The main aim of this study is to assess the quality of inexpensive plastic toys imported to Palestinian Markets. The content of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Hg, As, Se, Ba, and Zn) was analyzed in 50 plastic toys purchas...The main aim of this study is to assess the quality of inexpensive plastic toys imported to Palestinian Markets. The content of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Hg, As, Se, Ba, and Zn) was analyzed in 50 plastic toys purchased from local markets in Palestine and 17 plastic toys purchased from Israeli markets for comparison. After the digestion of samples with concentrated nitric acids and hydrogen peroxide using a microwave digester, the concentrations of the selected heavy metals were determined by ICP-MS Agilent 7500 in Al-Quds University. Results revealed that 40% of the Palestinian toy samples had high concentration (above international limits) of Pb, 30% of Cd, 34% of Cr, 6% of Hg, 42% of As, 32% of Se, 20% of Ba, and 40% of Zn. On the other hand, 95% of the Israeli samples were safe, and their concentrations were less than the maximum internationally allowable limits. In the same context, ten toy samples (2.5 gm each) had been crushed and dipped for 8 hours in a solution of artificial saliva. The solution was acidified and tested for heavy metal concentrations, but none of the migration concentrations exceeded the international maximum allowable limit. High levels of heavy metal concentrations, found in the plastic toys from the Palestinian markets could form a health hazard to children and put their lives at risk. It could be also an indirect source for environmental pollution.展开更多
Studies investigating the relationship between size and performance of water service providers are abundant. Yet, this relationship has not been fully addressed in Palestinian water sector, particularly, after the iss...Studies investigating the relationship between size and performance of water service providers are abundant. Yet, this relationship has not been fully addressed in Palestinian water sector, particularly, after the issuance of water law 2014 which calls for merging water providers into large regional utilities. This research evaluates the significant effect of the size of Palestinian water service providers on non-revenue water, staff productivity, collection efficiency, average consumption, average price, operating and maintenance cost, working ratio, and gross profit. The multivariate analysis shows that there are significant differences in working ratio, non-revenue water, staff productivity, average price, and gross profit based on the size. On the other side, no significant differences have been found in average daily consumption, operating and maintenance cost per unit, and collection efficiency based on those providers’ size. The small service providers perform better in non-revenue water, staff productivity, and collection efficiency;wherein, large service providers are more profitable than small service providers. Implications of these findings by conducting further studies will add the value for better merging of the Palestinian water providers and the reforming process.展开更多
Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin found in many natural sources, citric fruits, vegetables, particularly as antioxidants and as a factor to catabolism and metabolism. The aim of this article is to correlate the lev...Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin found in many natural sources, citric fruits, vegetables, particularly as antioxidants and as a factor to catabolism and metabolism. The aim of this article is to correlate the level of vitamin C and the hydroxyproline level in urine samples among young palestinian children from age 5 - 14 years. Materials and Methods: Urine samples of 34 individuals of both sexes, their ages ranged from 5 - 14 years were collected and analyzed for determination of Urinary Hydroxyproline by using Modified Neuman and Logan Method. The result of this study shows a significant correlation between Vitamin C and Hydroxyproline at level 0.01. The conclusion of this study was that low vitamin C intake was found among young palestinian children from age 5 - 14 years, Vitamin C should be supplemented in the drinks taken by young palestinian children from age 5 - 14 years as well as further research and investigation with large samples required to include all children from middle and southern Palestine.展开更多
The impactof water sales price on the performance of water service providers is typically something of a mystery. High prices mean more revenue and profit;but it may lead to less bills collection and encourage the ill...The impactof water sales price on the performance of water service providers is typically something of a mystery. High prices mean more revenue and profit;but it may lead to less bills collection and encourage the illegal connections. Yet, this argument has not been fully addressed in the Palestinian water sector;this research evaluates the effect of average water prices on the financial sustainability key indicators as collection efficiency, profit or loss percentage, non-revenue water, staff productivity, daily consumption, operating, and maintenance cost. The average price of cubic meter sold is segmented into low, medium, and high categories. Multivariate analysis shows that there are significant differences in profit or working ratio, daily consumption, and operating cost based on the different price categories. Further significant differences have been found in non-revenue water, collection efficiency, and water production based on low and high price categories. On the other hand, no significant difference has been found in staff productivity. The results show high price set by Palestinian water providers, leads to an increase in the bill collection rate and profit margin. However, negative relationship has been found between the price on one hand, and non-revenue water, average daily consumption, and water production on the other hand. The implication of these findings reveal that the Palestinian water providers should increase water prices gradually to cover operating and maintenance cost for better financial performance and sustainability.展开更多
