This monthly newsletter is issued at a time of continuing tragedies and rising violence on our region. We deplore all forms of violence and mourn together for the so many innocent lives lost. Our response is to pledge to double our efforts yet again in the search for regional peace, justice and sustainability. Conference on […]

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June 7, 2014 I hope that you have a few minutes to spend reading this month’s blog. It is overflowing with articles about the myriad of exciting events that took place at the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies in the month of May. The blog covers our academic program’s look at cross border conflicts and […]

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Pollution stems from fuel shortages that have halted work at sewage treatment facilities in the Strip. Reuters Published: 06.29.14 GAZA – When Palestinians in the Gaza Strip seek some relief from the grind of life in an enclave plagued by conflict and hardship, they usually need to look no further than their sandy beaches. But […]

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Danya Chudacoff Last updated: 06 Jul 2014 Water supplies have dropped in key areas due to a sharp increase in production at the rebel-controlled Euphrates Dam. Gaziantep, Turkey – When severe water cuts began to hit Aleppo province in early May, residents started referring to a “water war” being waged at the expense of civilians. […]

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How UAE Water Aid can potentially help 2 billion Muslims Sunday, 6 July 2014 The recently launched UAE Water Aid campaign is aiming to assist 5 million people in desperate need of clean water around the world, but the actual beneficiaries might well be the entire global Muslim population of 2 billion people. This would […]

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Climate changes in the area are expected to cause extreme phenomena like massive flooding and droughts, as well as soil erosion and disappearance of plant life. By Zafrir Rinat | Jul. 3, 2014 Experts attended a Jewish National Fund workshop this week set up to discuss the effect of climate change on the region. The […]

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In an interview last month, Yemen Water and Environment Minister, Abdulsalam Razzaz explained that the country has already devised of a plan which should alleviate water scarcity issues as well as help towards providing electricity. In collaboration with its regional partners, Yemen is set to build its first desalination plan. The project will cost an […]

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by Hana Namrouqa | Jul 02, 2014 AMMAN — Wells and water stations in Karak Governorate resumed pumping at full capacity by Wednesday after power cuts and malfunctions disrupted water distribution, according to officials. The Sultani-Ghweir pipe, the main supplier of water to Karak, malfunctioned on Monday night, according to Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ) […]

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Massive Jerusalem fire forces evacuation of neighborhoods, hospital and Yad Vashem – Jerusalem Post by DANIEL K. EISENBUD Firefighters evacuate over 200 homes in Ein Kerem, Kiryat Yovel before containing blaze; hospitals take in displaced patients. Dozens of fire-fighting units from across the country, including six airplanes and two helicopters, battled for hours Wednesday to […]

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Wildfire rages in the Galilee BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — A large fire raged near the Palestinian village of Nahaf in the Galilee region of northern Israel on Thursday afternoon, Israeli media said. Israeli news site Ynet said that the police had evacuated villagers even though there was not any “direct danger” to them, adding that they […]

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By BEN HARTMAN 04/29/2013 Mitkan Adam base outside Modi’in evacuated due to heavy smoke and fear that the fire could ignite an ammunition depot. A wildfire broke out on Monday night near the Mitkan Adam military base outside Modi’in, marking the third-straight day of fires across the country. The base was partially evacuated due to […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 06/24/2014 The exceptional concentrations of the flies has prompted area residents to stay indoors for most of the days of the summer. fly An Israeli regional council and a Jordanian municipality sandwiching either side of the Dead Sea will be coming together to eradicate the huge swarms of houseflies that have overtaken […]

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JERUSALEM, June 23, 2014 – (WAFA) – Jerusalem District Electricity Company (JDECO)’s Director General Hisham Al-Omari stated Monday that JDECO was officially notified that electricity would be restricted to some of its franchise areas. JDECO was officially notified that Israel Electric Company (IEC) would restrict electricity supply to some of JDECO’s franchise areas until the […]

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by SHARON UDASIN 06/22/2014 20:27 In a $15 million transaction, Givat Shmuel-based Phoenix Holdings Company Ltd. has bought out the shares of Siemens Project Ventures GmbH. Phoenix signed an agreement last week to acquire the Siemens portion of Arava Power as well as invest in the firm, the solar company reported on Sunday. In a […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 06/25/2014 The Environmental Protection Ministry received reports from Atlit area residents earlier this month of harsh chemical odors. Due to a recent chemical leak and failure to report the incident, the Environmental Protection Ministry announced on Wednesday afternoon that the Carmel Resins plant would no longer be permitted to use hazardous materials. […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 06/26/2014 22:15 Megalim Solar Power Ltd. were selected as the winners of the an interministerial tender committee to fulfill the project plans in 2012. The conglomerate slated to build a 121-megawatt solar-thermal facility at Ashalim have reached financial close to design, construct and operate the NIS 2.8 billion project, the Finance Ministry […]

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Researchers from Utah State University have developed a model that simulates algae growth and their lipid productivity at various global locations using photobioreactors, which are closed outdoor installations that create an artificial environment for algae. The microscopic algae produce significant amounts of lipids mainly in the form of triacylglycerol which can be utilized to generate […]

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by Mohammad Ghazal | Jun 25, 2014 | 23:21 AMMAN — Business and households wishing to install photovoltaic systems to generate electricity will find it easier to do so under an initiative launched by the French Development Agency (AFD) on Wednesday. The SUNREF Initiative — Sustainable Use of Natural Resources and Energy Finance — seeks […]

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By Maggie Fick Reuters | Cairo Thursday, 12 June 2014 Egypt’s oil minister said on Wednesday that natural gas production would increase by 500 million cubic feet daily by December, when several gas fields are due to come on stream. Sherif Ismail was quoted by the website of Egypt’s flagship al-Ahram newspaper as saying that […]

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Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi took part on Friday in a bicycle marathon together with artists, media figures and students in Cairo to encourage low consumption of fuel which is costing the government billions of dollars every year. Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab and Defense Minister Sidqi Subhi also took part in the marathon of 20 kilometers, […]

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