairs will
guarantee that the unemployed and those
too poor to pay for health services be able
to access every health service covered
by health insurance.
2. An autonomous entity: The proposed
health insurance reform law establishes
an autonomous entity, administratively
and financially, for the health insurance
36
system. An independent director will lead this autonomous organisation. However, the
director will be accountable to a board of trustees who will oversee the operations of
the health insurance system. The board will be accountable to the ministerial cabinet.
3. Services provided: A basket of services will be provided that will include public health
services, specialty outpatient care, laboratory testing, radiology services, medications,
hospital stays, emergency care, and basic dental services. The board will determine
the actual services that will be provided within the basket. Care for children under five
years of age and pregnant women will be provided free of charge, as will treatment for
cancer, communicable diseases, mental illnesses, and drug addiction/substance abuse.
Photo by Shareef Sarhan.
National Health Insurance System
4. Financing of the health insurance system
•Premiums
•Co-payments
•Budget allocation from the PNA
•Donations
•Ministry of Labor will provide the premiums for the unemployed
•Ministry of Social Affairs will provide the premiums for the poor
5. Participation in the system will be mandatory for the entire Palestinian population
and enforced through salary deductions and employer taxes to cover their employees.
For further information or to download the full text of the National Health Strategy,
please visit www.moh.ps.
37
Beginning in Gloom, Ending with Hope
By Nadia W. Awad
building plan is clear on this front: to
ensure that all Palestinian citizens enjoy
equitable access to high-quality health
care services. This means promoting
quality improvements in health care
services so that Palestinians can receive
treatment in their home country for all
ailments.
With these aspirations in mind,
the MoH is working with NGOs and
international donors to identify key
targets for assistance and to coordinate
assistance efforts. Specific to this article
is the work that the MoH has prioritised
in the governmental hospitals of Jericho,
Nablus, Beit Jala, and Ramallah,
identifying them as being in immediate
need of major rehabilitation works.
All four hospitals have several
characteristics in common. They are
vastly overburdened and do not possess
the capacity to respond to the respective
needs of their patients; they lack the
finances necessary to maintain their
hospitals according to standards set forth
by the MoH; and all include departments
that are in severely deteriorated, often
dangerous, conditions. Because these
hospitals are run by the PA, they are the
only destination for poor Palestinians
who cannot afford private treatment.
Each hospital was assessed by ANERA
in close coordination with the MoH and
USAID.
Worse than every Palestinian’s fear
of being involved in a car accident or
contracting a disease is the fear of going
to a hospital for treatment. It is a very
unfortunate fact that Palestinian hospitals
across the West Bank and Gaza,
especially those in the more marginalised
communities, suffer greatly from a severe
decline in their infrastructure, which
in turn impacts badly on the quality of
health care services that they provide.
From superficial problems such as
peeling paint and water damage to major
problems such as obsolete equipment
and a shortage of doctors, the problems
are widespread. According to the World
Health Organization (WHO), standard
indicators of the Palestinian health system
suggest an overall national shortage in
the number of hospitals and hospital beds
needed, deteriorating primary health care
facilities, not enough hospital personnel,
and inconsistent standards for training
and equipment. These problems are
partly due to restricted mobility, overburdened and under-financed health
care providers, and a weak institutional
capacity for monitoring and assessment.
Nor are these indicators surprising, given
the devastating impact of the Israeli
occupation, and poor governance and
mismanagement over the years. Indeed,
the Palestinian Authority Ministry of
Health (MoH) continues to refer patients
to Israel, Egypt, and Jordan because
they are unable to provide adequately for
people’s needs. Part of a vicious cycle,
these referrals lead to a substantial drain
on already limited health resources.
Yet despite these gloomy indicators,
efforts are being expended every day
to counteract the problems in the health
care system. The MoH has a clearly
defined role in organising, improving, and
developing the health sector, especially
in coordination with the private and nonprofit sectors. In fact, its responsibility
within the 13th Government’s state-
Nablus
Rafidya Hospital in Nablus is the largest
referral hospital in the northern West
Bank and hence receives patients from
all across the Palestinian territory. Major
work is ongoing in several different
sections of the hospital, including the
operation theatres, the recovery rooms,
the intensive care unit, the burns unit,
the central laboratory and blood bank,
and the outpatient clinics. Of particular
interest, though, are the newly completed
38
dialysis unit and medical staff lodgings),
in addition to basic works such as
re-plastering and tiling, painting, and
electrical works.
operation and recovery rooms. The
construction of two new operating
theatres, the rehabilitation of the recovery
rooms, and the installation of medical
gases and piping systems have already
enhanced the capability of the hospital
to perform life-saving surgeries on its
patients. Even more exciting, however,
is the installation of LED surgical lighting
systems and six cameras which will
enable live transmission of the operations
for young medical students to observe
and study. This intervention in itself
will have a long-term impact on the
Palestinian health system by helping to
train future doctors and nurses.
Beit Jala
The Beit Jala Governmental Hospital
caters to the needs of 170,000
Palestinians and has the only oncology
centre to serve the people of Beit Jala and
the Ramallah and Hebron governorates.
An assessment of the hospital revealed a
long list of needs, including rehabilitation
of the emergency unit, the outpatient
clinics, the X-ray department, the surgery
department, the kidney dialysis unit,
Ramallah Hospital, CT Scan room (the CT Scanner was already there).
the endoscopy department, and the
intensive care unit. Much of the ongoing
work involves re-plastering and re-tiling,
replacing damaged ceilings, covering
exposed piping, installing proper water
and drainage systems as well as A/C
and ventilation systems, and replacing
and securing electrical and medical gas
works.
Jericho
One of the first things one notices upon
entering the Jericho Governmental
Hospital is the acrid smell of sewage.
Indeed, the major problems at the
hospital include sewage leakage, faulty
air conditioning (A/C) systems, exposed
pipes, mouldy walls and ceilings, a lack
of proper drainage (rendering many
patient bathrooms unusable), and a
shortage of space. Work is ongoing to
tackle these problems and others by
replacing the sewage and drainage
system, installing new ventilation and
A/C systems, constructing new sections
of the hospital (in particular, a kidney
Ramallah
The Ramallah Governmental Hospital,
now part of the newly christened
Palestine Medical Complex, will undergo
major works in the near future. Its
entire first floor will be remodelled,
39
Another example is the addition of
medical staff lodgings in the Jericho
Hospital. These new accommodations will
mean that doctors and medical staff living
outside Jericho will have somewhere to
stay and therefore be able to be on-call
more often and work more graveyard
shifts. In addition, the initial lack of
accommodation proved a disadvantage
for the hospital when it was trying to
recruit new staff. Thanks to ongoing work,
this will not be an obstacle in future.
Once the interventions are completed,
each newly renovated hospital will be
ready to receive new equipment, be
better prepared to train new staff, and be
able to provide a higher quality of health
care for its patients. A positive hospital
experience can also incentivise young
men and women to pursue careers in
the health sector. In short, the benefits
can be immeasurable.
The future is now brighter for
Palestinians. As the government’s
state-building plan declares, a belief
in hard work, coupled with faith in the
ability to create new realities on the
ground, will clear the path to freedom.
Taking this belief and directing it into any
aspect of life will mean that Palestinians
are able to take control where they
had none before. Through cooperation
and communication amongst the
PA, the Palestinian people, NGOs,
and international donors, needs can
be identified, assessed, and treated
successfully. In the health sector, the
role of the MoH is key to coordinating
assistance so that resources are not
wasted or misused. What is more
essential, however, is that the needs of
the Palestinian people be understood
and addressed in this process of
assistance.
New operating theatre at Rafidya Hospital.
involving the emergency, neonatal, and
obstetrics wards. The “old building” will
be completely renovated, while two
bridges will be constructed to connect
the various buildings of the complex.
Currently, the Ramallah Hospital’s
radiology department is being completely
overhauled, with new partitioning, replastering and painting, new piping,
mechanical and electrical installations
and a new A/C and heating system.
The Impact Is in the Details
Although the list of needs for intervention
can be repetitive and monotonous, each
detail can significantly influence the
ability of doctors and nurses to save
lives. For example, consider Rafidya
Hospital, where more than a thousand
surgeries a month were conducted
in its original operation theatres. A
faulty A/C and ventilation system, steel
windows which were not sealed, and
dirty, torn PVC flooring translated into
an inability to control room temperatures
and also meant that dust and bacteria
were able to accumulate as operations
were ongoing. Such seemingly simple
problems endangered the lives of the
patients lying on those operating tables,
but fortunately, these problems are being
tackled and remedied.
The four hospitals are being renovated
under the Emergency Water Sanitation
and Other Infrastructure (EWAS
II) Program, funded by USAID and
implemented by ANERA.
Nadia W. Awad works for ANERA,
American Near East Refugee Aid.
40
East Jerusalem Hospitals
A Network for Quality
By Katja Schemionek
East Jerusalem Hospitals (EJHs) are
long-established institutions for Palestinians
living in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and
Gaza and constitute an essential part of
the Palestinian health care system as the
main providers of tertiary care. They consist
of five non-profit charity hospitals and one
rehabilitation centre and vary in complexity
of care and specialisations offered. EJHs
have a total of 613 beds (12.6 percent of
all hospital beds in the oPt) and provide a
range of services that otherwise would have
to be sought elsewhere, including in Israeli
hospitals, because most specialties are not
available in public hospitals within the West
Bank and Gaza.
The EJHs provide emergency services
(St. Joseph’s Hospital, Makassed Hospital)
as well as routine services (Palestinian Red
Crescent Society Hospital) and rehabilitation
services (Princess Basma Centre for
Disabled Children).The EJHs also serve as
teaching institutions for pre-graduate and
specialised training for Palestinians from
West Bank and Gaza. This applies mainly
to Makassed Hospital but also to Augusta
Victoria Hospital and St. John Eye Hospital,
and to some extent to Princess Basma
Center for Disabled Children.
Since the annexation of East Jerusalem by
Israel after the 1967 war, the EJHs mission
as service providers for the Palestinian
population of Jerusalem and as tertiary
referral centres for Palestinians from the
West Bank and Gaza has gone through
tough times. While the hospitals constitute
an essential part of the Palestinian health
care system, they are licensed by the Israeli
Ministry of Health are regularly inspected
and have therefore to comply with high
standards, a challenging requirement for the
few Palestinian institutions still operating in
East Jerusalem.
The majority of EJH patients originate
from the West Bank and Gaza, most of
them referred for treatment by the Ministry of
Health (MoH) and UNRWA, with an important
increase in the number of patients referred by
the MoH since 2008. However, the number
of patients reaching EJHs is limited to those
able to get permission from Israeli authorities
to enter the city for medical treatment. In
2009, the total number of patients referred
by the MoH to the EJHs was 36,308 patients;
18,486 patients were referred by UNRWA.
Since the beginning of the second Intifada
at the end of 2000, access to the hospitals
for staff and patients has been subject to
growing restrictions. The construction of
the Separation Wall, cutting off parts of
Jerusalem city from Arab neighbourhoods
that traditionally utilised the hospitals, has
severely impeded access of patients and
staff.
Since 2000 WHO has been involved in
supporting the hospitals to embark on a
quality improvement process that led to a
certification granted by the International
Organization for Standardization (ISO) for
most administrative and medical services.
The project was funded by the European
Commission which renewed its commitment
to support the EJHs through a new three-year
project that started in April of this year with an
ambitious goal: to lead all six East Jerusalem
hospitals to international accreditation.
Preparing for international accreditation is
a highly demanding process that requires
the hospital to comply with clinical and nonclinical standards that need the development
of policies and procedures, and training
of staff but also building adjustments for
Photo courtesy of Lutheran World Federation.
ensuring patient safety and the availability
of specific medical equipment and supplies.
The hospital network, together with the
WHO office for West Bank and Gaza
and the help of the Joint Commission
International (JCI) has formulated a threeyear plan for achieving the accreditation.
The determination of the EJH network
to implement this plan also shows the
organisations’ commitment to continually
improving administrative processes and
patient care. At the same time, the culture
of safety and quality that is being enhanced
through this process provides a safe and
efficient work environment that contributes
to health workers’ satisfaction. Special
emphasis is given to respecting patients’ and
their families’ rights, and involving them as
partners in the process of care.
An additional and very important element
is the role of EJHs in teaching post-graduate
medical students. This role is critical for
the development of the health sector in
Palestine and improving the care provided;
the satisfaction of patients will make an
important contribution to the effectiveness
of the EJHs as teaching institutions.
The process of strengthening the role of
the six EJHs is led by the EJH network,
which brings the management leadership of
the institutions together. The network was
established in 1997 to create synergy among
the institutions, to complement their services,
and to foster collaboration in non-medical
and medical programmes. The network is a
forum for debate, discussion, and information
exchange on issues that are of common
interest to all six institutions and for joint
action in a challenging political environment
in which only a few Arabic institutions are
left. This reality makes it difficult for the
institutions to fulfil their humanitarian mission
to serve Palestinian patients and to remain
independent non-profit institutions without
political or other interference.
Within the project, specific support will
be provided to foster the work of the
network, which is facing growing demands
in negotiating with the Israeli sick funds and
in providing legal support. More opportunities
can be met in sharing hospital information,
resources, and costs for joint services
in order to increase the efficiency and
effectiveness of work. Last but not least,
promoting the network as the key health
service provider of specialised treatment
for Palestinians from Jerusalem, the West
Bank, and Gaza is certainly contributing to
a strengthened position in a competitive and
hard-fought place.
Katja Schemionek is a public health
officer at the World Health Organization.
Photo by Palestine Image Bank.
42
43
Mental Health Service Development
in Palestine
By Rajiah Abu Sway
Palestinians are exposed to multiple risk
factors compounded by the harsh everyday
realities of the occupation. This leads to
a loss of perspective, anger, frustration,
humiliation, and a feeling of entrapment, which
increases the risk of developing stress-related
mental health problems (such as anxiety
and depression) and potentially worsens the
outcomes of serious mental health problems
(such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder).
But even though the whole population suffers
from the occupation and its consequences on
daily life, specific groups, such as children,
youth, women, the elderly, and people with
mental disorders, are much more vulnerable
and at risk than others.
There is a consistent body of evidence to
suggest that there are well-defined risk factors
or determinants that impact very significantly
on the prevalence and outcome of common
mental health problems, for example, poverty,
continuous conflict situations, stressful life
events, unemployment, low levels of education,
drug abuse, gender-based and domestic
violence, and chronic physical health problems
such as physical disabilities, heart disease,
diabetes, and other non-communicable
disorders.
According to WHO’s global burden of disease
(Mental Health Report, 2001), 33 percent of the
years lived with disability are due to psychiatric
disorders. This growing burden mounts a huge
cost in terms of human misery, disability, and
economic loss. The widening recognition of
mental health as a significant international
public health issue has led to the growing need
to demonstrate that investment of resources in
service development is not only required but
also worthwhile.
WHO has developed a pyramid framework
which conceptualises an optimal mix of
services for mental health. It reinforces the
idea that no single service will meet all needs,
and that what is needed is an optimal mix of a
range of services.
In Palestine there are two psychiatric
hospitals, one in Bethlehem (180 inpatient
beds) and one in Gaza (50 inpatient beds),
several community mental health centres, local
NGOs, and traditional healers.
In 2004, the Palestinian Ministry of Health
adopted its national mental health strategy,
whose main objective was to strengthen,
organise, and improve the mental health
services in Palestine based on a communitybased approach and with the support of
international and local partners, through
the implementation of the following specific
objectives:
To develop community mental health services
(e.g., day centres, rehabilitation services,
therapeutic and residential supervised
services, etc.)
To integrate people with mental health
disorders into society so that they can be
productive and valued members of the
community
To raise awareness about mental health
issues in order to lessen the stigma and fear
surrounding people with mental health problems
who are often stigmatised, marginalised and
assumed to be lazy, weak, unintelligent, and
incapable of making decisions
To decrease admissions to psychiatric
hospitals and to strengthen community mental
health services in general hospitals primary
health care programmes
To improve the capacity of primary health
care in detecting, assessing, and treating
people with common mental health problems
Palestine is regarded as a regional pioneer
in the development of a national mental health
strategy that encourages community-based
mental health services. Nevertheless the
development of community mental health
services in Palestine is still in progress
and needs further support and long-term
commitment to ensure the provision of
comprehensive services and support to
sufferers and their families.
Rajiah Abu Sway is a mental health officer
at WHO. She can be reached at [email protected].
44
Palestine and Thalassemia
By Dr. Bashar A. Karmi
other activities directed toward raising the
knowledge of our medical staff.
TPFS plays a key role in awarenessraising about thalassemia and the means
that can be used by the Palestinian
community to prevent new thalassemia
cases. Due to numerous comprehensive
activities held by the TPFS, the number of
new thalassemia cases has been reduced
from 40 new cases per year before 2004
to less than 10 registered cases annually
since 2004. This translates into a savings
of more than US$ 35 million.
TPFS considers the thalassemia
national project a pilot project. The
goal upon its completion in 2013 is to
have zero new cases, which would
indicate that the community is capable of
handling other hereditary diseases. The
thalassemia project is a crucial step in the
fight against hereditary diseases in the
community and requires the participation
of each and every citizen. Thalassemia
and other hereditary diseases are “easily”
preventable. It’s our choice whether
to have a healthy baby who is free of
thalassemia as well as other hereditary
diseases. TPFS welcomes the voluntary
efforts of everyone and is just a phone
call away.
Thalassemia is a hereditary blood
disease which is characterised by severe
anaemia due to early death of red blood
cells. The diseased child is the product
of marriages in which both parents
are thalassemia carriers. While the
thalassemia carrier is a healthy person
and needs no medications, the diseased
child needs specialised medical care and
regular blood transfusions every three
to four weeks for the rest of his/her life.
In Palestine the frequency of this
thalassemia mutation is about 4 percent.
In other words, there are more than
150,000 carriers of this mutation in the
Palestinian territory. These carriers do
not need any medical care whatsoever,
but problems start when two carriers
get married. For this reason, in 1994
a group of volunteers established the
Thalassemia Patients’ Friends Society
(TPFS), which was registered in 1996.
TPFS has a general assembly of more
than 700 members and, since 1997,
has held five elections for TPFS board
membership.
TPFS focuses its activities in two
main directions: patient support and
awareness-raising and informationsharing about Thalassemia. While
specialised medical care for thalassemia
patients is the responsibility of Ministry
of Health, TPFS acts as an advocacy
group and lobbing team. In this context
TPFS plays a central role in training
the Ministry of Health team, organising
scientific meetings, conferences, and
For more information, visit www.tpfs.ps
or contact TPFS at (02) 296-6334 (tel.),
(02) 298-0367 (telefax), or tpfs96@
yahoo.com.
Dr. Bashar A. Karmi is a clinical
pathologist.