Background: Political conflicts and wars all over the world are global concerns which directly influence the lives of people including children. Over one billion children worldwide inhabit countries or territories tor...Background: Political conflicts and wars all over the world are global concerns which directly influence the lives of people including children. Over one billion children worldwide inhabit countries or territories torn apart by armed conflict, war, or terrorism. Purpose: The purpose of this review was to identify the best evidence on the Resiliency Process and Political Socialization among Palestinian Children Exposed to Political Traumatic Experience. Methods: An integrative review was used to assess the resiliency process and political socialization among Palestinian Children Exposed to Political Traumatic Experience. Data search was between 2009 and 2019 using ProQuest, Nursing Journal Publications, EBSCO, Jordanian Database for Nursing Research, WHO online library, scholar Google scholar, science direct, and PubMed. A total of 8 articles met the eligibility criteria. Results: The eight reviewed articles adopted descriptive analytic and cross-sectional studies. Themes were: Impact of psychological trauma on children, Political socialization process and Resiliency among children. Conclusion: Reviewed articles regarding children reaction to trauma and resiliency process showed that children varied in their responses. The studies showed that children were vulnerable to psychological harms and consequences of trauma that might include PTSD and others behavioral problems. At the same time, the studies confirmed that despite the harmful consequences they had positive adaptation and abilities to resist.展开更多
To assess elementary education students’self-efficacy beliefs in science teaching,the Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument developed by Enochs and Riggs was used.The instrument consisted of two scales,Personal...To assess elementary education students’self-efficacy beliefs in science teaching,the Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument developed by Enochs and Riggs was used.The instrument consisted of two scales,Personal Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Scale and the Outcome Expectancy Scale.It was administered to 90 undergraduate university students majoring in elementary education at a large public Palestinian university.Results indicated that students’self-efficacy beliefs in science teaching were comparable to those reported in the original study by Enochs and Riggs.Overall,the participants presented moderate to high self-efficacy in science teaching.展开更多
The Self-description Questionnaire-I(SDQ-I)is a multidimensional instrument that measures eight self-concept facets hypothesized in Shavelson’s hierarchical model.This study investigated self-concept in a sample of P...The Self-description Questionnaire-I(SDQ-I)is a multidimensional instrument that measures eight self-concept facets hypothesized in Shavelson’s hierarchical model.This study investigated self-concept in a sample of Palestinian adolescent students using an Arabic version of the SDQ-I.Three-hundred sixty adolescents(163 girls and 197 boys)aged 13 to 16 years(M=14.3,SD=.87)participated.The 72-item SDQ-I was administered in four Palestinian schools to assess the psychometric properties of the SDQ-I.This included the factor structure and the internal consistency reliability of the SDQ-I subscales and mean score responses of Palestinian self-concept.Factor analysis results,which accounted for the majority of the variance,supported an underlying general self-concept factor structure that demonstrated the eight factors that the SDQ-I is designed to measure.This is consistent with previous studies in similar age groups and the SDQ-I reliabilities were similar to those reported in the literature.Students perceived total self-concept positively(mean=3.71).Three facets of self-concept(parent relations,reading,and general self-concept)indicated high positive self-concept.Correlations among the different dimensions were consistent with the hierarchical structure in Shavelson’s model.Overall,the findings provided compelling support for Shavelson’s model,and the structure validity of Western self-concept measure.Interpretations were provided for the discrepancies regarding the Palestinian-Arab culture.展开更多
Write down： I am an Arab! This powerful proclamation is an extract from a poem composed by the eminent and late Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish. His instructive and proud words were the initial spark that challenged...Write down： I am an Arab! This powerful proclamation is an extract from a poem composed by the eminent and late Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish. His instructive and proud words were the initial spark that challenged to respond to the question of the suppressed identity of Palestinian Arabs in Israel. This study will attempt to explore the cultural representation of identity for generations of Palestinian young men and women who were born and lived in Israel but remain culturally repressed and silenced by the hegemonic forces. Identity has been a controversial issue in the mind of every Palestinian ever since the 1948 ＂Al-Nakbah＂.2 This study will attempt to comprehend and analyze the multiple ways in which different