İsrail Programı
1/20/2008
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İçindekiler
2
1. Program
Tarih
25.02.2008
25.02.2008
26.02.2008
Gün
Pazartesi
Pazartesi
Salı
Saat
09:00
13:00
27.02.2008 Çarşamba
28.02.2008 Perşembe
29.02.2008 Cuma
01.03.2008 Cumartesi 06:15
Program
Ankara-İstaanbul
İstanbul-Tel Aviv-Kudüs
KKL Dünya Başkanı ile Görüşme Resmi
Toplantı
Northern Israel Bölgesine Hareket
Beith Keshet Ormanını Ziyaret
Lake Agmon Bölgesini Ziyaret
Mt. Naftali Ormanlık Bölgesinde Yangın
Görmüş Alanaların Rehabilitasyon
Çalışmalarının İncelenmesi
Güney İsrail Bölgesine Hareket
Ashkelon İlinde Konaklama
Kurak İklim Ormancılığı İnceleme
Kudüse Dönüş
Büro Çalışması Özet
Akşam Yemeği
Kudüs’te Serbest Gün
Tel Aviv-İstanbul
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2. Davet Eden Kurum Hakkında Bilgi
Orijinal Adı
İngilizcesi
Türkçe
Kısaltması
Web Sitesi
The Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael
Jewish National Fund
Yahudi Ulusal Fonu
KKL-JNF
http://www.kkl.org.il/kkl/
Açıklama

1901 yılında dışarıdan gelen kişilere arazi satın almak üzere kurulmuş
bir organisazyon.

Bugün itibariyle İsrail’deki toprakların %93’ ü İsrail Arazi Yönetimi
birimine ait (bizdeki Milli Emlak Genel Müdürlüğü gibi). KKL 1960
yılında elindeki toprakları, ormanlar hariç, arazi yönetimi birimine
devretmiş.

Arazi yönetimi birimi (Israel Land Administration-ILA) bir 22 kişilik
kurul tarafından yönetiliyor, bu 22 kişinin 10’ u KKL tarafından
belirleniyor.

ILA dışında ülke topraklarının %13’ ü KKL’ nin elinde.

1961 yılında Israil Hükümeti ve KKL arasında yapılan bir anlaşma ilei
Israil’ in ormancılık ve ağaçlandırma faaliyetleri KKL’ ye bırakılmıştır.
Diğer bir ifadeyle KKL İsrail’ in resmi ormancılık organisazyonudur.

KKL başta Amerika olmak üzere dünyanın birçok ülkesinde ofislere
sahiptir. Türkiyede kuruluşu bulunmamaktadır.

KKL Uluslarrası İlişkiler Koordinatörü Sayın Omri Bonneh,KKL
Dünya Başkanı adına, Orman Genel Müdürü Sayın Osman Kahveci’ yi
İsraile davet etmektedir.
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3. İsrail Hakkında Bilgi
3.1.
İsrail Haritası
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3.2.
İsraildeki Büyükelçiliğimiz
Bulunduğu Ülke
Misyon Adı
Orjinal Adı
Bağlı Olduğu
Misyon
Adresi
Telefon
Faks
E-Posta Adresi
Görev Bölgesi
3.3.
İSRAİL
TEL AVİV BÜYÜKELÇİLİĞİ
TURKISH EMBASSY
202, HAYARKON STREET, 63405 TEL AVIV - ISRAEL
00 972 3 524 11 01 00 972 3 524 12 01 00 972 3 524 13 01
00 972 3 524 13 90 00 972 3 524 04 99
[email protected]
Tüm İsrail
İsrail ve Türkiye Mukayesesi
İSRAİL
İsrail Avrupa, Asya ve Afrika kıtalarının kesiştiği yerde bulunmaktadır. Coğrafi olarak, Asya
kıtasında bulunmaktadır; batısında Akdeniz, kuzeyinde Lübnan ve Suriye, doğusunda Ürdün,
güneyinde ise Mısır ve Kızıldeniz ile çevrilidir.
Uzun ve dar bir şekile sahip olan İsrail, 290 mil (470 km) uzunluğunda olup, en geniş bölgesi
yaklaşık 85 mil (135 km)’dir. Sınırları ve ateşkes hatları içerisinde kalan toplan yüzölçümü
10,840 mil2 (27,817 km2) dir.
Nüfus
İsrail, yaklaşık 6,000,000’luk nüfusuyla, çeşitli din, kültür ve sosyal geleneklere sahip
insanları biraraya getirmiştir.
TÜRKİYE
Asya, Avrupa ve Afrika kıtalarının birbirine çok yaklaştığı bir yerde bulunan Türkiye
Cumhuriyeti, doğusunda Gürcistan, Ermenistan, Nahcivan ve İran, batısında Bulgaristan ve
Yunanistan, güneyinde ise Suriye ve Irak ile çevrilmiştir.
Türkiye Cumhuriyeti’nin toplam yüzölçümü 814,578 km2’dir. Ülkenin %3’ü Trakya’da,
Avrupa kıtasında bulunmaktadır. Geri kalan %97 ise Anadolu olarak nitelendirilen Asya
kıtasındadır.
Nüfus
Türkiye’nin nüfusu yaklaşık 68 milyondur.
HÜKÜMET
İSRAİL
İsrail Cumhurbaşkanı yedi yılda bir Knesset (Meclis)’in çoğunluğunun oyu ile seçilir. Devlet
Başkanı genellikle törensel ve resmi görevleri yerine getirir; ancak af yetkisi gibi yürütme
yetkilerine de sahiptir.
TÜRKİYE
Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Cumhurbaşkanı yedi yıda bir Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi üye
tamsayısının üçte iki çoğunluğu ile seçilir. Cumhurbaşkanı, Anayasanın uygulanmasını,
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Devlet organlarının düzenli ve uyumlu çalışmasını gözetir. Cumhurbaşkanının görev ve
yetkileri yasama, yürütme ve yargı alanlarındadır.
Siyasi sistemlerin karşılaştırılması
İsrail
Devlet Başkanı - Cumhurbaşkanı
Meclis - Tek Meclis (Parlamento) Knesset: 120 üye
Seçim Sistemi - Nispi Temsil
En düşük oy verme yaşı - 18 yaş
En uzun hükümet dönemi - 4 yıl
Türkiye
Devlet Başkanı – Cumhurbaşkanı
Meclis – Tek Meclis (Parlemento) TBMM: 550 üye
Seçim Sistemi – Tek aşamalı seçim
En düşük oy verme yaşı – 18 yaş
En uzun hükümet dönemi – 5 yıl
President
Shimon Peres - President
Cabinet Ministers
Ehud Olmert - Prime Minister, Acting Minister of Finance
Tzipi Livni - Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign
Affairs
Haim Ramon - Vice Premier
Ehud Barak - Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense
Avigdor Liberman - Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of
Strategic Affairs
Shaul Mofaz - Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of
Transportation and Road Safety
Eliyahu Yishai - Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of
Industry, Trade and Labor
Yitzhak Aharonovitch - Minister of Tourism
Ariel Atias - Minister of Communications
Ruhama Avraham - Minister without Portfolio (responsible
for liaison with the Knesset)
Ami Ayalon - Minister without Portfolio
Ronnie Bar-On - Minister of Finance
Yacov Ben Yizri - Minister of Health
Benjamin Ben-Eliezer - Minister of National Infrastructures
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Ze'ev Boim - Minister of Housing and Construction
Yitzhak Cohen - Minister without Portfolio (responsible
for the religious councils)
Abraham Dicter - Minister of Public Security
Ya'akov Edery - Minister of Immigrant Absorption,
Minister for the Development of the Negev and the Galilee
Rafi Eitan - Minister of Pensioner Affairs
Gideon Ezra - Minister of Environmental Protection
Daniel Friedmann - Minister of Justice
Isaac Herzog - Minister of Welfare and Social Services,
Minister of the Diaspora, Society, and Fight Against
Antisemitism
Raleb Majadele - Minister of Science, Culture and Sports
Meshulam Nahari - Minister without Portfolio
Meir Sheetrit - Minister of the Interior
Shalom Simhon - Minister of Agriculture and Rural
Development
Yuli Tamir - Minister of Education
Türkiye ile İsrail arasındaki kültürel faaliyetler
İSRAİL
İsrail, Doğu’nun Batı’yla, geçmişin günümüzle buluştuğu, ideolojilerin yaşam tarzlarına
nüfuz ettiği bir yerdir. 4000 yıllık Yahudi mirası ve yaklaşık 50 senelik modern devlet
yaşamı, 70 farklı topluluğun kendine özgü özelliklerini de muhafaza ederek zaten kendi
kimliğini yaratmış olan bir kültürün daha da gelişmesine imkan tanımıştır.
