November 2, 2021
Israelis are leading the way out of the Climate Crisis
Dr. Goodman-Tchernov examines soil layers exposed by the retreat of the Dead Sea
As a 120-person Israeli delegation joined world leaders in Glasgow for the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, many Israeli scientists, entrepreneurs, activists, educators, clergy and artists are working to understand and address the global climate crisis and its consequences, from food insecurity to natural disasters.

"A multidisciplinary approach is critical", says University of Haifa marine geoscientist Dr. Beverly Goodman-Tchernov. “Solving the problems of climate change is not going to happen using any single approach. It’s going to require that everyone comes to the table with their strongest tools,” she told ISRAEL21c. Read more
Nature’s Ability to Support Humanity in Israel Is Declining
Ecosystems provide a number of critical services to humanity, such as pollination, flood control and the regulation of agricultural pests. These systems are under threat in Israel as a result of development, contamination and drying out of natural water sources. With the expected increase in population and the consequences of climate change, these trends are liable to worsen in the future.

These are a few of the main conclusions of Israel’s National Ecosystem Assessment, presenting the services and benefits that Israelis receive from the country’s ecosystems with the latest report. Another important finding is that Israel extensively exploits ecosystems in other areas. It imports 80 percent of the services provided by ecosystems, such as agricultural land (mainly food and wood and paper products). An area almost 1.5 times the size of Israel is needed to produce these goods. The research, spearheaded by Profs. Uriel Safriel and Eran Feitelson of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, was conducted by Dr. Alon Lotan of the University of Haifa. Haaretz
Human Rights Groups in Service of Terrorism
Op-ed in "Israel Hayom" by Dr. Dan Schueftan
Against the American failure to combat terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan, Israel stands out as the country that not only manages to battle constant threats by terrorist groups but also thrives.

The United States has recently asked Israel for an explanation why it declared six Palestinian organizations that claimed to be human rights groups as terrorist entities. The incident does not seem to have caused a serious clash with the ally, nevertheless, we must make sure that the matter does not exacerbate.

Palestinian organizations that support violence and seek to delegitimize the Jewish state receive political backing and financial support from European governments and foundations under the guise of promoting human rights. Read more
Dr. Shueftan is the Director of the National Security Studies Center at University of Haifa.
Ancient Crusader Battle Campsite Discovered in Israel
A highways expansion project in the Tzipori Springs area in Galilee in Israel has uncovered fascinating evidence of a 12th-century Crusader battle camp. Exploratory excavations undertaken by a team of Israeli archaeologists before road widening work on the highway linking Nazareth to the Mediterranean Sea has found the campsite. It is the only Crusader encampment that has been discovered in the Middle East.

Nimrod Getzov and Ianir Milevski of the Israel Antiquities Authority conducted the excavation with assistance from Rafael Lewis, an archaeologist in the Zinman Institute of Archaeology at the University of Haifa. They have published their findings in the book "Settlement and Crusade in the Thirteenth Century". Read more
COVID-19 Update and Predictions
by Dr. Manfred Green
As Israel's COVID cases drop to an all time low, Prof. Manfred Green offers insight on what countries can do to protect themselves when reopening borders and shares his forecast on COVID vaccines for children. 

Public health expert, Prof. Manfred Green (School of Public Health), discussed the ongoing implications of the Covid-19 pandemic with the American Society of the University of Haifa. According to Prof. Green, Israel may be heading into a fifth wave since millions have still not received their third booster shot. He also predicts that the debate over vaccinations for children ages 5-11 is set to heat up in response to FDA recommendations. Watch the webinar recording.
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