generations of 1948 Palestinians identified themselves within their societies. While studying the Arabs of Israel3 one notices that their cultural and intellectual productions （poetry and literature） reflect aspects of the conflicts they endured. Confusion and contradictory feelings permeate their psyches as they attended Israeli schools and spoke Hebrew as their official language. This paper will explore the literary heritage of two generations of 1948 Palestinians： the writings of Palestinians of 1948 who were born before Al-Nakbah （living within the borders of Israel today）. Those include poems, plays and novels. It will also explore the writings of the younger generation of 1948 Palestinians （born and raised after the Al-Nakbah and considered to be the new generation of Israeli Arabs）. A critical analysis will identify how these two generations of Palestinian writers dealt with the contradictions of living inside Israeli society that did not acknowledge them as the indigenous inhabitants of the land. Their translation of their sense of belonging within their literary works will be evident and how they dealt with the conflict of being simultaneously Israeli Arab as well as Palestinian. How can cultural production reconcile the homeland carried in the memory nostalgically and th展开更多
The refugee convention of 1951^1 defined a refugee as“someone who is unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin owing to the well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race,religion,nationalit...The refugee convention of 1951^1 defined a refugee as“someone who is unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin owing to the well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race,religion,nationality membership in particular social group,or political opinion.”The convention also lays down basic minimum standards for the treatment of refugees,without prejudice to States granting more favorable treatment to refugees.Such rights include access to courts,to primary education,to work,and the provision for documentation,including refugee travel documents in passport forms”.None of these conditions have been applied to the Palestinian refugees.Following Israel’s war of independence in 1948-49,about 800,000 Palestinians became refugees mainly in Jordan,Syria,Lebanon,and Egypt,where their descendants still live.UNRWA was created in 1949 as a“fire extinguisher”to provide the refugees in these four States with short-term survival assistance.UNRWA’s original mandate was for three years,assuming that the refugees will soon be absorbed by the countries of their refuge.This hope never materialized,and almost 70 years later,the third and fourth generation of Palestinians are still being considered by UNRWA as“refugees”.Our research shows that flows in UNRWA’s working principles have resulted in the prolonging of the problem,and the hindering of its resolution.A comparison with the World Bank’s assistance programs proves that UNRWA’s programs are clearly part of the problem and not part of the solution.展开更多
This paper investigates how the novel Habibi （1997） by the Arab-American writer Naomi Nye addresses the theme of border shifting from a postmodernist perspective that deconstructs the traditional view of borders mea...This paper investigates how the novel Habibi （1997） by the Arab-American writer Naomi Nye addresses the theme of border shifting from a postmodernist perspective that deconstructs the traditional view of borders meant to maintain exclusion and hegemony and instead considers them as being often flimsy, malleable, and changeable. Drawing upon her experience as a multifarious Arab-American writer whose father was a Palestinian immigrant and whose mother was an American, Nye tries to build bridges across political, national, cultural, and ethnic boundaries. Through a love story between the two protagonists （Liyana, whose father is a Palestinian-American and whose mother is American and Omer, whose parents are Jewish Israelis）, Nye endeavors to bring about a sense of harmony and understanding between the politically, ethnically, culturally, and racially separated J home whether in reality ews and Palestinians. At the end, Liyana＇s family realizes they can have more than one or in imagination.展开更多
Apart from West Bank and Gaza Strip,it is the Arab countries that most Palestinian refugees seek shelter in.These Palestinian refugees not only live a hard life,but also are put into an awkward situation.The denial of...Apart from West Bank and Gaza Strip,it is the Arab countries that most Palestinian refugees seek shelter in.These Palestinian refugees not only live a hard life,but also are put into an awkward situation.The denial of Palestinian refugees’right of return from the Israeli government,the economic weakness of Palestine and interest consideration of Arab countries contributed to the suspense of the solution to the Palestinian refugee problem.The presence and continuation of the problem have great impacts on the nation and state-building of Palestine and those Arab countries sheltering the Palestinian refugees.The final solution depends on the support from Arab countries.展开更多
