UNESCO Workshop on
Science for Peace
and
Regional Scientific Cooperation in Molecular Biology, Microbiology
and Biotechnology
ABSTRACTS
Park Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem
29 & 30 November - 1 December 1999
Vladimir A.
Kouzminov
Deputy Director
For some four
years the UNESCO-Venice Office has been involved in the activities of the School by sponsoring and co‑organizing
important activities aimed at the reinforcement of co‑operation between
scientific institutions and individual scientists of the Europe and
Mediterranean regions with the major objective to contribute to the stable and
lasting peace in these two regions and all over the world.
The exclusively important role of science in the peace building process is widely recognized, since science is making a significant contribution to the constructive dialogue between different cultures and acting as a powerful antidote to intolerance and ideological and racia1 barriers.
Therefore, your Symposium should be considered as an important
contribution to arranging the follow-up actions to the World Conference on
Science as well as to the better understanding of the potential
role of scientific cooperation in the peace building process in the Middle
East.
We strongly believe that your symposium will provide ideas and concrete
proposals on cooperation in biology and related areas as well as in other
disciplines of science between universities and scientific centers of your countries.
We wish you a great success in your deliberations.
The UNESCO Venice
Office is also please to express its gratitude to the Hebrew University of
Jerusalem, which hosts the International School for Molecular Biology and
Microbiology directed by Prof. Y. Becker, the Israel National Commission for
UNESCO and other national scientific-educational institutions of Israel and of
the Palestine Authority for their organizational efforts which led to this
important meeting. We are looking forward to receiving from all of you
innovative proposals on cooperation in science which will bring the stable and
lasting peace in your region closer to the reality.
UNESCO-HUJ ISMBM
AND
UNESCO GRANADA II PROCESS
Introduction to the UNESCO Workshop on Science for Peace
and Regional Scientific Cooperation
Yechiel Becker,
Director UNESCO-HUJ ISMBM and Science for Peace
Tel.
02-675-8394, e-mail: becker@md2.huji.ac.il.
The
UNESCO-HUJ ISMBM and Science for Peace was established in April 1994, when an
agreement was signed by Professor Adnan Badran, then Deputy Director General of
UNESCO, Paris and Professor Yehoshua Ben -Arieh, then the Rector of the Hebrew
University of Jerusalem. The activities to organize the International School
started in 1994, after the approval of the concept by Professor Badran. Hence,
at the end of 1999 I have the pleasure of summarizing six years of activities
on the two approaches for ISMBM: to develop the concept of Science for Peace by
scientific collaboration between scientists in the Middle East and scientists
in institutions worldwide. A series of three International Symposia on Science
for Peace had lead to the establishment of the Jerusalem Statement on Science
for Peace recommending that “scientific endeavors and achievements be used only
for peaceful purposes and for greater benefit of humanity; there is free
movement of the academic community” and “the academic environment remains open
and dedicated to the free expression of ideas.”
The
financial support provided by Professor Federico Mayor, Director General of
UNESCO and later by UNESCO-Venice office has made possible the organization of
many scientific workshops as well as support to Palestinian students to study
Microbiology for a MSc or Ph.D. degree at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Lately the Thyssen Foundation, Germany, is providing fellowships to the
Palestinian students studying at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
A
very important contribution to the scientific cooperation between Palestinian
and Israeli scientists came about when Prof. Federico Mayor and the Assistant
Director General, Daniel Janicot announced the Granada II Process and provided
financial support for Palestinian-Israeli collaborative projects in education,
science and culture. The Granada II Process was led by Dr. Anis Al-Qaq, Deputy
Minister, Palestinian Ministry for International Development and Mr. Uri
Bar-Ner from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Ministry. The Granada II Process
has provided a base for scientific cooperation between Palestinian and Israeli
scientists. The Granada II Process was supported by Mr. Avi Shoket during his
tenure as the Israeli Ambassador to UNESCO and Professor Amnon Rubinstein,
Knesset member, who participated in all the phases of discussions and
negotiations of the Granada II Process.
To
all the participants of the Granada II Process and especially, Dr. Anis Al-Qaq,
Uri Bar-Ner for their achievement in formalizing the scientific collaboration
between Palestinians and Israelis in the filed of science, education and
culture. Thanks are due to Prof. Ziad Abdeen, Dean, Al-Quds University and Dr.
