Samaria Research Articles

Palestine: Children Laboring

Palestine: Children Laboring

Short-term outcomes of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy among obesity patients in the Northern West Bank: a retrospective records review.

BackgroundConservative methods for weight loss are usually disappointing. Therefore, surgeries such as Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy (LSG) should be considered. We aimed to evaluate the outcomes (body mass index; BMI) of LSG among obesity patients in the Northern West Bank.MethodsHospital records were reviewed for all patients who had undergone LSG since 2010 in Arab specialized hospital in Nablus and Palestinian Red Crescent society hospital in Tulkarem. Then, patients have been invited again to participate in the study and asked to self-report further pre-/post-operative measures. The primary study outcome was the change in BMI while secondary outcomes included obesity associated co-morbidities’ measures; hypertension (HTN) and diabetes mellitus (DM).ResultsThe mean age (standard deviation; SD) of the study participants (n = 30; 20 women and 10 men) was 34.06 (10.71) years. The mean (SD) follow-up time was 7.16 (5.05) months. The mean ± SD of the pre-operative BMI was 47.23 ± 7.89 kg/m2 while 36.74 ± 7.74 kg/m2 post-operatively (95% CI for mean differences and P-value; 8.83-12.14 and 0.001). For the clinically diagnosed hypertensive patients, there was a mean (SD) reduction of 27.50 (9.87) mm Hg in systolic pressure (P < 0.026) and 18.33 (13.66) of the diastolic blood pressure (P < 0.042). For diabetics, there were clinically and biologically clear mean (SD) reductions in fasting blood sugar and glycated hemoglobin A1c of about 82.00 (22.70) mg/dl and 1.90 (0.78) %; respectively. Only practicing sports or exercise (no/yes) remained significant with post-operative BMI (regression coefficient B = −7.33; P-value and 95% CI for B; 0.009 and −12.68- -1.98).ConclusionsLSG can significantly improve BMI and could improve or resolve obesity associated co-morbidities like HTN and DM. LSG could be recommended for co-morbid obesity patients who fail to reach beneficial results from a structured weight loss programs.

The life style parameters of schizophrenic clients in palestine

Background and Objectives: Studies have shown that people with schizophrenia die prematurely. Antipsychotic medications and clients' lifestyle seem to be the contributing factors to excess morbidity and mortality in these clients. The objective of this study was to investigate different lifestyle parameters, diet, body mass index, smoking, and unemployment, among schizophrenic clients in Palestine. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between August 2011 and February 2012 at the governmental primary psychiatric health care centers in Northern West Bank, Palestine. Two hundred and fifty clients were selected by a convenience sampling method and different lifestyle parameters were measured among the selected clients. Results : Regression analysis showed that smoking, obesity, and unemployment were significantly high among schizophrenia clients with the majority of clients having unhealthy lifestyles. Conclusion: The compromised health conditions of schizophrenic clients could be due to poor nutritional status and unhealthy lifestyle. These findings suggest that schizophrenic clients need nutritional follow-up as well as coaching to help them improve their lifestyle.

Complementary irrigation for sustainable production in olive groves in Palestine

Prolonged drought stress in Palestine is one of the major limiting factors in the production and yield of the fruit of the olive tree, as this directly affects crop load, oil production per tree, oil quality and alternate bearing. The objective of the present study was to investigate the use of limited amounts of water as complementary irrigation to improve olive fruit growth and yield at harvest. Field-grown adult olive trees (Olea europaea L. cv. Nabali Baladi) were selected in three villages on the northern West Bank, and they were subjected to different complementary irrigation regimes from June to September, 2010. They were thus supplied with 1, 3, 6m3 water irrigation per tree over this entire period, corresponding to 2.4%, 7.1%, 14.2% of the whole seasonal water requirement per tree (42m3 water), respectively. Additional five rain-fed trees per site were used as controls. In one of the three villages, an additional treatment with 15m3 (35.6% of the total need) water irrigation per tree, was also applied. The results showed that the fruit size, pulp-to-pit ratio (on a fresh and dry weight basis) and 1-year-old mixed shoots were not affected by these water irrigation regimes. Total fruit yield per tree increased as the water irrigation increased, with the greatest effects for the highest water irrigation treatment, due to a higher number of fruits per tree (apparently due to lower fruit abscission). This study demonstrates that complementary water irrigation of olive trees to 35% of the whole seasonal water requirement can produce positive effects on olive fruit production in Palestine.