46
and presenting the services offered
through their projects (veterinary
assistance, fodder production,
reproductive methods improvement).
As well as providing visibility for the
projects implemented by NGOs in the
Palestinian territories, the initiative
will promote Palestinian products
locally and internationally, enhance
important partnerships between Palestinian
and Italian economic actors, and support local
knowledge, products, and traditions.
In the commitment to enhancing the
Palestinian economic system, food and
agriculture play a key role, being valuable
economic markets and the starting point in
promoting sustainable development. The
genuine quality and availability of agricultural
foodstuffs, and, in general, the access to food,
are not just one of society’s essential needs
but a fundamental right, since all human
beings have the right to live in dignity, free
from hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition.
The three-day initiative will also include
the United Nations’ International Day of
Rural Women (15 October), which aims
to celebrate and honour the role of rural
women. In this way, the event will contribute
not just to the strengthening and promotion
of the agricultural sector in Palestine but
will be an important occasion to recognise
rural women’s importance in enhancing
agricultural and rural development.
World
Food Day 2010
A crucial date to
promote food security
and a healthy society in
Palestine
By Dr. Gianandrea Sandri
On the occasion of World Food Day 2010
and within the framework of the activities of
EXPO 2015 – “Feeding the Planet, Energy for
Life,” the Italian Cooperation Office/General
Consulate of Italy, in collaboration with FAO
and WFP and under the patronage of the
Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture (MoA),
intends to organise the Palestinian Food
Products Fair from Thursday to Saturday,
14 to 16 October.
The event will take place in Jericho as part
of the celebration of “Jericho 10,000” that will
be launched on 10 October 2010. Opening
day will feature the presence of Cheb Khaled,
Goodwill Ambassador of FAO.
Italian and Palestinian NGOs, as well as
the MoA, will be protagonists of the event,
having the possibility of exhibiting the huge
variety of their agricultural products (olives,
white and black grapes, olive oil, cheese, etc.)
Dr. Gianandrea Sandri is director of the
Italian Cooperation Office in Jerusalem.
48
The First International Rural Tourism
Workshop in Palestine
A Platform for Development
By Raed Saadeh
consensus-building, and a convergence of
related efforts. The role and involvement of
local communities are fundamental in the
proposed discussions. Development depends
entirely on the transfer of ownership to local
stakeholders as their involvement will not
only establish a genuine product, but will
also generate the skills and local leadership
needed to sustain and protect such efforts.
Other sessions will discuss the role of culture
and environment in the tourism package,
the potential to market and internationally
brand Palestinian rural tourism, and finally
the efficient and holistic incorporation of
architectural heritage and village historic
centres in the proposed development
process.
To connect to the spirit of the
workshop and to link to its
proposed objectives, a number
of exhibits will take place
during the event to promote
rural tour initiatives, rural
cultural and heritage festivals,
and Palestinian arts and crafts.
Field trips will take place the next day to
introduce participants and guests to nearby
destinations and paths.
Finally, the workshop will coincide with
Rozana’s Maftoul Festival to be held on
4 November at Birzeit’s Catholic Church
Garden. The festival includes a performance
by Artist Sana Mousa and a competition of
the best maftoul dish overseen by a panel of
Palestine’s best chefs. Bon Appétit.
Rozana and its partners (the Ministry of
Tourism and Antiquities, Birzeit University,
Siraj Center, and the University of Torino) are
confident that the workshop will be a first, but
important, step to awaken people’s awareness
of the importance of tourism, as both a source
of economic growth and a means to enhance
the countryside’s image and identity.
Is there a chance for Palestinians to
realise their vision of statehood and for rural
Palestine to prosper taking into consideration
the prevailing circumstances and future
scenarios?
The Rozana Association, in its attempt to
provide answers to this question, took upon
itself the mission to network with partners to
promote rural tourism in and around Birzeit.
In this endeavour, the Rozana adheres to
a community-based, socially responsible
approach to leveraging resources and
capacities needed to develop the communities’
distinctive competencies in order to generate
sustainable income and improve the quality of
life and environment.
Hence, a partnership that
includes the University of
Torino, Birzeit University,
Siraj Center, and the
Rozana is organising an
international workshop on
rural tourism in Palestine on
4 and 5 November at Birzeit
University. Local and international
scholars will present their papers and
ideas in an attempt to deal with some of the
questions, issues, and challenges set by the
workshop organisers. Rozana is not new to
such initiatives. Created in 2007 by a number
of individuals from families who own houses,
attics, and courtyards in Birzeit’s historic area,
Rozana has already organised major events
including Heritage Week, the Spring Festival
and the Maftoul Festival.
The context of Palestinian rural tourism
needs to be clarified in terms of the available
and potential resources and capacities that
will create the platform for its sustainability and
progress. Yet the impact of such development
on the community and the associated historic
sites and shrines needs to be investigated and
guidelines established and enforced to ensure
proper progress.
The workshop will discuss a number of
issues that will foster awareness-raising,
Raed Saadeh is chairman of the Rozana
Association.
52
Erez Crossing
Pigeons nest in rafters above the crossing,
building a resting place with stubble
collected from bulldozed fields of olive,
roadside weed and tufts of grass,
from feathers shed when they make love
and their wings beat against corrugated air.
Below them is the corridor of Erez,
concrete block, steel wire coiled and twisted
onto iron spikes, marking the passage.
Soldiers, on command, play the part
of high school drama students,
nervous and bored, dressed for combat
in outfits of lead, trapped
within narrow confines of their prison yard.
They pace under the full throttle of the sun,
while feathers – they don’t notice –
fall to the ground, the color of clouds,
grey pearl, silver, summer rose
and moody violet, turning metallic light
iridescent, the color of sand and wind.
Soldiers move between blasts of loudspeakers,
surrounded by electric currents of scorched
desire
that shock the heart back from the dead again
and again. Hours drag on – a few small children
holding their mother’s hand, a lone shepherd,
a minibus of UN staff registering nationality
and name, logging time – while overhead
pigeons
caress, common pigeons, the same scavengers
that nest on window ledges of New York and
Paris,
their haunted language, cooing and echo,
the same small eggs warmed to hatch
where searchlights glare and burn and blind
the moon’s reflection in the empty craters of
Erez.
54
Ann Doherty
A Curtain Rises in Jenin
By Daniel Brumund
children – Jewish and Muslim alike.
The news of Ismael’s peaceful gesture
and the acclaimed documentary moved
audiences worldwide – except in Jenin
itself, where the only venue to screen
the film had closed over twenty years
ago. Thus, the dream of reviving the old
cinema was born.
“As a documentary filmmaker, I go to
a foreign country and people tell me
their stories and open their hearts,” says
Marcus Vetter. “I give them back a film
but I don’t believe that a film alone has
the power to change their circumstances
in the long run. Rebuilding Cinema
Jenin gives everyone involved the
possibility to tell their own stories and
write the next chapter in their lives.”
Since the renovation works started in
2008, Cinema Jenin has grown to be
more than just a place to show films.
The long-term aim is to establish it as a
sustainable enterprise which provides
the region with a cultural and community
centre and ensures job security for its
local workers. The revenues from the
ticket sales, advertisements shown on
the new LED screen on the cinema roof,
as well as the newly set-up dubbing
and subtitling studio will help achieve
this goal. Large stages inside as well
as outside the cinema in a beautifully
decorated garden area provide room for
musical as well as theatre performances.
A charming cafeteria inside the garden
welcomes people to relax while they
enjoy drinks or a meal.
However, not everyone in Jenin is
positively convinced of the possibilities
the cinema offers. For some, there
are other, more urgent needs. “How
can a cinema help us against the
occupation?” wonders a local worker
from a shop a few corners down the
road. “I cannot go there and truly enjoy
myself when every day I’m living under
these circumstances.” Even though the
situation in Jenin has changed for the
On 5 August 2010, something
magnificent happened in Jenin: For the
first time in 23 years, the once-famous
Cinema Jenin entered a new chapter
of its life as it opened its doors again
to the public. Two years of intensive
restoration works done by a committed
group of local workers as well as local
and international volunteers brought the
cinema back to life in a new and shining
look. “We have all worked together
to build something – and finally our
dream of the cinema has come true,”
said Markus Vetter, German filmmaker
and founder of project Cinema Jenin,
during the three-day opening festival
which was attended by prominent
figures such as Prime Minister Salam
Fayyad and widely covered by national
and international media.
The story of Cinema Jenin first began
in the 1960s, when it was originally
constructed and came to be one of the
most popular cinemas in the region.
With the outbreak of the first Intifada in
1987, however, the cinema was forced
to close and slowly decayed over the
years. Two decades later, Marcus Vetter
came to Jenin to make the documentary
Heart of Jenin, which tells the story of
Ismael Khatib, a Palestinian from Jenin
Refugee Camp. In 2005, Ismael’s son
Ahmed was shot dead by Israeli soldiers
who mistook his toy gun for a real one.
Despite his grief, Ismael decided to
donate his son’s organs to six Israeli
56
better in the last few years – a nightly
curfew and some checkpoints have
been lifted, the security situation has
improved – people are still far from living
a normal life. Travel restrictions, trade
limitations as well as regular incursions
by the Israeli army into the refugee
camp keep reminding people that they
are still living in a continuous state of
emergency.
Fakhri Hamad, local manager of the
cinema, knows about these concerns.
“You know, the opening of Cinema Jenin
showed to the world that Palestine is a
beautiful place to visit and that foreign
visitors need not worry. It proved wrong
the rumours that Jenin was an especially
dangerous place filled with terrorists,” he
points out. “In addition to that, Cinema
Jenin will help reveal the image of
the occupation by giving a voice to
kids here and teaching them how to
make films about their daily lives.” By
developing a film school and offering
artistic workshops, Cinema Jenin will
support Palestinian youths to creatively
express themselves. This way, the
curtain that now rises again in Cinema
Jenin can also help open a window to
the outside world and reintegrate Jenin
into a broad regional and international
cultural exchange.
As for Ismael Khatib, he has opened
a cultural centre for the children of the
camp which offers various activities and
educational courses as an alternative to
their street life. Cinema Jenin, however,
will always have a very special meaning
to him: “The project is like a legacy of my
dead son Ahmed. Everything began with
his story, and the cinema will always be
connected to him.”
Daniel Brumund is a volunteer with
Cinema Jenin where he works as press
officer. You can reach him directly
at [email protected]. For more
information about Cinema Jenin and
how to volunteer, please visit www.
cinemajenin.org.
57
The Gaza Monologues Boats
will set sail from
Gaza Port
on 17 October 2010
the largest international
artistic work to break the
siege
Photo by Basel Maqousi.
techniques of Augusto Boal’s Theatre of
the Oppressed as well as drama therapy,
storytelling, and activities that would return
the meaning of normal life to these children.
They were followed up by the psychological
counsellor, Nadel Sha’ath, who helped them
to talk about their shocking experiences
during the invasion – experiences that were
beyond people’s normal ability to bear. He
gave them psychological support through
individual and group counselling to retrieve
their balance. Mental health experts in the
World Health Organization have agreed
that the violence and siege endured by
adults and children in the Gaza Strip pose
a serious threat to their psychological health;
tremendous effort must be expended to help
them deal with their experiences and rebuild
their lives.
Parallel to the work in Gaza, Ashtar
Theatre launched the idea internationally
and began to look for partners who would
join this cultural and human adventure. The
monologues were therefore translated into
English and French and distributed to the
partners, who started working with similar
age groups in their own countries.
Today, the number of participating
international and local cities has surpassed
50, and there are approximately 1,000
young participants thus far. All work together
towards the synchronous performance of
“The Gaza Mono-Logues” around the world
on 17 October 2010 at 7:00 p.m. In Palestine
the event will be held in seven cites, in
addition to Gaza and Ramallah.
“The Gaza Mono-Logues” are personal
monologues of children from Gaza about
their life experiences before, during, and
after the war on Gaza.
The idea was born…
The war on Gaza had violent, bloody scenes
that were difficult to bear, even on television:
dead and wounded children and adults in the
streets or filling the corridors of the hospitals.
The numbers increased daily in frightening
proportions, and we all stood helpless in
front of these scenes. We were glued to our
television sets for long hours every day, hit
by grief and pain, anger and helplessness.
Artistic director of Ashtar Theatre, Iman
Aoun, recognised that a powerful response
was needed in order to raise the voices of
the young people and break the stereotypes
perpetuated by the media about Gaza and
its inhabitants through their presentation as
numbers and victims. Aoun’s aim was to
raise global awareness, especially among
young people, concerning the atrocity of war
and the just cause of the Palestinian people.
Thus the work began…
The participants were 33 students from
diverse backgrounds who varied in age
between 14 and 18 and who had been the
target of direct or indirect aggression. They
joined a drama training programme that
focused on their dreams, hopes, and fears
before, during, and after the Israeli invasion
of Gaza. The youth wrote their personal
monologues far from political speeches or
gory event descriptions. The drama trainer,
Ali Abu Yaseen, helped them to make their
imagination pivotal to the work, using the
For more information, visit www.
thegazamonologues.com.
58
Al- Kasaba ... 10 Years of Liberality
The bird of Palestine, with its small size
and beautiful colours, is the permanent
symbol of Al-Kasaba International Film
Festival. This bird will build the Festival
Nest and multiply into flocks that will spread
the depth and sweetness of the festival
experience, integrating the festival into the
Palestinian cultural fabric and affirming it as
a significant presence in the Arab world as
well as in the international arena.
Al-Kasaba Theatre and Cinematheque
is celebrating ten years of sustained effort
and many accomplishments, represented
in the following:
• Organising Al-Manara International
Theatre Days Festival
• Organising Al-Kasaba International Film
Festival
• Producing 12 theatre plays for adults
and five theatre plays for young children,
which were shown in Palestinian cities,
villages, and camps
• Establishing the first drama academy
• Participating in 21 local, regional, and
international theatre festivals
• Holding hundreds of theatrical
performances in most European and
Arab cities, and
the rest of the world
• Winning many Arab and international
theatre awards
• Hosting hundreds of theatrical and
musical groups and films
• Promoting and distributing many
Palestinian films in international festivals
• Conducting hundreds of daily screenings
over the years
All these achievements are enhanced
by widespread public support and
interest in addition to the efforts of the
successive boards of directors and staff,
and the support of the Palestinian National
Authority. The support of our partners,
artists, and donors has obviously had the
greatest positive impact. We appreciate
everyone’s efforts and would like to thank
you all.
Since the opening of Al-Kasaba Theatre
and Cinematheque in the year 2000, we
had dreamed of organising an international
film festival. Starting gradually, we began
to organise screenings, film weeks, and
specialised film festivals, such as the
European Film Festival, the Refugees
Cinema Festival, the image of the Israeli
in Palestinian cinema, the Pioneer
Women’s Festival, Immigrants’ Week in
European Cinema, as well as cinema
weeks that highlighted specific countries
and cultures. These programmes have
allowed Al-Kasaba Theatre to build a
cadre of professional specialists and
create fruitful relationships with many
directors, producers, distributors, and
other Palestinian, Arab, and foreign film
festivals.
Today we are proud to celebrate the
opening of the fifth session of Al-Kasaba
International Film Festival, which has
deservedly become one of the most
important Palestinian cultural events.
This year the festival will include a
series of feature films and documentaries
that have won international prizes.
Through an agreement with the Berlin
International Film Festival, we will screen
a wide range of short films that were first
screened in Berlin. It will be our pleasure
to welcome the director of the Berlin
Festival’s Short Film Department.
Palestinian Cinema will, of course,
have a distinctive presence, as the main
objective of the festival is to present
and promote the works of Palestinian
filmmakers.
Our sincere thanks and appreciation
go to all individuals and institutions
that have provided support for the
festival, in particular, the European
Union, the Palestinian Ministry of Culture,
Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad,
and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung.
Thanks also go to the Arab Bank for its
sponsorship and to our colleagues, the
crew of Al-Kasaba, who contributed to
the development of this cultural event.
60
Personality of the Month
In 1995 he left the country to take up
a position as chief regional technical
adviser with UNFPA for Central Asia,
leaving his family behind in Jerusalem.
He did not last long there, as those
who know Dr. Khammash know that
he is very much a family man who
dedicates much of his time and support
to them. Thus, in 1997 he came back to
Jerusalem and assumed responsibility
for the Health Department of UNRWA.
Under his management, the UNRWA
Health Department opened up to the
outside world. Dr. Khammash enhanced
links between UNRWA and the society
at large as well as local and international
organisations, thus contributing further to
the health services through the sharing of
UNRWA’s systems and knowledge as well
as allowing further capacity and inputs for
both UNRWA staff and beneficiaries. He
also improved the links among UNRWA’s
various departments, initiating projects
that combine health, education, and
social services to respond to the needs
of refugees.
Dr. Khammash left UNRWA in 2001 to
assume the role of chief of party for the
Maram project (USAID); this came at a
difficult time when the country and major
cities were being subjected to siege and
closures. He adapted several innovative
strategies to support the Ministry of Health
during those times of need and worked
with several NGOs and community-based
organisations in the West Bank and Gaza.
Once the project was completed Dr.
Khammash was offered the opportunity to
return to UNRWA in 2005 as head of health
services where he continues to work for the
health and well-being of the Palestinian
people. He is a board member of several
NGOs and is a leading visionary in several
national and international initiatives.
Finally, if one were to sum up Dr.
Khammash, the first words that come to
mind are innovative, leader, motivator,
and magnanimous. The meaning of
magnanimous is eloquently illustrated
in the way Dr. Khammash leads his life,
facing adversity, challenges, and solving
problems.
Dr. Umaiyeh
Khammash
Dr. Umaiyeh Khammash, director of the
UNRWA Health Department, is a man with
vision who has worked throughout his
professional career trying to fulfil his belief
in the principle that “health is a right for all.”
He has never been a conventional person
in his outlook or approach to things in his
social and professional life. He touches
all those who work with him, respecting
the young and the old, the senior and
the junior. An employee who had worked
with Dr. Khammash and recently changed
employment had the following words to
say to his colleagues; “Learn as much as
you can from Dr. Khammash. I was lucky
to have worked with him.”
He was brought up in Jerusalem and
pursued a university education studying
medicine in Russia. He returned to
Palestine in 1979 to put into action the
Declaration of Alma-Ata on primary health
care through the establishment of the
Palestinian Medical Relief Services. He
was a cofounder and vice president of the
organisation for 12 years. He has worked
with people from all walks of life, using his
network to provide assistance and referral
services to those in need.
In the year 1988, Dr. Khammash obtained
a master’s degree from Emory University
in international public health/epidemiology.
