By MELANIE LIDMAN 09/19/2012 23:20 Municipality survey: “Dramatic rise” seen following opening of rail line, 1 m. people expected to visit Old City during Succot. ust ahead of Jerusalem’s busiest period for visitors from Yom Kippur through Succot, the municipality has released a new survey pointing to a large increase in the amount of foot […]

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Volume 17, No.174, September 2012 CONTENTS 4 Arabs’ share of climate taxes (editorial by Najib Saab) 20 Energy from waste (cover story) 26 Green economy in Morocco 28 Will hunting be permitted in Lebanon this season? 30 Qatari students map mangroves 32 Tunisia’s wetlands 40 Whale Valley: secrets in the Egyptian wilderness 44 Bolivia’s salt […]

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West Bank’s farming sector struggling to overcome water shortage, economic crisis Reuters Published: 09.24.12 Once a mainstay of the local economy, Palestinian agriculture in the rocky West Bank is in decline as farmers struggle to protect their livelihoods and their lands. Though cut off from key markets, the pressure to keep farming is strong. But […]

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September 20, 2012 01:18 AM By Najib Saab Measured by the increase in gross domestic product over the past 50 years, Arab countries did well, as average GDP per capita increased by about four-fold. While this was reflected in a higher standard of living, it did not necessarily lead to a better quality of life, […]

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Foreign ministry says talks held with Palestinian Authority over plan to develop gas field off coast of blockaded strip. Last Modified: 23 Sep 2012 srael has held discussions with the Palestinian Authority (PA) over plans to develop a gas field off the coast of the blockaded Gaza Strip, Israel’s foreign ministry said in a report. […]

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September 22, 2012 01:49 AM By Osama Habib BEIRUT: An international firm has estimated the volume of gas in Lebanon’s south-west corner to be close to 25 trillion cubic feet, valued by experts to be worth over $40 billion. “In the 3,000 square kilometers we are covering in the south-west corner of Lebanon, near the […]

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by Ruth Eglash 18 September 2012 Print Email Jerusalem – At first glance, Ein Prat, one of the many natural and historic sites hidden in the northern Judean Desert, looks like any other picnic site around the world. Large wooden tables and long benches are located strategically under shady trees on either side of a […]

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RAMALLAH, September 23, 2012 (WAFA) – The Water Authority report, published Sunday, highlighted the severe water shortages and acute water quality problems which continue to negatively affect the lives and livelihoods of millions of Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. PWA report, titled ‘Palestinian Water Sector: Status Summary Report, Sept. 2012,’ will […]

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New Open Space Conservation Foundation to oversee restoration, rehabilitation projects Shay Pauzner, Calcalist Published: 09.23.12, The new Israel Open Space Conservation Foundation (OSCF) officially began its operations last week, after the government approved a NIS 70 million (roughly $18 million) budget for its operations. The foundation, which was formed by proxy of the Land Administration […]

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September 25, 2012 01:14 AM By Elias Sakr ABOARD MV POLAR DUKE: One of several offshore fields located in the southwest corner of Lebanon’s Exclusive Economic Zone could contain 12 trillion cubic feet of gas, Energy Minister Gibran Bassil said Monday. Lebanon has nearly completed a three-dimensional seismic survey of half of its 22,000-square-meter offshore […]

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by Hana Namrouqa | Sep 23, 2012 AMMAN — The Jordan Valley Authority (JVA) on Sunday announced a plan to double the amount of treated wastewater used for irrigation purposes in the Jordan Valley by 2020. JVA Secretary General Saad Abu Hammour said that the authority will maximise the use of treated wastewater for irrigating […]

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Botanical Gardens seek public’s help in funding unique project meant to save 400 endangered species of plants and flowers Amir Ben-David Published: 09.22.12 The Jerusalem Botanical Gardens is currently promoting an ongoing initiative meant to protect about 400 endangered species of flowers and plants in Israel, called “Adopt a plant.” Israel is home to some […]

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Nature and Parks Authority reneges on prior consent, claiming ecological peril and political interests. By Zafrir Rinat | Sep.13, 2012 The Israel Nature and Parks Authority has reneged on its consent to construction of the separation fence near the Palestinian village of Battir, south of Jerusalem. It is the first time a government agency has […]

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The use of alternatives to petroleum and coal-based energy could save Israel from dependence on Arab oil, increasing air pollution and worries over finite energy sources. So why isn’t the government offering more support? By Neta Ahituv Sep.14, 2012 On the outskirts of Kibbutz Ma’aleh Gilboa stands one of the few wind turbines in Israel. […]

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editor’s note: There are presently no second or third party reports similar to this one. Al-Shabaka Policy Brief 21 August 2012 Victor Kattan * Economic Issues Overview A Freedom of Information request with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) by Al-Shabaka has led to the release of new documents on Gaza’s gas fields, and […]

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by JT | Sep 16, 2012 | 23:12 AMMAN — The Kingdom’s oil bill rose by 34.1 per cent in July this year, reaching JD2.75 billion, compared with around JD2.047 billion at the end of the same period in 2011. The cost of imported oil derivatives accounted for 53 per cent of the Kingdom’s energy […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 09/14/2012 05:31 By enabling high-volume exports, gov’t would effectively be “granting private consortiums astronomical profits,” party says The Green Movement Party is calling upon government officials to reject the recommendations of the Zemach Commission to allow for export of over 50 percent of Israel’s natural gas. Such a decision would “cause unprecedented […]

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By Reuters Once the mainstay of the local economy, Palestinian agriculture in the rocky West Bank is in decline, with farmers struggling to protect both their livelihoods and their lands. Deprived of water, cut off from key markets and held back by hidebound traditions, farmers in Beit Ummar town can only look on with a […]

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by Hana Namrouqa | Sep 16, 2012 | 22:51 AMMAN — Considered environmental and health hazards as well as eyesores, 300 abandoned vehicles scattered across the capital’s streets will soon be towed away as part of an ongoing effort to clean up the city, according to a Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) official. The cars, which […]

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New car purchase taxes put a dent in fuel-efficient small cars market Ynetnews Published: 09.16.12 The Treasury’s new tax reform introduced several articles that have to do with green taxes applied to the import and sales of cars, but some say they might deal a blow to the smaller cars market. The reform has set […]

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