Study and characterization of Palestinian monovarietal Nabali virgin olive oils from northern West Bank of Palestine

This work presents a preliminary evaluation of the quality of Palestinian olive cv. Nabali cultivated in different locations (Nablus, Salfit, Qalqilya, and Jenin). Several parameters have been studied, such as quality indices, fatty acid composition and minor compounds of olive oil. The majority of the studied parameters showed significant variations among virgin olive oil samples according to the production zone. Nablus oil showed the highest percentage of oleic acid, the lowest percentage of linoleic acid and was the richest in phenolic compounds. Chemometric analyses were performed in order to classify the VOOs (virgin olive oils) according to their production zone.

Genotoxic effects of Israeli industrial pollutants on residents of Bruqeen village (Salfit district, Palestine)

Many industrial byproducts are genotoxic agents that induce cytogenetic changes and DNA damage. Bruqeen, a Palestinian village in Salfit district in the northern West bank, is subject to industrial waste products coming from Barqan Israeli industrial settlement. We evaluated the extent of chromosomal breaks (Csb) and DNA damage induced to human cells using whole blood samples from both test and control sites. Csb were assessed by routine cytogenetic methods and DNA damage was assessed via the Comet assay which is also called single cell gel electrophoresis. Cytogenetic analysis for Bruqeen residents’ sample (n = 30) showed 133 Premature centromere separation (PCS), 43 Csb, 40 chromatid breaks (Ctb) and 26 dicentrics. In total, the findings showed an average of 4.08% chromosomal aberrations (CA) and 3.81% cells with CA. The results of controls (from Bethlehem area n = 8) showed 21 PCS, 2 Csb, 5 Ctb and 2 dicentric, and in total the average showed 1.97 CA and 1.91% cells with CA. Statistical analysis showed that there were no significant differences between exposed and control subjects for PCS, Ctb and Dicentric (p-value > 0.05), but there was a statistically significant difference for CA frequency for cells that have CA and Csb (p-value < 0.05). Comet assay data on the 25 Bruqeen residents showed that there was a significant difference from those of the control samples (p-value < 0.05).

Diabetes mellitus in patients with schizophrenia in West-Bank, Palestine

AimsThe main aims of the study were to investigate the prevalence of pre-diabetes and diabetes mellitus (DM) in patients with schizophrenia, to compare it with those published in the general population, and to assess significant associations with dysglycemia defined as having either pre-DM or DM. MethodsA cross-sectional study carried out in 4 governmental primary psychiatric healthcare centers in Northern West-Bank, Palestine. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were measured. The World Health Organization (WHO) criteria for defining pre-DM and DM were used. Dysglycemia was defined as FBG >110mg/dl. ResultsBased on WHO criteria, 27 patients (10.8%) had diabetes and 34 (13.6%) had pre-diabetes. The prevalence of DM in patients with schizophrenia was not significantly higher than that reported in the general population of Palestine. However, the prevalence of pre-DM was significantly higher than that reported in the general population of Palestine. Regression analysis showed that advancing age and abnormal waist circumference were significant predictors of dysglycemia in patients with schizophrenia. ConclusionsThis study confirmed the high prevalence of dysglycemia in patients with schizophrenia, supporting the need for monitoring of blood glucose in this category of patients. The presence of primary risk factors is more important in the development of dysglycemia in patients with schizophrenia than exposure to antipsychotic drugs.

WhyJabal an-Nar? Researching Nablus

This article explains why the politics of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, long an historic focal point of Palestinian independence and resistance to foreign rule, is still an important area for research today. Nablus suffered badly under an Israeli siege for eight years in the early 2000s but it now represents the front line of the Palestinian Authority’s neo-liberal ‘state-building’ agenda. The tensions between the city’s strong identity and rising tide of neo-liberalism are a microcosm of broader political dynamics in Palestine.

التباين الجغرافي في معدلات الإصابة بالسرطان والعوامل المرتبطة في شمال الضفة الغربية، فلسطين2005-2008