İsrail’in resmi dili İbranice ve Arapça’dır. İbranice, Yahudiler tarafından dini törenlerde,
felsefe ve edebiyatta “kutsal lisan” olarak kullanılmaya devam etmektedir.
İsrail, ülkenin yazar ve şairleri için bir ilham kaynağıdır. Eski bir mirasın üzerine kurulu bu
gelişmekte olan ulus, karmaşık toplumsal ilişkilerin arasında varolmaktadır.
Düz yazı ve şiirlerde, Tevrat’taki, diğer Yahudi kaynaklarındaki (örneğin Mishna, Talmud ve
Kabbala) ve Diaspora (İsrail dışında yaşayan) Yahudileri yaratıcı geleneklerindeki imajlar ve
zengin ifadelerden yararlanılmakatdır.
20. yüzyılın başlarından bu yana, İsrail’de, güzel sanatlar Doğu ile Batı arasındaki ilişkiden
etkilenen yaratıcı bir gelişme göstermiştir.
İsrail, dünyanın en aktif müzik merkezlerindendir ve yetenekli bestecilerin, binlerce
profesyonel müzisyenin ve göçmenlerden oluşan toplumunun yarattığı benzersiz ve dinamik
folk müziğinin üzerine kurulu çok yönlü bir klasik müzik yaşamına sahiptir. Yahudilerin
toplumsal ve dini yaşamında dans, Tevrat’ın indiği ilk günlerden bu yana mutluluğun ifadesi
olarak kabul edilmiştir ve günümüzde dini, ulusal, toplumsal ve ailevi kutlamaların
vazgeçilmez bir parçasıdır.
TÜRKİYE
Sanat, toplumsal hayatın vazgeçilmez ve toplum yapısına bağlı olmayan bir parçasıdır.
Doğada, gökyüzünde veya sulardaki her şekil ve renk değişikliği insanoğluna ilham kaynağı
olmaktadır. Bir anlamda, sanat bütün geleneklerin kökeninde yatar.
Atatürk’ün öncülüğünde hızlanan modernleşme süreci ve Avrupa’daki düşünce ve sanat
hareketlerinin bilinçli ve duyarlı bir tarzda izlenmesi yeni Cumhuriyet’in kültür ve sanat
yaşamının yolunu açmıştır.
Kültürel anlamda Batı’ya yönelişin başladığı Osmanlı İmparatorluğu döneminin son
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yıllarında heykel ve diğer sanat dallarında da bir uyanış başlamıştır. 1850’li yıllara uzanan
fotoğrafçılık sanatı ise Cumhuriyet döneminin ilk yıllarında hızlı bir gelişme göstermiştir.
Karikatür sanatı ise 19. yüzyılın ikinci yarısında başlayarak yayın hayatındaki canlılık ile
paralel gelişmiştir. Türkler, Osmanlı ve Selçuk dönemlerinde mimari şaheserler yapmışlardır.
Türk mimarlar tarafından 11. yüzyıldan bu yana yapılan anıtsal yapılar, dünya mimari
mirasında ayrı bir yere sahiptir. Günümüzde Türk toplumunda müzik saygın bir yer
edinmiştir. Türk basını dünya müziğine ve müzik aktivitelerine geniş yer vermektedir.
Dansın Sultanları
“... her dans bir efsanenin çözülmesidir ve bugün bu efsanelerin ruhuna hayat veriliyor”
Türkiye’de yeni bir dans prodüksüyonu olan Dansın Sultanları, yurt dışındaki ilk gösterilerini
İsrail’de Tel Aviv Festivali’nde gerçekleştirdiler. Gösteriler Tel Aviv ve Haifa’da 17 – 24
Kasım 2001 tarihleri arasında yapıldı.
Film Festivalleri
İki ülke arasındaki kültürel ilişkiler son yıllarda daha da artmıştır. İki ülkenin kültürlerini
birbirine tanıtması aralarındaki anlayış ve ilişkileri daha da geliştirecektir.
Ankara’daki İsrail Büyükelçiliği tarafından gerçekleştirilen kültürel aktiviteler dahilinde,
Ankara’da iki kez İsrail Filmleri Festivali ve İsrail’de bir Türk Filmleri Festivali yapılmıştır.
İsrail Film Festivali’nin ilki 7 – 10 Eylül 2000 tarihinde, ikincisi 14 – 17 Haziran 2001
tarihinde Ankara’da ve 22 – 24 Haziran 2001 tarihinde ise İstanbul’da gerçekleştirilmiştir.
İkinci Festival’de Sayın Tuncel Kurtiz’e İsrail’in Ankara Büyükelçisi tarafından “Gümüş
Ayı” ödülü verilmiştir. İsrail’de Tel Aviv, Kudüs ve Haifa’da ise 9 – 30 Eylül 2001
tarihlerinde Türk Filmleri Festivali yapılmıştır.
Türkiye ile İsrail arasındaki ticaret ve Serbest Ticaret Anlaşması
Küçük bir ekonomiye ve nispeten sınırlı bir iç pazara sahip olan İsrail, ekonomik açıdan büyümek ve genişlemek için dış
pazarlara bağımlıdır. İthalat ve ihracatı gayri safi milli hasılanın %80’inden fazlasını oluşturur. İsrail öncelikle, elektrikli
motorlar ve teçhizat, kontrol ekipmanı, tıbbi ve bilimsel teçhizat, elektrikli eşyalar, ofis makinaları ve bilgisayarlar gibi
işlenmiş malların ihracatını yapar.
Uzun süreli serbest ticaret anlaşmaları sonucunda, Amerika Birleşik Devletleri ve Avrupa Birliği İsrail ihracatının üçte
ikisini kapsamaktadır. 2000 yılında İsrail, bütün ihracatının %39’unda Amerika’yı hedef alırken, Avrupa Birliği ihracatın
%27’sini oluşturmuştur. Amerika Birleşik Devletleri ve Avrupa Birliği dışında İsrail’in Türkiye, Kanada, Çek Cumhuriyeti,
Slovak Cumhuriyeti, Macaristan, Polonya, Slovenya, Meksika, Romanya ve Bulgaristan ile de serbest ticaret anlaşmaları
vardır. Bu anlaşmalar, İsrail ve ticaret ortakları arasında malların serbest akışına izin verir ve İsrail’in ürünleri ve
teknolojisinin daha iyi tanınmasını sağlar.
İsrail'de Ziraat
İSRAİL
Bir çöl kuşağının kenarında yer alan İsrail, her zaman su kıtlığı çekmiştir. Ülkenin su
kaynakları Ürdün Nehri ve Kinneret Gölü’dür. İsrail’in temiz su kaynakları entegre bir
şebekede toplanmıştır. Bu şebekenin ana arteri suyu kuzeyden güneye taşıyan Ulusal Su
Şebekesi’dir. Temiz su kaynaklarının tamamı kullanımda olduğundan dolayı, su
kaynaklarının marjinal kullanımını sağlamak amacıyla atık suların yeniden kullanımı,
yağmur bombası, tuzlu ve acı suların arındırılması gibi çeşitli yöntemlerden
yararlanılmaktadır.
