Message from the Editor

By: Bettina Ezbidi

The case numbers are rising in Palestine, yet apparently, we fear COVID-19 much less than we did at the beginning of the pandemic. It seems that we respond more to novelty than to actual danger. The same can be said about global warming. We are becoming increasingly careless about the warning signs and appeals by activists and scientists. With this issue, This Week in Palestine hopes to highlight the alternatives to fossil fuel and greenhouse gas–emitting energy sources. Solar energy in particular is a viable option in a country that enjoys plenty of sunshine. Photovoltaic projects have proliferated since we published our last issue on this topic, and the hope is that the trend will continue.

In this issue, you will find articles that highlight the ongoing efforts and trends in renewable energy and associated job creation projects. We would like to express our special gratitude to Massader – a PIF Company, the Bronze sponsor of this issue, and the following companies and institutions that have chosen to use TWiP as a communication tool: ABAAD Contracting Company, CARE Palestine–West Bank and Gaza, Cowater (GROW) and its sponsor the Government of Canada, DirecTech Renewable Energy, Sunergy for Renewable Energy Solutions, and The National Bank. As always, great thanks go to the institutions and individuals who have authored articles. Special mention goes to Dr. Hasan Abu-Libdeh, the chairman of the Federation of Renewable Energies, who has made great contributions in terms of content, and also to H.E. Zafer Milhem, chairman of the Palestinian Energy and Natural Resources Authority; Per Unheim, the director and strategic initiatives and governance specialist at Cowater International; Hamdi Refat S. Tahboub, the CEO of the Palestinian Electricity Regulatory Council; and businessman, Talal Nasereddin, the chair of Birzeit Pharmaceutical Company and The National Bank. In our In the Limelight section we feature Dr. Hasan Abu-Libdeh as our Personality of the Month, The Parisian by Isabella Hammad as the Book of the Month, and Safaa Odah as Artist of the Month. Visit our Exhibition of the Month – Silent Garden with works by Bashar Alhroub, explore the Ottoman train tunnel presented in Where to Go, or attend the listed events, some of which are presented online.

From the entire team at TWiP, we wish you a good start to a fall that hopefully will be better than predicted. Stay safe and healthy!

Warm regards, Bettina Ezbidi lives in Ramallah and teaches cello at the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music.