Vincent Maelham, Vice Chancellor, Bethlehem University in the Holy Land, who
cosigned with me the scientific contract of Granada II Process.
Special
thanks are due to Professor Vladimir Kouzminov, Deputy Director of
UNESCO-Venice office for his continuous financial support to the International
School and to Mr. Pierre Lasserre, Director, UNESCO-Venice office, who planned
to take part in the UNESCO Workshop.
I
wish to thank the members of the UNESCO Workshop Scientific Committee for their
collaboration in preparing the UNESCO Workshop. I thank all the contributors of
their research in the fields of Molecular Biology, Microbiology and
Biotechnology. I hope that this workshop will be the first in a series of
Palestinian-Israeli scientific UNESCO workshops on Science for Peace, that will
enhance the understanding and scientific collaboration for the benefit of all
the peoples in the Middle East.
Professor
Yechiel Becker
Director,
UNESCO-HUJ ISMBM, Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular Virology,
Faculty
of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, POB 12272, Jerusalem91120,
Israel
Fax: (972-2) 6784010, Tel:
(972-2)6758394, e-mail: becker@md2.huji.ac.il
(Internet:http://www.tau.ac.il/~becker/UNESCO_HUJ/ismbm.html)
UNESCO –HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF
JERUSALEM
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL FOR MOLECULAR
BIOLOGY
AND MICROBIOLOGY (ISMBM)
A concept to Ensure Protection of Biological
Sciences Against Misuse
Yechiel Becker, Director
UNESCO-HUJ ISMBM and Science for Peace
The
UNESCO-HUJ ISMBM and Science for Peace, established in 1995, had initiated the
International Symposia on Science for Peace (1995, 1997 and 1998) in addition
to the scientific activities of the International School for Molecular Biology
and Microbiology (ISMBM) (1).
The
members of the scientific community that met in Jerusalem to participate in the
Second International Symposium on Science for Peace (1997) had accepted the
Seville Statement on Violence (1986) which included the responsibility of
scientists to prevent the misuse of scientific concepts to justify domination
and violence, the Genoa Declaration on Science and Society (1995) and the Como
Declaration on Science Society and Ethics (1996). These statements provide an
important paradigm for the concept of Culture of Peace that is promoted by
UNESCO.
The
participants of the Second Symposium on Science for Peace (1997) had issued the
'Jerusalem Statement on Science for
Peace' recommend that "scientific
endeavors and achievements be used only for peaceful purposes and for the
greater benefit of humanity.”(2).
The
second "Jerusalem Statement on
Science on the Need to EIiminate Weapons of Mass Destruction and to Prevent the
Misuse of Biological and Chemical Sciences" (1998) was issued in
response to threats of use of biological and chemical weapons against people.
Hundreds of scientists had already supported the Jerusalem Statements (3).
The
support of Science for Peace ideas is the responsibility of all scientists and
the public. Combined efforts are needed to eliminate weapons of mass
destruction for the benefit of current and future generations and the
preservation of the world environment by preventing the misuse of scientific
knowledge. The acceptance of the Science for Peace concepts by scientists, the
public and its leaders will allow the activities of UNESCO on Science for Peace
to succeed.
The International
School made possible for two Palestinian students to study for a MSc degree in
Microbiology at the Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine of the
Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Acknowledgments
The activities of the UNESCO-HUJ ISMBM are supported by UNESCO-Venice Office. The Palestinian students are supported with annual grants from the Fritz Thyssen Stiftung, Koln, Germany.
References
1 Y. Becker, V. Kouzininov and R. Santesso, International Symposia on Science for Peace (First and Second Symposia). Published by UNESCO, Venice office, 1997
2 Jerusalem
Statement on Science for Peace, 1997, Published in Reference1.
3 The Jerusalem Statement on
the Need to Eliminate Weapons of Mass
Destruction and to Prevent the Misuse of Biological and Chemical Weapons, 1998. (Attached).
Professor
Yechiel Becker
Director,
UNESCO-HUJ ISMBM, Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular Virology,
Faculty
of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, POB 12272, Jerusalem91120,
Israel
Fax: (972-2) 6784010, Tel: (972-2)6758394,
e-mail: becker@md2.huji.ac.il
(Internet:http://www.tau.ac.il/~becker/UNESCO_HUJ/ismbm.html)
UNESCO
–HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL FOR MOLECULAR
BIOLOGY
AND MICROBIOLOGY (ISMBM)
JERUSALEM
STATEMENT ON SCIENCE FOR PEACE
Occasion for the
Preparation of the Statement
Members of the
international scientific community met in Jerusalem January 20 - 23, 1997 to
participate in the "Second International Symposium on 'Science for Peace."
