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Abstract Background Osteoarthritis (OA) is a significant global health concern and is characterized by the degeneration of joint structures, leading to pain, stiffness, and functional limitations It is estimated that 654.1 million individuals are affected by osteoarthritis worldwide, with females, especially those older than 60 years of age, being the population most impacted. However, there remains a gap in understanding the awareness of knee osteoarthritis among specific populations, such as the Palestinian community in the West Bank, thus, highlighting the need for targeted research to address this health disparity. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the West Bank from August to September 2024. Participants were recruited from 11 cities and a validated questionnaire adapted from a previous study was used to collect the data. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha, yielding a value of standard alpha = 0.71, which is an acceptable value. The survey collected demographic data, clinical characteristics, knowledge of osteoarthritis risk factors, symptoms, and attitudes towards treatment options. R Statistical Software was used for data analysis, which included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression to explore the relationships between demographic factors and osteoarthritis knowledge, whereby a p-value of ≤ 0.05 was set up as a significance level. Results A total of 725 valid responses were included in our study. Among the participants, 569 were female, predominantly aged 25 or younger (66%, n = 479), and 62% (n = 450) were single. Knowledge assessment revealed that 80% (n = 580) recognized knee osteoarthritis as a chronic disease, while only 51% (n = 369) understood its impact on joint involvement. The majority identified high BMI (87%, n = 632), advancing age (94%, n = 683), and previous knee injury (72%, n = 520) as risk factors, although only 42% (n = 306) acknowledged genetics as one. Most participants were aware of the management strategies, including analgesics (70%, n = 510) and physiotherapy (80%, n = 579). However, 66% (n = 478) scored low for overall knowledge regarding knee osteoarthritis. Conclusion This study emphasizes the critical importance of raising awareness and knowledge about osteoarthritis within the Palestinian community. Despite being widely known as a long-term issue, there are still noticeable gaps in the understanding of the joint impact, potential risks, and effective treatment methods for osteoarthritis. The use of informal sources highlights the importance of specific educational programs by healthcare providers.

AbstractAnalysts strive to predict future scenarios of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, concentrating on the question of whether Palestinians will be willing to pay the costs of violent struggle. In contrast with various policy assessments, this paper takes political trust as a factor that enables us to anticipate Palestinian social reactions as a point of departure. We interviewed 90 West Bank inhabitants, focusing on six major issues: the armed struggle against Israel, democracy and human rights, the internal PLO-Hamas rift, the standard of living, corruption in the PA, and political trust in the PA. Our findings match the quantitative results of Khalil Shikaki’s PCPSR public opinion polls of the West Bank. We conclude that the lack of democracy, the continuing internal rift, the low standard of living, and the manifestations of governmental corruption erode political trust within Palestinian society. Based on research from other places around the globe, such a loss of trust dissuades recruiting people for national struggles. Accordingly, a new popular intifada seems unlikely. However, the Palestinians interviewed also objected to the occupation and its ramifications, which is not an encouraging insight for peace-seekers in the Middle East.

Abstract Background Postpartum depression (PPD) has a huge negative impact on the health of the mother and the family, both physically and mentally. Few postpartum depression studies have been done in Palestine. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and the most probable risk factor of PDD among Palestinian women in the northern West Bank. Methods This is a cross-sectional study of 380 mothers, ages 18 and 44 years, visiting vaccination clinics with their infants after 7-12 weeks of delivery between 1 May 2022 and 30 June 2022. Postpartum women seeking care at the seven largest primary health care centers of the Ministry of Health in four cities in the Northern West Bank in Palestine were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire that included the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and demographic and birth details. A score of 13 or higher was used to indicate PPD risk. Descriptive and analytical analyses were performed using SPSS version 20. The level of significance was set at 5%. Results The median age of the participants was 27 years with a range of 26 years. A total of 129 women had an EPDS score of 13 or more, giving a prevalence rate of post-partum depression of 33.9%. The predictors of postpartum depression were stressful life events during pregnancy (p-value 0.003, OR: 2.1, 95% CI [1.27-3.4]), vacuum use during delivery p-values 0.002, OR: 4, 95% CI: [1.64-9.91]), low social support (p-value less than 0.001, OR: 2.5, 95%CI: [1.7-4.2]) and husband’s low level of education (p-value less than 0.001, OR: 5.2, 95%CI: [2.7-10]). Conclusion The study showed a high prevalence of PPD among Palestinian mothers in the northern West Bank. Our study found that PPD risk factors include lack of social support, the husband’s low education, and stressful events during pregnancy. This will emphasize the importance of PPD screening and early intervention, especially among vulnerable women.

Background: The satisfaction of healthcare employees in their jobs is crucial due to its impact on the quality of services provided. Additionally, the presence of adequate job satisfaction is essential to avoid negative consequences in healthcare delivery, such as high turnover rates and low performance.Objectives: This study aimed to address the knowledge gap regarding the measurement of current job satisfaction levels among healthcare providers in both governmental and private hospitals in the West Bank.Methods: This research follows a cross-sectional design and utilizes a quantitative approach. Data were collected from a total of 370 employees working in the healthcare sector, including both private and public hospitals. To assess job satisfaction, the researchers employed a self-administered Mueller/McCloskey satisfaction scale, which was based on previous studies conducted by Clinton in 2015. This scale was administered to employees across various departments and specialties.Results: In various aspects, healthcare providers express a satisfaction level of over 30%. These aspects include their monthly salary, annual leave and holidays, working hours, weekend arrangements, interactions with supervisors and colleagues, social communication during work hours, collaboration with healthcare professionals from different specialties, work environment, and working conditions. The results indicate that a majority of healthcare providers (54.9%) are generally content, scoring between 60% and less than 80%. Conversely, approximately one-third of them (33.6%) express general dissatisfaction, scoring below 60%.Conclusion: More than half of the healthcare providers in both governmental and private hospitals in the West Bank expressed a general sense of satisfaction. Married and older healthcare providers are more satisfied with their jobs compared to younger and single employees.

Its was recorded that in 2019 the residents of Magelang Regency produced 580 tons of waste. This fact illustrates that waste is still a problem in Magelang Regency, including in Dawung Village. Waste management with the principles of reduce, reuse and recycle (3R) offers a solutiom to alleviating waste problems. howwver, its implementation is still not optimal. The reason, not evenly distributed public insight about the discourse. Therefore, programs to strengthem communjty knowledge relate to 3R waste management and waste management into gooda with new values are interesting to implement. There are four strages of implementing this community service peogram namelu situatiok analysis, planning, implementation, and evaluation. The result of the implementation of this program is that Dawung Village residents’ insights have opened up about the 3R waste managemen proses and enriched residents’ skills in managing waste into goods with new value.