TÜRKİYE
Türkiye’nin tarım açısından diğer bölge ülkeleri arsında önemli bir yeri vardır. Tarımsal
üretim yıllık olarak kademeli bir şekilde artmaktadır. Coğrafi ve iklim koşulları tarımsal
üretime müsait olduğundan Türkiye, bu alanda dünyada kendine yetebilen az sayıdaki
ülkelerden biridir.
Güneydoğu Anadolu Projesi (GAP)’nin tamamlanması ile ürün çeşitlerinde büyük
değişiklikler olması beklenmektedir. Tarımsal üretimin artışı ve buna bağlı olarak tarım
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sanayinde yeni teknolojilerin uygulanması, bölge ekonomisinin iç ve dış pazarlardaki rekabet
gücünü arttıracaktır.
Kollektif Çiftlikler - Kibbutzim: Kuzeyde Golan Tepelerinden güneyde Kızıl Denize kadar
İsrail’deki toplam 269 kollektif çiftlik’de (Kibbutzim) yaklaşık 120,500 kişi yaşamaktadır.
Kibbutz genellikle tarımsal nitelikte ve üyelerinin herhangi bir kişisel servete sahip olmadığı
ve topluluğun tüm ihtiyaçlarının sorumluluğunu üstlenen, gönüllülerden oluşan bir
topluluktur. Her yıl dünyanın dört bir yanından binlerce genç kibbutz’larda gönüllü çalışmak
için İsrail’e gelmektedir. Türkiye’den ise, genellikle ziraat fakültesi öğrencileri yaz stajlarını
tamamlamak için kibbutz’lara katılmaktadırlar.
MASHAV (Uluslararası İşbirliği Merkezi): İsrail’in uluslararası kalkınma programı hızlı
bir sürdürülebilir kalkınma sağlamak için “know-how”, yeni teknolojiler ve denenmiş
çözümler içeren kendi kalkınma deneyimlerinden yararlanır. Başlangıcından bu yana
MASHAV (Uluslararası İşbirliği Merkezi) gelişen dünyada 140 ülkeden binlerce kişiyi,
İsrail’de ve yurt dışında eğitmiş ve dünya çapında kendi uzmanlık alanlarında düzinelerce
proje geliştirmiştir
Kudüs ve Ankara
İSRAİL
KUDÜS
Ülkenin tam merkezindeki Kudüs, Yehuda Tepeleri arasında bulunmaktadır. Tepeler ve vadilerden oluşan 124 km2’lik bir
alana yayılan şehir yaklaşık 500,000’lik nüfusu ile İsrail’in en büyük ve en kalabalık şehridir. Başkent olması nedeni ile
hükümet binalarının büyük bir bölümü, Meclis (Knesset), Yargıtay ve Merkez Bankası Kudüs’te bulunmaktadır. Ayrıca,
sayısız tarihi mekanları, kutsal yerleri ve ibadet yerleri ile Yahudiler, Hıristiyanlar ve Müslümanlar için büyük tarihi ve dini
bir önem taşımaktadır.
TÜRKİYE
ANKARA
İstiklal Savaşının merkezi olan Ankara, modern bir tarzda ve kısa bir sürede inşa edilmiştir. Şehir, 24,500 km2’lik (göller
hariç) bir alana yayılmıştır ve nüfusu yaklaşık 4,000,000’dur. Ankara, nüfusu itibarıyla Türkiye’nin ikinci büyük şehridir.
Başkent olması nedeni ile yaklaşık bütün hükümet binaları, Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi, Yargıtay ve Merkez Bankası
Ankara’da bulunmaktadır. Ankara, seçkin bale, tiyatro, opera ve halk dansları gösterileri ile hareketli bir sanatsal ve kültürel
yaşama sahiptir. Türkiye Cumhuriyeti’nin kurucusu, inkılapların yaratıcısı ve büyük önder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’ün ebedi
istirahat yeri olan Anıtkabir Ankara’da bulunmaktadır
Musevilik ve İslam
İSRAİL
Mukaddes kitabın indiği günlerden bu yana, Yahudiler tek tanrılı, hem dinsel hem de ulusal
bir anlam içeren Yahudiliğe inanan kişiler olmuşlardır. Yahudi olmayanlar İsrail nüfusunun
%20’sini oluşturmaktadır ve sayıları bir milyonun üstündedir. Her ne kadar toplu olarak
İsrail’in Arap vatandaşları olarak tanımlansalar da, herbiri ayrı özellikler taşıyan, esas
itibariyle Arapça konuşan farklı gruplardan oluşmaktadırlar.
İsrail Devleti’nin kuruluşu (1948) herkesin dinsel özgürlüğünü garanti altına almaktadır. Her
dinsel topluluk, kanun nezdinde ve uygulamada, inançlarının gereğini yerine getirme, tatil ve
haftalık dinlenme günlerini kutlayabilme ve kendi içişlerini yönetme özgürlüğüne sahiptir.
Sinagog: Geleneksel Yahudi ortodoks ibadeti bir minyan (on yetişkin erkekten oluşan bir
nisap) gerektirmektedir. Günde üç kez dua merasimi olmaktadır. Erkekler ve kadınlar ayrı
ayrı oturmaktadır ve başları örtülüdür. Sinagogun en önemli bölümü Kudüs’e doğru olan ve
Yasa’nın (Tora) saklandığı Aaron Akadeş (Ahit Sandığı)’tir. Dini merasimler özellikle
Şabbat (Yahudiler’in tatil günü Cumartesi) ve tatillerde şölen özelliği taşır.
TÜRKİYE
Türkiye nüfusunun %99’u Müslümandır. Geriye kalan yüzde bir ise Ortodoks Hıristiyanlar,
Yahudiler, Katolikler, Protestanlar ve diğer Hıristiyan mezheplerden oluşmaktadır. Herkes
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dini inanç özgürlüğüne sahiptir.
İslamiyet hoşgörüye büyük bir önem vermektedir. Aslında, dinsel hoşgörü Batı dünyasında
17. yüzyıldan sonra gözlemlenmeye başladığında Türklerde zaten bu anlayış mevcuttu.
15. yüzyılda İspanya’daki Engizisyon Mahkemelerinde zulüm ve baskı gören Yahudiler
Türkiye’ye sığınmışlardır. Yahudiler, İmparatorluk topraklarına yerleştikleri günden bu yana
büyük bir dinsel hoşgörü ve özgürlük içerisinde yaşamlarını sürdürmüşlerdir.
Türkiye bütün diğer İslam ülkeleri arasında laikliği Anayasasına dahil ederek uygulayan tek
ülkedir.
Cami: Müslümanlar günde beş kez namaz kılarlar. Erkekler ve kadınlar ayrı ayrı oturur. İçeri
girilirken, ayakkabılar çıkartılır ve abdest alınır. Müslümanlar, Suudi Arabistan’daki
Mekke’ye yüzlerini çevirerek dua ederler ve Mekke’nin yönünü cami duvarındaki mihrab
gösterir. Namazları ve dua merasimlerini Müslümanların ibadet lideri olan imamlar
yönetirler. Müslümanlar’ın tatil günü olan cumaları, genellikle bir de vaaz verilir.
KOLLEKTİF Kibbutzlar, kararların üyelerden oluşan bir kurul tarafından alındığı, mülk
ÇİFTLİKLER ve üretim araçlarının ortak mülkiyet sayıldığı içe dönük bir toplumsal ve
iktisadi birimdir. Günümüzde nüfusun %2.2’si sayıları yaklaşık 270’i bulan
kibbuztlarda yaşamaktadır. Üyelere kibbutz ekonomisinin farklı dallarında
işler tayin edilmiştir; bebeklikten lise çağlarına kadar çocuklar, uyanık
oldukları saatlerde yaşıtlarıyla beraber organize çerçeveler içinde vakit
geçirmektedirler. İsrail’in tarımsal faaliyetlerinin temel direği olan
kibbutzlar (ülkenin çiftlik çıktılarının %33’ü kibbutzlar tarafından
üretilmektedir) aynı zamanda sanayi, turizm ve hizmet sektörlerinde de
faaliyet göstermektedir.