This Statement on Science for Peace resulted from the presentations and
discussions, which addressed both the current situations in the Middle East and
a broader set of geographical situations.
The Symposium
was organized and hosted by the UNESCO-Hebrew University of Jerusalem
International School for Molecular Biology and Microbiology (ISMBM) with
additional support from UNESCO (Paris, Venice Office, Global Network for
Molecular and Cellular Biology), the International Institute of Theoretical and
Applied Physics and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
With the
background of the UNESCO charter and several important international documents
addressing the social and ethical responsibilities of scientists, we heard
presentations and discussions of how scientists can work for peace and the
beneficial utilization of scientific results.
In 1989 UNESCO
accepted the Seville Statement on Violence (1986) which included the
responsibility of scientists to prevent the misuse of scientific concepts to
justify domination and violence.
UNESCO sought to convince the public that "the same species who
invented wars is capable of inventing peace" since peace begins in our
minds, thus paving the way to the UNESCO Culture of Peace Programme.
In 1995, at the
time of the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations, representatives of the
world's major Academies of Science and international scientific community
issued the Genoa Declaration on Science and Society. In the Genoa Declaration
they assert their adherence to the principle of "respect for diversity of
cultures within societies and promotion of science as a distinctive and
important contributor to bridging such diverse cultures and promoting peaceful
coexistence in accord with the principles of freedom, autonomy and rationality."
UNESCO promoted
a Forum in 1996 in Como, Italy to further reflect on these issues. The resulting Como Declaration on
Science, Society and Ethics further addresses the role of science for providing
an important paradigm for Culture of Peace in the areas of disarmament and
reconversion.
The Jerusalem Statement on Science for
Peace
We, members of
the international scientific community gathered at the "Second
International Symposium on 'Science for Peace'" in Jerusalem January 20 -
23, 1997, address this appeal to all individuals and institutions working in
science and for science. As the
language of science is universal and cooperation in science builds important
bridges of communication, we appeal for increased and unified efforts to adopt
Science for Peace as an important goal in concert with the goal of fostering a
Culture of Peace.
We recommend
that all parties and especially scientists work to ensure that
1. scientific
endeavors and achievements are used only for peaceful purposes and for the
greater benefit of humanity;
2. there is free
movement of members of the academic community;
3. there is a
free flow and sharing of scientific information and knowledge;
4. the academic
environment remains open and dedicated to the free expression of ideas.
We recommend
that efforts be undertaken to develop a "Science for Peace Oath" for
young scientists to take when accepting their degrees. This oath could be similar to the
Hippocratic Oath, which is taken by Medical School graduates.
From Jerusalem,
the City of Peace, we call upon everyone to work for the rapid implementation
of these ideals to further enhance the peace process. We encourage commitment and action to remove obstacles to
these ideals.
We request that
UNESCO, governments and other organizations facilitate the achievement of the
recommendations of this document.
Recommended Actions for the Middle East
This Science for
Peace symposium was a unique opportunity for creative suggestions and concrete
proposals to be presented and discussed by representatives with different
backgrounds and perspectives from the Middle East. In light of these presentations and discussions, and in
order to achieve the recommendations of the Jerusalem Statement on Science for
Peace, we recommend that UNESCO become involved and supportive of:
1. specific
actions to foster mobility and increased contacts among all members of the
academic community in the region;
2. the
establishment of a world class international institution of higher learning and
research in the Middle East open to all students without regard for country of
origin, religious faith or gender.
From the outset,
this international university would be dedicated to finding transdisciplinary
solutions to the human resources, development and social needs of the area.
The participants
of this Science for Peace symposium dedicate themselves to work within their
own institutions and governments for these goals.
We propose, as
an immediate step, the formation of a committee, to be convened by the participants
of this symposium, with participation and support by UNESCO, in order to plan
the process for achieving these goals in the Middle East. The committee should include an
appropriate distribution of representatives from the academic communities of
the Middle East as well as outside the region.
