Spatial dynamics and Palestinian resilience:The lifestyle of Al-Kurshan Bedouins in Bethlehem District

This study explores the role of Bedouins in preserving Palestinian land through their own means of community resilience through the concept of“Art of being”and its entailed“Arts of presence and persistence”.This is examined through the correlation between Bedouin lifestyle and the spatial distribution of structures within“Al-Kurshan”Bedouin clan in Area C in the West Bank.Based on a mixed qualitative and spatial methodologies,information was gathered through semi-structured interviews with Al-Kurshan Bedouins and employees of organizations supporting Bedouins,on-site observation,and analyses of maps and photos,in addition to drawings and illustrations.The spatial distribution of Bedouin built structures is analyzed in relation to landscape and climate,social aspects within the families,and available service and sectorial infrastructures.These analyses give insight on how Bedouins struggle against adopting other lifestyles.The study shows that the Bedouins are slowly forced to negotiate their semi-nomadic lifestyle,but resist giving up their right to exist against the threat of forced displacement.They maintain their“Art of being”which partly represents their own way of safeguarding Palestinian lands from confiscation.The study contributes to the wider discussion of spatial dynamics of Bedouins and their community resilience within the Palestinian geopolitical context.

Literature review of type 2 diabetes mellitus among minority Muslim populations in Israel

This review surveys the literature published on the characteristics and implications of pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) for the Arab andBedouin populations of Israel. T2 DM is a global health problem. The rapid rise in its prevalence in the Arab and Bedouin populations in Israel is responsible for their lower life expectancy compared to Israeli Jews. The increased prevalence of T2 DM corresponds to increased rates of obesity in these populations. A major risk group is adult Arab women aged 55-64 years. In this group obesity reaches 70%. There are several genetic and nutritional explanations for this increase. We found high hospitalization rates for micro and macrovascular complications among diabetic patients of Arab and Bedouin origin. Despite the high prevalence of diabetes and its negative health implications, there is evidence that care and counseling relating to nutrition, physical activity and self-examination of the feet are unsatisfactory. Economic difficulties are frequently cited as the reason for inadequate medical care. Other proposed reasons include faith in traditional therapy and misconceptions about drugs and their side effects. In Israel, the quality indicators program is based on one of the world's leading information systems and deals with the management of chronic diseases such as diabetes. The program's baseline data pointed to health inequality between minority populations and the general population in several areas, including monitoring and control of diabetes. Based on these data, a pilot intervention program was planned, aimed at minority populations. This program led to a decrease in inequality and served as the basis for a broader, more comprehensive intervention that has entered the implementation stage. Interventions that were shown to be effective in other Arabic countries may serve as models for diabetes management in the Arab and Bedouin populations in Israel.

Necessity for Vitamin D Screening among Urban Bedouin Women of Childbearing Age

Vitamin D (Vit D) plays multiple roles in bodily functions. Vit D deficiency is a common, but often under-diagnosed condition with possible serious complications. According to some research, Vit D is important particularly among women and children. No data were found concerning the Vit D status among urban Bedouin women of childbearing age. The research study is retrospective and descriptive. We analyzed 202 medical histories of patients undergoing blood tests for Vit D level for various reasons. The main objectives of the research were: 1) determining the prevalence of the Vit D deficiency among the Bedouin women of childbearing age;2) identifying the causes for the physicians’ reasons for suspecting Vit D deficiency: the complaints or symptoms which cause the doctor to test for Vit D level. As a result, in 80.7% of those tested for Vit D, levels were less than 10 ng/ml, and in 19.3%, levels of 10 to 20 ng/ml were found. In lieu of our findings and in order to prevent serious health problems, Vit D screening plan should be seriously considered and discussed in the Bedouin population with high risk of deficiency.

The Principals Stress and Coping Strategies in Bedouin Schools in Israel

The purpose of this research is to investigate the principals’stress and coping strategies to deal with stress by principals in Bedouin schools in Israel.Data were collected in this research by combining a quantitative and qualitative mixed method.A quantitative research questionnaire was conducted for school principals in 36 schools,in addition to an interview with three principals based on the causes of principal stress and coping mechanisms.Research results show that the principals experiencing balance had the highest mean(M)of 3.28 and standard deviation(SD)of 1.64 on a five-point scale.Principals experiencing moderate stress was parents(M=3.10,SD=0.57)and teachers(M=3.14,SD=0.54),while workload had the lowest mean(M=2.97,SD=0.64).

变形金刚——Rinspeed Bedouin

如果你想拥有一辆保时捷越野跑车，却难以面对Cayenne难看的面孔和臃肿的身材，不妨将眼界开阔，看看瑞士车厂改造保时捷996而来的变形越野车Bedouin，或许能给你耳目一新的感觉。