KİBBUTZ'LARDA Kibbutz Gönüllü Çalışma Kamplarına Ankara'dan her yıl yaz
ÇALIŞMAK MI aylarında staj amaçlı olmak üzere öğrenciler gönderiyoruz. Bu
İSTİYORSUNUZ? kamplara gidebilmeniz için Büyükelçilik olarak aradığımız başlıca
şartlar (18 - 35 yaşları arasında) öğrenci olmanız ve Üniversitenizin
bu çalışmayı onaylaması. Üniversitenizin bize bir yazı ile katılacak
olan öğrencilerin isimlerini göndermeleri gerekmektedir.
Büyükelçiliğimiz ve Kibbutz Program Merkezi tarafından aranan
şartları daha detaylı bir şekilde İngilizce sayfamızdan okuyabilirsiniz.
Konu ile ilgili bilgi almak için Özge Türkmenoğlu ile bağlantıya
geçiniz.
Tel:+90-312-4597512
[email protected]
4. İsrailin Ormancılık Faaliyetleri
11
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12
Lake Hula – Lake Agmon
Tamar Zohary and K. David Hambright
The Hula Valley, an agricultural region in northern Israel with abundant fresh water, affords
an example of the delicate balance between nature and human development. The past 150
years of human settlement in the valley has been a continuous attempt to impose order upon
nature. The drainage of Lake Hula and its surrounding swamps in the 1950s was the epitome
of the attempts to alter the environment to suit human needs. Though initially perceived as a
great national achievement for the fledgling State of Israel, with time it became evident that
the benefits from transforming a "wasteland," Lake Hula and its swamps, into an agricultural
"blessing" were limited. Today, after nearly 50 years of largely unsuccessful struggle to
utilize the drained valley’s resources, the State of Israel has finally recognized that successful
development can endure only if a balanced compromise between nature and development is
achieved. Consequently, a small section of the former lake and swamp region was recently
reflooded in an attempt to prevent further soil deterioration and to revive the spirit of an
extinct ecosystem.
In this article, we provide an overview of human activity in the Hula Valley, focusing on
exploitation of the valley’s natural resources. As aquatic scientists keenly aware of
contemporary environmental issues, we hope to highlight the conflicting demands between
social and economic development and environmental protection and conservation. We also
hope to illustrate the vital role that scientists can have in resolving such a conflict.
The Geology and Geography of the Hula Valley
The Hula Valley lies within the northern part of the Dead Sea Rift Valley (Afro-Syrian Series)
at an elevation of about 70 metres above mean sea level. Thousands of metres of land
subsidence during the formation of the Rift Valley about a million years ago are still evident
in the steep slopes of the Golan Heights to the east and the Upper Galilee mountains to the
west, rising 400-900 metres above sea level. Basaltic hills of about 200 metres above sea level
along the line Korazim–Rosh Pina–Gadot and originating from late Pleistocene volcanic
activity define the southern border of the valley. Where these hills intercept the Jordan River,
they are commonly referred to as the basalt "plug" because they restrict water drainage
downstream into the Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret),* thereby forming the historic Lake Hula
and its surrounding wetlands. In the north, the valley is delimited by a more gradual transition
to the elevated Lebanon Valley, also rising to about 200 metres above sea level. As such, the
Hula Valley is clearly defined, covering an area of 177 square kilometres (25 kilometres long
by 6-8 kilometres wide).
The composition of the sediments accumulated on the valley floor provides a glimpse into the
geological history of the region’s climatic fluctuations. Lacustrine sediments rich in lime
indicate that a fresh water lake existed at times, expanding in size and depth during wetter
periods. Drier periods led to the formations of swamps, during which peat, rich in organic
matter, was deposited. The most recent lake, the historic Lake Hula, was formed about 20,000
years ago. During at least 14,000 years prior to the formation of Lake Hula the valley was
swampland.
The climate of the Hula Valley today is Mediterranean, with hot dry summers and cool rainy
winters. However, unlike the moderate Mediterranean climate of the coastal plains, the
mountain-enclosed topography of the Hula Valley leads to more extreme seasonal, as well as
daily, temperature fluctuations. Annual rainfull varies greatly between different parts of the
valley and ranges from about 400 millimetres in the south, to up to 800 millimetres in the
13
north. More than 1,500 millimetres of precipitation falls on the Herman mountain range
(mostly in the form of snow), feeding underground springs, including the sources of the
Jordan River, and giving rise to much of the abundant water flowing through the valley. The
wind regime is dominated by regional patterns in the winter, with occasional strong northeasterly wind storms (Sharkiyah in Arabic). In summer, local warming and cooling patterns
produce strong westerly to northerly winds in the afternoons.
Lake Hula and the Swamps
With its long history of human settlement, it is not surprising that Lake Hula (or Huleh) was
referred to by different names. In the 14th century BCE, the Egyptians called the lake
Samchuna. In the 1st century CE, the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus termed it
Semechonitis, while in Aramaic the lake was called Hulata or Ulata. Yam Sumchi is used in
Talmudic literature. More recently, the lake was called Buheirat el Huleh in Arabic and Agam
Hula in Hebrew. The Waters of Merom has sometimes been used – erroneously – in scientific
literature, although that term refers specifically to springs on the western side of the valley.
Prior to its drainage in the 1950s, Lake Hula was 5.3 kilometres long and 4.4 kilometres wide,
extending over 12-14 square kilometres. It was a shallow, pear-shaped basin about one and a
half metres deep in summer and three metres deep in winter. The area north of the lake was
covered by peat swamps with dense stands of papyrus. Open-water ponds covered with
yellow water-lilies occurred in deeper depressions within this papyrus "jungle." Further to the
north, in areas that were water-logged in winter but dry in summer, was a zone of swampy
meadows covered with grasses. A belt of reeds, mostly restricted to mineral soils,
encompassed most of the lake and swamps. Altogether, the lake and swamps covered up to 60
square kilometres, with large seasonal and inter-annual variations due to changes in water
level.
About two thirds of the water flowing into Lake Hula came from the Jordan River. The three
sources of the Jordan, the Dan, Hazbani and Banias Rivers, originating on Mount Hermon,
converged in the flat centre of the Hula Valley to form the Jordan River. Prior to the draining
of the Hula, the Jordan split again into three main deltaic branches before entering the
swamps. The stronger and perennial western branch, the Jordan itself, crossed the swamps
and emptied into the lake. The two eastern branches, Tura and Az- Zawiya, had only winter
flow and disappeared in the swamps. Other streams from the Golan Heights, the eastern
Galilee mountains and from approximately 70 springs in the Hula Valley itself also fed the
lake and swamps. From the lake’s outlet the Jordan River* bisected the basaltic "plug,"
flowing another 18 kilometres through the Jordan Canyon before emptying into the Kinneret.
Lake Hula was characterized by its tranquillity. Dense strands of emergent, submerged and
floating aquatic vegetation covering the lake’s surface and bottom provided lush habitats for a
diverse variety of animal life. The lake extended into the swamps, adjacent springs and
streams, creating an even greater diversity of inter-connected aquatic niches. This habitat
diversity supported the floral and faunal richness of the old Hula, and rendered it a key
feeding station for migratory birds on their route between Europe and Africa. According to
the researcher Ch. Dimentman and co-authors, Lake Hula probably contained the richest
diversity of aquatic biota in the Levant, south of Lake Amiq in Turkey, which was also
drained at about the same time as the Hula. Based on an extensive literature review and an
examination of archived samples, they listed 260 species of insects, 95 crustaceans, 30 snails
and clams, 21 fishes, seven amphibians and reptiles, 131 birds and three mammals.