Since its origin in the first Middle East War in 1948, the Palestinian refugee problem has not been properly resolved. Over the years, the key stakeholder Israel has put forward a variety of plans and countermeasures ...Since its origin in the first Middle East War in 1948, the Palestinian refugee problem has not been properly resolved. Over the years, the key stakeholder Israel has put forward a variety of plans and countermeasures on refugee issues in multilateral and bilateral diplomatic stages. Researches on these policies of Israel on Palestinian refugees are crucial for solving this problem. The right wing and the left wing of political parties in Israel--lsrael＇s Likud and Labor Party had the longest and most influential rulings in the country. The refugee policies they have taken during their administrations have an impact on the development of the peace process in the Middle East, and also play a direct role in solving the problem of refugees. Through the analysis on refugee policies of the ruling party in various stages of the evolvement of the Arab-Israeli conflict, we can compare the Labor Party＇s and the Likud Party＇s policies for Palestinian refugees, and found that the policies of these two parties are consistent and similar on the issue of refugees, for example, neither of them recognize the responsibility of Israel on refugees, and they both denied the ＂right to return＂ of refugees, etc. In terms of the specific implementation of the policies, there are differences between them： the Likud Party was significantly tougher than the Labor Party. Both Labor and Likud is being affected by domestic and international factors, such as homeland security, the Jewish state property, political system, Jewish mentality and the support of the United States and other factors, so their policies are consistent; however, due to different historical factions, different voter groups, and national interests as well as the interests of the parties in different periods, the two parties have different refugee policies.展开更多
In order to attain the best energy efficiency in an industrial plant, an energy audit is a prerequisite process for identifying the general energy consumption condition and to hence identify the measures that need to ...In order to attain the best energy efficiency in an industrial plant, an energy audit is a prerequisite process for identifying the general energy consumption condition and to hence identify the measures that need to be taken to save the cost of excessive energy consumed and later to retrofit the faults that were observed. The case study presented in this paper is a medium industry plant located in Hebron. The audit methodology, observation, and audit results will be presented and discussed with the recommendation drawn.展开更多
The debate on Security Sector Reform(SSR)in Palestine has emerged within the context of the peace process between Israel and Palestinians,in particular following the Oslo agreement in 1993.There are different percepti...The debate on Security Sector Reform(SSR)in Palestine has emerged within the context of the peace process between Israel and Palestinians,in particular following the Oslo agreement in 1993.There are different perceptions of the significance and relevance of SSR in the Palestinian context,and these depend on ideological,political allegiances and interests of domestic,regional and international actors talking about SSR.Some blame the Israeli occupation and military activities and also the governance of the Palestinian security sector for the deterioration of internal security.Others consider that the SSR is an integral element of the process of state-building to allow the Palestinians to establish an effective authority over their territories.However,Israel and external actors like the United States and the European Union still look at Palestinian SSR as a means to confront“terror and violence”and to prevent the emergence of any dangers to Israel.Israeli occupation and internal political divisions described and analyzed in this article as major challenges for Palestinian SSR.In addition,this article argues that this reform is not an end in itself,but is a necessary and a fundamental element to achieve the Palestinian national project in terms of liberation and state-building.展开更多
This paper investigates how the Arab-American writer Naomi Nye addresses the dialectic between borders and multiculturalism in her award-winning young adult novel Habibi （1997）. Critiquing the essentialist view that...This paper investigates how the Arab-American writer Naomi Nye addresses the dialectic between borders and multiculturalism in her award-winning young adult novel Habibi （1997）. Critiquing the essentialist view that presumes fixed boundaries for a culture, Nye promotes the alternative view that assumes individuals＇ power of defining and redefining their cultural identities in a multicultural society. The author argues that Nye＇s position is that borders/boundaries and geographical demarcations are flimsy, arbitrary and create divisions, animosities and hatred between people and nations whereas multiculturalism engenders feelings of reconciliation, friendship, and understanding. Though borders and boundaries can be divisive, cultural variety and hybridity can be inclusive. To counteract the argument of borders/boundaries, Nye posits the argument of multiculturalism. In this paper, the author intends to examine the assumptions of the physical and the cultural borders rhetoric in comparison with the multicultural approach narrative. It is the dialectic of these two opposing forces that shapes the events and the final outcome of the action and events of this novel展开更多
Prior American administrations were more balanced in their relations with Israel and the Arab world.During the Cold War Israel was an important strategic asset in the containment of Communist influence in the middle e...Prior American administrations were more balanced in their relations with Israel and the Arab world.During the Cold War Israel was an important strategic asset in the containment of Communist influence in the middle eastern region,Washington structured its arms sales to Israel,controlled Israeli military preeminence during the wars with its Arab neighbors,and sought to arbitrate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to balance US relations with moderate Arab regimes.Today,the opposite seems to be true.It is considering the above forlorn situation that this essay attempts to analytically x-ray the Palestinian–Israeli conflict and US foreign policy.The major objective of the study was among others to establish that the current US foreign policy of the Trump administration will only further escalate the conflict by exacerbating tensions;it establishes the onion model as a framework upon which the study was built theoretically.The study resulted from the increasing trend of violence and killings in the region and how the people living in the region have been further devastated all because US foreign policy summersault.It also makes useful insights and recommendations on how to broker peace in the region.展开更多