Schools play a significant role in social development which is one of the three major pillars of sustainable development. Schools are also a hub to promote sustainable practices, and hence, it is imperative to measure the actual energy performance of school buildings. This research was designed to quantify the actual energy consumption in public school buildings in the West Bank in Palestine to establish a baseline for energy consumption in public school buildings. Methodologically, the historical energy performance of a representative random sample consisting of 103 schools in the West Bank was statistically analysed. The results show that the average annual energy consumption in public school buildings is 10,368 kWh, while the annual energy use intensity is around 8.35 kWh/m2/year, and 35.44 kWh/student/year. The results presented in this research are not surprisingly low due to the fact that energy consumption in school buildings is heavily determined by heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems which often do not exist in public school buildings in the West Bank. This research is the first to provide empirical statistical evidence about the actual amount of energy consumed in public school buildings in the West Bank, as well as it is the first to present a baseline energy consumption for public schools. The results presented in this research can be used as an industry benchmark by policy and decision-makers to assess green schools’ performance which, besides reducing the negative impacts on the environment, have the potential to improve health, productivity and, education environment.

Abstract Organic farming is one of the methods that increases the value added of agricultural products in a sustainable way. This paper examines how the adoption of organic farming has impacted the technical efficiency of Palestinian olive-growing farms in the West Bank. Using cross-sectional data of olive farms in the Jenin governorate, we employ an input-oriented data envelopment analysis framework to compute radial and input use efficiencies. Considering heterogeneity in technology between organic and conventional farming, a metafrontier with a directional distance function approach was applied. As self-selection bias may exist due to the decision to adopt organic farming, we apply the endogenous switching regression method to reduce bias caused by unobserved heterogeneity. Results suggest that organic farms in Jenin are not less efficient than conventional farms. Their organic farming method improves input use efficiency with respect to labor and cost relative to conventional farming. While organic farming is commonly considered to be less efficient and more costly, our findings from Jenin imply that it is, in fact, a more efficient method. We suggest that promoting organic olive farming could offer an effective strategy for small farms to add value, despite the severe geopolitical constraints of farming in the West Bank.

This study argues that a political reality of a temporary arrangement has been solidified in Judea and Samaria since 2005, right after Abu Mazen was elected to be the President. It based on integrative approach suggests here for the first time and falls between the political peace process and the armed struggle approaches as a possible solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This is a result of social-political change within the Palestinian society: the Palestinian Authority has been concerned about maintaining its civil achievements since 2007, based on Fayyad’s program of building Palestinian statehood from the “bottom up.”Israel has used to deepen its security and settlement hold on the ground.This situation guarantees continuation of Israeli political and security dominance in this region; one de facto political entity is being settled between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, where two distinctly different communities are living side by side.

Abstract Background Worldwide, breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently discovered tumor in women. Breast self‐examination (BSE) is a helpful screening method that gives women more control over their bodies by educating them about the structures of their breasts and assisting in the early detection of any developing breast abnormalities. The purpose of this research was to assess Palestinian girls' degree of BSE awareness and practice. Method A self‐administered questionnaire was used to gauge participants' knowledge about BC and associated topics. Through an online survey, all girls above the age of 20 are encouraged to take part in the study. Female university students at academic levels I, II, III, and IV in Palestine were also invited to participate in the study by way of an online survey. Results The study included 467 female participants, with 69% of the individuals being single. The majority of females (68.7%) scored poorly on knowledge of BC disease (possible risk, methods of detection, methods of diagnosis, methods of treatment, signs and symptoms, information about mammography, and other knowledge questions), whereas only 31.7% scored well. Conclusion BC, which is thought to be the most common malignant development among them and the second leading cause of cancer mortality, is one of the issues that women in the West Bank face. Screening methods are crucial for the early detection of BC and for lowering disease‐related morbidity and mortality. It has been advised that starting at age 20, every woman should take the BSE.

IntroductionOur main aim is to understand to what extent Bedouins, internally displaced Palestinians (refugees) and majority-group members (non-refugees, non-Bedouins, settled) in the West Bank prioritize COVID-19 booster shots for their own group over other groups.MethodsWe conducted a survey experiment (face-to-face) among 678 Palestinians living in the West Bank. Participants randomly received a description of an older man (Bedouin, refugee, settled) and were asked to indicate to what extent this person should be prioritized for the booster shot. Respondents belonging to a minority saw the profile of an in-group member or a majority-group member, whereas majority-group members would see the profile of an in-group or one out-group member (Bedouin, Palestinian refugee).ResultsWe found slightly higher in-group preferences for Palestinian refugees when it came to vaccination, whereas majority-group members were less inclined to support a prioritization of Palestinian refugees but equally prioritized their group and Bedouins. For Bedouins, we did not find strong in-group preferences.DiscussionOur study reveals the salience of group boundaries during the COVID-19 pandemic with potentially adverse effects on the health care of minorities.

This study examines tourist satisfaction and its relationship with demographic variables in Nablus, Palestine. Two hundred two tourists were surveyed using a structured questionnaire to collect data on their satisfaction level and demographic information. The results reveal that the overall tourist satisfaction level in Nablus is high. However, significant differences in satisfaction were found based on gender, education level, number of family members, occupation, and income. The study highlights the importance of considering demographic factors in shaping visitor satisfaction and tailoring tourism services to meet the needs and preferences of diverse clients. The findings also shed light on the negative impact of tourist blackmailing, which is the exploitation of tourists by various stakeholders, and the role of positive perceptions of the destination in attracting tourists and mitigating the impact of security threats. The study provides valuable insights for tourism service providers and stakeholders in promoting sustainable and competitive tourism in Nablus and the West Bank region.

'Hydro-hegemony' typically refers to the power-related tactics and strategies used by stronger states in transboundary water disputes that prioritise their access to water and compel weaker entities to submit to these conditions. Such asymmetrical power relations also have a bearing on the nature of water governance, and thereby, the water and human security of vulnerable water users, as detailed in the conceptual framework of this article. Our analysis of the case of the West Bank, and more specifically the Jordan Valley, shows how Israeli control over the region – most visibly manifested in superior weaponry along with greater economic and technological capacities – influences the institutions of water governance as well as decision-making and implementation processes in favour of Israel while deliberately generating water and human insecurity for Palestinians. During fieldwork in 2019, we interviewed Palestinian water users in the Jordan Valley as well as representatives of water governance and other related institutions in the West Bank. Their 'voices' highlight the different dimensions that lead to water insecurity being structural, systemic, and pervasive in the daily lives of Palestinians. Their water insecurity in the context of military occupation is linked to their overall human insecurity. As a result, Palestinians are denied not only their right to water but potentially also their right to life.

