Haaretz
By Michael J. Caduto
News from the Middle East usually describes conflicts and their root causes in
politics, religious fundamentalism and the struggle between Israelis and
Palestinians for a homeland. Threats to peace and security are indeed a
backdrop for daily existence, but that is only part of the story.
Haaretz
July 25, 2007
By Eli Ashkenazi
A tiny wasp that has ravaged eucalyptus groves in the Mediterranean Basin, Africa and the Far East, and which arrived in Israel a few years ago, has proven anew that no organism is eternally dominant. Israeli researchers have found a predator one millimeter in length called Closterocerus, which thwarts the wasp's advance.
Continue reading "Israelis discover bug that saves eucalyptus groves" »
Al Jazeera (English)
July 15, 2007
By Farid Barsoum in the Nile Delta, Egypt
Some Egyptians have to walk
many kilometres to get clean water
A large puddle provides the only drinking water for many residents of Brulus on the Nile Delta. The water is putrid.
Friends of the Earth Middle East
July 10, 2007
Six Mediterranean countries make the splash to clean up their Rivers
On Sunday, July 15th, six (6) Mediterranean countries will simultaneously JUMP into their local Rivers, joining the European bi-annual BIG JUMP event that calls on governments to take action in cleaning up their local waterways.
Ma'an News
July 12, 2007
BETHLEHEM - On July 15th, residents of six Mediterranean countries will simultaneously jump into their local rivers, joining its counterpart, the European bi-annual 'Big Jump' event, that calls on governments to clean up their local waterways.
Al-Hayat
July 14, 2007
Ibrahim Muhammad
Visiting Amman, Doha, Dubai, Algeria, Damascus and other capitals of the Arab world, the Arab visitor's eye first catches the cities' breathtaking horizontal expansion. The most notable aspect of this development is probably the underdevelopment of the basic infrastructure that should accompany it. Furthermore, in countries such as Egypt, the Syrian coast and northern Africa, this expansion goes on at the expense of fertile agricultural lands that are rare in most Arab countries.
Continue reading "Urban development in the Arab world: disrespectful of elements of life" »
Jordan Times
July 8, 2007
By Mohammad Ghazal
AMMAN - Jordan will begin supplying the West Bank city of Jericho with all electricity needs at preferential prices before the end of this year, an official said on Saturday.
Jordan Times
May 23, 2007
Hani Hazaimeh
AMMAN -- A four-year project implemented by Jordan in cooperation with CARE International, has been educating citizens since 2003 on the best practices in water management to provide sustainable livelihoods for Jordan Valley communities.
The Euro-Med Participatory Water Resources Scenarios Project (EMPOWERS), which concludes next month, also worked to bridge the communication gap between government officials and local citizens on key issues of concern, such as poverty and unemployment.
Continue reading " 'EMPOWERS' qualifies citizens for better water management" »
Middle East Times
May 26, 2007
Marian Houk
JERUSALEM -- Movement was reported this week on an Israeli government decision to authorize a long-term agreement to purchase gas from Gaza's offshore wells at market price from the Palestinian Authority. The Israeli cabinet made the decision to go ahead with negotiations to buy Palestinian gas on April 29.
The exploitation of the offshore gas field is expected to generate much-needed revenue for the Palestinians. Some analysts argue, however, that the main advantages of the deal are not only financial - it is hoped that the mutual dependency that will be created by the deal will help create an atmosphere more conducive to peace.
Haaretz
May 27, 2007
By Avi Bar-Eli
Yossi Maiman avers that the Israeli-Egyptian natural gas consortium EMG can sell Israel gas for less than British Gas can.
Maiman owns an interest in Merhav, which owns an interest in EMG. He argues that if the state decided to buy and market natural gas itself, it must hold a tender and allow potential suppliers to compete over price.
Continue reading "Maiman: EMG can sell Israel as much gas as BG can, for less money" »
Arab Environment Monitor
February 20, 2007
Press Release from EMPOWERS
The EMPOWERS Partnership has now available the 'Guidelines for Improved Local Water Governance'
The Guidelines consolidate the experience gained over the past 4 years in developing and testing a range of participatory planning tools for local water development. These have been developed through action research with a wide range of stakeholders in Egypt, Palestine, and Jordan.
Continue reading "Guidelines for Improved Local Water Governance in 3 Arab Countries" »
Arab Environment Monitor
February 20, 2007
Derek Sands
UPI
CAIRO -- Egypt may soon harness the same physics that a child uses to burn an ant with a magnifying glass, to generate electricity from the sun, a move that reflects the growth of Concentrating Solar Power technology worldwide.
Haaretz / Jordan Times
February 15, 2007
By Margaret Beckett
[listserve note: published in both Jordan Times and Haaretz, unusual for the region]
All too often the news is dominated by conflict and disagreement. Then a threat of such magnitude comes along that it forcefully reminds us of our common humanity - in other words just how much all of us, whatever our background, creed or colour hold in common. For our generation that threat is climate change.