Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., April 07, 2008 Nisan 2, 5768 | | Israel Time: 12:07 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Advertising
Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 20:28 05/12/2007
Arab states reject proposed UN eco-center for including Israel
By The Associated Press
Tags: Arab, UN, environment, Israel

Arab officials have rejected a United Nations proposal to set up a regional environmental training center in the Middle East because it would include Israel, a Saudi official said Wednesday.

Prince Turki bin Nasser, the Saudi official in charge of environmental affairs, said the UN should establish an Arab-only environment training center instead.

Arabs do not need training from Israel, Turki said following one-day discussions of Arab League nations' environment ministers in Cairo. He added the Arab governments would discuss the proposal further with the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Advertisement
It is unclear when the United Nations' environment program proposed the center. Its office in Cairo was closed after working hours Wednesday.

Arab officials met at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo and discussed environmental challenges the region faces due to climate changes. Among the 21 Arab countries and the Palestinians who are League members, only Egypt, Jordan and Mauritania have diplomatic relations with Israel.

During Wednesday discussions, Egypt's environment ministry warned of dangers of desertification in several Arab countries.

Levels of water scarcity in the Arab world is among the highest worldwide, the ministry stated. The decline of land productivity is threatening the population in the region and overpopulation is increasing pressures on the land's limited resources.

Desertification is the degradation of land in dry and arid regions that results from various climate changes, but mostly from damaging human activities. Today, the process is taking place much faster than before, usually because of e demands of population expansions on the land to grow crops and graze animals.

There is no region in the world whose people and their future suffer as much from desertification like the Arab world, the statement concluded.

Tunisian minister of environment, Nadhir Hamada, said at the gathering that the responsibility of Arab countries has doubled and urged them to make an effective joint effort to ensure a better future

Related articles:
  • Report: Israel suffers environmental problems of the developing world
  • Israel cancels UN climate change summit envoy due to high security cost
  • Tunneling for the environment