A total of 79 species of local vertebrates (birds, mammals, and reptiles) are found to be in illegal trade in the West Bank, Palestine, during 2013–2020. Data were collected from visits to the animal markets in the main cities of the West Bank (Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin, Jericho, Nablus, Ramallah, and Salfit) and from advertisements in social media. Birds were the most traded animals represented in 59 species (74.7%), followed by 12 species of reptiles (15.2%) and eight species of mammals (10.1%). Nineteen species are listed under CITES appendices (17 birds and 2 mammals under appendixes II and III, respectively). As for the conservation status according to the IUCN Red List, two bird species (Streptopelia turtur and Serinus syriacus) and one reptile (Testudo graeca) are listed as VU, while two mammals (Hyaena hyaena and Gazella gazella) are listed as NT and EN, respectively. Based on the local status, three species of bird are considered critically endangered (Coturnix coturnix, Asio flammeus, and Aquila chrysaetos), one bird is endangered (Falco subbuteo), and two mammals (Hyaena hyaena and Gazella gazella) are considered endangered and vulnerable respectively. This study reveals the urgent need to control animal trade in the Palestinian Territories.

Access to clean and safe water is extremely important, not only in Palestine but also worldwide. In the West Bank, groundwater is particularly valuable because of its scarcity and inaccessibility, and, due to the nature of the area’s aquifers, is currently regarded as being at high risk of pollution. Moreover, the water quality in this area is also of wide concern, with its effects being directly linked to human health. Certain parts of the West Bank groundwater suffer from high concentrations of nitrate and potassium. In total, 38.8% of nitrate and 10% of potassium concentrations in well samples exceed the permissible limit set by the WHO and PSI, and, therefore, health problems arise as a limiting factor for life quality and welfare in this region. Moreover, 87.7% of samples are classified as having very hard water. To evaluate the well water in the study area, an assessment was conducted based on the WQI and HHR. Therefore, 49 samples were taken from a group of wells distributed across the study area during the year 2021. The physico-chemical parameters of each sample were analysed. The WQI values showed that 78% of the well samples were of good quality. Moreover, in the classification of the water based on a Piper diagram, 65% of the groundwater was determined to be calcium–magnesium–bicarbonate-type water. Likewise, health risk assessments were evaluated for fluoride and nitrate in drinking water for adults, children, and infants. The main values of the estimated total hazard index (THI) obtained from the analysed data on the health risk assessments revealed a diverse effect on the local population based on age category. The ranges of THI in all sampling locations varied considerably and extended from 0.093 to 3.01 for adults, 0.29 to 3.08 for children, and 0.302 to 3.21 for infants. These results widely indicate that infants are more exposed to health risks.

A Legionella pneumophila bacterium is ubiquitous in water distribution systems, including dental unit waterlines (DUWLs). Legionellosis is atypical pneumonia, including Legionnaires’ disease (LD) and the less acute form of Pontiac fever. Legionellosis occurs as a result of inhalation/aspiration of aerosolized Legionella-contaminated water by susceptible patients, health workers, and dentists. In this study, we undertook to determine the prevalence of Legionella in water and biofilm samples from Tap and DUWLs collected from five sites of dental clinics and faculties across the West Bank. Water samples were tested for physical and chemical parameters. The study samples included 185 samples, 89 (48%) water samples, and 96 (52%) biofilm swabs, which were analyzed by cultivation-dependent analysis (CDA) and by the cultivation-independent technique (CIA). Also, partial sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene for fifteen L. pneumophila isolates was performed for quality assurance and identification. L. pneumophila was isolated from 28 (15%) of 185 samples using CDA and was detected in 142 (77%) of 185 samples using CIA. The abundance of culturable L. pneumophila was low in DUWL of the sampling sites (range: 27–115 CFU/Liter). PCR was 5× more sensitive than the culture technique. L. pneumophila Sg 1 was detected in (75%) of the isolates, while (25%) isolates were L. pneumophila Sg 2–14. All fifteen sequenced Legionella isolates were identified as L. pneumophila ≥ 94.5%. The analysis of phylogenetic tree showed that L. pneumophila branch clearly identified and distinguished from other branches. These results show that DUWLs of the examined dental clinics and faculties are contaminated with L. pneumophila. This finding reveals a serious potential health risk for infection of immunocompromised patients and dentists’ post-exposure.

BackgroundThe Palestinian Ministry of Health (MoH) routinely refers Palestinian patients with cancer to King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC), the largest cancer center in the Middle East.AimsWe aimed to describe the characteristics of Palestinian patients with cancer.MethodsWe performed a retrospective chart review of all Palestinian patients with cancer who were treated at KHCC during 2018 and 2019, of which demographic and clinical characteristics were presented.ResultsWe initially started with 521 cases, out of which 41 (7.9%) cases were excluded due to misdiagnosis as malignant on pathology review. We included 480 patients with a confirmed diagnosed of cancer. Most patients were adults (88.8%) with a mean age of 50.0 ± 15.0 years ranging from 19 to 87 years. The most common cancer sites in adult men, who comprised 46.9% of the cohort were the hematolymphoid system (23.5%), followed by the digestive system (17.5%), and lung and pleura (11.5%). In women (53.1%), the most common cancer sites were the breast (46.0%), followed by the digestive system (15.0%), and the hematolymphoid system (10.2%). Children and adolescents accounted for 11.3% of the total cases, among which the hematolymphoid system was the most common cancer site (50%), followed by the brain (14.8%). About 36.0% of all patients presented with advanced-stage disease (i.e., distant metastasis).ConclusionThe most common cancer sites in our cohort are generally similar to data from the Palestinian territories. Many patients presented with advanced-stage disease, which signals the need for awareness campaigns and screening programs. Benign tumors are misdiagnosed in many patients as cancer. The limited resources and facilities including human resources remain important challenges to the proper and timely diagnosis and management of cancer among Palestinians living in the Palestinian Territories.

This article offers an anthropological look at sacred textuality by exploring the social and theological structure of Jewish religious nationalism in Israel and the West Bank. It argues that the study of sacred texts serves as a medium through which Jewish religious Zionists articulate what it means to return to an ancestral homeland. It demonstrates how the study of these sacred texts is implicated in the cultivation of two different structural modes through which religious Zionists relate to ideas of homecoming. On one side, homecoming rests in a revolutionary force of intellectual insight; on the other, it is expressed through the mystical and mysterious force of prophecy. In a broader sense, this article critiques the reticence of anthropologists to engage seriously with the broader theological ideas that are expressed through a textual medium that can be so much a part of the everyday experiences of individuals living in text-based societies.

Abstract Abstract Home demolition is considered a miserable and frequent reality of life for thousands of Palestinian people. Recently, in January 2020, at least 44 structures were demolished by Israeli forces, displacing at least 87 people. Studies have revealed high levels of stress was associated with losing a family home during home demolition, and the stress doesn’t only carry out immediate effects but also long-term mental consequences. This paper aims to provide an overview of the literature and established studies related to the mental health consequences of home demolitions in Palestine. Methods PubMed, Science Direct, Semantic Scholar and Google Scholar were used to search for materials for the critical analysis of empirical articles. The following aspects were taken into consideration: study type, sample, and key findings. Results In this review, nine studies related to mental health consequences of home demolition were found and considered in this paper. The results indicate depression, stress, anxiety, phobias and lack of hope in the future are mutual themes running throughout the lives of those Palestinian families who have actually experienced home demolition along with those who have experienced a constant threat of demolition to their homes. In addition, many of life stressors such as lack of educational opportunities, low incomes, and a tendency to live in poor housing conditions after and before demolition also play a role in developing serious mental disorders. Conclusion As primary prevention, the practice of home demolition in Palestine has to be ended. In addition to conduct a constant monitoring of the resulting displacement and the damage caused, and ensuring the necessary assistance in particular mental health and psychological support for victims of home demolitions.