62
Inass Yassin
Inass Yassin is one of the most distinguished
female Palestinian artists. She was born in
Asira El-Shamalieh close to Nablus in 1973,
and earned her first degree in art from An
Najah University. Since then, she has walked
a long way in exploring her artistic identity
and carefully carving her personality as an
artist. For years she has worked with several
esteemed art organisations and educational
institutions such as the Virtual Gallery-Birzeit
University, Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center,
Goethe-Institut, Southampton University, and
others. She has worked as research assistant,
art education consultant, and fine art tutor.
While building up her experience, Inass
explored art through various media, styles,
and concepts and pursued her career in art
seriously, persistently, and with high respect.
She started producing art in 2004 for group
shows and as part of residencies. In 2009,
she obtained a master’s degree in fine art
from the University of Southampton – UK.
She has exhibited her work in Palestine and
abroad in New York, Leipzig, Oslo, London,
Dubai, and Amman. She has participated
in various workshops and residencies in
Braziers Park-UK, Makan House–Jordan,
and Cittadellarte-Fondazione Pistoletto,Italy.
She was awarded production grants from
Khalil Sakakini Cultural Centre, A.M. Qattan
Foundation, Hani Qaddoumi Foundation,
the Ford Foundation, and the Palestinian Art
Court – al Hoash.
For more info, visit www.inassyassin.
com.
64
Book of the Month
Artist of the Month
Yassin’s approach to art is highly
conceptual as she builds upon the various
concepts that she explores in such a way as
to allow the viewer to sense how her work
gradually and smartly grows and matures.
In her body of work, she deals with concepts
of transformation on the private and public
scale, in addition to spatial and social
change and its manifestations.
In her work with space, she presented a
video, Dreaming of the Sea, as part of the
international art show Luminal Spaces. In
the six-minute video, she explores travelling
through space to reach the sea, which, at
the end seems to be nothing but a distant
dream.
In 2007 and 2008 she featured two new
projects that explore transforming space in
“The Sea is Black” and “Transformations,”
which consisted of a series of paintings from
mixed media. The projects were featured
in solo exhibitions and explored personal
perspectives of private and public spaces
within converting realities that allow the
places to become new ones and to be
disconnected from their history. Amman
as transforming city was the subject for the
paintings, videos, and children’s workshop
conducted during the residency programme
held at Makan House in 2008.
Recently, Yassin featured the first edition
of her latest art project “Projection” as part
of the exhibition: “Ramallah, the Fairest
of Them All.” “Projection” is an ongoing
research and art project that examines
modernity, the transformation of urban
space, and the architecture of the city of
Ramallah, and it raises questions on the
changing space, politics, and social values.
The work researches Cinema Al-Waleed
and its multilayered social history. The
second edition of the project will be featured
at al Hoash Gallery as part of the Jerusalem
Show that will open on 1 October. Another
edition of the work, “PROJECTION
EDITION 1.01 SCREENING FAILED,”
will be opened at Your Space at Van Abbe
Museum in Eindhoven, The Netherlands,
on 25 September.
Raising Dust:
A Cultural History of
Dance in Palestine
By Nicholas Rowe
I.B. Tauris, London and New York,
2010, 244 pages, $50.00
Raising Dust by Nicholas Rowe is the
first book of its kind to focus solely on
Palestinian dance, past and present. The
book is divided into four parts that discuss
dance history and practices in Palestine
from biblical times through the second
Intifada, though the main context is post1948 Nakba and how dance emerged as
an act of resistance to Zionist policies
that aimed to erase Palestinians and their
culture.
The book is remarkable and a pleasure
to read. It is remarkable not because of the
writing alone but because of the work that
has been put into it – clearly not the sole
result of research. The author, an Australian
dancer and choreographer, has spent many
years working with various dance groups in
Palestine and has thus experienced the grim
realities of Palestinian life. The book opens
with the author describing his entry into
“Palestinian territories” through Kalandia
Checkpoint on a tear-gassy day, and
closes years later, with the author and his
dance students being arrested, beaten, and
humiliated by Israeli soldiers near Hebron.
The author maintains that dance is a cultural
performance by an indigenous people who
fell victim to the violence of colonisation.
Dance in this context becomes loaded with
national significance, and the dancing body
becomes organically connected to other
dancing bodies, weaving together as they go
a sense of cohesion and unity. Dance becomes
resistance because it sustains a sense of
collective identity, indigenous authenticity, and
national pride, and materialises the imagined
community, be it the lost ones of the past, or
the wished-for ones of the present and the
future. Yet dance is not a natural phenomenon
but a discursive one that can be subject to
socio-political powers and ideological conflicts.
Through dance, for example, Palestinian
communities ritualistically reinstated the
social order, such as that between man
and woman, individual and community,
culture and politics. Through the course of
its development, however, Palestinian dance
came to question these very notions of social
order and hierarchy. The author maintains a
critical perspective that neither romanticises
nor orientalises this cultural phenomenon. In
fact, it is very refreshing to read such a book
by a Westerner.
My only take against the book is its scope
of research that is limited to the West Bank,
specifically to Ramallah, the cultural capital of
the newly founded Palestine. In addition, the
book starts by discussing Palestinian dance in
general but then gradually focuses on the two
dance groups, El-Funoun el-Sha’biyah and
Sarreyet Ramallah. There is no discussion of
dance amongst exiled communities or amongst
Palestinians who remained in historical
Palestine and became Israeli citizens. Did
dance disappear from their cultural life? What
has become of dance there, as a social ritual?
Did it have any significance in promoting and
sustaining a sense of cultural or national
identity? What about Palestinian refugee
communities in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and
other places in the world? Perhaps this is
too much to ask for in one book. I hope that
this work will encourage other scholars and
researchers to take further this important work
that fills a vacuum when it comes to research
and writings on Palestinian performing arts.
Review by Sobhi al-Zobaidi.
Website Review
http://www.juzoor.org/portal/
Review date: 21 September 2010
The left column is divided into four
sections. It starts with a graphical language
switch followed by a secondary menu:
Who we are? is the same as About Juzoor;
Publications leads to a couple of newsletters
and earlier issues of Keef Assiha? (literally:
How’s the Health?) magazine; Press
Releases has a couple of items from 2009;
Volunteer is an invitation to get involved
in community work and provides a link for
Web registration; What’s new? links to a
list of news in Arabic and English; Juzoor
Events links to a conference and a listing of
events by unit; Photo Album is a collection
of images organised by programme or
event with the option to enlarge thumbnails;
Career Opportunities has links to openings
and an employment form; and Links has two
lone entries: Keef Assiha? and Jerusalem
Youth Parliament.
Next is the Spotlight section, which
announces the new Juzoor website and the
Jerusalem Youth Parliament (with a sample
issue and a link to the site).
The last section is a subscription form for
the Juzoor newsletter.
The second (main) column starts with
a tabbed section that features the three
clusters – each with an image and a link
to more information. Then there is a short
welcome message, a search box, and a
language switch.
The right column starts with a placeholder
image followed by the number of people
online and links to a photo album and a
couple brochures.
The page concludes with a tagline that
features a slogan, copyright notice, and
website sponsor.
Juzoor’s site is easy to navigate but
requires some content enrichment in health
education, especially in its Arabic version.
Juzoor (Arabic for “roots”) is a Palestinian
health and social development nongovernmental organisation that was
established in Jerusalem in 1996. Juzoor’s
website is available in both English and
Arabic. It uses a traditional three-column
layout with header and footer on a greenish
background.
The header section consists of a banner
housing the organisation’s name and logo
and the main menu bar. The menu bar starts
with Home (link to main page) followed by
five other menu items.
About Juzoor introduces the organisation
and its objectives and work strategy. It also
has a link to the board of trustees (list of
members) and a graphical link to the vision
and mission of Juzoor. The three small
icons next to article titles provide shortcuts
to a PDF version, a print option, and an
e-mail option.
Strategic Departments has three
submenus that explain both strategic
direction and organisational units:
Impacting Health and Social Policies,
Continuous Professional Development,
and Empowering Communities. The last
two list unit staff in addition to explaining
functional aspects.
Programs is the largest menu with
some seventeen submenus. They are
organised under three main clusters
accessed from the parent menu (Programs):
Impacting Health and Social Policies,
Continuous Professional Development,
and Empowering Communities. Pressing
a sub-item title or the plus sign expands or
contracts the item details.
There are eight videos under Video Library
that feature Juzoor’s activities. Most movies
are around five minutes long and require a
fast connection.
Contact Us is the last item in the menu bar
and provides contact information for Juzoor
in Jerusalem, Ramallah, and Gaza. It also
provides a Web e-mail form.
Abed A. Khooli, IT/KM specialist
Mr. Khooli can be reached at
[email protected].
66
Exhibition of the Month
The Jerusalem Show IV – 2010
Exhaustion
Hawajiri, Dima Hourani, Khaled Jarrar,
Yazan Khalili, Martin Lebioda, Randa
Madah, F. Zahir Mibineh, Ariane Michel,
Nissrin Najjar, Michael Rakowitz, Rigo
23, Raeda Saadeh, Salama Safadi, and
Inass Yassin.
Jerusalem Show performance events:
Uriel Barthélémi, Vlatka Horvat, and
Sabreen band.
grab, jump the line, and most importantly
break the atrocious laws, any laws, even
those that govern human relations. All
this calls for some investigation, some
probing, and possibly uncovering and
betrayal.
For the Jerusalem Show IV, 18
Palestinian and international artists were
invited by Al-Mamal Foundation to think
Performance still from “House without a Maid” at Kunstenfestivaldesarts Brussels, May 2010. Photo: Tim Etchells.
Performance still from “House without a Maid” at Alkantara Festival Lisbon, June 2010. Photo: Tim Etchells.
The Jerusalem Show (‘Ala Abwab
Al Janna) is a novel and socially
significant visual art event that is
headed and organised by Al-Mamal
Foundation for Contemporary Art.
This year’s Show, its fourth edition,
encompasses an exhibition of
contemporary art works of Palestinian
and international artists. Art projects
and interventions are presented in
indoor and outdoor venues and reflect
on the spiritual, political, historical,
and cultural import of the city of
Jerusalem. The Show is a unique
action, promoting a re-reading of the
city in a creatively open, accessible,
and interactive manner.
through the theme of Exhaustion in the
context of the city and its environment,
and to produce works that explore issues
involved in the condition and feeling
of Exhaustion which afflicts the whole
of Palestinian society and is palpable
in Jerusalem particularly. In addition,
11 young Palestinian artists were
commissioned by al Hoash to produce
new artworks to be presented in the
framework of the Jerusalem Show.
Jerusalem Show participating artists
include Anonymous, Karim Abu Shakra,
Moayed Amleh, Asad Azi, Mirna Bamieh,
Taysir Batniji, Bahar Behbahani, Youmna
Chlala and Jeannette Gaussi, Mohamad
Fadel, Sarah Faruki, Issa Freij, Mohamad
The theme for the Jerusalem Show IV
– 2010 is Exhaustion. It is inspired by the
prevailing state of apathy which is fuelled
by Exhaustion, anger, helplessness,
docility, and alienation in one’s own
town. Exhaustion describes best the
widespread feeling amongst the majority
of the inhabitants of the city. Be it the
closure, the lack of any viable solution
or even a political horizon, the crumbling
economic conditions, the closing in
of Palestinian residents through an
orchestrated policy of confiscation,
demolition, fines, and taxation, all
contribute to a state of insecurity and fear
of the future. Nothing is offered, given, or
provided, hence people revert to snatch,
68
The Jerusalem Show IV is curated
by Jack Persikian and organised by AlMa’mal Foundation for Contemporary
Art in partnership with Palestinian Art
Court – al Hoash. The Show will be
launched on Friday, 1 October, with
a performance by Sarah Faruki that
will take place at PADICO- Sai’diya
Road at 17:00, to be followed by a tour
around the other venues. The Show
will run through 9 October 2010, and
will encompass a unique programme
of activities that include organised
exhibition tours, performances, talks,
workshops, and film screenings that
explore Exhaustion in its multifarious
forms and appearances.
69
Note: Please make sure to contact the venue to check whether the programme is still running.
Jerusalem Show IV, Exhaustion through October
9, Swedish Christian Study Center
Al Hoash, tel. 627 3501; Al Ma',mal Foundation,
tel. 628 3457; Centre for Jerusalem Studies at AlQuds University, tel. 628 7517; JEEL Publishing,
tel. 295 1262; St. Saviorur's Church, tel. 626 6609
Friday 8
17:00 BOOK LAUNCH: Via Khan Al Zeit: Home
Sweet Home - Jerusalem by Youmna Chalal &
Jeanno Gaussi in the framework of the Jerusalem
Show IV, Exhaustion through October 9, The
Educational Bookshop
ART
Friday 1
Saturday 9
17:00-18:00 VERNISSAGE: The Jerusalem
Show IV Opening: light composition by Sarah
Faruki, in the framework of the Jerusalem Show
IV, Exhaustion through October 9. PADICO
Services
18:00 - 20:00 Unhinged, performance by Vlatka
Horvat, in the framework of the Jerusalem Show
IV, Exhaustion, The Austrian Hospice
20:00 Exhaustion - triptych (2), performance
by Uriel Barthelemi (Duration: 50mins), In
the framework of the Jerusalem Show IV,
Exhaustion, PADICO Services
18:00 The Jerusalem Show Opening Exhibition
Tour with Jack Persekian, in the framework of the
Jerusalem Show IV, Exhaustion through October
9, PADICO Services
Monday 18
Monday 4
11:00 Inauguration of an art exhibition entitled
"Palestinian in the eyes of young artist – Ninth
Station". Organized by JEEL Publishing/ Filistin
Ashabab and the British council, sponsored by
Al Wataniya Mobile (through 27 October from
9:00 till 15:30 except Thursdays and Friday),
AL Quds University, Abu dies-Jerusalem
18:00 Emerging Artists Exhibition special event,
4th day of the Jerusalem show al Hoash will
Showcase new commissioned art works by
young Palestinian artists, palestinian Art Courtal Hoash
20:00 Performance: Exhaustion - triptych(1),
performance by Uriel Barthelemi- Duration: 30
mins, In the framework of the Jerusalem Show
IV, Exhaustion through October 9, The French
Cultural Center
CONCERTS
Thursday 7
19:00 Alexey Schmitov (Moscow)
Tuesday 5
Music by Bach, Franck, Schmitov, Widor, St.
Saviour's Church
19:00 Exhausted Heroes (Programme 2),
The Jerusaelm Show film programme curated
by Lara Khaldi & Yazan Khalili- Tombez La
Chemise by Roderick Buchanan, (video, 2002)
& Goal Dreams - directed by Jeffrey Saun,
In the framework of the Jerusalem Show IV,
Exhaustion, through October 9, Palestinian Art
Court - al Hoash
the Reedemer
Tuesday 12
Thursday 28
18:00 Musical Concert entitled “We raise hope,”
in cooperation with Sanad, support for local
development, Ad-Dar Hall –Dar Annadwa
19:00 Roman Krasnowsky, music by Bach,
Krasnowsky, Reubke, St. Saviour's Church
FILMS
FILMS
Monday 11
Wednesday 6
19:00 “Miral,” Al Kasaba International Film
Festival, Dar Annadwa- Ad-Dar Hall
19:30 “Arab Shorts,” (Arabic with English
subtitles) Nine curators from nine different Arab
countries selected a wide range of electrifying
young film productions from all over the Arab
world, Willy-Brandt-Center
Thursday 14
TOURS
19:00 Short films screening, Al-Kasaba
International Film Festival, Ad-Dar Hall -Dar
Annadwa
Sunday 3
Friday 15
9:00 The Old City Wall, Meeting Point Centre For
Jerusalem Studies, Centre For Jerusalem studies
19:00 “al Musafer,” Al– Kasaba International Film
Festival, Ad-Dar Hall -Dar Annadwa
Wednesday 6
Thursday 21
19:00 The Tunnel Tour, Meeting Point Centre
For Jerusalem Studies, Centre For Jerusalem
Studies
19:00 Egyptian Film Screening entitled Al
“Thalatha Yastaghelounh,” Ad-Dar Hall – Dar
Annadwa
Sunday 24
Friday 22
14:00 The Armenian Quarter, Meeting Point
Centre For Jerusalem Studies, Centre For
Jerusalem Studies
19:00 Egyptian Film Screening entitled Al
“Thalatha Yastaghelounh,” Ad-Dar Hall – Dar
Annadwa
Saturday 30
PLAYS
10:00 Al-Aqsa Mosque, Meeting point Centre
For Jerusalem Studies, Centre For Jerusalem
Studies
Friday 8
18:30 The Theater Evening performed by: AlHarah Gangs, Women Children Care Center
Tuesday 12
SPECIAL EVENTS
20:00 RIAS chamber choir. The composer
Samir Odeh-Tamimi created together with the
German lyricist Christian Lehnert the impulsive
and electrifying opera “Behind the Wall,” Church
of the Ascension
Al Harah Theatre, 2767758; Bethlehem Peace
Center, tel.2766677; International Centre of
Bethlehem (Dar Annadwa), tel. 277 0047
Wednesday 6
Thursday 14
Friday 15
17:00 The Long and Winding walk, exhibition tour
with Jack Persekian within the framework of the
Jerusalem Show IV, Exhaustion through October
9, Palestinian Art Court - al Hoash
19:00 Oskar Gottlieb Blarr (Düsseldorf Germany) Music by Buxheimer, Arcadelt, Händel,
Bach, Schumann, St. Saviour's Church
16:00 Inauguration of an exhibition entitled
“Bethlehem at Night,” by the Palestinian
photographer Johnny Michael (through
November 9), Dar Annadwa
Thursday 21
19:00 - 21:00 Unhinged, performance by Vlatka
Horvat, In the framework of the Jerusalem Show
IV, Exhaustion, through October 9, Versave Cafe
19:00 Alexander Kellarev, music by J.S. Bach,
St. Saviour's Church
Saturday 23
Thursday 7
20:00 Youth orchestra, Young German and Arab
musicians performing together compositions
from Bach, Mozart and Beethoven, Church of
19:00 The Breakup, performance by Sabreen
Band, a Micheal Rakowitz project (Jerusalem
Show participant), in the framework of the
70
Saturday 30
10:00.Tenth Olive Harvest Festival. Under
the patronage of his Excellency Dr. Salam
Fayyad – Palestinian Prime Minister, Tenth Olive
Harvest Festival on Manger Square organised
by Bethlehem Peace Center, Environmental
Education Center, Bethlehem Chamber
of Commerce & Industry and Bethlehem
Municipality – The festival will feature olives,
olive oil, olive trees, olive wood, soap, traditional
food, tile making, embroidery, Palestinian folkloric
shows., Manger Square ART
CONCERTS
Monday 4
19:00 Musical Concert by the Brazilian Band
“Baião A7,” organised by The Representative
Office of Brazil to the PNA in cooperation with
Bethlehem Peace Center, Manger Square
A. M. Qattan Foundation, tel. 296 0544; Ashtar
Theatre, tel. 298 0037; Al Kasaba Theatre, tel.
