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UK announces joint Israeli-Palestinian initiative to tackle water, health issues

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The government yesterday announced two major new initiatives to help Israeli and Palestinian scientists work together in order to combat common regional water and health issues.

Supported by the government’s Science and Innovation Network, British Council in Israel and various research organisations, the new programmes will allow Israeli and Palestinian scientists to work with British experts in these areas. The “Stream” programme will fund 10-18 month long trilateral water research projects. “Growth” is a fellowship programme which allows Palestinian graduates to study in Israeli laboratories, while also building connections with UK researchers. The new programmes come on top of what the foreign office described as existing “unprecedented UK-Israeli scientific cooperation.”

Prof. Robin Grimes, Chief Scientific Advisor of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: “If we are to combat the challenges of today, we are going to need to do it together… The UK is proud to be working with the very best scientists and entrepreneurs in the region to improve access to water.”

Prof. Menahem Ben-Sasson, President of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, which is participating in the “Growth” programme, said: “We are committed to advancing science for the benefit of all people…. This program not only advances science, but through it sends a message of hope and friendship, and of the importance of working together to find solutions that improve the health of our communities.”

The new initiatives were announced by the UK’s National Technology Adviser Liam Maxwell, who is visiting Tel Aviv. Speaking at a conference sponsored by the Israeli business daily The Marker, Maxwell also outlined further areas of growth for UK-Israel ties. In particular, he highlighted the importance of digital cooperation. He said that with 12 per cent of the UK economy is now digital. He added: “Our relationship with Israel is going to become stronger… we see Israel as a leader in the world technology community.”

He also noted that already “we have a lot of joint ventures together”.