Objectives: To investigate the epidemiology of human brucellosis in the West Bank over the past 20 years, with a focus on recent trends in disease incidence from 2000 to 2020. Methods: A long-term descriptive epidemiological study was conducted, based on the Palestinian Ministry of Health records from 2000 to 2020. Results: The total number of cases was 7935 and the average annual incidence rate (AAIR) was 9.4 cases per 100 000 population. The AAIR ranged from 17.9 in 2000 to 15.7 cases per 100 000 population in 2020. The AAIR decreased markedly from 17.9 in 2000, to 2.9 cases per 100 000 population in 2012. A dramatic increase in cases started from 2013 onwards, reaching a peak in 2016. Higher incidence was reported in males (57.1%) and among the age group 11–20 years (29%). A higher number of cases was reported during April, May, and June. A total of 2850 patients (62.7%) reported contact with animals, and approximately 30% had at least one infected household member. Conclusions: The dramatic increase in human brucellosis in the West Bank was linked to the impaired control and surveillance of the disease. Mass vaccination, regular screenings, raising public health awareness, and monitoring of milk and homemade dairy products represent some recommended precautionary measures for coping with the epidemic.

Abstract Background The WHO reports that anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders worldwide. Most people who experience such events recover from it; however, people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) continue to be severely depressed and anxious for several months or even years following the event. Palestinians are particularly at a higher risk for developing anxiety disorders and PTSD due to the continuous exposure to political violence, prolonged displacement, and other limitation on professional, educational, financial opportunities, and mental health services. This paper aims to provide a systematic review of the literature and established studies concerning Anxiety disorders besides PTSD in Palestine. Methods PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar was used to search for materials for the critical analysis of empirical articles. The following aspects were taken into consideration: study type, sample, and key findings. Results In this review, we included about twenty-four studies from Palestine (West Bank and Gaza). Five studies relate to children, five relate to adolescents, three relate to women, three relate to physical diseases, and four relate to gender and age differences. Results show that anxiety disorders and PTSD are one of the most common mental disorders in Palestine. Anxiety and PTSD develop from a complex set of risk factors, including genetics, personality, and life events. They are mostly associated with low quality of life and disability. The results indicate that a significant proportion of Palestinian experiencing serious issues that deal with several challenges, distinct barriers including; inconsistent availability of medications, absence of multidisciplinary teamwork, insufficient specialists, fragmented mental health system, and occupation. Conclusion As primary prevention, the occupation has to have considered as the main source of anxiety and other mental health disorders in Palestine. Besides, there is a need to implement a mental health care system through multidisciplinary work and raising awareness regarding the prevalence of mental disorders.

Entrepreneurship is vital for enhancing an organization position among its rivals and may establish new opportunities. The positive effects of entrepreneurship are realized, however, if the business environment is receptive to innovation; especially the internal environment within its leadership, it can act as a motivator for it. This study aimed to identify the impact of entrepreneurship on organizational excellence through the mediating role of visionary leadership, where the study population was the managers at different levels in the Jordan commercial bank. A random sample was used to collect data from (54) branch distributed between Jordan and West Bank, where the sample consisted of (183) distributed questionnaires, while the valid questionnaires for statistical analysis were (154), which is reflected a responding rate of (84.15%) of distributed questionnaires. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was applied as a statistical method to attain the study objectives and testing its hypotheses. The study results indicated that entrepreneurship with its dimensions (innovativeness, pro-activeness, risk-taking, and aggressive competition) had a significant impact on both visionary leadership and organizational excellence, also visionary leadership had a significant impact on organizational excellence, while the mediating test referred that the visionary leadership played a partial mediating role between entrepreneurship and organizational excellence. Consequently, the study concluded that external and internal environments could act as a motivator for entrepreneurship and consequently for achieving organizational excellence through having visionary leadership and flexible structures and policies.

Abstract Background Child maltreatment is a global epidemic. It affects morbidity, mortality, social behavior, wellbeing, and quality of life of children. This study aims to assess prevalence of child abuse in the West Bank (WB) of the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) and to determine some of its social and political associated factors. Methods We analyzed secondary data obtained from a cross sectional study conducted on a sample representing Palestinian children on the West Bank and using the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN) tool. The ISPCAN Child Abuse Screening Tool for parents (ICAST-P) questionnaire was completed by 1107 Palestinian mothers to estimate physical and emotional child abusive practices at home for children aged 0–12 years. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses were performed using the SPSS® version 20 to assess prevalence and predictors of child abuse. Results Overall, around 34% of the West Bank-children were abused by their mothers. Results of the logistic regression analysis indicated that male children, children of younger mothers, children whose fathers were with low levels of education, children whose mothers reported low levels of parental warmth, and children whose parents were exposed to political violence were at greater risk of being abused. Conclusions Child abuse is highly prevalent among children of the Palestinian society in the West Bank. Policy makers need to pay more attention to this epidemic. The association between child abuse and political violence found in this study makes a just solution for Palestinians essential for improving the welfare of children and families.

Timed artificial insemination (TAI) is a very important tool for reproductive programs in small ruminants, providing synchronized inseminations and more efficient use of superior males. The objectives of this study were to investigate the viability of different breeding protocols under sub-optimal conditions and out of the breeding season, and to compare the outcome of TAI in sheep with two different semen extenders. Ewes (n=575) were subjected to estrous synchronization by intravaginal sponges containing 30 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate and PMSG. Ewes were divided into 5 groups according to the semen extender employed and to the breeding protocol: 1) egg yolk citrate AI reinforced by ram (EYC-RR); 2) Andromed AI reinforced by ram (AND-RR), where rams joined the flocks 3 hours after AI; 3) egg yolk citrate AI without ram exposition (EYC); 4) Andromed AI without ram exposition (AND). In all these groups vaginal AIs were performed 56±2 hours from sponge removal and PMSG injection; 5) natural mating (RAM) where rams were introduced 48 hours following sponge removal and PMSG injection. Pregnancy rate, parturition rate, and prolificacy were significantly higher (p

This paper presents the most up to date discussion on the architecture of the temple of Millions of Years of Thutmose III, which has been investigated by the Spanish-Egyptian joint project since 2008. The first archaeological works took place at the site at the end of the nineteenth century and during the first decades of the twentieth century. Twelve seasons of the resumed research have brought, e.g. some completely new data concerning buildings related to the temple (i.e. the administrative building outside the southern enclosure wall, workshops north of the upper courtyard, and a house of the Ramesside priest called Khonsu at the northeast of the second courtyard), and allowed for the reconstruction of the course of the enclosure wall of the complex, as well as for some architectural restoration works. This paper also offers an overview through some of the most important finds collected so far during our research (e.g. fragments of reliefs, stelae and statues, inscribed and decorated lintels, foundation deposit, stoppers, ostraca, graffiti, and fragments of papyri) and presents the first results of their analysis: how these materials allow us to better understand the history and administration of the temple as well as what data they provide concerning the priests and the rituals which took place there.