Human Settlement and Development
The natural setting of the Hula, with ample water, abundant fish, waterfowl and other wildlife,
as well as rich terrestrial and plant resources on its flanks, attracted human settlement from
14
early prehistoric times. As such, it is not surprising that archaeological remains near the B’not
Ya’akov ("Daughters of Jacob") bridge at the southern end of the valley date as early as the
Paleolithic, and remnants of one of the first permanent settlements, Enan (Mallaha), dating
from 9,000-10,000 years ago were discovered in the valley.
During early historical times, the Hula Valley was a main junction on the important trade
route connecting the large commercial centre of Damascus with the eastern Mediterranean
coast and Egypt. The Bronze Age cities of Hazor and Layish were built at key locations on
this route approximately 4,000 years ago. Toward the end of the 13th century BCE, the
Israelite tribe of Dan destroyed the city of Layish and built in its place a new city which they
named Dan. This marked the beginning of about 400 years of Israelite rule over the Hula
Valley, which ended when the valley was captured by the Assyrian armies of Tiglath Pileser
III and its inhabitants were driven away.
Agriculture in the Hula Valley was always dependent on the effective use and control of water
resources. Farming communities which mastered the use of irrigation endured, but unsuitable
irrigation methods led to the proliferation of mosquitoes and malaria. It is uncertain when
malaria first appeared in the Hula Valley, and its extent and impact varied with irrigation and
drainage practices.
Throughout the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and early Arab periods (fourth century bce to
eighth centuries CE) rural settlement in the Hula Valley was uninterrupted. Literary sources
testify to dense and prosperous settlement at the time of the Crusades. Traditional crops were
rice (as early as the Hellenistic period), cotton and sugar cane (starting after the Arab
conquest in 636), sorghum and maize. Water buffalo were introduced in the eighth century or
earlier and raised on the rich pasture lands as an alternative cattle species, supplying milk and
serving as beasts of burden.
During the 14th-19th centuries, there were no permanent settlements in the valley, though
Bedouin shepherds continued to graze their flocks in the pasture lands. The cessation of
settlement has been traced to the Mameluk invasion at the end of the 13th century and the
building of the B’not Ya’akov Bridge in about 1260. The basalt arches of the bridge narrowed
the bed of the Jordan River so that Lake Hula rose higher in winter and the swamps expanded
northwards almost to the edge of the valley.
Settlement resumed between 1830 and 1840 primarily by run-away slaves, deserters from the
Egyptian army, and other refugees. These Arab settlers are collectively referred to as
Ghawarna. They subsisted primarily from the local assets of the swamps, building their
houses from papyrus and earning income from reed-based crafts such as mat-making. They
practiced primitive agriculture based on water buffalo husbandry and cultivation of rice,
wheat and maize. The Ghawarna suffered severely from malaria, but many of them, especially
those of African origin, had a genetic resistance to the disease. Still, mortality rates were high
and nearly all newborn children died in infancy. Nevertheless, a population of not more than
3,000-4,000 people was maintained by a constant influx of newcomers. During the British
Mandate (1918-1948), anti-malarial measures such as planned drainage led to improved living
conditions and by 1936, the Ghawarna population had increased to nearly 12,000 persons.
The first modern Jewish settlement in the Hula Valley, Yesod Hama’ala on the western shore
of the lake, was established in 1883 during the first aliya (wave of Jewish immigration and
settlement) to Palestine.* Malaria hit this village hard, and no additional Jewish settlements
were established in the valley for more than 50 years. A second wave of Jewish settlement in
the valley started in 1939. Initially, these settlements also suffered heavily from malaria, but
improvements in agricultural practices and the use of pesticides such as DDT reduced the
infection rate among the Jewish settlers to below one percent. In total, by 1948 there were 12
Jewish and 23 Arab settlements in the Hula Valley. Following the etablishment of the State of
15
Israel and during the 1948 War of Independence, the Arab inhabitants left the valley, moving
to neighbouring Arab countries.
The Hula Drainage Project
The concept of draining the lake and swamps of the Hula Valley so as to increase the amount
of arable and grazeable land and eradicate malaria, extends back to the 19th century. John
MacGregor, a Scottish traveller to the Hula Valey in the 1860s, commented in his notes that
in his opinion, the entire lake and swamps could be drained in one year by digging a 400yard-long, 20 feet-deep canal at the outlet.
Attempts to drain the swamps were made by the Ghawarna in the late 1800s, by enlarging the
outlet and by digging drainage canals. The extent of their operations and their effectiveness is
uncertain. Soon afterwards, the valley became the property of the Turkish Sultan Abed elHamid. His administration planned to drain the swamps in order to gain profits from
agriculture. However, after several failed attempts they turned the task into a concession for
private companies. The concession was sold initially to Syrian merchants. After many years
of dealings and bargaining, the drainage concession was purchased by the British Palestine
Land Development Company in 1934. But due to the outbreak of political disturbances in
1936 and economic difficulties during World War II the Hula draining project materialized
only after the State of Israel was established in 1948.
The declared objectives of the Hula draining project were two-fold: the addition of arable land
and the eradication of malaria. Additional perceived benefits were to be an increase in the
water potential of the newly established state by reducing evaporation losses, and utilization
of peat as fertilizer and for industry.
The draining operations, carried out by the Jewish National Fund (JNF), the agency
responsible for land development in Israel, began in 1951 and were completed by 1958. The
draining was achieved by two main engineering operations. The Jordan River downstream of
the lake was deepened and widened, especially at the basalt plug, to allow the outflow of
larger quantities of water. In the swamp region north of the lake, the Jordan was diverted into
two newly-dug peripheral canals, the East Canal and the West Canal, which enclosed most of
the peat lands. These canals converged near the centre of the former lake and then followed
the original but now deepened course of the Jordan, continuing southward to Lake Kinneret.
Consequently, the section of the Jordan going through the centre of the drained valley as well
as other waters flowing through the valley were channeled through a dense network of
secondary drainage and irrigation canals to the East and West Canals. In the years following
the completion of the drainage project, sewage from the growing town of Kiryat Shmona was
also directed into the West Canal.
Public interest associated with the draining project was so great that the digging sites at the
Hula Valley became major tourist attractions. In fact, it was necessary to restrict tourism in
order to prevent delays in the progress of the work. At the same time, concern was already
voiced by scientists and naturalists who opposed the project because they viewed the swamps
as an ecological treasure that must be preserved for future generations. As a result, a small
(350 hectare) area of papyrus swampland in the southwest of the valley was set aside and in
1963, became Israel’s first nature reserve.
Perhaps the greatest benefit of the debate over the draining of the Hula was the establishment
of Israel’s most prominent environmental institutions: the Society for Protection of Nature,
and a few years later the Nature Reserves Authority.
The Dry Hula Valley (1958-1993)
Given the conditions and knowledge existing at the time, the drainage of the lake and swamps
of the Hula seemed fully justified. Not only did it provide solutions to urgent needs of the
16
young state, it was also considered a great engineering achievement and followed common
practice worldwide. Moreover, the increase in cultivable land and the eradication of malaria
were rooted in Zionist philosophy. During the 1950s, prior to the construction of the National
Water Carrier, food was scarce in Israel and currency for its import was lacking. The
additional 5,000 hectares of arable land in the Hula Valley proved to be highly beneficial to
the economic development of the country.
However, as the years went by, it became clear that the objectives of the draining project had
been only partially fulfilled. The peat soils proved suitable for agriculture, but the anticipated
exceptional yields were never obtained. The goal of eradication of malaria was actually
achieved in 1949, irrespective of the draining project, as a by-product of the exodus of carriers
of the malarial parasite. Nevertheless the project succeeded in removing 5,000 hectares of
anopheles mosquito habitat thereby reducing the chances for re-introduction of the disease.
