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In this paper we link between two scholarly traditions that share the goal of understanding how people accomplish the achievement of living together: linguistic-politeness and diplomacy. We look at a specific speech event—presidential introductory conversations during credential ceremonies, in which the interlocutors are simultaneously talking on behalf of themselves and the states they represent. On the basis of 23 introductory conversations at Israel's presidential residence. We aim to understand how good relations are cultivated in diplomatic conversations and the resources and strategies hosting presidents and foreign ambassadors employ to establish amicable interpersonal and interstate relations. The infusion of elite discourse, institutional discourse, and initial interactions brought forth in our study a gamut of bonding strategies applied in the process of rapport management between state representatives. The president and ambassadors did their best to avoid sensitive issues and managed the attending audience as a resource for enhancing interpersonal relations, advancing the interaction, and solving problems at both the interstate and interpersonal levels. In the Conclusion we underline the importance of analyzing actual conversations between individuals who simultaneously embody themselves and their states in order to understand how relationships between large social entities are managed. • The paper links between two related scholarly traditions: politeness and diplomacy. • It asks how amicable interpersonal and interstate relations are cultivated in diplomatic conversations. • We analyze 23 introductory conversations between Israel's president and foreign ambassadors. • A variety of strategies are applied for bonding between state representatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescents' mental health was severely compromised during the COVID-19 pandemic. Longitudinal real-world studies on changes in the mental health of adolescents during the later phase of the pandemic are limited. We aimed to quantify the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on adolescents' mental health outcomes based on electronic health records. This was a retrospective cohort study using the computerized database of a 2.5 million members, state-mandated health organization in Israel. Rates of mental health diagnoses and psychiatric drug dispensations were measured among adolescents 12 to 17 years of age with and without pre-existing mental history, for the years 2017 to 2021. Relative risks were computed between the years, and interrupted time series (ITS) analyses evaluated changes in monthly incidence rates of psychiatric outcomes. The average population size was 218,146 in 2021. During the COVID-19 period, a 36% increase was observed in the incidence of depression (95% CI = 25-47), 31% in anxiety (95% CI = 23-39), 20% in stress (95% CI = 13-27), 50% in eating disorders (95% CI = 35-67), 25% in antidepressant use (95% CI = 25-33), and 28% in antipsychotic use (95% CI = 18-40). A decreased rate of 26% (95% CI = 0.80-0.88) was observed in ADHD diagnoses. The increase of the examined outcomes was most prominent among youth without psychiatric history, female youth, general secular Jewish population, youth with medium−high socioeconomic status, and those 14 to 15 years of age. ITS analysis confirmed a significantly higher growth in the incidence of psychiatric outcomes during the COVID-19 period, compared to those in previous years. This real-world study highlights the deterioration of adolescents' mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and suggests that youth mental health should be considered during health policy decision making. We worked to ensure sex and gender balance in the recruitment of human participants. We worked to ensure race, ethnic, and/or other types of diversity in the recruitment of human participants. We actively worked to promote sex and gender balance in our author group. The author list of this paper includes contributors from the location and/or community where the research was conducted who participated in the data collection, design, analysis, and/or interpretation of the work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the Middle Paleolithic in Eurasia, the production of deliberate, abstract engraving on bone or stone materials is a rare phenomenon. It is now widely accepted that both anatomically modern humans and hominins that predate them have produced deliberate engravings associated with symbolic behavior. Within the Levantine Middle Paleolithic context, only five examples of intentional engravings are known thus far. In this paper, we present an aurochs bone fragment that bears six deep, sub-parallel incisions, recovered at the open-air Middle Paleolithic site of Nesher Ramla in Israel. The item, found in an anthropogenic accumulation of artifacts in Unit III of the site, was dated to early Marine Isotope Stage 5 (ca. 120 ka). Unit III is a stratigraphically well-defined layer that is characterized by intense on-site knapping activities with predominance of the centripetal Levallois reduction method and by intense exploitation of aurochs and tortoises. This paper presents a multidisciplinary study of the bone and the incisions, including zooarchaeological, macro- and microscopic analyses, Scanning Electron Microscope analysis and experimental replications. The macroscopic and microscopic attributes of the incisions, and the comparisons with experimental material exclude a taphonomic or utilitarian origin of the incisions. The study indicates that the engravings were most likely produced by a right-handed individual in a single working session. The morphology and characteristics of the incisions, especially the presence of longitudinal polish and striations in one of the incisions, suggest that they were made by a flint artifact, likely retouched. The engraved bone from Unit III at Nesher Ramla is one of the oldest deliberate abstract manifestations produced by Middle Paleolithic and Middle Stone Age hominins and the oldest known so far in the Levant. As such, it has major implications for our understanding of the emergence and early stages of the development of human symbolic behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accepted definition of the academic library states its primary purpose of supporting the curriculum and the research of the university faculty and students; however, the essence of the academic library as embodied in its architecture is much more intricate. Academic libraries in Israel are unique in having more intellectual planning processes and more financial support and funding resources. This paper examines the architecture of stand-alone academic library buildings in Israel and their development and evolution over time, especially in the decades after the establishment of the State in 1948. The research investigates their appearance and conceptual reflections, inquiring whether they integrate with the surroundings physically and conceptually or are considered 'ivory towers.' Moreover, this paper scrutinizes the influences that affected the architectural environment these libraries came to embody. The discussion on the architecture of academic libraries analyzes the changing influences of Israeli politics and society upon the architectural discourse. Architects were searching for new methods in design, which led to the transition in the architecture of academic libraries: from modesty to complexity in design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: ; hereafter LHA) (Levin, Z., Halfon, N., Alpert, P., 2010. Reassessment of rain experiments and operations in Israel including synoptic considerations. Atmos. Res. 97, 513–525. DOI:10.1016/j.atmosres.2010.06.011.), reanalyzed the results of the operational seeding in northern Israel between 1975 and 2007 and the preceding Israel 2 cloud seeding experiment (1969–1975) and concluded that there is no net increase in precipitation over the target areas. Our analysis revealed that a synoptic bias during Israel 2 is one of the reasons for the apparent positive effect of seeding in the northern target area and the negative effect in the southern area both of which disappeared in the following experiment in the south (Israel 3; 1975–1995) and the operational seeding in the north. ;hereafter BRG) criticized our paper primarily on the ground that we did not consider the positive results of Israel 1 experiment (1960–1967). It should be noted that in Israel 1 different seeding lines were used from those in both Israel 2 and the operational period. In addition, its raw data is not accessible anymore for reanalysis. Furthermore, Israel 2 had been designed as a confirmatory cross-over experiment to Israel 1 and failed to reproduce its promising results with double ratio (DR) of ~1.00, namely, zero rainfall enhancements. The same DR values were also found in Israel 3 and in the operational seeding. Therefore, because of the differences in the two experiments, the lack of access to the raw data and the disappointing results of the confirmatory experiment, we decided to concentrate our analysis on the more recent seeding activities. The attempt by BRG to explain the reduction of the DR to ~1.00 in the operational seeding period by the suppression due to pollution have been disproved by and also fail to explain the sharp decline of the target/control ratio right at the beginning of the operational seeding period when the lucky draw in this area came to its end (see LHA). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper investigates the economy-wide effects of cross-border movements of Palestinian labor for employment in Israel. The integration of Palestinian and Israeli labor markets is unique, as it differs from international labor migration and associated remittances described in the literature. Especially, it departs from the cultural and social dimensions associated with international migration because there is no shift in residence. We find based on an economy-wide model calibrated to a newly developed database of the West Bank economy that increasing Palestinian labor demand in Israel negatively affects the West Bank economy by bidding up domestic wages, reallocating labor away from tradable activities and reducing competitiveness of the Palestinian export sector. However, increasing labor income from Israel has positive welfare effects for Palestinian households. Considering these results, the paper identifies policy options for the Palestinian National Authority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 1970s, high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes have been a common policy instrument to mitigate traffic congestion. Yet, their effectiveness remains a controversial topic among researchers, policy makers, and the public. In this debate, a key unknown has been the impact of HOV lanes on commuters' carpooling behaviors. This paper brings a new piece of evidence by offering a data-driven assessment of carpooling intent and adoption, using revealed-preferences data. We partner with Waze, a major carpooling platform, and leverage a natural experiment following the introduction of three HOV lanes in Israel in 2019. Using tailored treatment and control groups coupled with econometric analyses, we derive four main findings. First, HOV lanes bring new users to the carpooling platform, which contributes to alleviating the "cold-start" problem in the marketplace. Second, HOV lanes have a positive impact on carpool intent: the number of carpool offers sent by drivers increase manifold following the introduction of the HOV lanes. Third, HOV lanes have a disparate impact on carpool adoption: carpools increase significantly for two out of three HOV lanes. This result underscores the critical impact of HOV lanes design: it seems more beneficial to have round-trip HOV lanes (as opposed to one-way lanes) and two-passenger occupancy requirements (as opposed to three-passenger requirements). Last, HOV lanes have a broader impact, by increasing carpooling on non-HOV routes and shifting the travel behaviors of non-carpoolers. We conclude by discussing policy implications, highlighting collaboration opportunities between policy makers and digital carpooling platforms to enhance the design and operations of HOV lanes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Features, factors, and facets of solar pond design and construction. • El Paso Solar Pond experience as the basis for design specifications. • Design and planning ensure solar pond reliable and sustainable operation. • Purpose of solar ponds provides focus for design and configuration. Over the last four decades, salinity gradient solar pond (SGSP) science and technologies have advanced in practical projects. In this work, we show that understanding a salinity gradient solar pond's purpose provides the focus for preparing a preliminary design and physical configuration. This paper aims to share lessons learned in designing and constructing the El Paso Solar Pond. Features, factors, and facets of solar pond design and construction are presented straightforwardly to inform and guide planning for future work. Emphasis is on sodium chloride-based ponds, the base salt used for the El Paso Solar Pond. However, lessons learned are pertinent to additional salt source configurations. Reference to solar ponds operating in Australia and Israel provides design and construction insights. Careful design and planning prior to construction ensure the solar pond operates reliably and sustainably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We investigated the long-term impacts of COVID-19 on teleworking. • Descriptive statistics and logit models revealed trends in Israel and Czechia. • Teleworking for 20+ weekly hours is expected to increase from 10% to 14%. • Mixed trends in commute trips translated to a drop of 9% in such trips. • First-time telecommuters during COVID-19 increase the probability to continue it. The COVID-19 crisis has forced many people to work from home, rather than at their regular workplace. This paper aims to assess the impact of the pandemic on telecommuting and commuting behavior after the end of the crisis: Will people embrace teleworking and reduce commuting, even to some extent, or will they resume their pre-pandemic work patterns? This study, implementing a cross-country survey from Israel and Czechia, combines data regarding revealed preferences about work habits before and during the pandemic and stated intentions data regarding anticipated work patterns when life returns to "normal" after the pandemic. Two models were used for the data analysis, one addressing factors that affect the increased/decreased teleworking trend and the other addressing factors that affect the frequency of actual commutes. The results reveal that most respondents (62% in Israel and 68% in Czechia) will maintain the same telecommuting/working from home balance. About 19% of respondents in both countries expressed their intention to reduce the number of commuting days, while 6% stated they would increase out-of-home days. However, these estimates rely only on workers' expectations not accounting for employers' point of view and other constraints they may have. Not accounting for potential bias, a moderate reduction of 6.5% and 8.7% (in Israel and in Czechia, respectively) in the number of commuting trips is expected in the post-pandemic era. The anticipated decrease in commuting days is accompanied by an increase in teleworking: from 10% to 14% among those who work more than 20 h a week (in both countries) and a drop in the rate of those who telework five hours or less a week (down from 73% to 63% in Israel and from 76% to 70% in Czechia). Self-employment, travel time to work, working solely on premise during the lockdown, and personal preferences regarding telework versus working away from home were found to significantly contribute to a decrease in the number of commuting days and to an increase in teleworking. An interesting finding is the high probability of increased teleworking among people who teleworked for the first time during the lockdown or who increased their teleworking time during the lockdown. This indicates that the teleworking experience due to the pandemic has enabled some people to view working from home as viable. Although, overall, the change in working habits does not seem dramatic, our results suggest that hybrid schemes for combining on premise and telework are expected to be adopted by some sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The factors that inhibit and promote professional interventions with young adults refer to social, formal-structural, and personal factors. Nevertheless, studies of these factors from social workers' perspective, and research of the inhibitors associated with the socio-cultural context of minority young adults, are few. The aim of the present study was to examine social workers' perceptions of the factors that inhibit and promote interventions in the socio-cultural and formal-structural context of at-risk young Arab-Palestinian women in Israel, who are at an intersection of marginal positions. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 21 social workers. The findings revealed two themes: 1) Social workers' perceptions of the challenges in two dimensions, a) socio-cultural factors which include family centrality in the young women's life, and b) formal-structural inhibitors. 2) Promoting factors which include professional values and the need for cooperation between organizations themselves and with recipients of the services The findings were reviewed according to the intersectional invisibility model, and were based on the concept of institutional discrimination, which showed that at-risk young Arab women experience an intersectional invisibility of their identities and, at the same time, the social workers experience a conflicting situation within the wider context of intersectional discrimination. The paper concludes with recommendations to practitioners and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper communicates the results of a detailed use-wear analysis of flint tools from Unit III of Nesher Ramla, central Israel, an open-air Middle Paleolithic site, dated to Marine Isotope Stage 5. The analyzed sample consists of 966 artifacts that represent major techno-typological categories; scrapers, tools with a lateral tranchet blow, naturally backed knives and other Middle Paleolithic artifact types. Most tools were associated with bone working activities, mainly scraping and cutting, suggesting both consumption and non-consumption-related practices. Results also suggest extensive butchering activities, but other applications are less common, especially the underrepresentation of armature, and plant and hide working is noteworthy. All in all, these patterns suggest a narrow range of activities. Most tools were used by their sharp edge, while the retouched edges bore weak use-related patterns. It is assumed that in some cases, the retouch served to facilitate the grip. The most widely used tools in Nesher Ramla were the naturally backed knives that according to technological studies were one of the goals of knapping at Nesher Ramla. Tools with a lateral tranchet blow, representing a cultural marker of the Nesher Ramla inhabitants, show evidence of multiple use of both retouched and non-retouched edges shaped by the lateral blow. Hafting traces are relatively rare in the analyzed sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of the wood charcoal analyses from the Middle Paleolithic open-air site at Nesher Ramla, on the central coastal plain of Israel. The study focuses on the interpretation of the charcoals left by fires used by Middle Paleolithic hominins during early Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5. Moreover, this study sheds light on the arboreal taxa present in the vegetation and environmental conditions in the southern Levant during the Middle Paleolithic. A small quantity of identifiable charcoals was retrieved from the 8-m-thick archaeological sequence of the site (Units II to VI). The largest charcoal assemblage was recovered from part of the sequence dated to MIS 5e. The results show the presence of deciduous Quercus sp. and