Professor
Yechiel Becker
Director,
UNESCO-HUJ ISMBM, Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular Virology,
Faculty
of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, POB 12272, Jerusalem91120,
Israel
Fax: (972-2) 6784010, Tel:
(972-2)6758394, e-mail: becker@md2.huji.ac.il
(Internet:http://www.tau.ac.il/~becker/UNESCO_HUJ/ismbm.html)
CAN UNESCO
CONTRIBUTE TO THE PEACE PROCESS
IN THE MIDDLE
EAST?
AVI SHOKET
Former
Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Israel to UNESCO
Following the Oslo Agreement in 1993, UNESCO has
demonstrated its interest in helping the peace process through a programme of
cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians (later called the
Israel-Palestinian Programme of Cooperation, I.P.P.C.). The first landmark was
an encounter between Israeli and Arab intellectuals that took place in Granada
in December 1993, accompanied by a meeting between Shimon Peres and Yasser
Arafat. The second stage was the launching of the Granada II Process in
February 1998 in Ramallah. Fifteen cooperative projects were agreed upon in the
fields of education, science and culture. In the meantime, UNESCO sponsored the
establishment of the International School for Molecular Biology and
Microbiology and the setting up on the Israeli-Palestinian Media Forum. The
latter aims to foster professional cooperation between Israeli and Palestinian
journalists. Recently, UNESCO supported the establishment in the Middle East of
an international scientific center around a synchrotron light for experimental
science and applications. Positive steps towards the implementation of the
project have already been taken. Its contribute to the promotion of applied and
fundamental research in biology, medicine, environmental science, physics and
chemistry. The list of the activities, some of which are mentioned above, is
indeed impressive Nonetheless, application and results are at this stage still
very modest and need careful follow-up. The purpose of this vast effort is to
bring Israelis and Palestinians together and to build bridges of mutual
understanding and knowledge. It should contribute to reshape attitudes and
change perceptions since separation and hostility have perpetuated existing
stereotypes, prejudice and negative political socialization processes with
marked implications for the conflict itself, yet, political constraints and a
meager budget stand in the way. Some of the Arab parties oppose “normalization”
(tatbia) of relations with Israel, so long as the political conflict remains
unsettled. On the other hand, UNESCO’s one-sided and stark politicized
treatment of the issue of Jerusalem has raised some doubts in Israel regarding
UNESCO’s competence to play the role of an honest broker.
The year 2000 was declared the United Nations International Year for the Culture of Peace. What better time for UNESCO to take up the challenge and give its Middle East projects a new and impartial impetus?
Future
Challenges for Regional Cooperation
Bracha
Rager Ph.D
Professor
of Microbiology and Immunology, Ben Gurion University
and
Chief Scientist, Ministry of Health
The desire for a healthier
and better world in which to live our lives and raise our children is common to
all people and all generations. Now, as we near the end of one century and
enter the next, our past achievements and technological advances make us more
optimistic about our future than perhaps at any stage in recent history.
Despite substantial gains in global health over recent decades, inequalities in
health status have widened. A review in health trends in the past 50 years
finds that health and poverty are are closely linked. Poverty is often
associated with ill health, while ill health can lead to poverty. Improvements
in health depend on socioeconomic developments, provision of safe water,
sanitation facilities and personal hygiene, and the establishment and expansion
of national health services.
While over the past
millennium, and the last decade in particular, global health status has
improved dramatically, great numbers of people have seen little or any
improvement at all. The gaps between the health status of rich and poor are
still wide. Closing these gaps depends largely on political will and commitment
of individual governments, and the active support of the international
community.
Health should be considered
as an essential component of the globalization process that is reshaping our
world; it should be included in the growing interaction between countries that
currently exist in terms of world trade, services, foreign investments and
capital markets.
Changes in the political
environment in our region provide a wonderful opportunity to build new
partnerships in health, science and technology that our region so urgently
needs.
One of the major
achievements of the 20th century is the increase in life expectancy.
Nonetheless, we are slowly learning that one of life’s most important lessons:
not just how to live longer, but also how to stay longer in good health with
less disability.
The Role of UNESCO BETCEN at
Bethlehem University in Promoting the Development
of Plant Biotechnology In
Palestinian Territory
and Arab Countries.
Naim Iraki
UNESCO Biotechnology
Educational and Training Center
(UNESCO BETCEN) for
Palestinian Territory and Arab Countries. Bethlehem University, Bethlehem, Palestinian Territory.