The use of peat as fertilizer or for industry never materialized. Probably the main benefit of
the project was the addition of an estimated 28 million cubic metres of water per year to the
country’s water potential through reduction of loss by evaporation.
With time, severe problems developed in the middle and southern parts of the Hula Valley,
most of which originated from peat sediment degradation and subsidence. As the level of the
groundwater table fell, air penetrated into the dried peat enhancing microbial decomposition
of organic matter. Often these processes led to uncontrollable underground fires and the
formation of dangerous caverns within the peat. The weathered peat soils turned into infertile
black dust. Strong winds sweeping the valley produced dust storms that caused major damage
to agricultural crops. Consequently, the ground surface subsided by up to three metres in
some regions and inundation of these areas during winter rains restricted cultivation in many
areas. An indirect problem associated with the drying of the soils was the proliferation of field
mice populations which soared and wreaked havoc on agricultural crops in the valley. Over
time, farmers abandoned more and more of the valley where cultivation was no longer
profitable, thereby further enhancing the rate at which these soils deteriorated.
In addition to these agricultural problems, various ecological problems became apparent. The
decomposing peat released large amounts of nitrates and sulfates which during the winter
rainy season were washed into Lake Kinneret. Although the impact of sulfates on the Kinneret
is less obvious, nitrates are major sources of the nitrogen required for algal growth and their
addition to water can lead to reduced water quality. Estimates are that about 40 per cent of all
nitrate loading into Lake Kinneret comes from the drained Hula Valley.*
Furthermore, even though the Hula Nature Reserve was created to preserve much of the
character and nature of the original lake and swamps, after the draining, 119 animal species
were lost to the region, of which 37 were totally lost from Israel. Similarly, many freshwater
plant species became extinct and many of the massive flocks of migratory birds that used to
land in the valley found alternative feeding sites on their route between Europe and Africa.
In the 1980s it became apparent that action had to be taken to stop the deterioration of
conditions in the Hula Valley. Consequently, the Hula Restoration Project was formulated.
The Hula Restoration Project
From the beginning it was clear that a successful rehabilitation programme for the Hula would
require careful planning based on the best possible expertise in many disciplines, including
soil sciences, agriculture, hydrology, ecology and tourism. Again the JNF stepped in as the
driving force, and a scientific overseeing committee was appointed to review the relevant
issues of the project. The committee identified two national goals for a rehabilitation
programme: 1) preservation of the peat soils for future generations, and 2) protection of Lake
Kinneret from contamination originating from the Hula peat.
A feasibility survey was completed by 1990, examining alternative ways for achieving these
17
national goals in the framework of a rehabilitation plan that would also address nature
conservation and water supply issues. In addition, because the rehabilitation plan would
require the giving up of land by the farming communities in the area, it had to include a
means of alternative income to the farmers. Therefore a compromise plan was chosen which
would provide alternative income in the form of eco-tourism. The project commenced in
1993, with joint funding by the Israeli government (67 percent) and the JNF (33 percent). As
of June 1996, more than US $23 million had been invested.
The three main principles of the Hula Restoration Project are:
1. Maintenance of a high water table and year-round green cover on the peat soils in order to
slow down the decomposition and subsidence processes;
2. Creation of a small shallow lake rich in plant, fish and bird life and surrounded by green
pastures with grazing safari animals to serve as a centre for tourism and recreation;
3. Minimization of the flow of pollutants into Lake Kinneret from both the communities of
the Hula Valley and from the peat soils.
To reduce soil deterioration, soil and agricultural scientists have devised a crop rotation
scheme which offers a compromise between income and soil protection. In the areas
unsuitable for cultivation, current research results indicate that local vegetation in conjunction
with imported tropical grasses could provide the desired year-round green cover of the peat
soils, as well as providing grazing lands for safari animals.
In order to keep the peat soils wet, hydrologists drafted plans to raise the water table to an
average of 75 centimetres below the surface. The height of the water table was determined so
as to be deep enough to allow cultivation of the land allocated for agriculture, but shallow
enough to reduce the volume of peat requiring constant irrigation. The high water table would
be regulated primarily via an extensive network of 90 kilometres of new drainage/flood
canals, a small lake and large-scale surface irrigation equipment.
In addition to providing increased flexibility in water level management, the lake was
designed to serve as a centre for developing eco-tourism and recreation. This small lake,
named Lake Agmon,* was dug in the area of the peat lands least suitable for agriculture and
flooded in April-May, 1994. The historic, but dried-up route of the Jordan River, through the
centre of the valley, was restored and forms the primary source of water for the lake. By
creating these two aquatic systems, the planners hoped to create suitable conditions for the reestablishment of some of the many plant and animal species that had been lost to the region,
thus attracting tourists. Justifiably, the concept of tourist development caused concern among
those interested in ecological priorities, principally the Nature Reserves Authority and the
Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel. While the environmental organizations
acknowledged that the area could not be totally insulated as a formal nature reserve, they were
able to convince the farmers and developers that the commercial elements had to be integrated
aesthetically into the new landscape. The agreed plan called for building a holiday village
northwest of the lake. This centre would also offer sites for bird watching, hiking,
picknicking, and boating.
Several actions were taken to minimize the flow of polluted water from the Hula Valley into
Lake Kinneret. First, pumping stations and regulation facilities were constructed to prevent
overflows from the peat lands into the Jordan. Instead, these waters are diverted into Lake
Agmon via a northern inlet canal. Water flowing out of Lake Agmon is diverted into a large
storage basin, the Einan Reservoir, west of the valley, to be used for irrigation in adjacent
farmlands. Second, an underground partition was constructed, sectioning the valley south of
Lake Agmon from east to west, to prevent underground seepage of peat water southward.
Thirdly, there is a pipeline to carry sewage effluents from the town of Kiryat Shmona and
other communities in the valley, directly to the Einan Reservoir. As with the waters flowing
18
through the Hula peat soils, these polluted waters will be treated and used for irrigation and
will not reach Lake Kinneret.
1951-1958
After 1994
Before 1951
Lake Agmon
Lake Agmon is located in the southern part of the Hula Valley in the area that once served as
the transition between Lake Hula and the surrounding swamps. It is important to note that this
new lake was not intended to be a re-creation of Lake Hula. It is shallower and much smaller
than the original lake. It has an irregular shape, covering an area of one square kilometre with
mostly less than one metre depth of water. Deeper (one and a half metre) boat canals were
dug along its rims and surrounding two islands on the northeast side, to allow limited boating
activity. Several smaller islands were created in the middle of the lake, to provide protected
nesting sites for birds.
The quality of water in Lake Agmon is strongly influenced by the two primary water sources
– the Jordan River entering the lake from the northwest and bringing relatively clean, highquality water, and a central drainage canal flowing into the lake from the north, bringing
poorer-quality peat drainage waters. Even though the Jordan is the primary source of water
during much of the year, the water quality in the lake is more characteristic of peat drainage
waters, often highly coloured and cloudy with high levels of dissolved substances such as
sulfates, carbonates and plant nutrients. Although rendering the water unsuitable for drinking,
these substances contribute to the vitality of the ecosystem. The combination of abundant
plant nutrients, diverse aquatic habitats and sunlight leads to enhanced growth of many forms
of plant life. These include microscopic free-floating algae (phytoplankton), mats of
filamentous algae covering the lake sediments, rooted plants emerging through the water,
such as papyrus and cattail, and rooted submerged or floating vascular plants. The high
primary production supports a healthy food web of zooplankton (microscopic grazing and
predatory animals), insects, molluscs, fish, birds and other animals.
An important attribute for the eco-tourism aspects of the project has been the successful reintroduction of plant species that had beome extinct following the drying of Lake Hula. Of ten
such plant species that were selected for re-introduction, five successfully established
populations within two years and two more showed potential to survive. In addition, more
than 30 aquatic plant species have re-established themselves spontaneously. Near the shores
of the lake an additional 15-20 species have re-invaded the valley.