The outcome of the 1948 war in Palestine resulted not only in the country’s partition between the state of Israel and the Kingdom of Jordan but also in the division of its archaeological research. The Jordanian Department of Antiquities, which was responsible for administering archaeological research in the West Bank until 1967, prioritized research in the East Bank over research in the West Bank as a function of broader Jordanian government policy. The bulk of the research in the West Bank during this period was conducted by foreign institutions and researchers, who were forced to choose between researching in Israel and researching in the Arab countries, including the West Bank. Those who chose to research in Israel were denied the ability to simultaneously research and excavate in the West Bank. In this way, the choice of the foreign researchers divided them, placing them on the two different sides of the ‘Green Line’. The excavations in the West Bank piqued the curiosity of the Israelis, who never ceased trying to acquire information about them and their findings. These efforts included secret meetings with foreign researchers, attempts to acquire the Qumran scrolls, and the secret transfer to Israel of a few findings for the sake of secret research. For many years, part of their story remained classified in archives. It is shared here for the first time.

In 'Palestinian Theatre in the West Bank: Our Human Faces,' Varghese traces five Palestinian theatre companies—Al-Kasaba Theatre, Ashtar for Theatre Productions and Training, Al-Harah Theatre, The Freedom Theatre, and Al-Rowwad Cultural and Theatre Training Society—from the first intifada (1987–93), or uprising, to today, to show how abject counterpublics in the West Bank resist Zionist erasure narratives. In the book, Varghese weaves thick description of examples and performances with historical contextualization to draw readers into what motivates Palestinian theatre-makers. Varghese shows there is potential for resistance through the border anxiety developed in sites of colonial abjection. Ultimately, this text argues Palestinian theatres in the West Bank do more than just perform plays—they provide needed space where issues are exposed, communities gather, and marginalization is responded to with beautiful resistance.

National Religious settlers are considered to be the main obstacle to the peace process. Nevertheless, a number of peace initiatives have recently emerged among settlers reaching out to Palestinians. This movement falls within the critique of a paradigm of separation promoted by the Zionist left and advances the coexistence of Israelis and Palestinians across the territory of Mandatory Palestine. Drawing upon a case study, this article investigates motivations, costs, and gratifications of Palestinian involvement. The study of militant careers shows the articulation of incorporated tendencies, political critique, and pragmatic considerations leading to the choice of dialogue. While this involvement may have had serious consequences, gratifications usually exceed the costs. Finally, the analysis of religious references, used by both groups in a deeply asymmetric manner, invites an examination of the transformative potential for this kind of initiative.

Collective action by farmers including the development of cooperatives is regarded as one of solutions to overcome low productivity. This study investigates the impact of agricultural cooperative on technical efficiency (TE) and total factor productivity (TFP) of olive farms in the West Bank of Palestine. Using cross-section data of olive-growing farms in Jenin governorate, we estimated a stochastic frontier production function with inefficiency components. TFP was also estimated by residual approach. We employed propensity score matching to reduce self-selection bias in becoming a member of the cooperative. Results suggest that cooperative membership has a positive impact on TE and TFP, as joining a cooperative raises the TE by 10.16 to 10.52 percentage points. We interpret access to credits, land and productive olive seedlings, and extension services provided by cooperatives are possible pathways that affect TE and TFP. Due to the existence of huge inefficiency and low land productivity of olive farms in Jenin, we imply participation in cooperatives is an effective strategy for them to catch up with productive farms in the Mediterranean region.

Collective action by farmers including the development of cooperatives is regarded as one of solutions to overcome low productivity. This study investigates the impact of agricultural cooperative on technical efficiency (TE) and total factor productivity (TFP) of olive farms in the West Bank of Palestine. Using cross-section data of olive-growing farms in Jenin governorate, we estimated a stochastic frontier production function with inefficiency components. TFP was also estimated by residual approach. We employed propensity score matching to reduce self-selection bias in becoming a member of the cooperative. Results suggest that cooperative membership has a positive impact on TE and TFP, as joining a cooperative raises the TE by 10.16 to 10.52 percentage points. We interpret access to credits, land and productive olive seedlings, and extension services provided by cooperatives are possible pathways that affect TE and TFP. Due to the existence of huge inefficiency and low land productivity of olive farms in Jenin, we imply participation in cooperatives is an effective strategy for them to catch up with productive farms in the Mediterranean region.

This study analysed the socio-economic constraints facing small ruminants’ production in West Bank Palestine. Therefore, it investigated the sites of Al-thaheryia and Facuoa and included. From primary data collected from different sources, 170 small ruminants’ rearers have been randomly selected. Additionally, two workshops have been implemented to gather both quantitative and qualitative data through discussion and brainstorming. Descriptive statistics; frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Chi-square test and T-test are used to shape the socioeconomic constraints facing by small ruminants rearers. The findings revealed a need for extension system to enhance small ruminants’ productivity.

Abstract Background The structure, function, and capacity of the health care system in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) had been largely shaped by the complex political history of the country. Since the establishment of the Palestinian Authority in 1994, the reform efforts were subsidized much by the international aids to rebuild the country’s institutional capacity. No previous studies have provided a realistic evaluation of Palestinian achievements in the conduct of public healthcare, we examine the relative productive efficiency of public hospitals (their managers’ success in the usage of resources) during 2010–2015 within West Bank and Jordan. Then, we estimate the efficiency of policies within which managers operate (the program efficiency) across the two countries. Methods We employ the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) models to distinguish between within-country managerial efficiencies and public policy “program” efficiencies across the two countries. The study follows two key steps, the first step evaluates managerial efficiencies and explores trends in performance within each country. Then, we examine the program efficiencies across the two countries. Results Public hospitals improved their year-specific overall efficiency from 75 to 80% in the West Bank and from 78 to 86% in Jordan in 2010 and 2015 respectively. Changes in efficiency are driven by scale effects in West Bank and by managerial enhancements in Jordan. Program efficiency in West Bank outperformed Jordan during 2010–2012, there was no significant difference in mean program efficiencies between the two countries during 2013–2015. Conclusions This work addresses a gap in the DEA literature by empirically investigating the efficiency of public hospitals as distinct from program efficiency in a developing country, namely, Palestine. Findings stimulate hospital managers to enhance potential improvements, policymakers to allocate resources, and international donors to focus on the right adoption of new technology to get better benefits from their considerable investments in public hospitals.