The majority of the Hamas suicide attacks were carried out by young fellows.There were various motivations for the suicide attacks,including four social factors.Firstly,the miserable experiences of the Palestinian peo...The majority of the Hamas suicide attacks were carried out by young fellows.There were various motivations for the suicide attacks,including four social factors.Firstly,the miserable experiences of the Palestinian people became a hotbed for the suicide attackers.Secondly,the wide public sympathy of suicide attackers among the Palestinian people provided support for Hamas and the suicide attacks.Thirdly,the Palestinians turned to violence as a last resort from the disappointment of the Palestinian-Israeli peace process.Finally,the Hamas suicide attacks had many religious factors.The Hamas suicide attack has two effects.One is that it causes the Palestinians and Israelis to fall into a vicious circle of’’violence to violence’’;however it also strengthens Hamas’s leading position as a resistant organization.Another is that it has caused the martyrdom culture to become popular in Palestine and inspired many Palestinians to join suicide attacks.In conclusion,the roots of the suicide attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian groups are found in Palestinian despair of the status quo and therefore,the Palestine issue has still not been resolved.展开更多
文摘The main aim of this study is to assess the quality of inexpensive plastic toys imported to Palestinian Markets. The content of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Hg, As, Se, Ba, and Zn) was analyzed in 50 plastic toys purchased from local markets in Palestine and 17 plastic toys purchased from Israeli markets for comparison. After the digestion of samples with concentrated nitric acids and hydrogen peroxide using a microwave digester, the concentrations of the selected heavy metals were determined by ICP-MS Agilent 7500 in Al-Quds University. Results revealed that 40% of the Palestinian toy samples had high concentration (above international limits) of Pb, 30% of Cd, 34% of Cr, 6% of Hg, 42% of As, 32% of Se, 20% of Ba, and 40% of Zn. On the other hand, 95% of the Israeli samples were safe, and their concentrations were less than the maximum internationally allowable limits. In the same context, ten toy samples (2.5 gm each) had been crushed and dipped for 8 hours in a solution of artificial saliva. The solution was acidified and tested for heavy metal concentrations, but none of the migration concentrations exceeded the international maximum allowable limit. High levels of heavy metal concentrations, found in the plastic toys from the Palestinian markets could form a health hazard to children and put their lives at risk. It could be also an indirect source for environmental pollution.
文摘Studies investigating the relationship between size and performance of water service providers are abundant. Yet, this relationship has not been fully addressed in Palestinian water sector, particularly, after the issuance of water law 2014 which calls for merging water providers into large regional utilities. This research evaluates the significant effect of the size of Palestinian water service providers on non-revenue water, staff productivity, collection efficiency, average consumption, average price, operating and maintenance cost, working ratio, and gross profit. The multivariate analysis shows that there are significant differences in working ratio, non-revenue water, staff productivity, average price, and gross profit based on the size. On the other side, no significant differences have been found in average daily consumption, operating and maintenance cost per unit, and collection efficiency based on those providers’ size. The small service providers perform better in non-revenue water, staff productivity, and collection efficiency;wherein, large service providers are more profitable than small service providers. Implications of these findings by conducting further studies will add the value for better merging of the Palestinian water providers and the reforming process.
文摘Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin found in many natural sources, citric fruits, vegetables, particularly as antioxidants and as a factor to catabolism and metabolism. The aim of this article is to correlate the level of vitamin C and the hydroxyproline level in urine samples among young palestinian children from age 5 - 14 years. Materials and Methods: Urine samples of 34 individuals of both sexes, their ages ranged from 5 - 14 years were collected and analyzed for determination of Urinary Hydroxyproline by using Modified Neuman and Logan Method. The result of this study shows a significant correlation between Vitamin C and Hydroxyproline at level 0.01. The conclusion of this study was that low vitamin C intake was found among young palestinian children from age 5 - 14 years, Vitamin C should be supplemented in the drinks taken by young palestinian children from age 5 - 14 years as well as further research and investigation with large samples required to include all children from middle and southern Palestine.