296 5292; Ethnographic and Art Museum- Birzeit
University, tel. 298 2976; Franco-German
71
Cultural Center, tel. 298 1922; Khalil Sakakini
Cultural Center, tel. 298 7374
ART
Thursday 21
Sunday 24
18:00 Opening Exhibition “Rukab Street,”
18:00 The German author Thomas Mielke will
read from his historical book “Gilgamesch,”
Reading in German and Arabic, Franco-German
Cultural Center
Presentation of the artwork of Martin Lebioda,
Franco-German Cultural Center
Friday 1
CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES
“QURBAN” by Basheer Sanwar; “KAYAN” (Entity) a
group sculpture exhibition by Ahmad Cannan Khalil
Rayyan, Hamada Mdah, Hasan Khater, Randa Madah,
Ilya Beany Nihad Dabeet, Sana, Farah Bishara, Mervat
Issa, Faten Nastas and Daoud Hayek; “Between Here
and Somewhere Else,” by Helen de Main and Maj
Hasager, “Artist of the month,” Mohammad Al Hawajiri;
“Ramallah – the fairest of them all?,” by Vera Tamari
& Yazid Anani ELECTRONIC EXHIBITIONS at http://
virtualgallery.birzeit.edu/
Tuesday 19
17: 00 Clowns Show “Metapeste,” a crazy French
small circus band for some street theater play,
Al Manara
FILMS
Wednesday 6
10:00 - 15:00 “Ramallah-the fairest of them all?”
curators: Vera Tamari and Yazid Anani (daily
from 10:00 -15:00 pm), The Ethnographic and
Art Museum, Birzeit University
Wednesday 6
13:00 - 15:00 TALK with F. Zahir Mibineh, writer
and curator, Jerusalem Show IV participant,
in the framework of the Jerusalem Show IV,
Exhaustion, International Academy of Art
Palestine
13:00 - 15:00 TALK with Vlatka Horvat, artist and
Jerusalem Show participant , In the framework of
the Jerusalem Show IV, Exhaustion, International
Academy of Art Palestine
Saturday 16
Sunday 17
12:00 - 19:00 Young Artist of the Year 2010,
Young Artist of the Year 2010 (through October
30 daily from 12:00 till 19:00 except Fridays),
Ottoman Court
12:00-19:00 Young Artist of the Year 2010
(through October 30, daily 12:00 till 19:00 except
Fridays), A.M. Qattan Foundation
12:00-19:00 Young Artist Award of the Year 2010
(through October 30, daily from 12:00 till 19:00
except Fridays), Khalil Sakakini Cultural Centre
12:00-19:00 Young Artist of the Year 2010
(through October 30, daily from 12:00 till 19:00
except Fridays), Al-Mahatta Gallery
19:00 “48 Minutes For Palestine,” Ashtar Theatre
Wednesday 20
16:00 - 20:00 Oktoberfest, exhibitions, movies,
children activities, German and French taster
lessons & much more!, Franco-German Cultural
Center
72
TOURS
Sunday 24
9:00 A tour to Jericho City , pace Office
Tuesday 5
Palestinian Association for Cultural Exchange
(PACE), tel. 02 240 6711; Freedom Theatre
tel. 2503345
LITERATURE
Saturday 23
Sunday 17
18:30 Final Ceremony of the 2010 Culture and
Arts Programme, announcing the winners of the
Culture and Arts Programme of the year 2010,
particularly the Young Artist of the Year award and
the Young Writer of the Year award, Al Kasaba
Theatre and Cinematheque
19:00 Freedom Theatre- Gaza Monologues,
Freedom Theatre
TOURS
Sunday 17
9:00 A tour to Sebastiya & Jenin City, Pace Office
TOURS
Sunday 31
9:00 A tour to Ramallah City, Pace Office
Sunday 31
CONFERENCE
18:00 Séminaire Claire Simon: “Coûte que
coûte,” (French with English subtitles), FrancoGerman Cultural Centre
Wednesday 20
18:00 Louz Akhdar the youth literature forum,
Sixth session, Louz Akhdar the youth literature
forum, organized by JEEL Publishing/Filistin
Ashabab in cooperation with Khalil al-Sakakini
Cultural Center, Khalil al-Sakakini Cultural Center
Palestinian Association for Cultural Exchange
(PACE), tel. 02 240 6711
SPECIAL EVENTS
Afternoon-long International Day of Animation
movies, On the occasion of the “International
Day of Animation Movies” the Franco-German
Cultural Center presents animated movies from
Palestine, France and Germany, Franco-German
Cultural Center
Thursday 14
12:00-19:00 Young Artist of the Year 2010
(through October 30, daily from 12:00 till 19:00
except Fridays), Popular Art Centre
9:00 A tour to the city of Hebron , Pace Office
19:00 Ashtar theatre- Gaza Monologues,
Ramallah Cultural Palace
Thursday 28
LITERATURE
Sunday 3
13:00 Ashtar theatre- Memories Of Amal,
Oktoberfest -Taybeh
19:00 In the framework of the Al Kasaba
International Film Festival the Goethe-Institut
presents “The White Ribbon,” (German with
English subtitles), Al Kasaba
18:00 Cinémois Premiers films: “Dans les
cordes,” (French with English subtitles), FrancoGerman Cultural Center
TOURS
Saturday 2
Friday 29
Tuesday 26
17:30 Opening of the Young Artist of the Year
2010 exhibitions (through October 30, daily from
12:00 till 19:00 except Fridays), A.M. Qattan
Foundation
Palestinian Assocciation for Cultural Exchange
(PACE), tel. 02 240 6711
PLAYS
Thursday 14
18:00 CineMemoire Jacques Tati: “Mon oncle,”
French with English subtitles, Franco-German
Cultural Centre
9:00 A tour to the City of Nablus, Pace Office
18:00 Café littéraire, Franco-German Cultural
Centre
Sunday 17
Monday 25
Sunday 10
Wednesday 27
18:00 “Nikolaikirche,” On the occasion of 60
years reunification in Germany: (German with
English subtitles), Franco-German Cultural
Center
18;00 Documentary: “The way back home,”
Franco-German Cultural Centre
Thursday 7
TOURS
PLAYS
Sunday 17
19:00 Ashtar Theatre Gaza- Gaza Monologues,
Shawwa cultural Centre
Palestinian Association for Cultural Exchange
(PACE), tel. 02 240 6711
9:00 United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
and Al Najah National University convencea
medical conference "Adolescents and Youth
Health; development and future challenges,"
Martyr Thafer Al Massri Stadium, Al Najah
National University/ Old Campus
73
Palestinian Group for the Revival of Popular
Heritage
Cinema Jenin
Telefax: 274 7945
Theatre Day Productions
Tel: 585 4513, Fax: 583 4233
[email protected], www.theatreday.org
Al-Jawal Theatre Group
Telefax: 628 0655
Turkish Cultural Centre
Alruwah Theatre
Tel: 626 2626, [email protected]
Tel: 591 0530/1, Fax: 532 3310
[email protected], www.kudusbk.com
Al-Ma’mal Foundation for Contemporary Art
Yabous Productions
Tel: 626 1045; Fax: 626 1372
[email protected], www.yabous.org
Tel: 628 3457, Fax: 627 2312
[email protected]
www.almamalfoundation.org
Tel: 250 2642
[email protected], www.cinemajenin.org
Relief International - Schools Online
Bethlehem Community Based-Learning &
Action Center
Hakoura Center
Tel: 277 7863
Telfax: 250 4773
[email protected], www.hakoura-jenin.ps
Sabreen Association for Artistic
Development
The Freedom Theatre/Jenin Refugee Camp
Tel: 250 3345, [email protected]
Tel: 275 0091, Fax: 275 0092
[email protected], www.sabreen.org
Tent of Nations
British Council- Al Najah University
Tel: 274 3071, Fax: 276 7446
[email protected], www.tentofnations.org
Al-Urmawi Centre for Mashreq Music
Tel: 234 2005, Fax: 234 2004
[email protected], www.urmawi.org
Al-Harah Theatre
Telefax: 276 7758, [email protected]
[email protected], www.alharah.org
Ashtar for Theatre Productions & Training
Telefax: 582 7218
[email protected], www.ashtar-theatre.org
Alliance Française de Bethléem
Telefax: 275 0777, [email protected]
British Council
Anat Palestinian Folk & Craft Center
Tel: 626 7111, Fax: 628 3021
[email protected]
www.britishcouncil.org/ps
Telefax: 277 2024, [email protected]
Arab Educational Institute (AEI)-Open
Windows
Center for Jerusalem Studies/Al-Quds University
Tel: 628 7517
[email protected], www.jerusalem-studies.alquds.edu
Tel: 274 4030, www.aeicenter.org
Artas Folklore Center
Community Action Centre (CAC)
Telefax: 237 5950
[email protected]
www.britishcoumcil.org/ps
The Edward Said National Conservatory of
Music
Cultural Centre for Child Development
Telefax: 274 8726
[email protected], www.birzeit.edu/music
Tel: 238 6290, Fax: 239 7518
[email protected], www.nutaleb.cjb.net
The Higher Institute of Music
Cultural Heritage Enrichment Center
Telefax: 275 2492
[email protected]
www.thehigherinstituteofmusic.ps
Tel. 237 2863, Fax. 237 8275, [email protected]
French Cultural Centre
Tel: 238 5914, Fax: 238 7593
[email protected]
Turathuna - Centre for Palestinian Heritage
(B.Uni.)
Nablus The Culture
Tel: 274 1241, Fax: 274 4440
[email protected], www.bethlehem.edu
Tel: 233 2084, Fax: 234 5325
[email protected], www.nablusculture.ps
Tel: 276 0533, Mobile: 0599 938 0887
[email protected]
Tel: 627 3352, Fax: 627 4547
www.cac.alquds.edu
Badil Centre
Educational Bookshop
Tel: 277 7086
Tel: 627 5858, Fax: 628 0814
[email protected], www.educationalbookshop.com
El-Hakawati Theatre Company
Beit Jala Community Based-Learning
& Action Center
French Cultural Centre
Bethlehem Academy of Music/ Bethlehem
Music Society
Tel: 277 7863
Tel: 583 8836, Mobile: 0545 835 268
[email protected], www.el-hakawati.org
Tel: 628 2451 / 626 2236, Fax: 628 4324
[email protected]
Tel: 277 7141, Fax: 277 7142
Gallery Anadiel
Tel: 276 6677, Fax: 276 4670
[email protected], www.peacenter.org
Al Sanabl Centre for Studies and Heritage
Tel: 297 3101
[email protected], www.alkamandjati.com
Beit Et Tifl Compound
Al Kasaba Theatre and Cinematheque
Issaf Nashashibi Center for Culture &
Literature
Cardinal House
Telefax: 229 3717, [email protected]
www.britsishcouncil.org.ps
Telefax: 276 4778
[email protected], www.cardinalhouse.org
Children Happiness Center
Jerusalem Centre for Arabic Music
Catholic Action Cultural Center
Dura Cultural Martyrs Center
Tel: 627 4774, Fax: 656 2469, [email protected]
Tel: 274 3277, Fax 274 2939
[email protected], www.ca-b.org
Palestinian Art Court - Al Hoash
Centre for Cultural Heritage Preservation
Telefax: 627 3501
[email protected], www.alhoashgallary.org
Tel: 276 6244, Fax: 276 6241
[email protected]
www.bethlehem2000.org/cchp
Palestinian National Theatre
Tel: 628 0957, Fax: 627 6293, [email protected]
Inad Centre for Theatre & Arts
Telefax: 276 6263, www.inadtheatre.org
Public Affairs Office
Tel: 628 2456, Fax: 628 2454
www.uscongen-jerusalem.org
International Centre of Bethlehem-Dar
Annadwa
Sabreen Association for Artistic
Development
Tel: 277 0047, Fax: 277 0048
[email protected], www.annadwa.org
Tel: 532 1393, Fax: 532 1394
[email protected], www.sabreen.org
ITIP Center “Italian Tourist Information
Point”
Sanabel Culture & Arts Theatre
Telefax: 276 0411, [email protected]
Tel: 671 4338, Fax: 673 0993
[email protected]
Palestinian Heritage Center
The Edward Said National
Conservatory of Music
Tel: 627 1711, Fax: 627 1710
[email protected], www.birzeit.edu/music
Al-Kamandjâti Association
Telefax: 222 4811
[email protected], wwww.hebron-france.org
Telefax: 229 1559, [email protected]
Telefax: 581 8232, [email protected]
Tel: 296 0544, Fax: 298 4886
[email protected], www.qattanfoundation.org
Association d’Echanges Culturels HebronFrance (AECHF)
Bethlehem Peace Center
Tel: 628 2811, Fax: 626 4403
A. M. Qattan Foundation
Tel: 256 0280, E-mail: [email protected]
www.sanabl.org, www.sanabl.ps
Tel: 296 5292/3, Fax: 296 5294
[email protected], www.alkasaba.org
British Council- Palestine Polytechnic University
Al-Mada Music Therapy Center
Tel: 241 3196, Fax: 241 3197
[email protected], www.al-mada.ps
Al-Rahhalah Theatre
Telefax: 229 9545, [email protected]
Telefax: 298 8091, [email protected]
Amideast
Tel: 228 3663, [email protected], www.duramun.org
Tel: 240 8023, Fax: 240 8017
[email protected], www.amideast.org
Palestinian Child Arts Center (PCAC)
Tel: 222 4813, Fax: 222 0855
[email protected], www.pcac.net
ArtSchool Palestine
Tel: 295 9837
[email protected], www.artschoolpalestine.com
Yes Theater
Telefax: 229 1559,
www.yestheatre.org, [email protected]
Ashtar for Theatre Production
Tel: 298 0037, Fax: 296 0326
[email protected], www.ashtar-theatre.org
The International Palestinian Youth League
(IPYL)
Baladna Cultural Center
Tel:222 9131, Fax: 229 0652
[email protected], www.ipyl.org
Telfax: 295 8435
BirZeit Ethnographic and Art Museum
Tel. 298 2976, www.virtualgallery.birzeit.edu
British Council
Jericho Community Centre
Tel: 296 3293-6, Fax: 296 3297
[email protected]
www.britishcouncil.org/ps
Telefax: 232 5007
Telefax: 274 2381, 274 2642
[email protected]
www.phc.ps
Jericho Culture & Art Center
Palestinian Group for the Revival of Popular
Heritage
Tel: 232 2417, Fax: 232 2604
Telefax: 232 1047
Carmel Cultural Foundation
Tel: 298 7375, Fax: 298 7374
Municipality Theatre
El-Funoun Dance Troupe
Tel: 240 2853, Fax: 240 2851
[email protected], www.el-funoun.org
Telefax: 274 7945
74
75
First Ramallah Group, Sareyyet Ramallah
Tamer Institute for Community Education
Franco-German Cultural Centre Ramallah
The Edward Said National Conservatory of
Music
Tel: 298 6121/ 2, Fax: 298 8160
[email protected], www.tamerinst.org
Tel: 295 2706 - 295 2690, Fax: 298 0583
[email protected], www.sirreyeh.org
Tel: 298 1922 / 7727, Fax: 298 1923
[email protected], www.ccf-goethe-ramallah.org
Tel: 295 9070, Fax: 295 9071
[email protected], www.birzeit.edu/music
Greek Cultural Centre - “Macedonia”
Telefax: 298 1736/ 298 0546, [email protected]
The Palestinian Circus School
Tel: 0545 - 671 911, 0599 - 926 107
www.palcircus.ps, info@ palcircus.ps
In’ash Al-Usra Society- Center for Heritage
& Folklore Studies
The Palestinian Network of Art Centres
Tel: 240 1123 / 240 2876, Telefax: 240 1544
[email protected], www.inash.org
Tel: 298 0036, 296 4348/9, Fax: 296 0326
[email protected]
Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center
Tel: 298 7374, Fax: 296 6820
[email protected], www.sakakini.org
The Spanish Cultural Center
Manar Cultural Center
Young Artist Forum
Tel. 295 0893, [email protected]
Telefax: 296 7654, [email protected]
Tel: 295 7937, Fax: 298 7598
Mazra’a Qibliyeh Heritage and Tourism
Centre
Telefax: 281 5825, [email protected]
www.geocities.com/mazraaheritage/
Al-Qattan Centre for the Child
Tel: 283 9929, Fax: 283 9949
[email protected]
www.qattanfoundation.org/qcc
Palestinian Association
for Contemporary Art PACA
Arts & Crafts Village
Tel: 296 7601, fax: 295 1849
[email protected], www.pal-paca.org
Telefax: 284 6405
[email protected], www.gazavillage.org
Palestinian Association for Cultural
Exchange (PACE)
Ashtar for Culture & Arts
Tel: 240 7611, Telfax: 240 7610
[email protected], www.pace.ps
Telefax: 283 3565, [email protected]
Popular Art Center
Telefax: 288 4403
Fawanees Theatre Group
Tel: 240 3891, Fax: 240 2851
[email protected], www.popularartcentre.org
Culture & Light Centre
Telefax: 286 5896, [email protected]