Abstract Background Tobacco smoking, alcohol use, and illicit drug use are significant health, psychological, and social problems among youth in Palestine. The aim of this study was to provide insight into the extent and the pattern of psychoactive substance use among schoolchildren in the West Bank in Palestine. A cross-sectional study in 16 schools was conducted in 2016. Eight hundred seventy-seven students of 10th grade were chosen randomly. Modified self-administrated questionnaire from Monitor the Future Study and European school survey project on alcohol and other drugs was used. Results The most current substance used by schoolchildren was tobacco (40.6%), followed by alcohol (3.2%) and illicit drugs (2.0%). Around 59.7, 7.9, and 2.9% of the schoolchildren had tried, at least once in their lifetime, tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs, respectively. Moreover, 11.1% of them who had not yet tried a substance intends to smoke tobacco, 1.4% intends to drink alcohol, and 0.3% intends to try illicit drugs. Curiosity and experience was the most frequent motivation for using these substances. The mean age of initiation was 12 years for smoking and 14 years for drinking alcohol or using illicit drugs. Most of the illicit drug users (78.3%) had tried more than one illicit drug or more than one substance at the same time. Cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids followed by amphetamines were the most commonly used drugs. Around 78.8%, 37.6%, and 27.6% agreed that tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs, respectively, were easily accessible in their communities. Work was significantly associated with increased risk for substance use across various substances. Conclusion Many factors had determined the danger of using psychoactive substances by Palestinian schoolchildren including the initiation age, the availability, the type of the substances used, and the frequency of the use, and using multiple substances at the same time. Curiosity and experience, peer pressure, families, and working were the most important motives. Health care professionals, clinicians, and ministries of education, health, and labor have key responsibilities in preventing substance use among youth and need to develop more effective prevention and cessation strategies. The Palestinian National Authority needs to make more efforts in smoking legislation regulating the age of access and smoking for youths and adults.

Abstract Background There are distinctive potential barriers to optimal health care in Judea and Samaria because of access and satisfaction levels, including obstacles such as its isolation and health care capacity. However, there is a lack of research focusing on health care for the Jewish communities in this region, often referred to as the West Bank. Research questions What is the level of health care access and satisfaction for Israelis living in the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria? How do these results compare to parallel results for Israelis in general? How do these results vary by subgroups, in particular by location? Methods Two hundred fourty six residents of Judea and Samaria in six diverse, Jewish communities were surveyed, with a 76% response rate. Descriptive analyses were performed for all variables. Bivariate analyses for access and satisfaction measures were performed by key demographic variables. Comparisons were also made with Israelis in general (the vast majority of whom do not live in Judea or Samaria), by comparing our survey results to the results of 2016 Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute national satisfaction survey. Our survey questions were based on this national survey, tested and used for several cohorts. Results Of those surveyed, 14% decided to forego treatment because of the distance, although only 3% declined treatment because of cost. There was a diversity of results in terms of satisfaction measures, although in no categories were even half of respondents very satisfied; results ranged from 7% very satisfied with health care system overall to 47% very satisfied with their family physician’s attitude. Variations were found by community with local council communities generally, but not always, having the highest satisfaction. Compared to Israelis in general, Israeli residents of Judea and Samaria reported generally lower satisfaction, including 9% fewer being very satisfied with the health plan overall and 10% fewer being very satisfied with referrals. However, 7% more had confidence in getting the best treatment. Conclusions Access to care involves more than just coverage. Health care system problems among Israelis living in Judea and Samaria include not just quantity, but quality of services offered. There is a need for improvement not only in health care resources, but also in the level of access and satisfaction in this region.

Abstract Background The use of illicit drugs has seen an upswing during the last years in the West Bank. Political, social, economic, and demographic factors may play roles in the increasing use of illicit drugs in the West Bank. This study aimed to describe drug possession among Palestinians in order to provide insight into the extent of illicit substances use, to assess their risk, and to explore new forms in order to raise awareness of these drugs. Files (3674) related to drug possession in Anti narcotic drug departments in the West Bank from 2010to 2014 were reviewed and analysed. Results Most arrestees (99%) were males, (55.9%) aged 18-

Abstract High water consumption and specific soil requirements warrant a long-term planning for date palm cultivation. Hence, this study presents a detailed procedure to calculate water and land balances that assess the suitability for date palm cultivation in three districts of the West Bank. It applies crop response functions to relate spatially explicit land suitability and salinity levels to net revenues. Furthermore, it compares net present values and benefit–cost ratios under various discount rates and salinity levels to assess economic feasibility. Date palm cultivation in Jericho-Al Ghoor is economically achievable, but additional land amendments are required for expansion in Nablus and Tubas districts. Prevailing average salinity levels have minor negative influence on future date palm developments.

Abstract Background While health needs and expenditure in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) are growing, the international donations are declining and the economic situation is worsening. The purpose of this paper is twofold, to evaluate the productive efficiency of public hospitals in West Bank and to study contextual factors contributing to efficiency differences. Methods This study examined technical efficiency among 11 public hospitals in West Bank from 2010 through 2015 targeting a total of 66 observations. Nationally representative data were extracted from the official annual health reports. We applied input-oriented Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) models to estimate efficiency scores. To elaborate further on performance, we used Tobit regression to identify contextual factors whose impact on inefficient performance is statistically significant. Results Despite the increase in efficiency mean scores by 4% from 2010 to 2015, findings show potential savings of 14.5% of resource consumption without reducing the volume of the provided services. The significant Tobit model showed four predictors explaining the inefficient performance of a hospital (p

This article suggests that activism can significantly contribute to development education by sharing knowledge, experience and activist outcomes with learners and assisting their own engagement with development issues. It shares the author’s personal narrative of activism - and that of colleagues - with the question of Palestine to suggest how it has supported awareness raising on this issue at a wider level. It firstly considers the strengths and weaknesses of the personal narrative methodology while situating the author’s activism, introduces the Middle-East question focusing on the West Bank and Gaza Strip thereby contextualising the author’s engagement with Palestine, offers a personal narrative of activism on Palestine, and reflects on how it has aimed to support wider understanding of one of the longest running conflicts in the global South.

This paper discusses the daily wages of employees in the public and private sectors in Palestine. Based on the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) labour force survey, the author used a paired samples t-test to examine the difference in wages among the public sector, private sector, and Israel and the settlements between 2000 and 2015. The results show that the maximum wages are among the workers who work in Israel and the settlements. The wages in the public sector have become slightly higher than the wages in the private sector since 2005. The daily wages of wage employees in Israel and the settlements are significantly different from the public and private sectors. The employees’ daily wages in public and private sectors are strongly correlated, but there is no significant difference between the two sectors in the West Bank. Regarding Gaza strip, the correlation is moderate and there is a significant difference between the two sectors.