Prunus. The presence of these taxa, together with other proxies from the multidisciplinary studies at Nesher Ramla, indicate an arboreal setting with relatively humid and mild climatic conditions in MIS 5e. Our results further suggest that wood was used as fuel at Nesher Ramla. Given the scarcity of Middle Paleolithic sites in the Levant that have yielded charcoal, this new data from Nesher Ramla constitutes an important contribution to the study of past environments and the exploitation of plant resources by human groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on new findings from Middle Paleolithic Geula Cave, Israel, located in the northern part of Mt. Carmel. The cave, consists of several small chambers that are remnants of a larger cave system, initially excavated between 1958 and 1964. The occupation at the cave was ascribed to Middle Paleolithic modern humans. In 2016, a salvage excavation was conducted in areas of the cave that were not previously explored. Analyses of the new excavation revealed a consistency in lithic technology throughout the new excavation areas, with an emphasis on Levallois production using mainly bidirectional and centripetal core preparation modes. The faunal study identified intensive hyena and porcupine activities in small chambers, probably at the back part of the cave, while fractured bones in association with flint artifacts were found at what appears as the living area in the cave. Luminescence ages indicated that Geula Cave was occupied as early as 175 ka, but that the major occupation was from 120 to 100 ka. The major occupation at Geula chronologically overlaps with the Skhul and Qafzeh Caves thus reinforcing the notion that Homo sapiens dominated the southern Levant during early MIS 5. This study demonstrates the importance of reinvestigating and reevaluating past excavated prehistoric sites and their contents to enhance our understanding of the regional, cultural and biological history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our original paper we claimed for a possible symbolic value of the engraved aurochs bone shaft found at the Unit III of the Middle Paleolithic site of Nesher Ramla. In his comment to our original paper, Hodgson (2021) presents a contradictory interpretation, which mostly involved a proto-aesthetic source for early engravings. Here we clarify our point of view concerning the probable symbolic interpretation of the engraved bone and we challenge some of Hodgson's claims and arguments that neglected the archaeological and chrono-cultural contexts of this discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Site formation processes at ancient tells in the southern Levant have been the focus of several micromorphological studies, contributing to the differentiation of anthropogenic remains from long-term natural sedimentation, occurring post-abandonment. This paper discusses how the study of sedimentary processes and chemical compositions of sediments can be used within the context of an ongoing archaeological project, and how they can contribute to archaeological, historical and geomorphological interpretations. Sedimentary processes were studied implementing POSL, granulometry and PXRF as part of the archaeological research at Tel Burna, Israel. Focusing on the area along the northwestern fortification walls (Area B2), data was collected from multiple strata inside and outside the casemate fortifications dating from the Late Bronze Age to the Late Iron Age. The gradual increase of OSL values obtained inside the casemate wall, indicate accumulation of sediment during a long period of time. Whereas similar values along the entire profile outside the casemate wall indicate sediment accumulation in one-time event. This might be related to defensive preparations, allegedly in response to advances made by Sennacherib's army in 701 BCE. In addition, results from the PXRF studies demonstrated correlation between human activities and the Cu, P, K, Zn, Mn values. Specifically, it was found that as K content increased from younger to older periods, it can be used as a pseudo-dating element. Ca content decreased as sampling descended from the tell's surface, suggesting its origin in long-term aeolian processes. The results show that the use of POSL and PXRF on archaeological contexts are useful for determining sedimentary processes. Furthermore, chemical content enabled pseudo-dating of strata and facilitated the distinction between natural and anthropogenic processes in archaeological sites and landscape. • Elemental stratigraphic gradients correlate with chronology (Ca, P, K, Mn, Zn). • Human activities revealed by Cu, P, K, Zn, and Mn. • Geochemistry could be used as a pseudo-dating method (K content). • Higher content of Ca in younger phases/topsoil is probably due to aeolian deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The Italian version of Multidimensional Driving Style inventory was developed. • A Psychometric analysis showed similar parameters between Italian and the original Israeli version of questionnaire. • Even if the traffic rules are different, the driving style is considered in the same way in Italy and Israel. • The usefulness of the MDSI in assessing driving style was confirmed. Self-evaluating methods are frequently used to identify driving styles. Among others, one of the most commonly used questionnaires is the Multidimensional Driving Style Inventory (MDSI), developed for the Israeli population. Because of the extensive use of the questionnaire, the present paper aims to validate an Italian version and to confirm the 8-factor structure of the original one, i.e, dissociative, anxious, risky, angry, high-velocity, distress-reduction, patient, and careful driving style. The Italian version of the MDSI was filled out by 561 Italian drivers, who had a driving license for at least 1 year. A confirmatory factorial analysis (CFA) was conducted on the 44-item of the translated questionnaire showing not so good values of the goodness of fit tests (SRMR = 0.085; RMSEA = 0.063). The total-item correlation of each scale indicated that 4 items had a low index of total-item correlation. A second CFA was conducted on the remaining 40 items: goodness fit parameters improved (SRMR = 0.0685, RMSEA = 0.0584). Previous validations of the original version of MDSI for different populations (Argentine, Romanian, Chinese, Malaysian, Butch and Belgian) showed several critical issues in confirming the original structure. In the Italian version of MDSI validated in the present paper, the original 8-factor structure was confirmed by removing the 4 items which did not properly contribute to the factors. The results not only confirmed the usefulness of the MDSI in assessing driving style but they also indicated that the concept of driving style is considered in the same way in Italy and Israel, even though traffic rules are different. The latter consideration raises interesting questions for future research concerning cross-cultural comparisons of driving behavior in different countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The lack of early education services for the children of asylum-seekers is a significant problem worldwide. • The study focused on community daycares in Israel, known as the 'Babysitters'. • It examined an intercultural early education consultation program for undocumented caregivers working in Babysitters. • The program was designed to enhance caregivers' knowledge, sense of belonging and caring skills. • Alliances between counselors and caregivers were important and enhanced caregivers' sense of meaning and belonging. The lack of early childhood education services for the children of asylum-seekers is a significant problem in many countries. The urgent need for childcare and the lack of national solutions often lead to temporary and unregulated childcare services. This paper examines the case of community daycares, known as the 'Babysitters,' for undocumented children of African asylum-seeking families in Israel. These centers are generally staffed by undocumented community members. The study examined the C-SMART program, an intercultural consultation program provided by counselors to enhance community caregivers' developmental knowledge and caring skills for infants and young children. The qualitative study, guided by a grounded theory methodology, examined the caregivers' experiences and perceptions of learning within the C-SMART program. Fifteen undocumented African migrant and asylum-seeking caregivers shared their experiences in semi-structured interviews. Caregivers indicated that the consultation process included cultural tensions alongside moments of connection when shared cultural meanings were created. When the counselors demonstrated a humble, curious, and enabling attitude, the caregivers had significant learning moments and felt a sense of meaning and belonging that enhanced their caring skills. These results have substantial implications for the development of intercultural services for the caregivers of children from refugee or asylum-seeking families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• National focus on individual freedom vs. paternalistic values defines the status of traffic safety in different countries. • The present study examines the role of such values in road safety culture in Norway, Israel and Greece. • Norway has the highest road safety level in Europe, Israel performs better than the EU average, while Greece is below. • Greek drivers value freedom to take risk in traffic higher than drivers from Norway and Israel. • They also report higher levels of risky driving and are more often involved in accidents. National focus on individual freedom versus paternalistic values is a fundamental theme, which defines the status of traffic safety in different countries. The present study examines the role of such values in road safety culture based on survey data from car and bus drivers from three countries with distinctly different road safety records: Norway (N = 596), Israel (N = 129) and Greece (N = 386). While Norway has the highest road safety level in Europe, and Israel also performs better than the EU average, the road safety level in Greece was far below the EU average. As these positions reflect differences in policies and national regulations in drivers' freedom to take risk, we hypothesize a higher focus on individual freedom to take risk and lower focus on paternalism among the Greek drivers. Results indicate, in accordance with our hypothesis, that the Greek drivers value freedom to take risk in traffic higher than drivers from Norway and Israel. Greek drivers also expect higher levels of risk taking from other drivers in their country, they report higher levels of risky driving themselves, and are more often involved in accidents. Thus, it seems that values have an important role in Road Safety Culture (RSC), legitimizing and motivating risky driving, which are related to accidents. We found, however, contrary to our hypotheses, that the Greek drivers also had the most paternalistic attitudes among the drivers in the three countries. In the present paper, we try to solve this Greek paradox. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scapegoating – attributing inordinate blame for a negative outcome to a target individual or group – is considered an important driver of discrimination by psychologists, but has received little attention by economists. This paper helps fill the gap by providing evidence for scapegoating in a natural setting. Using data on three million driving tests held in Israel, I find that an increase in the number of unrelated traffic accident fatalities leads driving testers to discriminate against out-group students. Scapegoating characterizes all groups of testers – Jewish and Arab, male and female – and works to increase ethnic in-group bias and decrease gender out-group bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to Aristotle, general truths are inclusive, unscientific claims regarding human nature based on a society's knowledge and values. Claims of this kind, specifically those that have become sayings and clichés, are perceived as irrefutable axioms and thus enjoy considerable rhetorical force. The paper focuses on what is termed constructed general truths – new inclusive, unscientific claims about human nature presented as if they have already been accepted. It analyzes the discursive strategies by which they are constructed in politicians' Facebook posts in two Israeli election campaigns held in 2019, and discusses their rhetorical function. It is argued that the three prime ministerial candidates in Israel in 2019 (Benjamin Netanyahu, Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid) constructed new general truths by means of semantic, syntactical, grammatical and intertextual strategies, and that these seemingly general truths fulfilled rhetorical-pragmatic functions within their co-texts and contexts. Two main functions are discussed: First, to reinforce the candidates' own ethos as successful and moral leaders who behave in accordance with the morals and logic conveyed by the constructed general truths and seemingly reflect a consensus among the general public; second, to weaken the ethos of their rival/s who seemingly do/es not follow the same general truths. • New and original claims may be constructed as general truths. • General truths are constructed by means of diverse discursive strategies. • Constructed general truths are often found in politicians' Facebook posts. • Constructed general truths fulfill diverse pragmatic functions in their co-texts. • Constructed general truths fulfill a rhetorical key role in election campaigning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar flares are sudden eruption of intense high-energy radiation from the Sun causing radio perturbations due to disturbances in ionosphere and magnetosphere of the Earth. The present paper investigates ionospheric response to a series of X- and M-class solar flares during 6–10 September 2017 with simultaneously extracted total electron content (TEC) from six global positioning system (GPS) observatories around Saudi Arabian low latitudes. These solar flares include the most significant event of the 24th solar cycle and the brightest one in the past ten years. The results show noticeable enhancement in TEC magnitudes with the flare induced geomagnetic storms as compared to the average nearest quiet days. An abrupt increase in TEC (~132%) is observed at the eastward location in Oman with a time lag of about 1 h from the brightest solar flare (X9.3) whereas other sites depict increments within 22%–78%, referring to a longitudinal asymmetry during the period. However, a remarkable deviation from the quiet time TEC is visible at all stations about 24 h after the event, with the maximum and the least positive differences in TEC at the westward Israel (~141%) and the southward Djibouti (23%) stations, respectively. Comparable levels of TEC (~200%–300%) were also seen at far equatorial locations after the M-class flare on September 8, 2017, corroborating to the conjugate effects of solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) induced geomagnetic storms and O/N2 changes. Interestingly, the second brightest solar flare (X8.2) appeared to be less effective confirming a negative ionospheric response at the eastern side during the nighttime hours. • Ionospheric response to 6–10 September 2017 solar flare is probed through GPS TEC. • Anomalous TEC enhancement attributes increased EUV and triggered magnetic storm. • Double peak TEC on September 8, 2017 reveals a longitudinal asymmetry. • The second largest flare (X8.2) on September 10, 2017 reveals suppressed effects. • Nighttime TEC shows far higher magnitude on flare days than quiet conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green construction is gaining foothold among professionals, decision makers and the broader public. However, its success depends on a clear minded analysis of its pros and cons based on critical assessment, including cost-benefit analysis. This paper makes a first attempt at such an analysis of some of the first green sustainable schools in Israel. It deals with a limited sample available, as well as diverse rating systems which the different architects have chosen to comply with. By identifying and isolating the “green premium” of those schools which are comparable, and by analyzing actual direct benefits for the schools through energy and water bills (23% and 24% lower consumption respectively per year), the paper concludes that for the time being the payback period of green schools in Israel may prove counterproductive and prohibitive if calculated only on the basis of these two direct and immediate benefits. However, including in the analysis additional benefits, e.g. staff satisfaction (included in this paper), student achievements, user and broader public health issues and other public benefits (not included in this paper) can change the cost-benefit analysis outcome significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Higher education institutions have been accused of losing their moral orientation and failing to provide students with a meaningful educative experience. This paper exposes the roots of this problem within contradictions between two historical commitments of higher education: “serving science” and “know thyself”. The paper then develops a conceptual model of teaching practice as such. The model demonstrates the predominance of “serving science”, which leads to the compromising of ethics and meaning. It is then developed to show how “self” can be explicitly reclaimed by integrating the two epistemologies-ethics in teaching practice. Contemporary pedagogical examples are presented to demonstrate this approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• First paper to find that children can make equity-efficiency tradeoffs. • The more valuable the resource was, the less likely children were to waste. • The results generalized across three countries: the US, Israel and China. When children divide resources between others, their decisions generally follow principles of equity (i.e., equal pay for equal work) and efficiency (i.e., maximizing available resources). Yet – just like in the adults' world – these principles sometimes conflict, for example, when an uneven number of resources must be divided between two equally deserving recipients. Previous research has shown that children will throw resources away to avoid creating inequity between recipients. Yet it is unclear how children arrive at such decisions. One possibility is that they follow a general "equity is good" rule and ignore the violation of efficiency, which would suggest that they would be indifferent to resource value in making such decisions. Alternatively, children may be making a sophisticated tradeoff in which they weigh both equity and efficiency. If this is true, then children's tendency to create equitable allocations should be a function of the waste involved, and thus of the value of the resource. To test between these two accounts, we conducted two experiments where 6- to 8-year-old children (N = 313) had to allocate an uneven number of resources between two other children. Children could choose to either create an inequitable allocation or throw the last resource away. We varied how valuable the resources were, from stickers to iPhones. We found that the more valuable the resource was, the less likely children were to waste and allocate equally. This pattern of results generalized across three countries: the United States, Israel and China. Our findings are the first evidence to suggest that young children make equity-efficiency tradeoffs. We discuss how our findings deepen our understanding of children's resource distribution decisions and their perception of fairness and resource value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: All modern military jet aircraft are equipped with rocket-assisted ejection systems. Jet aircraft operate in the majority of the conflict regions throughout the world, and in nearly all modern countries during peacetime. Civilian and military emergency services may be called upon to treat aircrews that have ejected and should be familiar with the common injury patterns associated with aircraft ejection.Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature were undertaken using the preferred reporting for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) methodology. Peer-reviewed journal and conference papers published between 1 January 1971 and 15 June 2019 were included. Our primary outcomes of interest were mortality and major injury rates. The I2 test was used to assess heterogeneity among the included studies, and data were pooled under random effects models. In addition, all ejection cases in the Israeli Air Force (IAF) between 1990 and 2019 were studied. The data were manually extracted from the accident records and the electronic medical records system.Results: We identified 14 studies that included 1710 aircrew ejections. Heterogeneity was high (I2>75%). Pooled mean mortality and major injury rates were 10.5% (95% CI 6.8-14.8%) and 29.8% (95% CI 20.1-40.6%), respectively. The major injuries included spinal fractures (61.6%), extremity trauma (27.3%), and head trauma (8.9%). During the IAF study period, a total of 37 aircrew ejected from 26 IAF aircraft. The fatality rate was 5.4% and 18.9% suffered major injuries.Conclusions: Although ejection is lifesaving, it is associated with unique injury patterns that should be addressed during clinical evaluation. Because of their high prevalence, spinal precautions are paramount until spinal injury can be ruled out, generally by advanced imaging. Looking forward, injury patterns will continue to evolve in parallel with improving ejection seat systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Palestinian organizations started to fire rockets on Israel in 2001 and have continued to do so ever since. • I explore how these attacks affected voting patterns in national Israeli elections. • To measure variation in the intensity of the rocket threat over time and across space, I use detailed data on claims for rocket-related property damages. • I find that rocket attacks from Gaza increase support for the right political bloc in Israel. • Recent attacks, initial exposure and geographical proximity lead to stronger effects on voting behavior Citizens in many countries are forced to make their political decisions under the threat of terrorism. This paper explores the effects of rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip on voting patterns in Israeli elections between 1999 and 2015. Relying on a micro-level dataset of claims for rocket-related property damages as a proxy for the severity of the rocket attacks, I find that an additional one thousand claims in a locality increases right-bloc parties' vote-share by about 4 percentage points. Recent attacks, initial exposure and geographical proximity lead to stronger effects on voting behavior. The results are driven by actual exposure of the locality to rocket fire rather than by the mere threat of an attack. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines changes in teachers' envisioning of potential classroom argumentation situations through experiencing a cycle of: (1) analyzing various tasks' affordances for argumentation, (2) collaboratively analyzing examples of (other) teachers' analyses of those tasks' potential for argumentation, (3) refining initial analyses, and (4) reflection. Analysis of teachers' initial and refined responses revealed changes in the variety of dimensions of argumentation envisioned (e.g., mathematical, social, cognitive) and in the number of teachers categorized in each dimension. The paper provides evidence of the potential of collaborative analysis of authentic teacher responses for teachers' learning of key aspects of argumentation practice. • In the study, the teachers increased their noticing of mathematical tasks potential for argumentation. • The study provides evidence that collaborative analysis of authentic teacher responses supports the teachers' learning. • The study suggests approaches for teacher professional learning for developing expertise in argumentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Levant region of Israel, located along the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, is characterized by Mediterranean climate, but sixty km eastwards towards the Dead Sea Rift Valley (DSRV), the region rapidly becomes a 'rain shadowʼ desert. Speleothems from the Mediterranean climate zone continuously grew throughout several glacial/interglacial cycles, indicating that water was always available in the unsaturated zone. Their δ18O variations match global and regional climate changes, with the Eastern Mediterranean Sea being the major control on their δ18O values, as evident from the similarity between the speleothems and the planktonic foraminifer G. ruber records. In contrast, speleothems along the central and southern segments of the DSRV grew mainly during last glacial periods coinciding with the higher stands of Lake Lisan, the precursor of the present-day Dead Sea. This paper discusses the newly discovered Zalmon Cave speleothems, located in the northern segment of the DSRV shedding light on the hydrological conditions along the rift during last glacial. Unlike speleothems located further south along the DSRV, Zalmon Cave speleothems grew both during glacial and interglacial periods. However, during last glacial their δ18O values, shifted to lower values by ∼1–2‰ relative to speleothems from central Israel coinciding also with the largest difference in δ18O values between Zalmon Cave speleothems and the marine record. The data suggest that a change of the westerlies' storm tracks occurred during most of the last glacial period, which resulted in increased rainfall in the northern DSRV providing freshwater input during the otherwise relatively 'drierʼ glacial. • Speleothems were deposited almost continuously in the northern Dead Sea Catchment. • Interglacial climatic conditions in the Lower Galilee and central Israel were similar. • Glacial climatic conditions in the Lower Galilee were more humid than central Israel. • The Levant experienced a southern shift in storm tracks during the Last Glacial. • Differences in sea-land isotopic relationships indicate changes in precipitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimation of fault-model parameters is a challenge faced by researchers. Traditional statistical tools rely on a velocity field derived from precise coordinates of control-points in GNSS networks, changing over-time. This requires dealing with geodetic datum and deformation-monitoring datum, while handling ill-conditioned state models. This paper describes an algorithm for evaluating full fault-model parameters all at once using a feature-voting technique, while relying on precise GNSS vectors computed with scientific GNSS processing software. The algorithm bypasses the datum issues and deals with numerical instabilities using perturbed data replications. Dealing with gross-errors is an embedded attribute of the technique, and noise is an intrinsic feature needed to cope with the ill-conditioned equation-set problem with respect to the low-frequency nature of the data. Thus, the geodetic datum and deformation monitoring datum becomes irrelevant for this algorithm. Simulations of a locked fault-model, based upon a true solved epoch, derive proper parameter values for a preselected fault-model scenario, including simulations with noise. A case study relies on the northern section of the Dead-Sea fault, on 10 northern sites in Israel's continuously operating permanent stations, based on four true-data epochs of computed vectors in order to evaluate Dead-Sea fault model parameters. Similarity is shown between computed fault-model parameters using the presented feature-voting technique and those estimated by traditional processes; with respect to other researchers' work, at the same area over a similar time period, carried out by a traditional statistical least-squares adjustment procedure, including efforts in gross-error filtering and coping mechanisms with the biases caused from both datum issues. The feature-voting based methodology for analyzing fault-model parameters, using precise GNSS vectors and not precise coordinates; enables simultaneous full fault-model parameter computation while avoiding biases originating in deformation-monitoring datum and other error factors. • Technique bypasses major error-factors: Datum Defect and monitoring-datum setup. • Gross errors are treated in the voting-process – not gaining votes. • New measurements introduced without special treatment even when network changes. • Evaluating all model parameters together. • Presented methodology can't detect rigid motion of the entire monitoring-network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cities' planned and built environments are key to healthier communities. The Covid-19 pandemic challenged this relationship, when the issue of communities' compliance with government restrictions to mitigate the spread of the pandemic became apparent. Despite the growing literature on the relationship between communities' characteristics and Covid-19 throughout the pandemic, little attention has been paid to the drivers of compliance at the city and community levels. Our paper addresses this lack through the Bourdieusian concept of communities' capital resources. Using Israel as a test case, we explore how the economic, social and cultural capital of urban communities affected compliance with Covid-19 related restrictions. The analysis reveals how the spatial dispersion of the components of these forms of capital explains the likelihood of communities' level of compliance. In particular, it shows how the accumulation of various forms of capital increased compliance with health regulations. The study highlights the explanatory power of local resources in collective spatial behavior patterns, as well as the possibility of exacerbating existing injustices. • The social space of urban communities affects the health of their members. • Communities' adherence to Covid-19 preventative measures varies. • Communities' economic, social, and cultural capital forms promote urban compliance. • Capital forms affect urban compliance depending on cities' cultural-ethnic