Ramallah Cultural Palace
Tel: 298 4704 / 295 2105, Fax: 295 2107
[email protected]
www.ramallahculturalpalace.org
French Cultural Centre
RIWAQ: Centre for Architectural
Conservation
Gaza Theatre
Tel: 286 7883, Fax: 282 8811
[email protected]
Tel: 282 4860, Fax: 282 4870
Tel: 240 6887, Fax: 240 6986
[email protected], www.riwaq.org
Global Production and Distribution
Telefax: 288 4399, [email protected]
Sandouq Elajab Theatre
Dialogpunkt Deutsch Gaza (Goethe-Insitut)
Tel: 296 5638, 295 3206, [email protected]
Tel: 282 0203, Fax: 282 1602
Shashat
Holst Cultural Centre
Tel: 297 3336, Fax: 297 3338
[email protected], www.shashat.org
Tel: 281 0476, Fax: 280 8896, [email protected]
Theatre Day Productions
Sharek Youth Forum
Telefax: 283 6766, [email protected]
Tel: 296 7741, Fax: 296 7742
[email protected], www.sharek.ps
Windows from Gaza For Contemporary Art Mob. 0599 781 227 - 0599 415 045, [email protected]
76
Casanova Hospice (60 rooms; mr; res)
National Hotel (54 rooms; bf; cr; res; cf)
Tel: 627 8880, Fax: 627 7007
www.nationalhotel-jerusalem.com
Holy Land Hotel (105 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res)
Addar Hotel (30 suites; bf; mr; res)
Tel: 626 3111, Fax: 626 0791, www.addar-hotel.com
Alcazar Hotel (38 rooms; bf; mr; res)
Tel: 628 1111; Fax: 628 7360
[email protected], www.jrscazar.com
Tel: 541 2222, Fax: 582 8202
[email protected]
www.jerusalemambassador.com
Jerusalem Hotel (14 rooms; bf; mr; res; live music)
Tel: 628 3282, Fax: 628 3282
[email protected], www.jrshotel.com
New Regent Hotel (24 rooms; bf; mr; res)
Tel: 628 4540, Fax: 626 4023, [email protected]
Grand Hotel (107 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res)
Tel: 274 1602 - 274 1440, Fax: 274 1604
[email protected]
Jerusalem Claridge Hotel (30 rooms; bf; mr; res)
New Swedish Hostel
Tel: 627 7855, Fax: 626 4124, [email protected]
www.geocities.com/swedishhostel
Golden Park Resort & Hotel (Beit Sahour)
Notre Dame Guesthouse (142 rooms, Su, bf, mr,
House of Hope Guesthouse
(74 rooms; bf; mr; res)
Tel: 628 5212, Fax: 628 5214
www.jerusalem-meridian.com
Tel: 627 9777, Fax: 627 9779
[email protected], www.americancolony.com
Jerusalem Panorama Hotel
Tel: 626 5800, Fax: 627 1472
[email protected]
www.austrianhospice.com
(74 rooms; bf; mr; res)
Tel: 628 4887, Fax: 627 3699
[email protected]
www.jerusalempanoramahotel.com
Azzahra Hotel (15 rooms, res)
Hashimi Hotel
Austrian Hospice
Tel: 628 2447, Fax: 628 3960
[email protected], www.azzahrahotel.com
Tel: 628 4410, Fax: 628 4667, [email protected]
Capitol Hotel (54 rooms; bf; mr; res)
Tel: 628 2537, Fax: 628 2401, [email protected]
Knights Palace Guesthouse (50 rooms)
Tel: 628 2561/2, Fax: 626 4352
Tel: 274 2798, Fax: 274 1562
Everest Hotel (19 rooms; bf; mr; res)
New Metropole Hotel (25 rooms; mr; res)
Jerusalem Meridian Hotel
American Colony Hotel(84 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res)
New Imperial Hotel (45 rooms)
Tel: 627 2000, Fax: 627 1530
Tel: 627 2888, Fax: 628 0265
[email protected], www.holylandhotel.com
Tel: 656 4393, Fax: 656 4394
[email protected], www.jerusalemclaridge.com
Ambassador Hotel (122 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res)
Tel: 274 3981, Fax: 274 3540
Casanova Palace Hotel (25 rooms; bf; res)
Legacy Hotel
Tel: 274 2604, Fax: 274 1278
Tel: 628 3846, Fax: 627 7485
(54 rooms; res, bar, pool)
Tel: 277 4414
cr, res, ter, cf, pf)
Tel: 627 9111, Fax: 627 1995
[email protected], www.notredamecenter.org
Tel: 274 2325, Fax: 274 0928
[email protected]
Petra Hostel and Hotel
Tel: 628 6618
Tel: 02-2764739
http://www.houseofpeace.hostel.com/
Pilgrims Inn Hotel (16 rooms; bf; mr; res)
Inter-Continental Hotel (Jacir Palace)
House of Peace Hostel
(250 rooms; su; bf; cf; mr; res)
Tel: 276 6777, Fax: 276 6770
Tel: 627 2416, [email protected]
Ritz Hotel Jerusalem (104 rooms, bf, mr)
Tel: 626 9900, Fax: 626 9910
[email protected]
www.jerusalemritz.com
Lutheran Guesthouse “Abu Gubran”
Tel: 277 0047
Murad Tourist Resort
Rivoli Hotel
Tel: 2759880, Fax:2759881, www.murad.ps
Tel: 628 4871, Fax: 627 4879
Tel: 627 0800, Fax: 627 7739
[email protected], www.jerusalemlegacy.com
Savoy Hotel (17 rooms)
Nativity BELLS Hotel (65 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res)
Tel: 274 8880, Fax: 274 8870
[email protected], www.nativitybellshotel.ps
Metropol Hotel
Tel: 628 2507, Fax: 628 5134
Seven Arches Hotel (197 rooms; bf; mr; res)
Tel: 626 7777, Fax: 627 1319, [email protected]
Tel: 628 2431, Fax: 628 2401, [email protected]
Mount of Olives Hotel (61 rooms; bf; mr; res)
Tel: 628 4877, Fax: 626 4427
[email protected], www.mtolives.com
St. Andrew’s Scottish Guesthouse
“The Scottie” (17 rooms + 1 hostel)
Nativity Hotel (89 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res)
Tel: 277 0650, Fax: 274 4083
[email protected], www.nativity-hotel.com
Golden Walls Hotel (112 rooms)
Mount Scopus Hotel (65 rooms; bf; mr; res)
Christmas Hotel
Tel: 628 2588, Fax: 626 4417
[email protected], www.christmas-hotel.com
Commodore Hotel (45 rooms; cf; mr; res)
Tel: 627 1414, Fax: 628 4701
Gloria Hotel (94 rooms; mr; res)
Tel: 582 8891, Fax: 582 8825, [email protected]
Tel: 627 2416, Fax: 626 4658
[email protected], www.goldenwalls.com
Tel: 628 3366, Fax: 628 8040
Paradise Hotel (166 rooms;cf;bf;mr;res;su;pf)
Tel: 274 4542/3 - 274 4544, [email protected]
Tel: 673 2401; Fax: 673 1711
[email protected], www.scothotels.co.il
St. Antonio Hotel (36 rooms; mr; cf;res;pf)
Tel: 276 6221, Fax: 276 6220
St. George Hotel (144 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res)
Tel: 627 7232 - 627 7323, Fax: 628 2575
[email protected], www.hotelstgeorge-jer.com
Santa Maria Hotel (83 rooms; mr; res)
St. George’s Pilgrim Guest House
Shepherd Hotel
Tel: 276 7374/5/6, Fax: 276 7377, [email protected]
(25 rooms; bf; res)
Tel: 628 3302, Fax: 628 2253, [email protected]
Tel: 274 0656, Fax: 274 4888
[email protected], www.shepherdhotel.com
Strand Hotel (88 rooms; mr; res)
St. Nicholas Hotel (25 rooms; res; mr)
Victoria Hotel (50 rooms; bf; res)
Saint Vincent Guest House (36 rooms)
Tel: 628 0279, Fax: 628 4826
Tel: 274 3040/1/2, Fax: 274 3043
Tel: 627 4466, Fax: 627 4171
Tel: 276 0967/8, Fax: 276 0970
[email protected], www.saintvincentguesthouse.net
Talita Kumi Guest House (22 rooms; res; mr; cf)
Tel: 274 1247, Fax: 274 1847
Alexander Hotel (42 rooms; bf; mr; res)
Zaituna Tourist Village
Tel: 277 0780, Fax: 277 0782
Tel: 275 0655
Al-Salam Hotel (26 rooms; 6f; mr; cf; res)
Tel: 276 4083/4, Fax: 277 0551, [email protected]
Beit Al-Baraka Youth Hostel (19 rooms)
Tel: 222 9288, Fax: 222 9288
Al- Zaytouna Guest House (7 rooms; bf; res; mr)
Beit Ibrahim Guesthouse
Telefax: 274 2016 Deir Hijleh Monastery
Tel: 994 3038, 0505 348 892
Tel: 274 2613, Fax: 274 4250
[email protected]
www.abrahams-herberge.com
Hisham Palace Hotel
Bethlehem Hotel (209 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res)
Inter-Continental Jericho
Tel: 232 2414, Fax: 232 3109
Tel: 277 0702, Fax: 277 0706, [email protected]
(181 rooms; su; bf; cf; mr; res; ter; tb)
Tel: 231 1200, Fax: 231 1222
Bethlehem Inn (36 rooms; bf; mr; res)
Tel: 274 2424, Fax: 274 2423
Jericho Resort Village
Bethlehem Star Hotel (72 rooms; cf; bf; res)
(60 rooms; 46 studios; bf; cf; mr; res)
Tel: 232 1255, Fax: 232 2189
[email protected], www.jerichoresorts.com
Tel: 274 3249 - 277 0285, Fax: 274 1494
[email protected]
78
79
Manarah Hotel
Jerusalem Hotel (22 rooms)
Tel: 232 2444, Fax: 992 3109
Tel: 295 2122, Telefax: 295 3274
[email protected], www.manarahhotel.com.ps
Telepherique & Sultan Tourist Center
Merryland Hotel (25 rooms)
Tel: 298 7176, Telefax: 298 7074
(55 rooms)
Tel: 232 1590, Fax: 232 1598
[email protected]
Rocky Hotel (22 rooms; cf; res; ter)
Tel: 296 4470, Telefax: 296 1871
Pension Miami (12 rooms)
Telefax: 295 6808
Hebron Hotel
Tel: 225 4240 / 222 9385, Fax: 222 6760
e-mail: [email protected]
Ramallah Hotel (22 rooms; bf; mr; res)
Tel: 295 3544, Fax: 295 5029
Regency Hotel (76 rooms; su; res; tb; cf; bf)
Retno Hotel (15 rooms & su; res; mr; gm; sp)
Tel: 225 7389/98, Fax: 225 7388
[email protected], www.hebron-regency.com  
Telefax: 295 0022, [email protected]
Royal Court Suite Hotel (34 suites; res; mr; ter;
cf; pf; i)
Tel: 296 4040, Fax: 296 4047
Al-Qaser Hotel (38 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res)
Tel: 238 5444, Fax: 238 5944, [email protected]
Al-Yasmeen Hotel & Souq
(30 rooms; cf; mr; res)
Tel: 233 3555 Fax: 233 3666
[email protected], www.alyasmeen.com
Adam Hotel (76 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res)
Asia Hotel (28 rooms, res)
Telefax: 238 6220
Tel: 283 8100/200/300, Fax: 283 8400
[email protected]
Chrystal Motel (12 rooms)
Al-Quds In­ter­na­tional Hotel
Telefax: 282 3521/19
Al-Deira (11 suites; cf; mr; res; ter)
(44 rooms; 2 suites; bf; mr; res)
Telefax: 282 5181 - 282 6223 - 286 3481 - 282 2269
Telefax: 233 3281
Al-Waha Hotel
Tel: 287 0880, Fax: 287 0889
Al-A’in Hotel (24 rooms and suites; mr; cf)
Tel: 240 5925 - 240 4353 Fax: 240 4332
[email protected]
Beach Hotel (25 rooms; bf; mr; res)
Al-Bireh Tourist Hotel (50 rooms; cf; res)
Cliff Hotel (24 rooms; bf; mr; res)
Telefax: 240 0803
Tel: 282 3450, Fax: 282 0742
Al-Hajal Hotel (22 rooms; bf)
Commodore Gaza Hotel (120 rooms;su; bf)
Telefax: 282 5492 - 284 8433
Tel: 283 4400, Fax: 282 2623
[email protected]
Telefax: 298 7858
Al Hambra Palace (Hotel Suites and Resort)
Tel: 295 6226 - 295 0031, Fax: 295 0032
www.alhambra-palace-hotel.com
[email protected]
Gaza International Hotel
Al-Murouj Pension (Jifna village) (8 rooms; res)
Grand Palace Hotel
(30 rooms; bf; cf; res; sp)
Tel: 283 0001/2/3/4, Fax: 283 0005
Telefax: 281 0881
(20 rooms; cr; mr; cf; res; internet)
Tel: 284 9498/6468, Fax: 284 9497
[email protected]
Al-Wihdah Hotel
Telefax: 298 0412
Hotel Sea Breeze
Ankars Suites and Hotel (30 suites)
Tel: 283 0277 - 284 2654, Fax: 282 4231
Tel: 295 2602, Fax: 295 2603
[email protected]
Marna House (17 rooms; bf; mr; res)
Tel: 282 2624, Fax: 282 3322
Best Eastern Hotel (91 rooms; cf; res)
Tel: 296 0450, Fax: 295 8452, [email protected]
Palestine Hotel (54 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res)
Tel: 282 3355, Fax: 286 0056
Caesar Hotel (70 rooms & su, 2 mr, cr, res, cf)
Tel: 296 4228, Fax: 296 4229
City Inn Palace Hotel (47 rooms; bf; cf; res)
Tel: 240 8080, Fax: 240 8091
[email protected], www.cityinnpalace.com
Cinema Jenin Guesthouse (7 rooms; 2 su)
Tel: 250 2455
[email protected], www.cinemajenin.org
Grand Park Hotel & Resorts
(84 rooms; 12 grand suites; bf; cf; mr; res; sp; pf)
Tel: 298 6194, Fax: 295 6950, [email protected]
Haddad Hotel & Resort
Tel: 241 7010/1/2, Fax: 241 7013
[email protected]
www.haddadtourismvillage.com
Gemzo Suites
(90 executive suites; cs; mr; pf; gm; res)
Tel: 240 9729, Fax: 240 9532
[email protected], www.gemzosuites.net
Key: su = suites, bf = business facilities; mr = meeting rooms, cr = conference facilities; res = restaurant,
ter = terrace bar; tb = turkish bath, cf = coffee shop; gm = gym; pf = parking facilities, sp = swimming pool
80
Al-Diwan (Ambassador Hotel)
Middle Eastern, French, and Italian
Cuisine
Tel: 541 2213, Fax: 582 8202
Al-Shuleh Grill
Shawerma and Barbecues
Tel: 627 3768
Amigo Emil
Middle Eastern, American, Indian,
and Italian Cuisine
Tel: 628 8090, Fax: 626 1457
Antonio’s (Ambassador Hotel)
Middle Eastern, French, and Italian
Cuisine
Tel: 541 2213
Arabesque, Poolside, and
Patio Restaurants (American
Colony Hotel)
Western and Middle Eastern Menu
Tel: 627 9777, Fax: 627 9779
Four Seasons Restaurants
and Coffee Shop
Barbecues and Shawerma
Tel: 628 6061, Fax: 628 6097
Goodies
Abu Eli Restaurant
Fast Food
Tel: 585 3223
Kan Zaman (Jerusalem Hotel)
Mediterranean Cuisine
Tel: 627 1356
Lotus and Olive Garden
Palace – InterContinental
Bethlehem)
Middle Eastern and Barbecues
Tel: 276 6777, Fax: 276 6154
Middle Eastern Menu
Tel: 626 0034
Nakashian Gallery Café
Tel: 627 8077
La Rotisserie (Notre Dame
Dina Café
Oriental food and Pizza
Tel: 628 2447
Borderline Restaurant Café
Italian and Oriental Menu
Tel: 532 8342
Cafَé Europe
Drinks and Fast Food
Tel: 628 4313
Cardo Restaurant
Continental Cuisine
Tel: 627 0827
Chinese Restaurant
Chinese Cuisine
Tel: 626 3465, Fax: 626 3471
Coffee Bean Café
Sandwiches and Sushi
Tel: 627 0820
Educational Bookshop
Books and Coffee
Books and Coffee
Tel: 627 5858
El Dorada Coffee Shop and
Internet Café
Chocolates, Coffee, and Internet
Tel: 626 0993
Flavours Grill
Continental Cuisine with
Mediterranean Flavour
Tel: 627 4626
Barbecues
Tel: 274 2985
Nafoura
Askidinya
Az-Zahra
Abu Shanab Restaurant
Afteem Restaurant
Armenian and Middle Eastern Food
Tel: 627 3854
Italian and French Cuisine
Tel: 532 4590
Middle Eastern and Barbecues
Tel. 274 1897
(Jerusalem Meridian Hotel)
Middle Eastern and Continental
Cuisine
Tel: 628 5212
Hotel)
Gourmet Restaurant, European
and Mediterranean Menu
Tel: 627 9114, Fax: 627 1995
Armenian Tavern
Versavee Bistro (Bar and Café)
Oriental and Western Food
Tel: 627 6160
Coffee and Pastry
Tel: 626 3344
Papa Andreas
Barbecues
Tel: 628 4433, Fax: 627 5224
Pasha’s
Oriental Food
Tel: 582 5162, 532 8342
Patisserie Suisse
Fast Food and Breakfast
Tel: 628 4377
Pizza House
Pizza and Oriental Pastry
Tel: 627 3970, 628 8135
Oriental Cuisine
Tel: 274 7940
Al-Areeshah Palace (Jacir
Al-Hakura Restaurant
Middle Eastern and Fast Food
Tel: 277 3335
Al- Khaymeh (Jacir Palace –
InterContinental Bethlehem)
Middle Eastern and Barbecues
Tel: 276 6777, Fax: 276 6154
Akkawi Café
Western Menu
Tel: 274 8447
Al Makan Bar (Jacir Palace –
InterContinental Bethlehem)
Snack Bar
Tel: 276 6777, Fax: 276 6770
Balloons
Coffee Shop and Pizza
Tel: 275 0221, Fax: 277 7115
Beit Sahour Citadel
Mediterranean Cuisine
Tel: 277 7771
Bonjour Restaurant and Café
Italian and French Cuisine
Tel: 583 5460
Coffee Shop and Continental
Cuisine
Tel: 274 0406
Rossini’s Restaurant Bar
Dar al-Balad
RIO Grill and Subs
French and Italian Cuisine
Tel: 628 2964
Continental Cuisine
Tel: 274 9073
Shababeek Restaurant
Grotto Restaurant
Mediterranean Menu
Tel: 532 2626, Fax: 532 2636
Barbecues and Taboon
Tel: 274 8844, Fax: 274 8889
Shalizar Restaurant
Golden Roof
Middle Eastern, Mexican, and
Italian Cuisine
Tel: 582 9061
Continental Cuisine
Tel: 274 3224
Il’iliyeh Restaurant
The Gate Café
Continental Cuisine
Tel: 277 0047
Fresh Juices, Coffee, and Tea
Tel: 627 4282
The Patio (Christmas Hotel)