This paper discusses the relationship between unemployment and level of education in Palestine between 2005 and 2015. The aim of this paper is to understand the relationship between unemployment and education level in Palestine. Education outputs in Palestine day by day increase in all levels, however, Palestine facing an increase in unemployment over time, which became one of the challengeable cases in the country. The question is, what is the relationship between unemployment and education level?. To answer this question, we examined four education levels (1 to 6 years of schooling, 7 to 9 years of schooling, 10 to 12 years of schooling and 13 and more years of schooling) regarding unemployment rate between 2005 and 2015 according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS, 2006-2016) labour force surveys and annual reports from 2005 to 2015. The results indicate that, there is a negative relationship between unemployment rate and education levels (1 to 6 years of schooling, 7 to 9 years of schooling, 10 to 12 years of schooling and 13 and more years of schooling from 2005 to 2010, while this relationship has changed since 2010. Since 2011, individuals who have (13 and more years of schooling) become the highest unemployment among the other levels. The results also showed that there is gender difference of unemployment rate among all four education levels (1 to 6 years of schooling, 7 to 9 years of schooling, 10 to 12 years of schooling, and 13 and more years of schooling).The difference between the two genders of the unemployment rate was 17.4 % difference in case of (1 to 6 years of schooling), 29.4% difference for (13 and more years of schooling), 7.1% difference in (7 to 9 years of schooling) and 1.9% difference among (10 to 12 years of schooling) in 2015. There is a difference between West Bank and Gaza Strip regarding unemployment rate among all four levels of education. These findings can help to identify the roots of unemployment in connection with education outputs.

This article is primarily based on field research and interview, which are the main sources of data. I carried out this field research between 2009 and 2012 in the West Bank. This fieldwork was split into three stages (in 2009, 2010 and 2012). The method of participant observation and interviewing has a wide range of supporters as well as opponents among members of the scientific community. Participant observation and interviewing as basic anthropological research methods are often criticized for the subjective and ambiguous “microcosmic” perspective from which the surveyedproblemsareapproached.Nevertheless,theseare still important methods of data collection used in anthropology, and so the controversy about their use in practice is very important. Participant observation was the basic method that I applied in my field research. Since I spent a lot of time with my informants, I won their trust, which is necessary for the successful use of this method. I participated in routine communication between members of a household, but I could watch the little quarrels, debates, disputes, etc. Thanks to the method of participant observation, I was able to discover the inner world of the surveyed communities. Which obstacles are encountered in practice in my field research, and how can participant observation and interviewing be of use in practice? This is the fundamental question I try to answer in this article.

Based on examples from the West Bank and central Colombia, this paper investigates how, in conflict settings, symbolic violence affects populations and their perceptions of place, lifestyle and culture. It also looks at the potential that sense of place and place-making have to enhance conflict transformation and strengthen resilience and symbolic reparation. In extreme environments, symbolic violence in daily life and in daily practices has become way to actively impose social or symbolic domination; it can be challenged by community-based peace-building and place-making initiatives.

Nowadays the Gaza Strip radical movement HAMAS is the most dangerous opponent for the State of Israel in the Palestinian arena. In recent years most attention of the world community has been focused on the events in the Gaza Strip. This attention is caused by the dynamics of standoff and the scale of events occurred. During the period after authority setting in the Palestinian enclave by HAMAS movement Israel carried out a series of large-scale military operations. These were «Cast Lead», «Pillar of Defense» and «Protective Edge». However for better understanding of dynamics of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians it is necessary to pay equal attention to confrontation both in the Gaza Strip and West Bank. In the article the authors study the events of June 2014 that were a part of the permanent standoff in the West Bank. In June 2014 after abduction of the three teenagers by radicals Israel carried out the operation «Brother's Keeper» which preceded the large-scale operation «Protective Edge». The actions of Israelis aimed at weakening the infrastructure of HAMAS. During the operation in the West Bank Israel used considerable forces. Israelis caused a painful blow to HAMAS. The results of the operation «Brother's Keeper» suggested that the radicals of the West Bank may get developed underground infrastructure and developed infrastructure for production of rockets. The events of summer 2014 in zone of the Palestinian- Israeli conflict showed that escalation may spread from one part of the Palestinian land to another.

The most active phase in the work of the Quartet of international intermediaries was connected with the attempts to implement the Road Map plan for the Israeli-Palestinian peace settlement. The significance of the Road Map lies in the fact that it is the plan on the Israeli-Palestinian peace settlement which was, for the first time ever, collectively drafted by the global actors and accepted by both conflicting parties To facilitate the implementation of the Road Map, a peculiar "division of labour" based on historical roles which each member of the Quartet had played in the Middle East settlement, emerged inside the Quartet. The work of the Quartet as a collective intermediary was complemented by individual actions of its members which influenced or were supposed to influence the Road Map implementation. The complex analysis of the examined problem conducted by the author in accordance with his own criteria revealed that all other activities of the international intermediaries were, in one way or another, connected to the Road Map. They were either implemented mainly within the framework of the aforementioned peace plan, or were connected with the efforts to create conditions to get the parties back to implementation of that plan, or were aimed at including alternative programmes into the framework of the Road Map. Quartet's activities to implement the settlement plan couldn't avoid the influence by the United States and a special character of the US-Israeli relations. The US leading role in the work of the Quartet led to a series of events which aggravated the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and became decisive for further development of the conflict which in the end led to the current stalemate. Nevertheless, the very fact of the Quartet creation, which evidenced that even the most influential global actor has no power to solve all aspects of the regional conflict on its own, became a sign of gradual transformation of a unipolar world towards a multipolar one.

The West Bank can be considered a high-risk area for Legionnaires’ disease (LD) due to its hot climate, intermittent water supply and roof storage of drinking water. Legionella, mostly L. pneumophila, are responsible for LD, a severe, community-acquired and nosocomial pneumonia. To date, no extensive assessment of Legionella spp and L. pneumophila using cultivation in combination with molecular approaches in the West Bank has been published. Two years of environmental surveillance of Legionella in water and biofilms in the drinking water distribution systems (DWDS) of eight hospitals was carried out; 180 L. pneumophila strains were isolated, mostly from biofilms in DWDS. Most of the isolates were identified as serogroup (Sg) 1 (60%) and 6 (30%), while a minor fraction comprised Sg 8 and 10. Multilocus Variable number of tandem repeats Analysis using 13 loci (MLVA-8(12)) was applied as a high-resolution genotyping method and compared to the standard Sequence Based Typing (SBT). The isolates were genotyped in 27 MLVA-8(12) genotypes (Gt), comprising four MLVA clonal complexes (VACC 1; 2; 5; 11). The major fraction of isolates constituted Sequence Type (ST)1 and ST461. Most of the MLVA-genotypes were highly diverse and often unique. The MLVA-genotype composition showed substantial regional variability. In general, the applied MLVA-method made it possible to reproducibly genotype the isolates, and was consistent with SBT but showed a higher resolution. The advantage of the higher resolution was most evident for the subdivision of the large strain sets of ST1 and ST461; these STs were shown to be highly pneumonia-relevant in a former study. This shows that the resolution by MLVA is advantageous for back-tracking risk sites and for the avoidance of outbreaks of L. pneumophila. Overall, our results provide important insights into the detailed population structure of L. pneumophila, allowing for better risk assessment for DWDS.