文摘The impactof water sales price on the performance of water service providers is typically something of a mystery. High prices mean more revenue and profit;but it may lead to less bills collection and encourage the illegal connections. Yet, this argument has not been fully addressed in the Palestinian water sector;this research evaluates the effect of average water prices on the financial sustainability key indicators as collection efficiency, profit or loss percentage, non-revenue water, staff productivity, daily consumption, operating, and maintenance cost. The average price of cubic meter sold is segmented into low, medium, and high categories. Multivariate analysis shows that there are significant differences in profit or working ratio, daily consumption, and operating cost based on the different price categories. Further significant differences have been found in non-revenue water, collection efficiency, and water production based on low and high price categories. On the other hand, no significant difference has been found in staff productivity. The results show high price set by Palestinian water providers, leads to an increase in the bill collection rate and profit margin. However, negative relationship has been found between the price on one hand, and non-revenue water, average daily consumption, and water production on the other hand. The implication of these findings reveal that the Palestinian water providers should increase water prices gradually to cover operating and maintenance cost for better financial performance and sustainability.
文摘Background: Political conflicts and wars all over the world are global concerns which directly influence the lives of people including children. Over one billion children worldwide inhabit countries or territories torn apart by armed conflict, war, or terrorism. Purpose: The purpose of this review was to identify the best evidence on the Resiliency Process and Political Socialization among Palestinian Children Exposed to Political Traumatic Experience. Methods: An integrative review was used to assess the resiliency process and political socialization among Palestinian Children Exposed to Political Traumatic Experience. Data search was between 2009 and 2019 using ProQuest, Nursing Journal Publications, EBSCO, Jordanian Database for Nursing Research, WHO online library, scholar Google scholar, science direct, and PubMed. A total of 8 articles met the eligibility criteria. Results: The eight reviewed articles adopted descriptive analytic and cross-sectional studies. Themes were: Impact of psychological trauma on children, Political socialization process and Resiliency among children. Conclusion: Reviewed articles regarding children reaction to trauma and resiliency process showed that children varied in their responses. The studies showed that children were vulnerable to psychological harms and consequences of trauma that might include PTSD and others behavioral problems. At the same time, the studies confirmed that despite the harmful consequences they had positive adaptation and abilities to resist.
文摘To assess elementary education students’self-efficacy beliefs in science teaching,the Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument developed by Enochs and Riggs was used.The instrument consisted of two scales,Personal Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Scale and the Outcome Expectancy Scale.It was administered to 90 undergraduate university students majoring in elementary education at a large public Palestinian university.Results indicated that students’self-efficacy beliefs in science teaching were comparable to those reported in the original study by Enochs and Riggs.Overall,the participants presented moderate to high self-efficacy in science teaching.
基金The researchers would like to acknowledge the contributions of participating schools in their data collection and volunteering students for kindly taking part in this study.
文摘The Self-description Questionnaire-I(SDQ-I)is a multidimensional instrument that measures eight self-concept facets hypothesized in Shavelson’s hierarchical model.This study investigated self-concept in a sample of Palestinian adolescent students using an Arabic version of the SDQ-I.Three-hundred sixty adolescents(163 girls and 197 boys)aged 13 to 16 years(M=14.3,SD=.87)participated.The 72-item SDQ-I was administered in four Palestinian schools to assess the psychometric properties of the SDQ-I.This included the factor structure and the internal consistency reliability of the SDQ-I subscales and mean score responses of Palestinian self-concept.Factor analysis results,which accounted for the majority of the variance,supported an underlying general self-concept factor structure that demonstrated the eight factors that the SDQ-I is designed to measure.This is consistent with previous studies in similar age groups and the SDQ-I reliabilities were similar to those reported in the literature.Students perceived total self-concept positively(mean=3.71).Three facets of self-concept(parent relations,reading,and general self-concept)indicated high positive self-concept.Correlations among the different dimensions were consistent with the hierarchical structure in Shavelson’s model.Overall,the findings provided compelling support for Shavelson’s model,and the structure validity of Western self-concept measure.Interpretations were provided for the discrepancies regarding the Palestinian-Arab culture.