19
Much of the success in species re-establishment in the area may be attributed to high nutrient
availability, which also gives rise to extensive plant development on the shorelines and in the
lake. These dense stands of plants in Lake Agmon are aesthetically pleasing and attract
abundant bird populations and other wildlife. However, in the drainage/flood canals, dense
strands of plant growth impede water movement, thereby reducing the effectiveness and
flexibility of the management of the water table elevation. Moreover, the slow backwater
conditions in these canals with heavy vegetation raise the problem of a possible return of
malaria. Neverthless, recent surveys suggest that the particular species of anopheles mosquito
responsible for the spread of malaria remains rare and the threat of malaria in the Hula Valley
is no higher than in other parts of Israel.
During the first three years after re-flooding, at least 120 species of birds have been recorded
in or around the lake. Massive flocks of migratory pelicans, storks, cormorants, cranes, and
other birds en route between Europe and Africa, spend days to weeks in the vicinity of Lake
Agmon. Also, new nesting colonies of various species such as herons have been established.
Birds are attracted not only by the lush nesting sites, but also by the rich food resources in the
lake. Following the draining of the original Hula, many of these birds were quick to discover
commercial fish ponds as an alternative source of food in the valley, causing extensive
economic losses. For this reason, the managers of the Hula Restoration Project are not taking
any chances. Fearing the new lake may not support enough fish production to draw birds
away from the fish ponds, the natural fish populations are supplemented by artificial stocking.
Unfortunately, not all aspects of the returning bird populations are positive. An unforeseen
complication is that many of the species attracted to the lake for nesting or other reasons, such
as coots and cranes, cause extensive damage to agriculture in nearby fields.
Though still in research and planning stages, the Hula Restoration Project also intends to
populate the areas around the lake with grazing mammals. The water buffalo is an obvious
choice due to its history in the area and because a small population is already present in the
Hula Nature Reserve. Other animals, such as donkeys, or swamp horses from France, were
also considered. The project has recognized that not only will sufficient grazing areas be
required, but these animals will also need shade from the strong summer sun. For this reason,
intense efforts are underway to decide on appropriate shade trees that can be introduced into
the area. Unfortunately, the peat soils are unstable, so that most tree species would be
uprooted by the strong winds common in the valley. Researchers are hoping that by planting
trees in large holes filled with lacustrine soils from the bed of the reconstructed Jordan River,
the trees will be better able to tolerate the winds.
Lake Agmon is an aesthetically pleasing site with relatively good water quality. As yet this is
still a developing environment and major changes in community composition and structure of
its animal and plant life may still take place. Within the first four years since its formation, the
lake has shown signs of a healthy ecosystem that attracts visitors (both human and wildlife)
year round. In 1998, the diversion of the Hula peat waters and Kiryat Shmona sewage through
the Einan Reservoir was completed, and now we anticipate that, indeed, the flow of nitrates
into Lake Kinneret will be reduced by at least 40 per cent annually and pollution of the
Kinneret in general will be lowered.
Similar to the emotional reactions of those who expected an agricultural paradise in the Hula
Valley following drainage of the swamps in the 1950s, today we have the feeling that the
restoration project has been remarkably successful. A beautiful lake with lush vegetation,
green fields and flocks of birds dazzle the eye and offer a picturesque scene of tranquillity
against the grandeur of Mount Hermon.
It is perhaps ironic that this project has instigated a conflict with several environmental
organizations over the planned development of tourism. Granted, a return to the Hula of
20
yesteryear would be a conservationist’s dream. However, we must be reminded that dreams
are usually not practical. Therefore it may be beneficial for the environmentally concerned to
try to find a positive side to touristic development, such as the opportunity to increase national
awareness of the environment. We should applaud the communities of the valley and the Hula
project for bringing back a small fragment of an extinct ecosystem.
Acknowledgements
We have drawn material for this article from the published Hebrew and English literature and
from professional reports. Especially useful were the writings of Y. Avnimelech, S. Dasberg,
A. Harpaz, A. Horowitz, D. Kaplan, Y. Karmon, D. Levanon, M. Livneh, G. Orshan, G.
Shacham, E. Shy and M. Zohary, and the monographs on the Hula Valley by Ch. Dimentman,
H. Bromli and F.D.Por.
Much of the present-day material relating to the Hula Restoration Project and Lake Agmon is
based on our work as coordinators of the Hula Aquatic Research Programme which
accompanies the restoration project, as well as on other research programmes within the
project. For this, we are greatly indebted to our many colleagues. Lastly, we thank T. Berman,
D. Kaplan and D. Zohary for providing useful comments and suggestions.
*In the present article, we have used the common Israeli term – Kinneret – for the Sea of Galilee. The word
comes from the Hebrew word kinor (lyre or harp), roughly describing the shape of the lake.
* See Eli Choter: "The River Jordan," Ariel no 89, 1992.
* See Arik Lubovsky: "The Subotniks of Yesod Hama’ala," Ariel no. 90, 1992.
* See Tom Berman: "The Kinneret – Sea of Galilee," Ariel no 98, 1994.
* From the Hebrew word for "bullrush."
http://www.ashkelon.muni.il/openning_eng.asp
21
21.1.2008
Dear Mr. Osman Kahveci
Director General
General Directorate of Forestry
Ministry of Environment and Forestry of Turkey
I was recently in correspondence with Ismail BELEN regarding a possible study tour in Israel
by senior managers of the General Directorate of Forestry of Turkey. In such a study tour we
can explore ways to expand the collaboration already exist between our organizations and
sign a memorandum of understanding that will provide formal framework for this
collaboration.
There are many similarities in the ecological conditions prevailing in both countries and the
challenges foresters in Turkey and Israel have to face with. Therefore I believe we have a lot
to contribute to each other through partnership between our organizations.
I would like to invite you personally to head a study tour in Israel. I already set a draft
itinerary for such a visit with Mr. BELEN from 25.2.08 till 1.03.08. If we need to reschedule the
itinerary to meet your timetable, this can be done with no problem at all.