The reconstruction of a scene sculpted on some quartzite stone fragments discovered recently at Dra’ Abu el-Naga and dating from the reign of Hatshepsut is the subject of this paper. The relief resembles the scenes known from the Red Chapel at Karnak and seems to be a part of the wdi sx.t ritual performed on the occasion of the Opet and / or Valley Festivals.

Nowadays the Gaza Strip radical movement HAMAS is the most dangerous opponent for the State of Israel in the Palestinian arena. In recent years most attention of the world community has been focused on the events in the Gaza Strip. This attention is caused by the dynamics of standoff and the scale of events occurred. During the period after authority setting in the Palestinian enclave by HAMAS movement Israel carried out a series of large-scale military operations. These were «Cast Lead», «Pillar of Defense» and «Protective Edge». However for better understanding of dynamics of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians it is necessary to pay equal attention to confrontation both in the Gaza Strip and West Bank. In the article the authors study the events of June 2014 that were a part of the permanent standoff in the West Bank. In June 2014 after abduction of the three teenagers by radicals Israel carried out the operation «Brother's Keeper» which preceded the large-scale operation «Protective Edge». The actions of Israelis aimed at weakening the infrastructure of HAMAS. During the operation in the West Bank Israel used considerable forces. Israelis caused a painful blow to HAMAS. The results of the operation «Brother's Keeper» suggested that the radicals of the West Bank may get developed underground infrastructure and developed infrastructure for production of rockets. The events of summer 2014 in zone of the Palestinian- Israeli conflict showed that escalation may spread from one part of the Palestinian land to another.

The most active phase in the work of the Quartet of international intermediaries was connected with the attempts to implement the Road Map plan for the Israeli-Palestinian peace settlement. The significance of the Road Map lies in the fact that it is the plan on the Israeli-Palestinian peace settlement which was, for the first time ever, collectively drafted by the global actors and accepted by both conflicting parties To facilitate the implementation of the Road Map, a peculiar "division of labour" based on historical roles which each member of the Quartet had played in the Middle East settlement, emerged inside the Quartet. The work of the Quartet as a collective intermediary was complemented by individual actions of its members which influenced or were supposed to influence the Road Map implementation. The complex analysis of the examined problem conducted by the author in accordance with his own criteria revealed that all other activities of the international intermediaries were, in one way or another, connected to the Road Map. They were either implemented mainly within the framework of the aforementioned peace plan, or were connected with the efforts to create conditions to get the parties back to implementation of that plan, or were aimed at including alternative programmes into the framework of the Road Map. Quartet's activities to implement the settlement plan couldn't avoid the influence by the United States and a special character of the US-Israeli relations. The US leading role in the work of the Quartet led to a series of events which aggravated the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and became decisive for further development of the conflict which in the end led to the current stalemate. Nevertheless, the very fact of the Quartet creation, which evidenced that even the most influential global actor has no power to solve all aspects of the regional conflict on its own, became a sign of gradual transformation of a unipolar world towards a multipolar one.

The most active phase in the work of the Quartet of international intermediaries was connected with the attempts to implement the Road Map plan for the Israeli-Palestinian peace settlement. The significance of the Road Map lies in the fact that it is the plan on the Israeli-Palestinian peace settlement which was, for the first time ever, collectively drafted by the global actors and accepted by both conflicting parties To facilitate the implementation of the Road Map, a peculiar "division of labour" based on historical roles which each member of the Quartet had played in the Middle East settlement, emerged inside the Quartet. The work of the Quartet as a collective intermediary was complemented by individual actions of its members which influenced or were supposed to influence the Road Map implementation. The complex analysis of the examined problem conducted by the author in accordance with his own criteria revealed that all other activities of the international intermediaries were, in one way or another, connected to the Road Map. They were either implemented mainly within the framework of the aforementioned peace plan, or were connected with the efforts to create conditions to get the parties back to implementation of that plan, or were aimed at including alternative programmes into the framework of the Road Map. Quartet's activities to implement the settlement plan couldn't avoid the influence by the United States and a special character of the US-Israeli relations. The US leading role in the work of the Quartet led to a series of events which aggravated the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and became decisive for further development of the conflict which in the end led to the current stalemate. Nevertheless, the very fact of the Quartet creation, which evidenced that even the most influential global actor has no power to solve all aspects of the regional conflict on its own, became a sign of gradual transformation of a unipolar world towards a multipolar one.

Nowadays the Gaza Strip radical movement HAMAS is the most dangerous opponent for the State of Israel in the Palestinian arena. In recent years most attention of the world community has been focused on the events in the Gaza Strip. This attention is caused by the dynamics of standoff and the scale of events occurred. During the period after authority setting in the Palestinian enclave by HAMAS movement Israel carried out a series of large-scale military operations. These were «Cast Lead», «Pillar of Defense» and «Protective Edge». However for better understanding of dynamics of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians it is necessary to pay equal attention to confrontation both in the Gaza Strip and West Bank. In the article the authors study the events of June 2014 that were a part of the permanent standoff in the West Bank. In June 2014 after abduction of the three teenagers by radicals Israel carried out the operation «Brother's Keeper» which preceded the large-scale operation «Protective Edge». The actions of Israelis aimed at weakening the infrastructure of HAMAS. During the operation in the West Bank Israel used considerable forces. Israelis caused a painful blow to HAMAS. The results of the operation «Brother's Keeper» suggested that the radicals of the West Bank may get developed underground infrastructure and developed infrastructure for production of rockets. The events of summer 2014 in zone of the Palestinian- Israeli conflict showed that escalation may spread from one part of the Palestinian land to another.

Abstract: This article explores concepts of belonging for Palestinian refugees and asks how they shape patterns of interpretation, we-images and life histories. The article discusses the results of a research project in Israel and the West Bank conducted in the period 2010 to 2015 on descendants of Palestinians who fled or were expelled in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. The findings display a generational divide. For members of the second generation of Palestinian refugees in the West Bank, the sense of belonging to the historical generation of the first Intifada is the main factor influencing their experiences and we-images. For the third generation of refugees, however, their refugee background tends to be increasingly important. These generational differences are intertwined with the formation of a new urban middle class in the West Bank a%er the Oslo Accords and the creation of the Palestinian Authority in the 1990s. This group formation connects to a (new) marginalisation of Palestinian refugees, especially those living in camp areas. Generational differences regarding we-images are thus connected to shfting processes of established-outsider relations in the Palestinian society of the West Bank.