Abstract:
The UNESCO BETCEN was founded in 1995 as an initiative of Prof. Indra Vasil, chairman of the UNESCO Biotechnology Action Council, to promote the development of research in Plant Molecular Biology and Agricultural Biotechnology in the Palestinian community and Arab countries. The achievement of these goals is planned to be through four types of activities: First, courses in various fields of Plant Biotechnology offered to young scientists from Palestinian Territory and Arab countries. Second, training programs in modern research techniques held at the BETCEN's laboratory at Bethlehem University and at laboratories of Israeli institutes. Third, Research fellowships for postgraduate students in Palestine and Arab countries. Fourth, conduction of multilateral large-scale research projects in collaboration with Israeli laboratories. Five such research projects are being conducted at the BETCEN's laboratory in various fields of Plant Biotechnology in collaboration with seven Israeli laboratories, three German, one Egyptian, and two American research groups. These fields include; Biocontrol, Plant Pathology, Plant Virology, Plant Tissue Culture, and Biodiversity.
Session 2- Regional Cooperation of Human Genetics
The Genetics of Hearing Loss in the
Israeli and Palestinian Populations
Karen B. Avraham1 and Moien Kanaan2
1Department of Human Genetics &
Molecular Medicine, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv,
Israel; 2Life Sciences Department, Bethlehem University, Bethlehem,
Palestinian Authority.
A new era in hearing
research has been taking place over the past few years with the advent of
structural and functional genomics.
The molecular and biological basis for hereditary hearing loss is being
elucidated at a fast pace, with the hope that these discoveries will herald new
treatments for deafness. The
isolation of fifteen genes associated with non-syndromic deafness in the past
few years has led to the identification of proteins essential for the proper
functioning of the inner ear.
The people of the Middle
East region offer a rich resource for genetic research due to their ethnic
diversity and multitude of diseases.
Most important, genetic research will ultimately help those most
affected by genetic diseases, by providing scientists with an understanding of
the causes of the diseases. In the
future, this may lead to treatments and cures. One example is hearing loss, where one in 1000 children is
born profoundly deaf. Single gene
mutations have been shown to cause hearing loss in adults, and age-related
hearing loss, affecting as many as 1/3 of the population, may very well have a
genetic basis as well. In the
Palestinian society, hearing loss affects a considerably higher proportion of
people, reaching 7-10% of the population in some areas. This is attributed in many cases to
high consanguineous marriage patterns, seen in up to 50% of the society.
An overview of progress in
the field of hereditary deafness, in the context of our ongoing collaboration,
will be discussed. Our findings
show that approximately 30% of inherited deafness is due to mutations in one
gene, connexin 26. In families
where a mutation in connexin 26 has not been found, we are performing
experiments in order to determine the chromosomal location of the defective
gene, and will continue with the goal of identifying new genes for hearing loss
in both the Palestinian and Israeli populations.
GENETIC ANALYSIS OF HEARING LOSS
IN PALESTINIAN KINDREDS.
M.N. Kanaan1, H.
Shahen1-2,J.
Morrow3,T. Sobe2, M-C, King3,
K.B. Avraham2,E. D.
Lynch1.
(1) Department
of Life Sciences, Bethlehem University, Bethlehem, Palestine; (2) Department of Human Genetics and
Molecular Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; (3) Department of Medicine and
Genetics, University of Washington, Seattle WA.
In Palestine,
the prevalence of inherited prelingual profound deafness is among the highest
in the world, affecting 5-10% of
children in some geographic areas.
We have initiated a
comprehensive
study of genetic causes of hearing loss in the Palestinian population. A pilot survey of probonds with
prelingual bilateral nonsyndromic hearing loss (NSHL) indicates that mutations
in connexin 26 (GJB 2) account for 30% (8/27) of cases, all of whom were from
multiply affected families.
Homozygosity for
three connexin 26 mutations was observed: 30 delG, 229 T to C, and 167
delT. One case was a compound
heterozygote for 167 delT and 233 delC.
Comparative haplotype analysis of Jewish and Palestinian Kindrerds
indicates that the 167 delT mutation probably occurred independently, perhaps
multiple times. In four large
Palestinian consanguineous kindreds with congenital profound bilateral hearing
loss, all known deafness loci
(DFNA and DFNB) were excluded by linkage analysis are the cause of
inherited hearing loss. Genome
wide analysis of linkage is progress in these four families and should reveal
novel hearing- related genes.