Dr. Omri Bonneh
Director Northern Region and Coordinator of International Program
Land Development Authority
Keren Kayemet LeIsrael
22
İsrail Heyetinin Türkiye Ziyareti Programı
İsrail Tarafından Katılımcılar
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Mr. Gershon Avni – Arazi Yönetimi Genel Müdürü (Orman Genel Müdürü)
Dr. Omri Bonneh – Orman Bölge Müdürü-KKL Uluslar arası İlişkiler Koordinatörü
Mr. Meir Kaufman – Orman Mühendisi
Mr. Ohad Dagan – Orman Mühendisi
Hr. Gaby Benisty – Orman Mühendisi
Mrs. Michelle Katzenelson – Orman Mühendisi
Proğram
2 Kasım 2008 Pazar 18:40: Heyetin Antalya Havaalanına İnişi
 Karşılama:
Silvikültür Dairesi Başkanı Mustafa Kılıç
Antalya Orman Bölge Müdürü Recep Kaşan
Tercüman: Orman Mühendisi Mehmet Demirci
 Otele Geçiş-Akşam Yemeği
 Ulaşım ve kalacak yer Antalya Bölge Müdürlüğünce
Organize Edilecek
3 Kasım 2008 Pazartesi
 08:00: Kahvaltı
 09:00 Antalya Orman Bölge Müdürlüğünü Ziyaret
o Türkiye Ormanları ve Ormancılığı Hakkında Sunumlar
 Genel Sunum
 Orman Teşkilatı
 Yangınlar
 Orman Bilgi Sistemi
 Ardıç ve Sedir Ağaçlandırmaları
23
 Rehabilitasyon Çalışmalarının Mantığı ve Uygulaması
 Odun Dışı Orman Ürünleri
 Bölgenin Uygun Göreceği Diğer Sunumlar
o İsrail Ormanları ve Ormancılığı Hakkında Sunumlar
 12:00-13:00 Öğle Yemeği ve Arası
 13:00-18:00
o Antalya Fidanlığında İnceleme
o Serik-Taşağıl Yangın Bölgesinde İnceleme
o Yangın Çıkışı ve Seyri
o Yangın Sonrası Çalışmalar
 Üretim
 Toprak Hazırlığı ve Dikim
 Makineli Toprak İşleme
o YARDOP Projesi
o Köprülü Kanyon Milli Park Sahasında İnceleme
 Antalya’da Konaklama
4 Kasım 2008 Salı










07:00:Kahvaltı
Manavgat Üzerinden Konya’ya Hareket
Sedir Ağaçlandırma Sahalarında İnceleme
Ardıç Ağaçlandırma Sahalarında İnceleme
Rehabilitasyon Sahalarında İnceleme
Aşırı Otlatmaya Örnek Bir Sahada İnceleme
Orman Bakımı ve Aralama Çalışmalarından Örnekler
Konya Kent Ormanında ve Çevresinde İnceleme
Kurak Alan Ağaçlandırmalarına Örnek Sahalarda İnceleme
Konya’da Konaklama
5 Kasım 2008 Çarşamba









Kahvaltı ve Konya’dan Ayrılış
Beyşehir Milli Park Sahasında inceleme
Sulak Alan Yönetimi-Orman Su İlişkilerine Örnek Bir Sahada İnceleme
Isparta Orman Bölge Müdürlüğünü Ziyaret
Isparta Bölge Müdürlüğünde Orman Genel Müdürü Osman Kahveci ile
görüşme
Öğle Yemeği
Burdur Erozyon Kontrolü Çalışmalarını İnceleme (Bölgenin görüşüne göre
değişebilir)
Antalya’ ya Dönüş
Antalya’da Konaklama
24
6 Kasım 2008 Perşembe Saat 16:00: Heyetin Antalya Havaalanından Ayrılışı





07:00 Kahvaltı ve Otelden Ayrılış
Antalya Kent Ormanında İnceleme
Antalya ve Çevresinde İnceleme
12:00-13:00 Öğle Yemeği
Heyetin Yolcu Edilmesi
Notlar:
1. Ana çerçeve bu olmakla beraber Antalya-Konya ve Isparta Bölge Müdürlüklerimiz
kendi aralarında anlaşarak daha değişik bir program yapabilirler. Heyetin araç ihtiyacı
Antalya tarafından karşılanacaktır.
2. Heyetin tercümanlığı ve sunumların İngilizcesi Orman Yüksek Mühendisi Mehmet
Demirci tarafından yapılacaktır. (Telefon: 0 505 930 58 42)
3. Karşılama ve görüşmelerde yeteri sayıda ve ilgili kişilerin bulunması kafidir.
4. Bütçe görüşmeleri nedeniyle Orman Bölge Müdürlerimizin Afyon’ da olacağı
bilinmekle birlikte heyetin Genel Müdür seviyesinde olması dikkate alınarak gerekli
tedbirler alınacaktır. Zaten üç bölge de Afyona yakın mesafededir.
5. Orman Genel Müdürümüz Sayın Osman Kahveci’ nin misafir heyetle Isparta’ da bir
araya gelmesi planlanmaktadır. Bu husus Isparta tarafından netleştirilecektir.
6. Antalya ve Isparta’ da kalınacak otellere ait bilgiler önceden heyete bildirilecektir.
25
Master Memorandum of Understanding
Between
Keren Kayemeth Leisrael Inc.
And
Turkish General Directorate of Forestry
This master memorandum of understanding (MOU) is made and entered between Keren
Kayemeth Leisrael Inc (KKL) a private, non – governmental, non – profit organization
responsible for a forestation and land reclamation in Israel, and the Turkish General
Directorate of Forestry (GDF)
WITNESSETH THAT:
*
Whereas, the Turkish GDF is a leading organization in integrated Forest resource
management and provides national leadership in the management, protection and
wise use of forests research and development into sustainability of social, ecological
and economic systems, and protection of natural systems from wildfire, insects and
disease, and
*
Whereas, KKL through its afforeststion programs has established and nurtured
forests in arid and semi-arid areas of Israel and is a leading organization in arid and
semi-arid land management techniques and principles, and
THERFORE, the parties hereto execute this master memorandum of understanding to
provide a framework and cooperatively accomplish the following objectives:
1.
In order to sustain the Forests of Israel and Turkey, the Turkish GDF and KKL
will exchange technical expertise and training to assist in:
a) protecting forest and rangelands from damage by periodic wildfire, insect
and disease outbreaks, and soil erosion, b) ensure the application of social,
economic and ecological sciences to ecosystem management, and c) foster
the implementation of an Ecosystem Management program in Israel and
Turkey.
26
2.
To transfer current information, technology, and management practices
between the Turkish GDF and KKL, regarding all aspects of arid and semi-arid
land management.
3.
To develop and share research information, conduct scientific exchanges, and
coordinate studies which will improve ecosystem management in both
countries.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above premises, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
A. The Turkish GDF shall:
1,
Invite highly skilled and professional KKL employees to visit, study
And observe the Forest's ecosystem management programs in the Turkey.
2.
Conduct and direct research studies that enhance the application of forest
ecosystem management principles,
3.
Provide leadership, where appropriate for planning, organizing, and
supervision of joint activities undertaken pursuant to this MOU and
supplemental to this MOU.
27
B. KKL shall:
1.
Invite highly skilled and professional Turkish GDF employees to visit, study
and observe the forest ecosystem management programs in Israel.
2.
Conduct and direct research studies that enhance the application of
Forest ecosystem management principles,
3.
Provide leadership, where appropriate for planning, organizing, and
supervision of joint activities undertaken pursuant to this MOU and
supplemental to this MOU.
C. It is mutually agreed and understood by and between the said parties that:
1.
Either party may terminate this MOU by providing sixty (60) days written
notice, unless terminated by written notice; this agreement shall remain in
force indefinitely.
2.
This MOU may be amended in writing by mutual agreement.
3.
KKL and the Turkish GDF shall develop an annual program of work detailing
the programs that will be initiated or continued. This annual program of work
may be amended by the mutual consent of the parties and shall include
program goals, objectives, financial and staff resource needs, and agreement
as to financial responsibilities for program and project expenses, including
how travel, per diem. Incidental and associated costs will be shared.
28
This agreement by itself does not preclude specific authority or procedures
related to the type of instrument developed supplemental to this MOU.
4.
KKL and the Turkish GDF will identify program opportunities where
cooperative efforts will enhance both organizations` accomplishment of their
national missions.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this agreement as of the last
written date below.
Turkish General Directorate of Forestry
Keren Kayemeth Le Israel
(Jewish National Fund)
By:
By:
Title:
Title:
Date:
Date:
Dear Mr. Osman Kahveci
Director General
General Directorate of Forestry
Ministry of Environment and Forestry of Turkey
1/20/2008
29
Dear Mr. Kahveci,
There are many similarities in the ecological conditions prevailing in both countries and the
challenges foresters in Turkey and Israel have to face with. Therefore I believe we have a lot
to contribute to each other through partnership between our organizations.
On behalf of the KKL, I would like to invite you personally to head a study tour in Israel. In
such a study tour we can explore ways to expand the collaboration already exist between our
organizations and sign a memorandum of understanding that will provide formal framework
for this collaboration.
I already set a draft itinerary for such a visit with Mr. BELEN, your assistant, from 25.2.08 1.03.08. If we need to reschedule the itinerary to meet your timetable, this can be done with
no problem at all.
Please find the attachments:
1. Draft Itinerary
2. Draft Text for Memorandum of Understanding to be signed by you and the KKL’s
World Chairmen
Dr. Omri Bonneh
Director Northern Region and Coordinator of International Program
Land Development Authority
Keren Kayemet LeIsrael
i
30