文摘Write down： I am an Arab! This powerful proclamation is an extract from a poem composed by the eminent and late Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish. His instructive and proud words were the initial spark that challenged to respond to the question of the suppressed identity of Palestinian Arabs in Israel. This study will attempt to explore the cultural representation of identity for generations of Palestinian young men and women who were born and lived in Israel but remain culturally repressed and silenced by the hegemonic forces. Identity has been a controversial issue in the mind of every Palestinian ever since the 1948 ＂Al-Nakbah＂.2 This study will attempt to comprehend and analyze the multiple ways in which different generations of 1948 Palestinians identified themselves within their societies. While studying the Arabs of Israel3 one notices that their cultural and intellectual productions （poetry and literature） reflect aspects of the conflicts they endured. Confusion and contradictory feelings permeate their psyches as they attended Israeli schools and spoke Hebrew as their official language. This paper will explore the literary heritage of two generations of 1948 Palestinians： the writings of Palestinians of 1948 who were born before Al-Nakbah （living within the borders of Israel today）. Those include poems, plays and novels. It will also explore the writings of the younger generation of 1948 Palestinians （born and raised after the Al-Nakbah and considered to be the new generation of Israeli Arabs）. A critical analysis will identify how these two generations of Palestinian writers dealt with the contradictions of living inside Israeli society that did not acknowledge them as the indigenous inhabitants of the land. Their translation of their sense of belonging within their literary works will be evident and how they dealt with the conflict of being simultaneously Israeli Arab as well as Palestinian. How can cultural production reconcile the homeland carried in the memory nostalgically and th
文摘The refugee convention of 1951^1 defined a refugee as“someone who is unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin owing to the well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race,religion,nationality membership in particular social group,or political opinion.”The convention also lays down basic minimum standards for the treatment of refugees,without prejudice to States granting more favorable treatment to refugees.Such rights include access to courts,to primary education,to work,and the provision for documentation,including refugee travel documents in passport forms”.None of these conditions have been applied to the Palestinian refugees.Following Israel’s war of independence in 1948-49,about 800,000 Palestinians became refugees mainly in Jordan,Syria,Lebanon,and Egypt,where their descendants still live.UNRWA was created in 1949 as a“fire extinguisher”to provide the refugees in these four States with short-term survival assistance.UNRWA’s original mandate was for three years,assuming that the refugees will soon be absorbed by the countries of their refuge.This hope never materialized,and almost 70 years later,the third and fourth generation of Palestinians are still being considered by UNRWA as“refugees”.Our research shows that flows in UNRWA’s working principles have resulted in the prolonging of the problem,and the hindering of its resolution.A comparison with the World Bank’s assistance programs proves that UNRWA’s programs are clearly part of the problem and not part of the solution.
文摘This paper investigates how the novel Habibi （1997） by the Arab-American writer Naomi Nye addresses the theme of border shifting from a postmodernist perspective that deconstructs the traditional view of borders meant to maintain exclusion and hegemony and instead considers them as being often flimsy, malleable, and changeable. Drawing upon her experience as a multifarious Arab-American writer whose father was a Palestinian immigrant and whose mother was an American, Nye tries to build bridges across political, national, cultural, and ethnic boundaries. Through a love story between the two protagonists （Liyana, whose father is a Palestinian-American and whose mother is American and Omer, whose parents are Jewish Israelis）, Nye endeavors to bring about a sense of harmony and understanding between the politically, ethnically, culturally, and racially separated J home whether in reality ews and Palestinians. At the end, Liyana＇s family realizes they can have more than one or in imagination.
基金financed by Humanities and Social Sciences Planning Fund operated by the Ministry of Education,PRC.
文摘Apart from West Bank and Gaza Strip,it is the Arab countries that most Palestinian refugees seek shelter in.These Palestinian refugees not only live a hard life,but also are put into an awkward situation.The denial of Palestinian refugees’right of return from the Israeli government,the economic weakness of Palestine and interest consideration of Arab countries contributed to the suspense of the solution to the Palestinian refugee problem.The presence and continuation of the problem have great impacts on the nation and state-building of Palestine and those Arab countries sheltering the Palestinian refugees.The final solution depends on the support from Arab countries.
文摘Since its origin in the first Middle East War in 1948, the Palestinian refugee problem has not been properly resolved. Over the years, the key stakeholder Israel has put forward a variety of plans and countermeasures on refugee issues in multilateral and bilateral diplomatic stages. Researches on these policies of Israel on Palestinian refugees are crucial for solving this problem. The right wing and the left wing of political parties in Israel--lsrael＇s Likud and Labor Party had the longest and most influential rulings in the country. The refugee policies they have taken during their administrations have an impact on the development of the peace process in the Middle East, and also play a direct role in solving the problem of refugees. Through the analysis on refugee policies of the ruling party in various stages of the evolvement of the Arab-Israeli conflict, we can compare the Labor Party＇s and the Likud Party＇s policies for Palestinian refugees, and found that the policies of these two parties are consistent and similar on the issue of refugees, for example, neither of them recognize the responsibility of Israel on refugees, and they both denied the ＂right to return＂ of refugees, etc. In terms of the specific implementation of the policies, there are differences between them： the Likud Party was significantly tougher than the Labor Party. Both Labor and Likud is being affected by domestic and international factors, such as homeland security, the Jewish state property, political system, Jewish mentality and the support of the United States and other factors, so their policies are consistent; however, due to different historical factions, different voter groups, and national interests as well as the interests of the parties in different periods, the two parties have different refugee policies.