Why A DNA:
Mark Spigelman: Royal Free UCL Medical
School Dept of Bacteriology, London UK and Kuvin Center for the Study of
Infectious & Tropical Diseases and Ancient DNA Hadassah Medical School
Hebrew University Jerusalem Israel.
Moien Kanaan: Life Sciences Department,
Bethlehem University, Bethlehem, Palestinian
Authority
Bacterial DNA from M tb has been detected in archaeological specimens since 1994 when our unit investigated bones with dates varying from the 17th century to the Byzantine period. The bones came from areas as far a field as 17th Century Scotland, Byzantine Turkey and pre European contact Borneo. More recently we have detected a similar sequence from an extinct American bison which has been carbon dated to 17000 Yrs bp.
Since 1994 our results have
been replicated in a number of institutions-most notably by Salo et al on a
Peruvian mummy from 1000 BCE and Zink et al on a 5000 year old Egyptian
skeleton.
Our unit in London has continued to expand the field by detecting DNA sequences relating to infection with M.leprae in specimens from Hungary, Poland as well as two specimens from Palestine from about 600A.D. We have also worked with the British Museum and recovered E.coli DNA from the gut contents of Lindow Man.
Practical aspects of the ancient DNA microbial technology are already emerging—it has been used by our unit to assist an American law enforcement Agency in a murder enquiry. As well it is being utilized in the search for a vaccine for the 1918 Influenza virus. Using bodies of victims of this epidemic buried on Spitzbergen an island within the Arctic Circle.
Following the 1996 meeting of the UK Ancient Biomolecules Initiative in Cambridge, where it was felt that all ancient DNA sequences should be confirmed by a second independent laboratory. We have been working in close co-operation with the laboratory of Professor C Greenblatt at the Kuvin Center for the Study of Infectious & Tropical Diseases and Ancient DNA Hadassah Medical School Hebrew University Jerusalem Israel.
Our most recent joint work involves a Welcome funded project in the UK jointly run by Prof. M Spigelman and Dr J Holton from the Department of Bacteriology and Dr Mark G. Thomas from the Center for Genetic Anthropology, Darwin Building, University College London. We are collaborating with Dr I Pap from the Natural History Museum, Budapest, Hungary. The work involves a study of 200 naturally mummified individuals from the 18-19th centuries found in a crypt in Vac, outside Budapest. We have thus far identified TB using PCR techniques in 8 out of 25 individuals studied and based on our X-ray and autopsy findings our ongoing study anticipates that up to 50 TB infected individuals will be found in this continuing study.
With such a wonderful resource of 50 infected and 150 negative control individuals we are planning to expand our work and look for human resistance factors in these individuals based on recent work on the NRAMP (Natural Resistance-associated Macrophage Protein) gene. This gene has been cloned and at this host resistance locus Bcg/Ity/Lsh, mutations impair resistance to intracellular parasite infection. Experimental models analyzing antimycobacterial defense have shown differences in resistance or vulnerability to infection by Mycobacteria, guided by a dominant gene which exists in two allelic forms - bcgr and bcg5: the former confers resistance; the latter represents greater vulnerability.
In a joint study between all three Universities it is our intention to utilize our Hungarian Material to study the nature of the NRAMP gene in these people and to see if there are differences between the infected and uninfected individuals. The outcome of this work will be to enhance and further develop technology for the extraction amplification and assessment of ancient DNA in all four departments involved- each having its own strengths and weaknesses enabling us to investigate the genetic basis of host resistance to TB and perhaps other diseases.
In the areas of Israel and the Palestinian authority there could well be remains of skeletons which were amongst the earliest Hominids to host an environmental Mycobacterium which over the millennia developed into human TB. Commencing initially perhaps as a soil bacterium and slowly changing genetically as the host defenses changed. Additionally, in this region some of the earliest villages were established, with consequent plant and animal domestication and as such, is the area where humanity was first exposed to the zoonotic microbes, which subsequently became animal &/or human disease causing organisms. This research project may help to train scientist to take advantage of any such remains subsequently uncovered. The technology developed in this type of work may eventually lead to answers in the history of human infections. Knowing the progenitors of many diseases could well be an invaluable tool in their control.
It is one area where Palestinian and Israeli institutions can work and cooperate as equals for the benefit of all.