Oriental and European Menu
Tel: 628 2588, 626 4418
82
La Terrasse
Middle Eastern and Continental
Cuisine
Tel: 275 3678
Layal Lounge
K5M - Caterers
Samer
Tomasso’s
Al-Deira
Snack Bar
Tel: 275 0655
Cake and Sweets
Tel: 295 6813
Middle Eastern Food
Tel: 240 5338 - 240 3088
Pizza and Fast Food
Tel: 240 9991/ 2
Continental Cuisine
Tel: 283 8100/200/300
Khuzama
Sangria’s
Tropicana
Al-Marsa
Oriental Cuisine
Tel: 295 0606
French, Italian, and Mexican
Cuisine
Tel: 295 6808
Mexican Cuisine, Oriental Menu,
and Zarb
Tel: 297 5661
Seafood and Desserts
Tel: 286 3599
Shukeireh Restaurant
UpTown (Ankars Suites and
Middle Eastern and Western
Cuisine
Tel: 297 5233
Hotel)
Continental Cuisine
Tel: 295 2602
Shawerma and Barbecues
Tel: 286 8397
Sinatra Cafe and Cheese
Cake
Vatche’s Garden Restaurant
Seafood
Tel: 282 2705, Telefax: 283 3188
European Style
Tel: 296 5966, 296 5988
Al-Sammak
Mariachi (Grand Hotel)
Seafood and Mexican Cuisine
Tel: 274 1440, 274 1602/3
Fax: 274 1604
Palmeras Gastropub
Continental Cuisine
Telefax: 275 6622
Riwaq Courtyard (Jacir Palace
– InterContinental Bethlehem)
Coffee Shop and Sandwiches
Tel: 276 6777, Fax: 276 6754
The Tent Restaurant
(Shepherds’ Valley Village)
Barbecues
Tel: 277 3875, Fax: 277 3876
St. George Restaurant
Oriental Cuisine and Barbecues
Tel: 274 3780, Fax: 274 1833
Tachi Chinese
Chinese Cuisine
Tel: 274 4382
Taboo – Restaurant and Bar
Oriental and Continental Cuisine
Tel: 274 0711, Fax: 274 1862
The Square Restaurant and
Coffee Shop
Mediterranean Cuisine
Tel: 274 9844
Zaitouneh (Jacir Palace –
InterContinental Bethlehem)
Continental Cuisine
Tel: 276 6777, Fax: 276 6154
Al-Nafoura Restaurant
(Jericho Resort Village)
Arabic Cuisine and Barbecues
Tel: 232 1255, Fax: 232 2189
Al-Rawda
Barbecues
Telefax: 232 2555
Green Valley Park
Oriental Cuisine and Barbecues
Tel: 232 2349
Jabal Quruntul
Continental Cuisine (Open Buffet)
Tel: 232 2614, Fax: 232 2659
Seven Trees
Continental Cuisine
Tel: 232 2781
Al Falaha
Msakhan and Taboun
Tel: 290 5124
Awjan
Seafood, Breakfast, and Pizza,
Coffee Shop, Lebanese and Italian
Cuisine
Tel: 297 1776
Andre’s Restaurant
Barbecues and Oriental Cuisine
Tel: 237 1332
Zeit Ou Zaater (Al-Yasmeen
Hotel)
Continental Cuisine and Pastries
Tel: 238 3164, Fax: 233 3666
Ramallah and Al-Bireh (02)
Oriental and Western Cuisine
Tel: 296 3271
Cann Espresso
French and Italian Cuisine
Tel: 296 6477/8
Arabic and Italian Cuisine
Tel: 297 2125
Angelo’s
Mac Simon
Western Menu and Pizza
Tel: 295 6408, 298 1455
Pizza and Fast Food
Tel: 297 2088
Azure Restaurant and Coffee
Shop
Mr. Donuts Café
Continental Cuisine
Telefax: 295 7850
Baladna Ice Cream
Ice Cream and Soft Drinks
Telefax: 295 6721
Birth Café
Barbecues and Fast Food
Tel: 297 6614
Caesar’s (Grand Park Hotel)
Continental Cuisine
Tel: 298 6194
Café De La Paix
Mr. Fish
Stones
Seafood
Tel: 295 9555
Mr. Pizza
Muntaza Restaurant and
Garden
Tal El-Qamar Roof
Barbecues and Sandwiches
Tel: 295 6835
Na3Na3 Café
Chinese Cuisine
Tel: 296 4081
Pizza and Fast Food
Tel: 295 3270
Crispy
Orjuwan Lounge
Fried Chicken and Hamburgers
Tel: 295 6661
Palestinian-Italian Fusion
Tel: 297 6870
Darna
Pesto Café and Restaurant
Continental Cuisine
Tel: 295 0590/1
Italian Cuisine
Tel: 297 0705, 297 0706
Diwan Art Coffee Shop
Pizza Inn
Continental Cuisine
Tel: 296 6483
Pizza and Fast Food
Tel: 298 1181/2/3
Do Re Mi Café (Royal Court)
Continental Cuisine
Tel: 296 4040
Philadelphia Restaurant
Elite Coffee House
Plaza Jdoudna Restaurant
and Park
American Pizza
Tel: 296 6566
Tabash (Jifna Village)
Barbecues
Tel: 281 0932
Osama’s Pizza
Coffee and Sweets
Tel: 2951 7031, 296 6505
Continental Cuisine
Tel: 296 6038
Pizza and Fast Food
Tel: 240 3016, 240 8182
Chinese House Restaurant
European Coffee Shop
Sky Bar (Ankars Suites and
Hotel)
Continental Cuisine
Tel: 295 2602
Italian and Oriental Cuisine
Tel: 296 4606
Italian and Arabic Cuisine
Tel: 296 5169
Italian and American Cuisine
Tel: 297 1028
Donuts and Coffee Shop
Tel: 240 7196
French Cuisine
Tel: 298 0880
Express Pizza
Salim Afandi
La Vista Café and Restaurant
Middle Eastern and Western Menu
Tel: 298 7905/ 6
THE Q GARDEN
Roof-top garden International Cusine
Tel: 295 7727
Seafood
Tel: 286 4385
Coffee Shop Style
Tel: 295 0600
Al-Sammak Ghornata
Zarour Bar BQ
Seafood
Tel: 284 0107
Barbecues and Oriental Cuisine
Tel: 295 6767, 296 4480
Fax: 296 4357
Avenue Restaurant and Café
Shop
Zeit ou Zaater
Pastries and Snacks
Tel: 295 4455
Ziryab
Barbecues, Italian, and Oriental
Cuisine
Tel: 295 9093
Al-Andalus
Middle Eastern and Western
Cuisine
Tel: 282 1272, 283 3769
Middle Eastern Menu
Tel: 295 1999
Middle Eastern Menu
Tel: 295 6020, Fax: 296 4693
Pronto Resto-Café
Italian Cuisine
Tel: 298 7312
Roma Café
Italian Light Food
Tel: 296 4228
Fawanees
Pastries and Fast Food
Tel: 298 7046
Zaki Taki
Rukab’s Ice Cream
Ice Cream and Soft Drinks
Tel: 295 3467
Saba Sandwiches
Sandwiches
Tel: 296 3643
Falafel and Sandwiches
Tel: 296 0116
84
Al-Salam
Zam’n Premium Coffee
The Vine Restaurant
Continental Cuisine
Tel: 295 7727
Al-Molouke
85
Middle Eastern and Western Menu
Tel: 288 2100 / 288 3100
La Mirage
Continental Cuisine and Seafood
Tel: 286 5128
Roots - The Club
Oriental Cuisine
Tel: 288 8666, 282 3999,
282 3777
Saleh Atya Al Shawa
Restaurant - Al-Jala
Barbecues
Tel: 282 5062
East Jerusalem (02) 4M Travel Agency, Tel: 627 1414, Fax: 628 4701, [email protected], www.4m-
East Jerusalem (02) Armenian Museum, Old City,
Tel: 628 2331, Fax: 626 4861, Opening hours:
Mon.- Sat. from 9:00 - 16:30 • Dar At Tifl Museum (Dar At Tifl Association), Near the Orient House,
Tel: 628 3251, Fax: 627 3477 • Islamic Museum (The Islamic Waqf Asso­ciation), Old City, Tel: 628 3313,
Fax: 628 5561, opening hours for tourists: daily from 7:30 - 13:30 • Math Museum, Science Museum, Abu
Jihad Museum for the Palestinian Prisoners Studies - Al-Quds University, Tel: 279 9753 - 279 0606,
[email protected], opening hours Saturday - Wednesday 8:30 - 15:00 • Qalandia Camp Women’s Handicraft
Coop., Telefax: 656 9385, Fax: 585 6966, [email protected]
Ramallah & Al-Bireh (02) Museum of Palestinian Popular Heritage - In’ash el Usra, In’ash el
Usra society, Al-Bireh, Tel: 240 2876, Fax: 240 1544, Opening hours: daily from 8:00 - 15:00 except Fridays •
Ramallah Museum, Al-Harajeh St., Across from Arab Bank, Old Town, Ramallah, Telefax: 295 9561,
open daily from 8:00 - 15:00 except friday and Saturday • The Birzeit University Ethnographic and Art
Museum Tel: 298 2976, [email protected], Opening hours: daily from 10:00 - 15:00 except for Fridays and Sundays
Bethlehem (02) Al-Balad Museum for Olive Oil Production, Tel: 274 1581, Opening hours: 8:00-14:30
Monday through Saturday • Baituna al Talhami Museum, (Folklore Museum) Arab Women’s Union,
Tel: 274 2589, Fax: 274 2431, Opening hours: daily from 8:00 - 13:00/ 14:00 - 17:00 except for Sundays and
Thursdays afternoon • Bethlehem Peace Center Museum, Tel: 276 6677, Fax: 274 1057, [email protected],
www.peacenter.org , Opening hours: daily from 10:00-18:00 except Sundays from 10:00 - 16:00 •
Natural History Museum, Telefax:02-276 5574, [email protected], www.eecp.org • The International
Nativity Museum, Tel: 276 6585, Fax: 274 2421 • Palestinian Ethnographic Museum,
Tel: 276 7467, Fax: 276 0533, [email protected], Opening hours: daily from 9:00 - 17:00 • Palestinian Heritage
Center, Telefax: 274 2381, [email protected], www.palestinianheritagecenter.com
Gaza (08) Al Mathaf, Tel: 285 8444, [email protected], www. almathaf.ps
East Jerusalem (02) Car Rental • Car & Drive, Tel: 656 5562/3 • Dallah Al-Barakah, Tel: 656 4150 •
Good Luck, Tel: 627 7033, Fax: 627 7688 • Green Peace Rent A Car Ltd., Telefax: 585 9756 • Jerusalem
Car Rental & Leasing ltd., Tel: 582 2179, Fax: 582 2173 • Orabi, Tel: 585 3101 • Petra, Tel: 582 0716,Taxis
Abdo,Tel: 585 8202 (Beit Hanina), Tel: 628 3281 (Damascus Gate) • Al-Eman Taxi & Lemo Service, Tel:
583 4599 - 583 5877 •Al-Rashid, Tel: 628 2220 • Al-Aqsa, Tel: 627 3003 • Beit Hanina, Tel: 585 5777 • Holy
Land, Tel: 585 5555 • Imperial, Tel: 628 2504 • Jaber - Petra, Tel: 583 7275 - 583 7276 • Khaled Al-Tahan,
Tel: 585 5777 • Mount of Olives, Tel: 627 2777 • Panorama, Tel: 628 1116 • Tourist Trans­por­tation Abdo
Tourist, Tel: 628 1866 • Jerusalem of Gold, Tel: 673 7025/6 • Kawasmi Tourist Travel Ltd., Tel: 628 4769,
Fax: 628 4710 • Mount of Olives, Tel: 627 1122 • Mahfouz Tourist Travel, Tel: 628 2212, Fax: 628 4015
Bethlehem (02) Car Rental Murad, Tel: 274 7092 • Nativity Rent a Car, Tel: 274 3532, Fax: 274 7053 Taxis
Asha’b, Tel: 274 2309 • Beit Jala, Tel: 274 2629 • Al Fararjeh Taxi - 24 Hours, Tel: 275 2416
Hebron (02) Car Rental Holy Land, Tel: 222 0811 • Taxis Al-Asdiqa’, Tel: 222 9436 • Al-Itihad, Tel: 222 8750
Jericho (02) Taxis Petra, Tel: 232 2525
Nablus (09) Car Rental Orabi, Tel: 238 3383 • Taxis Al-Ittimad, Tel: 237 1439 • Al-Madina, Tel: 237 3501
Ramallah & Al-Bireh (02) Car Rental Good Luck, Tel: 234 2160 • Orabi, Tel: 240 3521 • Petra,
Tel: 295 2602 • TWINS, Tel: 296 4688 • Taxis Al-Bireh, Tel: 240 2956 • Al-Masyoun Taxi, Tel: 295 2230 •
Al-Salam, Tel: 295 5805 • Al-Wafa, Tel: 295 5444 • Al-Itihad, Tel: 295 5887 • Hinnawi Taxi, Tel: 295 6302
• Omaya, Tel: 295 6120 • SAHARA Rent a Car Co., Tel: 297 5317/8 • Shamma’ Taxi Co., Tel: 296 0957
Gaza Strip (08) Car Rental Al-Ahli, Tel: 282 8534 • Al-Farouq, Tel: 284 2755 • Imad, Tel: 286 4000
• Luzun, Tel: 282 2628 • Taxis Al-Nasser, Tel: 286 1844, 286 7845 • Al-Wafa, Tel: 284 9144 - 282 4465 •
Azhar, Tel: 286 8858 • Midan Filastin, Tel: 286 5242
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travel.com • Abdo Tourist & Travel, Tel: 628 1865, Fax: 627 2973, [email protected] • Aeolus Tours,
Tel: 0505 635 5496, Fax: 656 5823, [email protected] • Albina Tours Ltd., Tel: 628 3397, Fax: 628 1215,
[email protected]; [email protected], www.albinatours.com • Alliance Travel Solutions, Tel: 581
7102, Fax: 581 7103, [email protected], www.alliancetravel-jrs.com • Arab Tourist Agency (ATA),
Tel: 627 7442, Fax: 628 4366,[email protected] • Atic Tours & Travel Ltd., Tel: 628 6159, Fax: 626 4023,
[email protected], www.atictour.com • Awad & Co. Tourist Agency, Tel: 628 4021, Fax: 628 7990, admin@
awad.tours.com, www.awad-tours.com • Aweidah Bros. Co., Tel: 628 2365, Fax: 628 2366, aweidah@netvision.
net.il, www.aweidahtours.com • Ayoub Caravan Tours, Tel: 628 4361, Fax: 628 5804 [email protected] •
B. Peace Tours & Travel, Tel: 626 1876, Fax: 626 2065, [email protected] • Bible Land Tours,
Tel: 627 1169, Fax: 627 2218, [email protected] • Blessed Land Tours, Tel: 628 6592, Fax: 628 5812, blt@
blessedlandtours.com, www.blessedlandtours.com • Carawan Tours and Travel, Tel: 628 1244, Fax: 628 1406,
[email protected], www.carawan-tours.com • Daher Travel, Tel: 628 3235, Fax: 627 1574, [email protected],
www.dahertravel.com • Dajani Palestine Tours, Tel: 626 4768, Fax: 627 6927, [email protected] • Dakkak
Tours Agency, Tel: 628 2525, Fax: 628 2526, [email protected] • Egythai Int. Tours and Travel, Tel:
628 1184, Fax: 628 4701, [email protected] • Gates of Jerusalem Travel Agency, Tel: 234 4365, Fax: 234
3835, [email protected] • George Garabedian Co., Tel: 628 3398, Fax: 628 7896, [email protected] • GEMM
Travel, Tel: 628 2535/6, [email protected] • Golden Dome Company for Hajj& Umra Services,
Tel: 628 0770, Fax: 628 5912 • Guiding Star Ltd., Tel: 627 3150, Fax: 627 3147, [email protected], www.
guidingstarltd.com • Holy Jerusalem Tours & Travel, Tel: 540 1668; Fax: 540 0963, info@holyjerusalemtours.
com, www.holyjerusalemtours.com • Holy Land Tours, Tel: 532 3232, Fax: 532 3292, [email protected]
• J. Sylvia Tours, Tel: 628 1146, Fax: 628 8277, [email protected] • Jata Travel Ltd., Tel: 627 5001,
Fax: 627 5003, [email protected] • Jiro Tours, Tel: 627 3766, Fax: 628 1020, [email protected], www.
jirotours.com • Jordan Travel Agency, Tel: 628 4052, Fax: 628 7621 • Jerusalem Orient Tourist Travel,
Tel : 628 8722, Fax: 627 4589, [email protected] • JT & T, Tel: 628 9418, 628 9422, Fax: 628 9298, jtt@bezeqint.
net.il, www.jttours.com • KIM’s Tourist & Travel Agency, Tel: 627 9725, Fax: 627 4626, [email protected],
www.kimstours.com • Lawrence Tours & Travel, Tel: 628 4867, Fax: 627 1285, [email protected] •
Lourdes Tourist & Travel Agency, Tel: 627 5332, Telefax: 627 5336, [email protected] • Middle
East Car Rental, Tel: 626 2777, Fax: 626 2203 • Mt. of Olives Tours Ltd., Tel: 627 1122, Fax: 628 5551
[email protected], www.olivetours.com • Nawas Tourist Agency Ltd., Tel: 628 2491, Fax: 628 5755
• Nazarene Tours and Travel, Tel: 627 4636, Fax: 627 7526 • Near East Tourist Agency (NET),
Tel: 532 8706, Fax: 532 8701, [email protected], www.netours.com • O.S. Hotel Services, Tel: 628
9260, Fax: 626 4979, [email protected] • Overseas Travel Bureau, Tel: 628 7090, Fax: 628 4442, otb@
netvision.net.il • Royal Orient Tours & Travel, Tel: 626 4181/2, Fax: 626 4186, [email protected] •
Safieh Tours & Travel Agency, Tel: 626 4447, Fax: 628 4430, [email protected] • Samara
Tourist & Travel Agency, Tel: 627 6133. Fax: 627 1956, [email protected] • Season Travel
ltd., Tel: 627 7552, Fax: 627 7564, [email protected], www.season-travel.com • Shepherds Tours
& Travel, Tel: 6284121- 6287859, Fax: 6280251, [email protected], www.shepherdstours.com
• Shweiki Tours Ltd., Tel: 673 6711, Fax: 673 6966 • Sindbad Travel Tourist Agency, Tel: 627 2165, Fax:
627 2169, [email protected], www.Sindbad-Travel.com • Siniora Star Tours, Tel: 628 6373, Fax: 628 9078,
[email protected] • Terra Sancta Tourist Co, Tel: 628 4733, Fax: 626 4472 • The Pioneer Links Travel
& Tourism Bureau, Tel: 626 1963, Fax: 628 4714, www.pioneer-links.com • Tony Tours Ltd., Tel: 244 2050,
Fax: 244 2052, [email protected] • United Travel Ltd., Tel: 583 3614, Fax: 583 6190, [email protected],
www.unitedtravelltd.com • Universal Tourist Agency, Tel: 628 4383, Fax: 626 4448, [email protected], www.
universal-jer.com • William Tours & Travel Agency, Tel: 623 1617, Fax: 624 1126, [email protected] •
Yanis Tours & Travel, Telefax: 627 5862, [email protected] • Zatarah Tourist & Travel Agency, Tel:
627 2725, Fax: 628 9873, [email protected]
Bethlehem (02) Angels Tours and Travel, Tel: 277 5813, Fax: 277 5814, [email protected], www.
angelstours.com.ps • Arab Agency Travel & Tourism, Tel: 274 1872, Fax: 274 2431, tourism@aca-palestine.