makeup. • Compliance enforcement is linked to communities' capital and cultural-ethnic makeup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses complexity theory to analyze the urban order and development of Arab Palestinian villages and towns in Israel. It follows the spontaneous emergence of abstract planning codes and principles, influenced by changing social, political and cultural dynamics. Based on a morphological analysis of 77 towns in northern and central Israel, and an in-depth investigation conducted in the city of Sakhnin, in the central Galilee, the paper reveals a repeated three-ring structure, corresponding to three socio-political periods. We offer a detailed examination of the links between social values and spatial conduct, thus enabling us to follow how slight changes in social and economic circumstances affect planning principles. In addition, the paper highlights the power of planning-without-a-plan as a method that facilitates shaping the quality of the built environment while allowing local adaptation and creativity. Finally, we discuss the problematic urban pattern created in the typical third ring, which is a top-to-bottom product of modern planning thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted ethnic minorities in the global north, evidenced by higher rates of transmission, morbidity, and mortality relative to population sizes. Orthodox Jewish neighbourhoods in London had extremely high SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence rates, reflecting patterns in Israel and the US. The aim of this paper is to examine how responsibilities over health protection are conveyed, and to what extent responsibility is sought by, and shared between, state services, and 'community' stakeholders or representative groups, and families in public health emergencies. The study investigates how public health and statutory services stakeholders, Orthodox Jewish communal custodians and households sought to enact health protection in London during the first year of the pandemic (March 2020–March 2021). Twenty-eight semi-structured interviews were conducted across these cohorts. Findings demonstrate that institutional relations – both their formation and at times fragmentation – were directly shaped by issues surrounding COVID-19 control measures. Exchanges around protective interventions (whether control measures, contact tracing technologies, or vaccines) reveal diverse and diverging attributions of responsibility and authority. The paper develops a framework of public health relations to understand negotiations between statutory services and minority groups over responsiveness and accountability in health protection. Disaggregating public health relations can help social scientists to critique who and what characterises institutional relationships with minority groups, and what ideas of responsibility and responsiveness are projected by differently-positioned stakeholders in health protection. • COVID-19 produced diverse responses and relations around health protection in London. •Pandemic preparedness can be enhanced by mapping possible partners in localities. •Establishing public health partnerships requires adequate resources. •Public health services cannot defer responsibility entirely to local partners. •Households are key constituents of public health relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a critical appraisal of the intersecting phenomena of diversity (and particularly immigration-induced diversity) and urban development. It examines the extent to which immigration participates in the "neoliberal remaking, reimagining, and competitive marketing of cities" (Glick Schiller & Çağlar, 2010) in the particular case of Israel peripheries. Based on the analysis of immigration policies formed in the towns of Acre, Arad and Kiryat Shmona, I aim at unpacking the position of municipalities towards immigration. Findings show that city officials and agents in municipalities proactively engage with immigration policymaking because of the perceived benefits of immigration for urban development. However, two substantial limits emerge: firstly, local immigration policies aim at selecting immigrants on the basis of their perceived economic utility, following a logic of "neoliberal multiculturalism" (Kymlicka, 2015); secondly, the neoliberal logics at work stand alongside other political projects, related to national frames of citizenship. The ethnocentric character of Israel immigration policies remains, and is ever more limited by economic criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural and peripheral areas with low population density and long travel distances challenge the supply of public transport service. The objective of this paper is to analyze which type of public transport service best fit the periphery and compare alternative services based on a set of quantities and qualitative measures with emphasize on equity considerations. We applied for the first time the Potential Mobility Index (PMI) developed by Martens (2016) to analyze the equity implications of the alternatives. We applied it in a new and unique way with two measures of travel time: in-vehicle travel time and door to door travel time. The research applies the methodology to a case study of Israel's peripheral cities. Two different alternative services were analyzed: high-speed rail to the Northern and Southern peripheral cities, and a fix schedule regional BRT shuttle service with a timed transfer to rail hubs near the periphery. The accessibility measures show that the rail service to the periphery provides high accessibility, however, the demand analysis suggests that the demand would be low to justify high-speed rail service. The analysis of the in-vehicle time PMI shows an advantage to the high-speed rail alternative, however, the door to door calculation of PMI shows that the BRT service gives better PMI scores to all the peripheral cities that we examined and can be effective in providing a high quality of service to the periphery. The results provide some insights for research and service planning in rural areas and found some generalization to equity aspects in the periphery dilemma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child Development Accounts (CDAs) are savings or investment accounts typically opened at birth or during a child's early years with the aim of promoting savings and asset accumulation for child development purposes, such as post-secondary education or homeownership. Beginning in January of 2017, the Israeli government established a universal CDA program called the Saving for Every Child Program (SECP). Under the program, every Israeli child gets a personal investment fund into which the government makes monthly contributions, and parents can further opt to make additional monthly deposits and change the default deposit location for these funds (a savings account versus an investment fund). Using population-level administrative data, this paper examines SECP enrollment and participation patterns for the first six months following the program's inception. We observe generally high rates of program participation among SECP-eligible households. However, we also find that more affluent, better educated, more employed, and ethnic majority households tend to engage with the program at higher rates and in ways that will likely yield higher economic returns in the future. These results indicate that while the SECP, as currently designed, may increase the overall financial security of Israelis, it may also contribute to growing economic inequality. • Initial household enrollment and participation in the universal Israeli CDA program was high. • Ethnicity, parental education, and employment were largest predictors of program engagement. • Israel's program has the potential to promote long-term asset development in Israeli households. • However, more vulnerable families often engage with the program in less welfare-enhancing ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The upgrade of the ATLAS (The ATLAS Collaboration, 2008) tracking detector for the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN requires novel radiation hard silicon sensor technologies. Significant effort has been put into the development of monolithic CMOS sensors but it has been a challenge to combine a low capacitance of the sensing node with full depletion of the sensitive layer. Low capacitance brings fast signal response at low noise combined with low analog power. Depletion of the sensitive layer causes the signal charge to be collected by drift sufficiently fast to separate hits from consecutive bunch crossings (25 ns at the LHC) and to avoid losing the charge by trapping after irradiation. This paper focuses on the characterization of charge collection properties and detection efficiency of prototype sensors originally designed in the framework of the ALICE Inner Tracking System (ITS) upgrade. The prototypes are fabricated both in the standard TowerJazz 1 1 Manufactured by Tower Semiconductor Ltd, Israel. 180 nm CMOS imager process (Senyukov et al., 2013) and in an innovative modification of this process developed in collaboration with the foundry, aimed to fully deplete the sensitive epitaxial layer and enhance the tolerance to non-ionizing energy loss. Sensors fabricated in standard and modified process variants were characterized using radioactive sources, X-ray beam and test beams before and after irradiation. Contrary to sensors manufactured in the standard process, sensors from the modified process remain fully functional even after 1 0 15 n eq /cm 2 which is the expected NIEL radiation fluence for the outer pixel layers in the future ATLAS Inner Tracker (ITk). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The shortage of available land in densified metropolitan cities demands maximizing its utility. Public authorities are required to find creative solutions to satisfy the growing demand for the supply of public space. The allocation of public services in privately owned buildings constitutes one instrument to answer these challenges. This paper introduces this tool by looking at the phenomenon of Vertical Allocations; specifically we examine how municipalities in Israel appropriate floorspace in newly built multi-purpose structures, which are privately owned. While designating these floors for public use, such as schools and kindergartens, municipal bodies assume responsibility for these new public resources. We identified and analyzed 58 projects inclusive of floorspace allocations for public uses. Following, we conducted over 25 interviews with key Israeli practitioners. We find that the allocation of public floorspace goes hand-in-hand with the trend of high-rise construction, and is promoted mainly in core metropolitan areas where land is scarce, and land values are usually much higher than in non-core peripheral areas. The most common public use allocated is for educational services. We find that the floorspace allocated for public needs consistently constitutes but a fraction of the total floorspace allocated for use by private owners. In Addition, Vertical Allocation of public floorspace presents special challenges, among which are uncertainty and challenges from joint ownership; too flexible or unknown future public functions; potential friction and nuisances due to proximity of uses; disagreement over construction costs and complexity of management within mixed-use buildings. Given rapid population growth, scarcity of land, and other challenges surrounding Israel's implementation of Vertical Allocations, the Israeli experience with this type of mixed use can serve as a teaching model and a test case for the rest of the world. Highlights • 'Vertical Allocations' is the practice of allocating public services in mixed use, mostly privately owned, buildings. • Municipalities appropriate floorspace in newly built multi-purpose structures, while designating these floors for public utilities. • Vertical floorspace is allocated for a range of purposes including schools, kindergartens, municipal offices, and train stations. • Municipal agencies may require a developer to designate public floorspace and to transfer ownership of these floors to the local government. • This phenomenon is increasing in Israeli cities, especially in core metropolitan areas. • Informants point out rationales, advantages and challenges associated with vertical allocations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Religiosity affects food production & consumption leading specialized supply chains. • Certification addresses consumer concerns of unobservable production technologies. • Specialized chains serve high levels of religiosity; few large grocers serve lower. • Demographic shifts, immigration of secular Jews increased diversity of supply chains. Abstract This paper demonstrates that religion and religiosity affect norms, which affect food consumption patterns and production. Heterogeneity and asymmetric information lead to multiple certification channels as well as multiple supply chains. Major supply chains may address multiple constituencies that are secular or less religious. Technological change affects norms and thus the food system. We obtain these results by analyzing the food systems for meat products in Israel where there are three religions – Jews, Muslims, and Christians – and people assign themselves three levels of religiosity – secular, conservative, and orthodox. Israel has multiple Kosher and Halal certifiers and several specialized supermarket chains for orthodox groups. Its main supermarket chains serve secular and some conservative segments. The immigration of secular Jews from Russia led to the proliferation of non-Kosher supply chains and products, and increased consumption of pork. New technologies and higher incomes led to emergence of fast food chains serving orthodox Jews that had previously tended to eat at home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Arab women paths to academic posts are woven through personal, familial and cultural circles. • rab women who forge a path to academic posts improve their social status in their society, undergo changes in their personal and professional identity and advocacy. • Their new role enrich their experiences towars social modeling and change. Abstract This paper traced the paths of 14 Arab women who have managed to forge their way to senior teaching and administrative posts in the “ivory tower” of academic institutions; women who serve as models to empower future generations of Arab society in Israel. Qualitative methodology was chosen, employing semi-structured in-depth interviews to elicit testimony from female Arab academics concerning their socio-cultural experiences on their path towards and in their academic faculty posts. A deep observation of the challenges that these women encounter, reveals that although blocks to a career are encountered by more women in developing societies with a patriarchal structure, Arab women in Israel are excluded from academic career building in three dimensions: as women in Arab society, which restricts their appearance and advancement to senior posts in the public space, as members of a minority society largely excluded from the institutions of the majority society and as Arab minority women attempting to gain posts in Israeli academic institutions, which see themselves as serving the Jewish nation building project often to the detriment of Arab scholars. Thus "breaking the glass ceiling" involves a complicated and difficult struggle for Arab women who wish to gain academic posts in Israel. Those who succeed are able to reinforce their personal, professional and gender identity and empower their leadership and commitment to improving the status of Arab women, while often creating a hybrid identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Acheulo–Yabrudian Cultural Complex (AYCC) of the late Lower Paleolithic Levant consists of three major industries, one of which is the blade-dominated Amudian. This paper provides an in-depth comparison of the Amudian blade industry from three major AYCC sites in the Levant – Qesem Cave, Tabun Cave and Yabrud Rockshelter I. The results demonstrate high inter-site similarity in Amudian blade technology and in product (blades) characteristics – i.e., a regional, clearly defined Amudian blade production technology. Nevertheless, differences in particular technological choices along the reduction sequences of blade production between the sites represent minute sub-regional technological variability within the Amudian. The evidence presented in this paper, together with many other innovative behavioral patterns seen in the AYCC, especially as reflected at Qesem Cave, may mark the end of a Lower Paleolithic Acheulian way of life that lasted over a million years in the Levant, and the beginning of a new era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the results of a preliminary study of flint items densities in different areas and different parts of the stratigrapahic column of Qesem Cave. Qesem Cave is a karst chamber cave with a ∼10 m stratigraphic sequence assigned to the Acheulo-Yabrudian Cultural Complex (AYCC) of the late Lower Paleolithic in the Levant dated to 420–200 ka. We first show the range of lithic densities in studied assemblages in the cave emphasizing significant differences in both the total number of lithic items per volume unit and/or for selected artifact categories within these assemblages. The results are used to suggest differential intensity of lithic-related activities in the cave and variability in synchronic (different areas of the cave within a similar stratigraphic level) distribution aspects of lithic categories of selected assemblages. We briefly note on the diachronic (assemblages belonging to different parts of the stratigraphic sequence) aspect of lithic densities in the discussion, yet this aspect is not is not central in this paper. A comparison of densities to frequency compositions of selected techno-typological categories in the same assemblages/areas further emphasizes the importance of using more than one quantitative measure as a descriptor of lithic assemblages and the interpretative potential of the interplay between the two measures. In some analyzed aspects the differences between the two measures in the same assemblage are quite significant, enabling interpretation of activity areas and specific human behaviors. Eventually, further research testing lithic densities against and/or incorporating them with other sets of density (and frequency) data from the same areas (e.g., faunal remains), or relating these densities to natural (such as a rock shelf) or human made features (such as a fireplace), may offer an elaborate and valuable landscape for reconstructing human behavior at the cave. Furthermore, the spatial distribution of specific techno-typological lithic categories within the assemblages studied as seen in densities augmented by available functional data (derived from use-wear analysis) enable another perspective on the subdivision of activity areas in some parts of the sequence. One synchronic example of our preliminary results which we present relates to generally contemporaneous assemblages adjacent to a constructed fireplace in the center of the cave in the upper part of the lower stratigraphic sequence dated to ca. 300 ka. Both blade-dominated Amudian and Quina (and demi Quina) scrapers dominated Yabrudian assemblages are involved, indicating spatially differentiated, functionally related differences around the fireplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores minority access to higher education in Israel in general, and among the Negev Bedouin Arabs, in particular. The Negev Bedouin community has undergone major changes during the past 60 years, and has the lowest socio-economic level of any population group in Israel. Higher education plays a prominent role in determining a community's competitiveness in the world marketplace. In most societies, it is also recognized as a major avenue to greater economic rewards and social mobility, making it of vital importance to those groups on the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder of society. The provision of public educational services to the Negev Bedouin, admissions procedures