文摘In order to attain the best energy efficiency in an industrial plant, an energy audit is a prerequisite process for identifying the general energy consumption condition and to hence identify the measures that need to be taken to save the cost of excessive energy consumed and later to retrofit the faults that were observed. The case study presented in this paper is a medium industry plant located in Hebron. The audit methodology, observation, and audit results will be presented and discussed with the recommendation drawn.
文摘The debate on Security Sector Reform(SSR)in Palestine has emerged within the context of the peace process between Israel and Palestinians,in particular following the Oslo agreement in 1993.There are different perceptions of the significance and relevance of SSR in the Palestinian context,and these depend on ideological,political allegiances and interests of domestic,regional and international actors talking about SSR.Some blame the Israeli occupation and military activities and also the governance of the Palestinian security sector for the deterioration of internal security.Others consider that the SSR is an integral element of the process of state-building to allow the Palestinians to establish an effective authority over their territories.However,Israel and external actors like the United States and the European Union still look at Palestinian SSR as a means to confront“terror and violence”and to prevent the emergence of any dangers to Israel.Israeli occupation and internal political divisions described and analyzed in this article as major challenges for Palestinian SSR.In addition,this article argues that this reform is not an end in itself,but is a necessary and a fundamental element to achieve the Palestinian national project in terms of liberation and state-building.
文摘This paper investigates how the Arab-American writer Naomi Nye addresses the dialectic between borders and multiculturalism in her award-winning young adult novel Habibi （1997）. Critiquing the essentialist view that presumes fixed boundaries for a culture, Nye promotes the alternative view that assumes individuals＇ power of defining and redefining their cultural identities in a multicultural society. The author argues that Nye＇s position is that borders/boundaries and geographical demarcations are flimsy, arbitrary and create divisions, animosities and hatred between people and nations whereas multiculturalism engenders feelings of reconciliation, friendship, and understanding. Though borders and boundaries can be divisive, cultural variety and hybridity can be inclusive. To counteract the argument of borders/boundaries, Nye posits the argument of multiculturalism. In this paper, the author intends to examine the assumptions of the physical and the cultural borders rhetoric in comparison with the multicultural approach narrative. It is the dialectic of these two opposing forces that shapes the events and the final outcome of the action and events of this novel
文摘Prior American administrations were more balanced in their relations with Israel and the Arab world.During the Cold War Israel was an important strategic asset in the containment of Communist influence in the middle eastern region,Washington structured its arms sales to Israel,controlled Israeli military preeminence during the wars with its Arab neighbors,and sought to arbitrate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to balance US relations with moderate Arab regimes.Today,the opposite seems to be true.It is considering the above forlorn situation that this essay attempts to analytically x-ray the Palestinian–Israeli conflict and US foreign policy.The major objective of the study was among others to establish that the current US foreign policy of the Trump administration will only further escalate the conflict by exacerbating tensions;it establishes the onion model as a framework upon which the study was built theoretically.The study resulted from the increasing trend of violence and killings in the region and how the people living in the region have been further devastated all because US foreign policy summersault.It also makes useful insights and recommendations on how to broker peace in the region.
文摘The majority of the Hamas suicide attacks were carried out by young fellows.There were various motivations for the suicide attacks,including four social factors.Firstly,the miserable experiences of the Palestinian people became a hotbed for the suicide attackers.Secondly,the wide public sympathy of suicide attackers among the Palestinian people provided support for Hamas and the suicide attacks.Thirdly,the Palestinians turned to violence as a last resort from the disappointment of the Palestinian-Israeli peace process.Finally,the Hamas suicide attacks had many religious factors.The Hamas suicide attack has two effects.One is that it causes the Palestinians and Israelis to fall into a vicious circle of’’violence to violence’’;however it also strengthens Hamas’s leading position as a resistant organization.Another is that it has caused the martyrdom culture to become popular in Palestine and inspired many Palestinians to join suicide attacks.In conclusion,the roots of the suicide attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian groups are found in Palestinian despair of the status quo and therefore,the Palestine issue has still not been resolved.