com, www.aca-palestine.com • Crown Tours & Travel Co. Ltd., Tel: 274 0911, Fax: 274 0910, [email protected], www.crown-tours.com • Four Seasons Co. Tourism & Travel, Tel: 277 4401, Fax: 277 4402,
[email protected] • Friendship Travel & Tourism, Tel: 277 7967, Fax: 277 7987, [email protected]
• Gloria Tours & Travel, Tel: 274 0835, Fax: 274 3021, [email protected] • Golden Gate Tours & Travel,
Tel: 276 6044, Fax: 276 6045, [email protected] • Kukali Travel & Tours, Tel: 277 3047, Fax: 277 2034,
[email protected] • Laila Tours & Travel, Tel: 277 7997, Fax: 277 7996, [email protected], www.Lailatours.com
• Lama Tours International, Tel: 274 3717, Fax: 274 3747, [email protected] • Millennium Transportation,
TeleFax: 676 7727, 050-242 270 • Mousallam Int’l Tours, Tel: 277 0054, Fax: 277 0054, [email protected]
• Nativity Travel, Tel: 274 2966, Fax: 274 4546 • Sansur Travel Agency, Tel: 274 4473, Telefax: 274 4459
• Sky Lark Tours and Travel, Tel: 274 2886, Fax: 276 4962, [email protected] • Terra Santa Tourist
Co., Tel: 277 0249 Fax: 277 0250 • Voice of Faith Tours, Tel: 275 70 50 Fax: 275 70 51, [email protected],
www.gmtravel.co.il
Beit Jala (02) Guiding Star Ltd., Tel: 276 5970, Fax: 276 5971, [email protected]
Beit Sahour (02) Alternative Tourism Group, Tel: 277 2151, Fax: 277 2211, [email protected], www.atg.ps •
Brothers Travel & Tours, Tel: 277 5188, Fax: 277 5189, [email protected], www.brostours.com • Magi
Tours, Telefax: 277 5798, [email protected]
Hebron (02) AL-Afaq for Travel & Umrah,
Telefax: 221 1332, [email protected] • Al Amir
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Tours, Telefax: 221 2065, [email protected] • Alkiram Tourism, Tel: 225 6501/2, Fax: 225 6504,
[email protected] • Al-Haya Travel & Tourism, Tel: 229 3108, Fax: 229 7496 • Al-Salam Travel and
Tours Co., Tel: 221 5574, Fax: 223 3747 • Arab Nisr Travel & Tourism, Tel: 221 5970/1, Fax: 229 2730/1,
[email protected] • Sabeen Travel Tourism, Telefax: 229 4775, [email protected]
Ramallah (02) Al-Asmar Travel Agency, Telefax: 295 4140, 296 5775, [email protected] • Al Awdah
Tourism & Travel, Tel: 295 2597, Fax: 295 2989 • All Middle East Pilgrimage and Tourism Coordination
Office, Tel:  289 8123, Fax: 289 9174, [email protected], www.ameptco.com • Amani Tours, Telefax: 298
7013, [email protected] • Anwar Travel Agency, Tel: 295 6388, 295 1706, [email protected] • Arab Office
for Travel & Tourism, Tel: 295 6640, Fax: 295 1331 • Arseema for Travel & Tourism, Tel: 297 5571,
Fax: 297 5572, [email protected] • Atlas Tours & Travel, Tel: 295 2180, Fax: 298 6395, www.atlasavia.com •
Darwish Travel Agency, Tel: 295 6221, Fax: 295 7940 • Golden Globe Tours, Tel: 296 5111, Fax: 296 5110,
[email protected] • Issis & Co., Tel: 295 6250, Fax: 295 4305 • Jordan River Tourist & Travel Agency,
Tel: 298 0523, Fax: 298 0524 • Kashou’ Travel Agency, Tel: 295 5229, Fax: 295 3107, [email protected] •
Mrebe Tours & Travel, Tel: 295 4671, Fax: 295 4672, [email protected] • Paltour Travel and Tourism,
Tel: 229 63662, Fax: 296 1373, [email protected] • The Pioneer Links Travel & Tourism Bureau, Tel: 240
7859, Fax: 240 7860, [email protected] • Travel House For Travel & Tourism, Tel: 295 7225, Fax:
296 2634, www.travelhouse.ps • Rahhal Tours & Travel, Tel: 242 3256, Fax: 242 9962, [email protected],
www.rahhalyours.ps • Raha Tours and Travel, Tel: 296 1780, Fax: 296 1782, www.rahatt.com, www.rahatravel.
com • Ramallah Travel Agency, Tel: 295 3692, Fax: 295 5029, [email protected], www.kaoud.org • Reem
Travel Agency, Tel: 295 3871, Fax: 295 3871 • Royal Tours, Tel: 296 6350/1, Fax: 296 6635 • Sabeen Travel
Tourism, Telefax: 240 5931, [email protected] • Salah Tours, Tel: 295 9931, Fax: 298 7206 • Shbat &
Abdul Nur, Tel: 295 6267, Fax: 295 7246 • Skyway Tourist Agency, Telefax: 296 5090
Consulates
East Jerusalem (02) Apostolic Delegation, Tel: 628 2298, Fax: 628 1880 • Belgium, Tel: 582 8263,
Fax: 581 4063, [email protected] • European Community - Delegation to the OPT, Tel: 541 5888,
Fax: 541 5848 • France, Tel: 591 4000, Fax: 582 0032 • Great Britain, Tel: 541 4100, Fax: 532 2368, britain.
[email protected], www.britishconsulate.org • Greece, Tel: 582 8316, Fax: 532 5392 • Italy, Tel: 561 8966,
Fax: 561 9190 • Spain, Tel: 582 8006, Fax: 582 8065 • Swedish Consulate General, Tel: 646 5860, Fax:
646 5861 • Turkey, Tel: 591 0555-7, Fax: 582 0214, [email protected], www.kudus.bk.mfa.gov.tr •
United States of America, Tel: 622 7230, Fax: 625 9270
Representative Offices to the PNA
Tulkarem (09) Faj Tours, Tel: 2672 486, Fax: 2686 070, [email protected]
Ramallah & Al-Bireh (02) Argentina Representative Office to the PA, Tel: 241 2848/9, Fax: 241
2850, [email protected] • Australia, Tel: 242 5301, Fax: 240 8290, [email protected], ausaid@palnet.
com • Austria, Tel: 240 1477, Fax: 240 0479 • Brazil, Tel: 241 3753, Fax: 241 3756, admin-office@rep-brazil.
org • Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Tel: 240 58 60/1, Fax: 2405862, representacionenpalestina@yahoo.
com, [email protected] • Canada, Tel: 297 8430, Fax: 297 8446, [email protected]
• Chile, Tel: 296 0850, Fax: 298 4768, [email protected] • Cyprus, Tel: 240 6959, Fax: 240 4897 • Czech
Republic, Tel: 296 5595, Fax: 296 5596 • Denmark, Tel: 240 2330, Fax: 240 0331 • Egypt, Tel: 297 7774, Fax:
297 7772 • Finland, Tel: 240 0340, Fax: 240 0343 • Germany, Tel: 298 4788, Fax: 298 4786, gerrprof@palnet.
com • Hungary, Tel: 240 7676, Fax: 240 7678, [email protected] • India, Tel: 290 3033, Fax: 290 3035, roi_
[email protected] • Ireland, Tel: 240 6811/2/3, Fax: 240 6816, [email protected] • Japan, Tel: 241 3120, Fax:
241 3123 • Jordan, Tel: 297 4625, Fax: 297 4624 • Mexico, Tel: 297 5592, Fax: 297 5594, ofimex-ramala@palnet.
com • Norway, Tel: 234 5050, Fax: 234 5079, [email protected] • Poland, Tel: 297 1318, Fax: 297 1319 • Portugal,
Tel: 240 7291/3, Fax: 240 7294 • Republic of Korea, Tel: 240 2846/7, Fax: 240 2848 • Russian Federation,
Tel: 240 0970, Fax: 240 0971 • South Africa, Tel: 298 7355, Fax: 298 7356, [email protected], www.sarep.org •
Sri Lanka, Telefax: 290 4271 • Switzerland, Tel: 240 8360, [email protected] • The Netherlands,
Tel: 240 6639, Fax: 240 9638 • The People’s Republic of China, Tel: 295 1222, Fax: 295 1221, chinaoffice@
palnet.com
Gaza Strip (08) Al-Muntazah Travel Agency, Tel: 282 7919 Fax: 282 4923 • Halabi Tours and Travel
Gaza Strip (08) Egypt, Tel: 282 4290, Fax: 282 0718 • Germany, Tel: 282 5584, Fax: 284 4855 • Jordan,
Jenin (04) Asia Travel Tourism, Telefax: 243 5157, www.asia-tourism.net • Al Sadeq Travel & Tourism,
Tel: 243 8055, Fax: 243 8057, email: [email protected]
Nablus (09) Dream Travel & Tourism, Tel: 233 5056, Fax: 237 2069 • Firas Tours, Tel: 234 4565, Fax: 234
7781 • Top Tour, Tel: 238 9159, Fax: 238 1425, [email protected] • Yaish International Tours,
Telefax: 238 1410, 238 1437, [email protected]
Co., Tel: 282 3704, Fax: 286 6075, [email protected], www.halabitours.ps • Maxim Tours, Tel: 282 4415,
Fax: 286 7596 • National Tourist Office, Tel: 286 0616, Fax: 286 0682, [email protected] • Time Travel
Ltd., Tel: 283 6775, Fax: 283 6855, [email protected]
Tel: 282 5134, Fax: 282 5124 • Morocco, Tel: 282 4264, Fax: 282 4104 • Norway, Tel: 282 4615, Fax: 282 1902
• Qatar, Tel: 282 5922, Fax: 282 5932 • South Africa, Tel: 284 1313, Fax: 284 1333 • Tunisia, Tel: 282 5018,
Fax: 282 5028
United Nations and International Organisations
Air France and KLM, Tel: 02-628 2535/6 (Jerusa­lem), Tel: 08-286 0616 (Gaza) • Air Sinai – Varig, Tel:
02-627 2725 (Jerusalem), Tel: 08-282 1530 (Gaza) • bmi – Nazarene Aviation, Tel: 02-626 0896/898, Fax: 02626 0958 (Jerusalem) • British Airways, Tel: 02-628 8654, Fax: 02-628 3602 (Jerusalem) • Cyprus Airways,
Tel: 02-240 4894 (Al-Bireh) • Delta Airlines, Tel: 02-296 7250, Telefax: 02-298 6395 (Ramallah) • Egypt Air,
Tel: 02-298 6950/49 (Ramallah), Tel: 08-282 1530 (Gaza) • Emirates Airlines, Tel: 02-296 1780 (Ramallah) •
Gulf Air, Tel: 09-238 6312 (Nablus), Tel: 02-295 3912/3 (Ramallah) • Iberia, Tel: 02-628 3235/7238 (Jerusalem)
• Lufthansa, Tel: 09-238 2065 (Nablus) • Malev-Hungarian Airlines, Tel: 02-295 2180 (Ramallah) • Middle
East Car Rental, Tel: 02-295 2602, Fax: 295 2603 • PAL AVIATION, Tel. 02-296 7250 Telefax: 02-298 6395
(Ramallah) • Palestine Airlines, Tel: 08-282 2800 (Gaza), Tel: 08-282 9526/7 (Gaza) • Qatar Airways, Tel:
02-240 4895 (Al-Bireh), Tel: 08-284 2303 (Gaza), Royal Jordanian Airways, Tel: 02-240 5060 (Ramallah),
Tel: 08-282 5403/13 (Gaza) • SN Brussels Airlines, Tel: 02-295 2180 (Ramallah), SAS Scandinavian
Airlines, Tel: 02-628 3235/7238 (Jerusalem) • South African Airways, Tel: 02-628 6257 (Jerusalem) • Swiss
International Airlines, Tel: 02-295 2180 (Ramallah) • Tunis Air, Tel: 02-298 7013 (Ramallah), Tel: 08-286
0616 (Gaza) • Turkish Airlines, Tel: 02-277 0130 (Bethlehem)
Airport Information Gaza International Airport, Tel: 08-213 4289 • Ben Gurion Airport, Tel: 03-972 3344
FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Jerusalem (02), TeleFax: 532 2757, 532 1950,
[email protected], www.fao.org • IBRD - International Bank for Reconstruction and De­vel­opment (World
Bank), West Bank (02), Tel: 236 6500 Fax: 236 6543, Gaza (08) Tel: 282 4746 Fax: 282 4296, firstletterofsurname.
[email protected] • IMF, - International Monetary Fund, www.imf.org, Gaza (08), Tel: 282 5913; Fax:
282 5923, West Bank (02), Tel: 236 6530; Fax: 236 6543 • ILO - International Labor Organization, Jerusalem
(02), Tel: 626 0212, 628 0933, Fax: 627 6746, [email protected], Ramallah (02), Tel: 290 0022, Fax: 290
0023, Nablus (09), Tel: 237 5692 - 233 8371, Fax: 233 8370 • OHCHR - Office of the High Commissioner for
Human Rights, Gaza (08), Tel: 282 7021, Fax: 282 7321, [email protected], West Bank Office, Telefax: 02-296
5534 • UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, Ramallah (02),
Tel: 295 9740, Fax: 295 9741, [email protected] • UNFPA - United Nations Population Fund, Jerusalem
(02), Tel: 581 7292, Fax: 581 7382, [email protected], www.unfpa.ps • UNICEF - United Nations Children’s
Fund, Jerusalem (02), Tel: 583 0013,4 Fax: 583 0806, Gaza (08), Tel: 286 2400, Fax: 286 2800, Jerusalem@
unicef.org • UNIFEM - United Nations Development Fund for Women, Telefax: 628 0450, Tel: 628 0661 •
UN OCHA - United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Tel: 582 9962/02 - 582 5853,
Fax: 582 5841, [email protected], www.ochaopt.org • UNRWA - United Nations Relief and Works Agency,
Gaza (08), Tel: 677 7333, Fax: 677 7555, [email protected], West Bank (02), Tel: 589 0401, Fax: 532 2714,
[email protected] • UNSCO - Office of the Special Coordinator for the Middle East
Peace Process, Tel: 08-284 3555/02-568 7276, Fax: 08-282 0966/02-568 7288, [email protected], www.
unsco.org • UNTSO - United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, Jerusalem (02), Tel: 568 7222 - 568
7444, Fax: 568 7400, [email protected] • WFP - World Food Programme, Gaza (08), Tel: 282
7463, Fax: 282 7921, Jerusalem (02), Tel: 540 1340, Fax: 540 1227, [email protected] • WHO - World
Health Organization, Jerusalem (02), Tel: 540 0595, Fax: 581 0193, [email protected], Gaza (08), Tel: 282
2033, Fax: 284 5409, [email protected] • World Bank, Tel: 236 6500, Fax: 236 6543
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (PAPP)
4 Al-Ya’qubi Street, Jerusalem, Tel: 02 6268200, Fax: 02 6268222
E-mail: [email protected] / URL: http://www.papp.undp.org
88
89
Ramallah (02) Al Rafah Microfinance Bank, Tel: 297 8710, Fax: 297 8880 • Arab Bank, (Al-Balad)
Bethlehem (02) Hospitals Al-Dibis Maternity, Tel: 274 4242 • Al-Hussein Government, Tel: 274
Tel: 298 6480, Fax: 298 6488 • Arab Bank, (Al-Bireh), Tel: 295 9581, Fax: 295 9588 • Arab Bank, (Al-Manara)
Tel: 295 4821, Fax: 295 4824 • Arab Land Bank, Tel: 295 8421 • Bank of Palestine, Tel: 298 5921, Fax: 298
5920 • Bank of Palestine, (Al-Irsal) Tel: 296 6860, Fax: 296 6864 • Arab Palestinian Investment Bank,
Tel: 298 7126, Fax: 298 7125 • Beit Al-Mal Holdings, Tel: 298 6916, Fax: 298 6916 • HSBC Bank Middle
East, Tel: 298 7802, Fax: 298 7804 • Cairo-Amman Bank, Tel: 298 3500, Fax: 295 5437 • The Center for
Private Enterprise Development, Tel: 298 6786, Fax: 298 6787 • Commercial Bank of Palestine, Tel:
295 4141, Fax: 295 4145 • Cooperative Development Unit, Tel: 290 0029, Fax: 290 0029 • Deutsche
Ausgleichsbank (DTA), Tel: 298 4462, Fax: 295 2610 • The Housing Bank, Tel: 298 6270, Fax: 298 6276 •
International Islamic Arab Bank, Tel: 240 7060, Fax: 240 7065 • Jordan Bank, Tel: 295 8686, Fax: 2958684
• Jordan-Gulf Bank, Tel: 298 7680, Fax: 298 7682 • Jordan-Kuwait Bank, Tel: 240 6725, Fax: 240 6728 •
Jordan National Bank, Tel: 295 9343, Fax: 295 9341 • Palestine International Bank (PIB), Tel: 298 3300,
Fax: 298 3333 • Palestine Investment Bank, Tel: 298 7880, Fax: 298 7881 • Palestine Islamic Bank, Tel:
295 0247, Fax: 295 7146 • Union Bank, Tel: 298 6412, Fax: 295 6416
Hebron (02) Hos­pi­tals Amira Alia, Tel: 222 8126 • Al-Ahli, Tel: 222 0212 • Al-Meezan, Tel: 225 7400/1
• Al-Za’tari, Tel: 222 9035 • Mohammed Ali, Tel: 225 3883/4 • Shaheera, Tel: 222 6982 • St. John’s
Opthalmic, Tel: 223 6047 • The Red Crescent, Tel: 222 8333 • Yattah Governmental Hospital, Tel:
227 1017, 227 1019 Clinics and Centers Red Crescent Society, Tel: 222 7450 • UPMRC, Tel: 222 6663
Gaza Strip (08) Arab Bank, Tel: 08-286 6288, Fax: 282 0704 • Arab Bank (Al-Rimal), Tel: 282 4729, Fax:
282 4719 • Arab Bank, (Khan Younis) Tel: 205 4775, Fax: 205 4745 • Arab Bank (Karny), Tel: 280 0020, Fax:
280 0028 • Arab Land Bank, Tel: 282 2046, Fax: 282 1099 • Bank of Palestine Ltd., Tel: 282 3272, Fax:
286 5667 • Beit Al-Mal Holdings, Tel: 282 0722, Fax: 282 5786 • Cairo-Amman Bank, Tel: 282 4950, Fax:
282 4830 • Commercial Bank of Palestine, Tel: 282 5806, Fax: 282 5816 • The Housing Bank, Tel: 282
6322, Fax: 286 1143 • Jordan Bank, Tel: 282 0707, Fax: 282 4341 • Palestine Development Fund, Tel:
282 4286, Fax: 282 4286 • Palestine International Bank (PIB), Tel: 284 4333, Fax: 284 4303 • Palestine
Investment Bank, Tel: 282 2105, Fax: 282 2107
East Jerusalem (02) Hospitals Augusta Victoria, Tel: 627 9911 • Dajani Maternity, Tel: 583 3906
• Hadassah (Ein Kerem), Tel: 677 7111 • Hadassah (Mt. Scopus), Tel: 584 4111 • Maqassed, Tel: 627 0222
• Red Crescent Maternity, Tel: 628 6694 • St. John’s Opthalmic, Tel: 582 8325 • St. Joseph, Tel: 582
8188 • Clinics and Centers Arab Health Center, Tel: 628 8726 • CHS Clinics, Tel: 628 0602/0499 • Ibn
Sina Medical Center, Tel: 540 0083/9, 532 2536 • Jerusalem First Aid Clinic, Tel: 626 4055 • Medical
Relief Womens, Health Clinic, Tel: 583 3510 • Palestinian Counseling Center, Tel: 656 2272, 656
2627 • Peace Medical Center, Tel: 532 7111, 532 4259 • Red Crescent Society, Tel: 586 056 • Spafford
Children’s Clinic, Tel: 628 4875 • The Austrian Arab Commu­nity Clinic (AACC), Tel: 627 3246 • The
Jerusalem Princess Basma Center for Disabled Children, Tel: 628 3058
1161 • Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation, Tel: 274 4049-51, Fax: 274 4053 • Caritas Baby, Tel:
275 8500, Fax: 275 8501 • Mental Health, Tel: 274 1155 • Shepherd’s Field Hospital, Tel: 277 5092 • St.