and standardized testing, financial assistance policies, and the socio-economic and political impact of higher education in Israel are examined in-depth. The paper concludes that the following structural and policy changes are needed to improve the access of the Negev Bedouin community to higher education: better quality elementary and secondary education, financial aid, removal of minimum age requirements, and culturally unbiased measures for admissions screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Israeli High Court of Justice (HCJ) is highly invested in maintaining a façade of adherence to International Law (IL) in Israel's continuous occupation of the West Bank, and in mitigating the contradictions and complexities in Israel's implementation of this law. Our paper proposes a unique legal-geographical perspective to the analysis of this dynamic, while anchoring the critique of the HCJ's work within an understanding of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank as a settler colonial project. Empirically, we focus on the Court's evolving jurisprudence in relation to the inclusion of expansion plans for the Jewish settlements in the routing of the separation barrier. Through a close reading of the legal texts, we demonstrate how the Court strove to subject the settler colonial logic of permanent spatial transformation and settlement expansion into the IL's imperatives of temporality and conservation. Through this case-study we propose a nuanced empirical and methodological approach to the study of contemporary settler colonial legalities. This approach focuses on the intertwinement of everyday professional practices of space and law in order to unravel the weaving of settler colonial logics into contemporary imperatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper argues that current mainstream understandings of civil society as ontologically different from the state and essentially positive (either normative or functionally) are problematic in order to understand the development of health care reforms. The paper proposes to ground an explanation of the role of civil society in health care reforms in a Gramscian understanding of civil society as analytically different from the state, and as an arena for hegemonic struggles. The study of health care reform in Israel serves as a case study for this claim. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: User-centred design (UCD) is a process whereby the end-user is placed at the centre of the design process. The WIISEL (Wireless Insole for Independent and Safe Elderly Living) system is designed to monitor fall risk and to detect falls, and consists of a pair of instrumented insoles and a smartphone app. The system was designed using a three-phase UCD process carried out in Ireland, which incorporated the input of Irish end-users and multidisciplinary experts throughout.Objective: In this paper we report the results of a usability and user experience (UX) assessment of the WIISEL system in multiple countries and thus establish whether the UCD process carried out in Ireland produced positive usability and UX results outside of Ireland.Methods: 15 older adults across three centres (Ireland, Italy and Israel) were recruited for a three-day trial of the system in their home. Usability and UX data were captured using observations, interviews and usability questionnaires.Results: The system was satisfactory in terms of the usability and UX feedback from the participants in all three countries. There was no statistically significant difference in the usability scores for the three countries tested, with the exception of comfort.Conclusions: A connected health system designed using a UCD process in a single country resulted in positive usability and UX for users in other European countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses to what extent experiencing violence in the Palestinian Arab family in Israel is a predictor for elements of aggressive behavior, and to what extent is it influenced by skills of self-control, social support, religiosity and well-being as mediators of aggressive behavior. One hundred and sixty Arab adolescents (42.3% male and 57.7% female) Grades 9–12 were sampled in a convenient sampling (none random sampling method) from Palestinian Arab family in Israel. Significant positive correlation was found between experiencing violence in the family and aggression (r = 0.30, p < 0.01), with significant negative correlation between self-control skills and aggression (r = −0.626, p < 0.01), religiosity and aggression(r = −0.647, p < 0.01), social support and aggression (r = −0.59, p < 0.01), and no significant correlation between well-being and aggression (r = −0.12, p > 0.05). Social support, self-control and religiosity each alone, fully mediated the relationship between violence in the family and aggression. These findings constitute a theoretical contribution to knowledge gained with respect to aggression among adolescents and students. In addition, the findings could make a practical contribution through development of training programs on the use of mediating skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses the water allocation economy in Israel as a proxy for imputing the value of agricultural amenities. A general equilibrium model is developed, and incorporates agricultural amenities as byproducts of agricultural production, water trade channels, and multiple water types. The premise is that until a decade ago, water policy in Israel was interlinked with agricultural land-use policy. Integrating a Monte-Carlo analysis, the model searches for a baseline minimum value of agricultural amenity that makes household, in the counterfactual scenario, indifferent between the administrative and market mechanisms. The minimum imputed value is around 109% agricultural output. The intuition is that the gains in economic welfare, from improved water use efficiency, are offset by the losses in social welfare due to a reduction in available agricultural amenities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mediterranean Sea is a closed basin with limited water exchange through the Strait of Gibraltar, and sites along its shores show the greatest densities of marine debris in the world. Plastic bottles, which are a growing concern due to high consumption of soft drinks and bottled water, constitute most of the floating marine debris. In this paper we present the transport mechanisms of floating marine debris to and from the Israeli coast using an experimental offshore release and recovery of plastic bottles, with the participation of citizens. Many bottles released near the beach in the south part of Israel, returned to the beach at a short distance and time from the release point. Some release locations had no bottle returns. Ten bottles, released from three locations, were recovered many dozens to hundreds of kilometers from the release point. Since most of the westward water flow in the eastern Mediterranean is subsurface, it was not surprising to find our floating debris only in the east. That makes the Levant basin in the eastern Mediterranean a collection area for floating debris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Care leavers' social support networks have often been theorized as having a salient role in explaining youths' functional outcomes and the way these relate to their adverse pasts. The goals of the present study are to examine the association between childhood adversity and adult functioning among youth aging out-of-care, and to explore how attributes of their social support networks mediate this association. The sample consisted of 345 Israeli care leavers (ages 18 to 25), formerly placed in residential or foster care. Standardized self-report questionnaires were administered to assess various attributes of youths' support networks (e.g., network size or adequacy) vis-à-vis three types of social support (emotional, practical, information and guidance), indices of childhood adversity, and markers of adult functioning (adjustment to post-school settings, economic well-being, and housing difficulties). Structural equation modeling indicated that a significant portion of youths' functioning outcomes was attributable to childhood adversity. This relationship was fully or partially mediated by social support, across the various types of support and outcomes examined. Network size and network adequacy were the most prominent predictors of functioning; the latter more consistently so. Whereas emotional, practical, and information and guidance supports all significantly contributed to greater adjustment to post-school settings and economic well-being, only practical support was related to fewer housing difficulties. The differential effects of the attributes and functions of care leavers' support networks on functioning outcomes are discussed in reference to social network literature. The paper also presents recommendations for practice and policy with a focus on social network intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many changes in Israeli higher education have occurred during the last two decades as the country evolved from having less than 20 higher education institutions to having more than 65 institutions. The number of students has risen from about 100,000 to more than 250,000. From a semi-monolithic system that consisted mainly of research universities, the Israeli higher education system developed into a two-tier system. In spite of these dramatic changes, still more than half of the relevant age group cannot pass the academic requirements for admission to higher education. A vibrant academic system should cope with social and economic changes alongside academic issues. This paper analyses the current higher education system in Israel and its historical background. It analyses the main factors that brought structural changes in recent years and outlines the weaknesses of the current system. Finally, it contextualizes the existing educational funding formula and focuses on various socioeconomic indicators that may be combined into a new funding model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]