    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    My gay family
    Caryn Aviv shares her personal experience as a gay Jewish co-parent.
    Battle scarred
    Second Lebanon War film shows one officer's choice to keep his troops safe.
      1.   Racist 20:20  |  Esteban 05/12/07
      2.   # 1 20:33  |  Fares 05/12/07
      3.   The Arabs (and the rest of the world) should accept Israel..... 20:42  |  Swiss (Dino) 05/12/07
      4.   how to read this 20:43  |  Arab American 05/12/07
      5.   Stop selling oil 20:45  |  B 05/12/07
      6.   retard 20:49  |  Ari Kaplan 05/12/07
      7.   Of course its Racist 21:12  |  Nephtaly 05/12/07
      8.   HOW TO MATE BAT AND BIRD? 21:17  |  Iskander 05/12/07
      9.   Fares#2 21:21  |  Edifice 05/12/07
      10.   Let them choke of thirst in the desert 21:33  |  Momo 05/12/07
      11.   That`s Arab League logic for you 21:36  |  Israeli 05/12/07
      12.   Arabs Lose Again 21:39  |  Ron 05/12/07
      13.   #2 21:45  |  J K 05/12/07
      14.   here is your proof of friendly arabs 21:55  |  Igor D. 05/12/07
      15.   Just worry about keeping oil prices high! 22:03  |  Oil Hog 05/12/07
      16.   Obvious solution: set it up in the Negev for Israel/Jordan/Egypt 22:03  |  Dr. L. Brnd 05/12/07
      17.   Fares choice 22:23  |  Olly 05/12/07
      18.   Apartheid 22:26  |  Gee 05/12/07
      19.   Who needs whom????? 22:29  |  TOMY 05/12/07
      20.   Saudi Apartheid 22:30  |  Neutral Observer 05/12/07
      21.   "Arabs don´t need technical help from Israel" 22:33  |  Barry 05/12/07
      22.   This coming from a nation that whips rape victims 22:35  |  Zionist Providence 05/12/07
      23.   The wise #9 22:38  |  Fares 05/12/07
      24.   #3 Swiss, honestly,we do not need to be 22:40  |  TOMY 05/12/07
      25.   Ari Kaplan Gives Credit Where it is Not Due 22:45  |  Mr. Knowitall 05/12/07
      26.   three things the Arabs have 22:49  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 05/12/07
      27.   LETS HEAR IT 22:56  |  TOBIA 05/12/07
      28.   Arabs created deserts 23:17  |  Scharker Yid 05/12/07
      29.   Tomy... the baffoon of New York 23:27  |  Goldberg 05/12/07
      30.   Some arab posters want to justify arab racism 23:53  |  Uzziel 05/12/07
      31.   Story just goes to prove the old adage... 00:01  |  bat yam 06/12/07
      32.   # 24 TOMY, we all can learn from each other..... 00:06  |  Swiss (Dino) 06/12/07
      33.   No Jews need apply. 00:11  |  Arab apartheid 06/12/07
      34.   One Question an Israeli Will Never Need to Ask 00:15  |  Reader 06/12/07
      35.   Edifice Wants to Build His House from the Top Down 00:17  |  Reader 06/12/07
      36.   So...Arabs Can`t Manage Without Israel? 00:30  |  Reader 06/12/07
      37.   Build Nuclear Plants - Reduce Oil Reliance 00:35  |  Reader 06/12/07
      38.   Tobia, you seem to have missed the theme of this thread... 00:52  |  Reader 06/12/07
      39.   Already are regional eco-cooperation centers 01:00  |  Eldar 06/12/07
      40.   Esteban, Is This a Racist or a Political Statement? 01:10  |  Reader 06/12/07
      41.   Arab only? 01:17  |  Lynn 06/12/07
      42.   # 24 Tomy 01:19  |  Lynn 06/12/07
      43.   The Saudis 02:08  |  dovale 06/12/07
      44.   Arab American # 4 07:02  |  Philippe 06/12/07
      45.   Stone-Aged Thinking 08:54  |  Khaled 06/12/07
      46.   Eldar, By Order of the Supreme Court 09:15  |  Reader 06/12/07
      47.   Well, Eldar, Maybe Next Year 09:30  |  Reader 06/12/07
      48.   Reader - a bit jaded 12:31  |  Eldar 06/12/07
      49.   Israeli thieves and beggars 14:06  |  Nad 06/12/07
      50.   Khaled 45 14:09  |  Nad 06/12/07
      51.   #49 - Nad 14:18  |  Eldar 06/12/07
      52.   forget and forgive 15:54  |  john elias dabis 06/12/07
      53.   Eldar, Wouldn`t a Border Security Check of These Students... 15:56  |  Reader 06/12/07
      54.   #32 Swiss, If Switzerland would have Arab 17:10  |  TOMY 06/12/07
      55.   #29 Goldberg....the worlds baffoon 17:17  |  TOMY 06/12/07
      56.   #49 Nad, No, We do not need your hugs 17:28  |  TOMY 06/12/07
      57.   Oil and water 22:02  |  Briton 06/12/07
      58.   To Mr Knowitall (#25) 22:12  |  Morris Valentine 06/12/07
      59.   To Cipora (#26) 22:21  |  Morris Valentine 06/12/07
      60.   Reader, #43 01:12  |  Eldar 07/12/07
      61.   Nad 01:34  |  Nephtaly 07/12/07
      62.   Eldar, Do you know who could really use such a center? 22:25  |  Reader 07/12/07
     Today Online
    U.S., Israel fear Iran has N. Korean nuclear know-how
    Responses: 47
    Akiva Eldar: Time for Bush to intervene in Mideast peace talks
    Responses: 18
    Israel's Diamond Jubilee has NIS 98 million price tag
    Responses: 23
    U.S. evangelist pledges $6 million in contributions to Israel
    Responses: 53
    Amir Oren: Damascus is waiting for next U.S. president
    Send response
    Rosner's Domain
    The popular Condi Rice (WTR)
    Rabbi Yoffie vs. Pastor Hagee
    What is worth fighting for?
    Government trying to block witness in AIPAC trial (WTR)
    Israel Factor: McCain-Barak, the dream team


    More Headlines
    11:54 Tel Aviv bourse halts trading as workers, management face off
    09:48 U.S., Israel concerned N. Korean nuclear know-how reached Iran
    11:55 Israel okays special PA force in Jenin, but not Hebron
    11:59 Diskin: Egypt steps up efforts to prevent weapons-smuggling
    12:01 Polish PM: I didn't know about my grandfather's Nazi past
    05:53 Beirut's largest synagogue in danger of being demolished
    06:21 Rabbi linked to systematic child abuse flees to Canada
    23:56 U.S. evangelist pledges $6 million in contributions to Israel
    06:35 Government mulling plan to upgrade Dan Region's sewage system