Mary’s Maternity, Tel: 274 2443 • The Holy Family, Tel: 274 1151, Fax: 274 1154 Clinics and Centers
Beit Sahour Medical Center, Tel: 277 4443 • Bethlehem Dental Center, Tel: 274 3303
Jericho (02) Hospitals Jericho Government, Tel: 232 1967/8/9 Clinics and Centers UPMRC, Tel:
232 2148
Nablus (09) Hospitals Al-Aqsa Hospital and Medical Center, Tel: 294 7666 • Al-Ittihad, Tel: 237
1491 • Al-Watani, Tel: 238 0039 • Al-Zakat Hospital (TolKarem), Tel: 268 0680 • Aqraba Maternity
Home, Tel: 259 8550 • Rafidia, Tel: 239 0390 • Salfit Emergency Governmental Hospital, Tel: 251 5111
• Specialized Arab Hospital, Tel: 239 0390 • St. Luke’s, Tel: 238 3818 • UNRWA Qalqilia Hospital
(Qalqiliya), Tel: 294 0008 Clinics and Centers Al-Amal Center, Tel: 238 3778 • Arab Medical Center,
Tel: 237 1515 • Hagar (Handicapped Equipment Center), Tel: 239 8687 • Red Crescent Society, Tel:
238 2153 • UPMRC, Tel: 283 7178
Ramallah & Al-Bireh (02) Hospitals Arabcare Hospital, Tel: 298 6420 • AL-Karmel
Maternity Home, Tel: 247 1026 • Al-Mustaqbal Hospital, Tel: 240 4562 • AL-Nather Maternity
Hospital, Tel: 295 5295 • Ash-Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Tel: 298 8088 • Birziet Maternity Home,
Tel: 281 0616 • Care Specialized Dental Center, Tel: 297 5090 • Khaled Surgical Hospital, Tel:
295 5640 • Ramallah Government Hospitals, Tel: 298 2216/7 • Red Crescent Hospital, Tel: 240
6260 Clinics and Centers Arab Medical Center, Tel: 295 4334 • Arabcare Medical Center,
Tel: 298 6420 • Emergency & Trauma Center, Tel: 298 8088 • Harb Heart Center, Tel: 296 0336
• Modern Dental Center, Tel: 298 0630 • National Center for Blood Diseases “Hippocrates”
Thalessemia and Hemophilia Center, Tel: 296 5082, Fax: 296 5081 • Patients’ Friends Society
K. Abu Raya Re­ha­bili­tation Centre, Tel: 295 7060/1 • Palestinian Hemophilia Association-PHA,
Telefax: 297 5588 • Peace Medical Center, Tel: 295 9276 • Red Crescent Society, Tel: 240 6260 • UPMRC,
Tel: 298 4423, 296 0686
Gaza Strip (08) Hospitals Al-Ahli Al-Arabi, Tel: 286 3014 • Dar Al-Salam, Tel: 285 4240 • Nasser, Tel:
205 1244 • Shifa, Tel: 286 2765 Clinics and Centers Arab Medical Center, Tel: 286 2163 • Beit Hanoun
Clinic, Tel: 285 8065 • Dar Al-Shifa, Tel: 286 5520 • Hagar (Handicapped Equipment Center), Tel: 284
2636 • St. John’s Opthalmic, Tel: 284 8445 • UPMRC, Tel: 282 7837
Nablus (09) Arab Bank, Tel: 238 2340, Fax: 238 2351 • Arab Bank (Askar), Tel: 231 1694, Fax: 234 2076
• Arab Land Bank, Tel: 238 3651, Fax: 238 3650 • Bank of Palestine Ltd., Tel: 238 2030, Fax: 238 2923 •
Bank of Palestine (Al-Misbah), Tel: 231 1460, Fax: 231 1922 • Cairo-Amman Bank, Tel: 238 1301, Fax: 238
1590 • Commercial Bank of Palestine, Tel: 238 5160, Fax: 238 5169 • The Housing Bank, Tel: 238 6060,
Fax: 238 6066 • Jordan Bank, Tel: 238 1120, Fax: 238 1126 • Jordan-Gulf Bank, Tel: 238 2191, Fax: 238
1953 • Jordan-Kuwait Bank, Tel: 237 7223, Fax: 237 7181 • Jordan-National Bank, Tel: 238 2280, Fax:
238 2283 • Palestine Investment Bank, Tel: 238 5051, Fax: 238 5057 • Palestine International Bank,
Tel: 239 7780, Fax: 239 7788
City
Fire
Ambulance
Police
Jerusalem*
CHS (Old City Jerusalem)
Bethlehem
Gaza
Hebron
Jericho
Jenin
Nablus
Ramallah
Child helpline Palestine
Tulkarem
Qalqilia
02-6282222
101 / 050-319120
02-274 1123
08-2863633
102/22 28121-2-3
02-232 2658
04-250 1225
09-238 3444
02-295 6102
(121)free line
09-267 2106
09-294 0440
101
100
101 / 02-274 4222
101 / 08-2863633
101
101 / 02-232 1170
101 / 04-250 2601
101 / 09-238 0399
101 / 02-240 0666
02-274 8231
08-2863400
100
02-232 2521
04-250 1035
09-238 3518
02-295 6571
101 / 09-267 2140
101 / 09-294 0440
09-267 2161
09-294 22730
Telephone Services
East Jerusalem (02) Arab Bank (Al-Ezzarieh), Tel: 279 6671, Fax: 279 6677 • Arab Bank (Al-Ram), Tel:
234 8710, Fax: 234 8717 • Center for Development Consultancy (CDC), Tel: 583 3183, Fax: 583 3185 •
Commer­cial Bank of Palestine, Tel: 279 9886, Fax: 279 9258
Bethlehem (02) Arab Bank, Tel: 277 0080, Fax: 277 0088 • Arab Land Bank, Tel: 274 0861 • Cairo-
Amman Bank, Tel: 274 4971, Fax: 274 4974 • Jordan National Bank, Tel: 277 0351, Fax: 277 0354 • Bank
of Palestine Ltd., Tel: 276 5515/6, Fax: 276 5517 • Palestine Investment Bank, Tel: 277 0888, Fax: 277 0889
Hebron (02) Al-Ahli Bank, Tel: 222 4801/2/3/4 • Arab Bank, Tel: 222 6410, Fax: 222 6418 • Bank of
Palestine Ltd., Tel: 225 0001/2/3 • Cairo-Amman Bank, (Wadi Al-Tuffah) Tel: 222 5353/4/5 • Cairo-Amman
Bank, (Al-Balad) Tel: 222 9803/4 • Cairo-Amman Bank, (The Islamic Branch) Tel: 222 7877 • Islamic
Arab Bank, Tel: 2254156/7 • Islamic Bank, Tel: 222 6768 • Jordan Bank, Tel: 222 4351/2/3/4 • Palestine
Investment Bank, Tel: 225 2701/2/3/4 • The Housing Bank, Tel: 225 0055
90
Bezeq
Wake up calls
Talking Clock
Time around the world
Vocal Information
Pager Service
Repeat call
Last call
Call waiting
Call forwarding
General information
Services
Corporate services
1475
1455
1975
1705
*41
*42
*70
*71
199
164
166
Paltel
Wake up calls
Free fax service
Follow me
(forwarding calls)
Phone book
Maintenance
Information
Internet maintenance
175
167
Tourism and An­tiq­uities
Police
72*
144
166
199
167
Border Crossings
Calls from Overseas
Dial access code, international
country code (972) or (970),
area code (without the zero),
desired number
91
Bethlehem
Gaza
Jericho
Nablus
Allenby Bridge
Arava Border
Eretz Crossing
Rafah Border
Sheikh Hussien
02-277 0750/1
08-282 9017
02-232 4011
09-385 244
02-994 2302
08-630 0555
08-674 1672
08-673 4205
04-609 3410
As Palestine continues its struggle for independence, it has already begun to acquire sovereign cyberspace recognition.
A difficult three-year international debate resulted in the “Occupied Palestinian Territory” being officially assigned the
two-letter suffix, “.ps,” in the ISO 3166-1 list for the representation of names of countries or territories. The successful
struggle to attain country code 970 led the way for the Internet Corporation for Associated Names and Numbers
(ICANN), the international corporation that manages the country code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD) system on the
Internet, on 22 March 2000, to assign Palestine its unique country identifier, “.ps,” in line with other sovereign nations
such as .fr for France and .ca for Canada.
Arts and Culture: Ashtar Theater www.ashtar-theatre.org, Al Kasaba Theatre and Cinematheque
www.alkasaba.org, Al-Ma’mal Foundation for Contemporary Art www.almamalfoundation.org, Al Mathaf
www.almathaf.ps, ArtSchool Palestine www.artschoolpalestine.com, Baha Boukhari www.baha-cartoon.
net, Educational Bookshop www.educationalbookshop.com, Family Net www.palestine-family.net, Khalil
Sakakini Cultural Center (Ramallah) www.sakakini.org, Paltel Virtual Gallery (Birzeit University) www.
virtualgallery.birzeit.edu, Rim Banna www.rimbanna.com, RIWAQ: Centre for Architectural Conservation
www.riwaq.org, Sunbula (fair trade/crafts) www.sunbula.org, The International Center of Bethlehem
(Dar Annadwa) www.annadwa.org, The Popular Arts Centre www.popularartcentre.org, Shammout.
com www.shammout.com, Sumud www.sumud.net, Pal­es­tinian Pottery www.pal­es­tinianpottery.com, A.M.
Qattan Foundation www.qattanfoundation.org, The Musical Intifada www.docjazz.com, El-funoun www.
el-funoun.org, Sabreen Association for Artistic Development www.sabreen.org, The Virtual Gallery
www.virtualgallery.birzeit.edu, Al Rowwad Theatre Centre www.alrowwad.virtualactivism.net
Business and Economy: Arab Pal­es­tinian In­vestment Com­pany www.apic-pal.com, Hebron Store
www.hebron-store.com, Jawwal www.jawwal.ps, Massar www.massar.com, The Palestinian Economic
Council for De­vel­opment and Re­con­struction (PECDAR) www.pecdar.org, Pal­es­tinian Securities
Ex­change, Ltd. www.p-s-e.com, Pal­es­tine Development and In­vestment Ltd. (PADICO) www.padico.
com, Paltel Group. www.paltelgroup.ps, Tatweer Information Technology & Business Solutions www.
progress.ps, Wataniya Palestine www.wataniya-palestine.com
Directories, ISPs and Por­tals: Jaffa Net www.weino.com, Hadara www.hadara.ps, Al-Quds Network
www.alqudsnet.com, Masader, the Palestinian NGO Portal www.masader.ps, Palseek www.palseek.
com, Paleye www.paleye.com, Al Buraq www.alburaq.net, The Palestinian NGO Portal www.masader.ps
Government: PLO Negotiations Affairs Department (NAD) www.nad-plo.org, PNA www.pna.gov.ps,
Ministry of Higher Edu­cation www.mohe.gov.ps, Min­is­try of In­dus­try www.industry.gov.ps, Ministry of
Education www.moe.gov.ps, Min­is­try of Health www.moh.gov.ps, Government Computer Center www.
gcc.gov.ps, Orient House www.orienthouse.org
Health and Mental Health: Augusta Victoria Hospital www.avh.org, Gaza Community Mental Health
Programme www.gcmhp.net, Ministry of Health www.moh.gov.ps, Palestinian Counseling Center
www.pcc-jer.org, Red Crescent Society www.palestinercs.org, Spafford Children's Clinic www.spaffordjerusalem.org, UNFPA www.unfpa.ps, Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees www.upmrc.org,
Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation www.basr.org, Palestine Medical Council www.pmc.ps
Human Rights Organisations: Al Haq www.alhaq.org, Defence for Children International Palestine
Section www.dci-pal.org, Human Rights and Good Governance Secretariat in the oPt www.humanrights.
ps, LAW - The Pal­es­tinian Society for the Pro­tection of Human Rights and the Environment
www.lawsociety.org, The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights www.pchrgaza.org, BADIL www.badil.org,
Women’s Affairs Technical Committee (WATC) www.pal-watc.org; www.pcc-jer.org
Research and News: Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem www.arij.org, JMCC www.jmcc.org,
PASSIA www.passia.org, MIFTAH www.miftah.org, AMIN www.amin.org, Al Quds www.alquds.com, Al
Ayyam www.al-ayyam.com, WAFA www.wafa.pna.net, Al-Hayyat Al-Jadedah www.alhayat-j.com, Palestine
Wildlife Society www.wildlife-pal.org, 93.6 RAM FM www.ramfm.net, Ramallah on line www.ramallahonline.
com, Ramattan Studios www.ramattan.com, Palestine Family Net www.palestine-family.net, Palestine
Mapping Centre www.palmap.org, The Palestine Monitor www.palestinemonitor.org, The Palestinian
Center for Rapprochement between People www.imemc.org, OCHA- The United Nations Office
for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs www.ochaopt.org, Englishpal www.englishpal.ps, Ma'an
News Agency www.maannews.net/en
Tourism: Ministry of Tourism www.travelpalestine.ps, Arab Hotel Association www.palestinehotels.
com, Holy land Incoming Tour Operators Association www.holylandoperators.com, Diyafa Hospitality
Management Consultants Group www.diyafa.ps
Travel Agencies: Al­ter­native Tourism Group www.patg.org, Atlas Aviation www.atlasavia.com, Awad
Tourist Agency www.awad-tours.com, Aweidah Tours www.aweidah.com, Blessed Land Travel www.
blessedland.com, Crown Tours www.crown-tours.com, Daher Travel www.dahertravel.com, Guiding Star
www.guidingstarltd.com, Halabi Tours and Travel Co. www.halabitours.ps, Jiro Tours www.jirotours.com, Mt.
of Olives Tours www.olivetours.com, Pioneer Links www.pioneer-links.com, Raha Tours www.rahatravel.
com, Ramallah Travel Agency www.kaoud.org, United Travel www.unitedtravelltd.com, Universal Tourist
Agency www.universal-jer.com
Universities: Birzeit University www.birzeit.edu, An-Najjah University www.najah.edu, Al-Quds
University www.alquds.edu, Al-Azhar University (Gaza) www.alazhar-gaza.edu, Arab American University
www.aauj.edu, Bethlehem University www.bethlehem.edu, Hebron University www.hebron.edu, The
Islamic University (Gaza) www.iugaza.edu, Palestine Polytechnic www.ppi.edu
92
Map Source: PalMap - GSE
© Copyright to GSE and PalMap
Map source, designer and publisher:
GSE - Good Shepherd Engineering & Computing
P.O.Box 524, 8 Jamal Abdel Nasser St.,
Bethlehem, West Bank, Palestine
Tel: +970 2 2744728 / Fax: +970 2 2751204 (Also +972)
[email protected] / www.gsecc.com / www.palmap.org
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97
The Last Word
Good News!
Gaza Children. Photo by Basel Maqousi.
I believe that there are about five or so of us left in Palestine. Previously,
our number was considerably larger, but with time, many of us could not
take it any longer and have joined the masses. Whether it’s a condition
from birth or a result of nurture since childhood, the fact remains that it
has become part of our character, which makes it difficult for us to change.
As if we were a clandestine group of people, we do not often express our
views in public for fear of being ridiculed or thought of as buffoons. Yet we
cannot hide our identity; we insist on seeing the positive side of things,
even to hope against hope. We are the last of the optimists in Palestine!
Personally, I am lucky to have chosen a career where looking for the
positive, and even publishing some of it, is a major part of my job. I have the
greatest respect for those who work in human rights organisations, whose
job is to document violations, or those who work in hospital emergency
rooms receiving injured people on a daily basis; I simply cannot do this.
As a hopeless optimist, however, I am in a position to look for and discover
good news about Palestine. Although the truth is that I really do not have
to try very hard since, believe it or not, there is so much of it out there.
I am not referring to the impressive multi-million-dollar projects being
developed or even the impressive growth of the West Bank economy;
rather I’m talking about the achievements of people from all walks of life
that just bring pride and joy to all. I am talking about students who excel
in matriculation exams or higher education with very limited resources
and poor living conditions, much to the pride and joy of their families and
friends. I am referring to young, talented Palestinian musicians who perform
both locally and internationally and in so doing warm the hearts of their
audiences; or artists who proudly exhibit their art works and sportsmen and
women who are finally shaking off years of hibernation and complacency
and starting to learn to be true ambassadors of Palestine. A farmer who
clings to his land and fights off squatters (commonly referred to as settlers)
is also good news and spreads the hope that all is not lost. The list is indeed
long, but I can tell you that during the past twenty-five years of my working
life, I have met many wonderful people and heard numerous unbelievable
Palestinian success stories that were sufficient enough to boost anybody’s
morale for two lifetimes! Good news, in fact, is out there, but we often
choose to ignore it and dwell on the negative. At the same time, however,
I do realise that bad news is also out there and that it does travel fast, but
I suppose it is a personal prerogative to see what we want to see.
With the yoke of occupation and the pressures of daily life, Palestinians
need to be constantly reminded of their good people and their great
achievements. This would give them the hope they need to continue the
journey to achieve the ultimate good news of peace and justice.
Sani P. Meo
Publisher