Session 3- Environment
and Water Resources in the Middle East
What
can we learn from Israel’s "Water Crisis" of 1999
Tom Berman, Israel
Oceanographic and Limnological Research,
Kinneret Limnological
Laboratory
P.O.Box 345, Tiberias
14-102, Israel
E-mail: tberman@inter.net.il or tom _berman@alum.mit.edu
The drought of 1999 has served to focus attention on the critical state
of Israel’s water resources. The country’s integrated "Water Economy"
depends almost entirely on three sources; the Coastal Aquifer, the Mountain
Aquifer and the Northern Jordan-Lake Kinneret Basin, which are linked by the
National Water Carrier system. Since the 1970’s there has been a more or less
consistent excess ratio of withdrawal to renewal of water in the Coastal
Aquifer (to a lesser extent in the Mountain Aquifer) and a concomitant decline
in water quality (rise in salinity, nitrates and other pollutants. This has
also lessened the already limited storage capacity of the aquifers. Water quality
has been maintained in Lake Kinneret but nevertheless this water still has a
relatively high salinity level.
Because
of the lack of storage capacity it is extremely difficult to plan strategy to
save water for dry periods by conserving water from wet periods. Until now it
has been possible to guarantee drinking water supply by cutting back
agricultural allowances e.g. during the droughts of 1990-91 and 1999. However,
as the annual demand for drinking water rises and amounts of high quality water
allocated to agriculture decline, it will eventually (perhaps within a very few
years) become impossible to rely on this agricultural "buffer" and
shortages of drinking water are likely. (Of course, huge economic losses from
the impact on agriculture and indeed the possible demise of large agricultural
areas are also part of this scenario).
With
the reasonable forecast of increasing demand for high quality water (due to
population growth and life style expectation, regional water sharing
commitments In the framework of existing and future Peace Agreements and the
impacts of global warming) the overall prospects are not bright. Moreover, the
continuing deterioration of the aquifers can only be halted by stopping the
policy of over-extraction.
What
can be done if excess withdrawal is to cease, a healthy agricultural sector is
to be maintained and adequate drinking water to be supplied to a growing
population. The only realistic and appropriate answer is immediate and massive
investment in large-scale desalination, both of brackish waters (including
recycled sewage) and seawater. Optimally, planning for desalination plants and
the distribution of desalinated water should be co-ordinated between Israel and
her neighbours. Possibly international support could be obtained for such a
program. The threat of a major water crisis is not one limited to Israel and
ensuring adequate water supplies is in the higher interests of all the nations
of the region.
WHY A TRANSBOUNDARY BIOSPHERE
RESERVE
AT THE DEAD SEA BASIN?
Gidon Bromberg, Friends of the Earth
Middle East
The Biosphere Reserve concept is
characterized by a holistic approach to nature protection and human development
promoting cooperation at local, regional and international level.
The
Tragedy of the Commons
The Dead Sea Basin (DSB) is a single
ecosystem. The fact that it crosses international borders does not make one
particular area independent of the other in an ecological sense. Development
undertaken to date has generally ignored issues on the other side of the
border. The development model to date is characterized by each side seeking to
maximize their efforts to exploit the DSB's resources without any consideration
of the sum total impact or carrying capacity of the Basin as a whole.
The Transboundary Biosphere Reserve
concept provides the framework for a much-needed regional management plan for
integrated sustainable development. The concept foresees the creation of a
trilateral management authority that would be responsible for developing a
regional master plan or simply coordinating national development patterns so
that the interests of the Basin as a whole would be considered. Economically
and ecologically infeasible development (like the currently proposed 55,000 new
hotel rooms around the Dead Sea) could therefore be avoided.
A
Framework for Regional and International Cooperation
The Biosphere Reserve strengthens
cooperation and improves communication at the regional and international
levels. The Biosphere Concept encourages cooperative activities in the field of
scientific research, conservation measures, education and training between the
institutions within a Biosphere Reserve. On the international level all
registered sites become a member of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
This network enables exchange of experiences between stakeholders living in
similar environments and joint activities between the different Biosphere
Reserves.
WATER
RESOURCES EVALUATION FOR A SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE JORDAN RIFT BASIN
German—Israeli—Jordanian—Palestinian
Joint Research Program
Akiva Flexer
Head of Israeli Research Group
Tel Aviv University
The evaluation of freshwater resources in the Jordan Valley is essential to satisfy the water demand of the growing Jordanian, Israeli and Palestinian population living