Abstract -Background: Cancer is the third leading cause of deaths in the West Bank and Gaza accounting for about 10% of total deaths. Despite its importance, little research has been devoted to characterization of incidence rates and geographic variations. This study compared the incidence rates and some risk factors of cancer among governorates of Northern West Bank and among types of locality (urban, rural, and refugee camps) for the period 2005-2008.Methods: Crude and age-adjusted incidence rates were calculated using cancer data obtained from the registry files of three hospitals in Northern West Bank. Negative binomial regression analysis was performed to compare incidence rate ratios (IRR) among governorates and types of locality while adjusting for age-group, sex and year of diagnosis. Fisher’s exact test was employed to test relationships among cross tabulated variables and test homogeneity of proportions.Results: The lowest overall incidence rate was found in the governorate of Jenin (age-adjusted rate of 45.0 cases per 100,000 over the 4-yr period). With Jenin taken as a reference, the governorate of Nablus had the highest IRR (3.30) with age-adjusted incidence of 148.1 cases per 100,000. Refugee camps had higher overall incidence rate than urban and rural areas (age adjusted rates of 169.0, 103.2, and 79.3 cases per 100,000 for refugee camps, urban, and rural areas, respectively). Geographical differences were found in the distribution of patients with regard to types of environmental pollution, dietary factors, smoking, alcohol consumption, types of stress, and chronic diseases but not in dietary habits and family history.Conclusions: In Northern West Bank, large differences were found among areas of residence (governorates and locality types) in incidence of cancer. Geographical differences in risk factors were also found which could explain part of the geographic differences observed in incidence rates. الخلفية: يعتبر السرطان ثالث أكبر مسبب للوفيات في الضفة الغربية و غزة بنسبة 10% من مجمل الوفيات. وبالرغم من هذه الأهمية للسرطان فإن البحث العلمي لا يزال غير كاف في مجال تحديد معدلات الإصابة واختلافاتها الجغرافية. و قد هدفت هذه الدراسة إلى مقارنة معدلات الإصابة بالسرطان والعوامل المسببة له بين المحافظات وأنواع التجمع السكاني (حضر، ريف، مخيم) في شمال الضفة الغربية في الفترة من 2005-2008.المنهج: تم حساب معدلات الإصابة من المعطيات التي تم جمعها من ملفات السرطان في ثلاثة مستشفيات في شمال الضفة الغربية. وقد تمت مقارنة معدلات الإصابة باستخدام تحليل Negative Binomial Regression مع الأخذ بعين الاعتبار عوامل العمر والجنس و سنة التشخيص. كما تم استخدام exact test Fisher's لفحص ارتباط العوامل .النتائج: أظهرت النتائج أن أقل معدل للإصابة كان في محافظة جنين ( 45 حالة لكل 100000 شخص على مدى الأربع سنوات) بينما كان أعلى معدل إصابة في محافظة نابلس ( حوالي ثلاثة أضعاف معدل الإصابة في جنين بواقع 148.1حالة لكل 100000 شخص). كما كان معدل الإصابة في المخيمات أعلى من الحضر والريف (169و 103.2، و 79.3 حالة لكل 100000 شخص، على التوالي). كما أظهرت النتائج وجود اختلافات في توزيع المرضى بين المناطق الجغرافية (المحافظة و نوع التجمع) فيما يتعلق بكل من نوع التلوث البيئي، التدخين، شرب الكحول، القلق ، والأمراض المزمنة، بينما لم تلاحظ فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية فيما يتعلق بالعادات الغذائية و تاريخ العائلة في الإصابة بالسرطان.

Prevalence of the red mite (&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Dermanyssus gallinae&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;) in layer flocks in four districts in northern West Bank, Palestine

An experiment was conducted to investigate the prevalence of the red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) in layer farms in four districts of northern West Bank, Palestine. The four districts were: Nablus, Tulkarm, Tubas, and Jenin. A total of 225 layer farms were investigated for infection with the parasite during the period from September 2009 to August 2010. The highest prevalence of the red mite was observed in the district of Tulkarm (18.3%, 25.5%, 32.7% and 47.3%, for the districts of Nablus, Jenin, Tubas, and Tulkarm, respectively) which can be explained by the hot humid climate in the district and insufficient cleaning. Infection with the red mite was highest in summer (43.8%) and lowest in winter (12%). The high infection rates observed in this study reflect the poor management and housing conditions, characteristic of layer farms in the study region.

Utilisation of drinking water from rainwater-harvesting cisterns in the Palestinian territories: assessment of contamination risk

A set of established precautions and procedures must be followed to ensure water quality in rainwater harvesting cisterns. In this study, 106 cisterns were sampled and 176 cistern owners were surveyed in the northern West Bank region. It was found that although the nitrate concentration and Total Dissolved Solids (TDSs) readings of the sampled cisterns conformed to Palestinian standards, most cisterns were found to contain fecal coliform, exceeding 8000 cfu/ml in many cases. Cistern owners responses revealed an array of malpractices, which are suspected of leading to this contamination risk. Several remedial actions were proposed to alleviate this condition.

درجة الممارسات التسويقية اللاأخلاقية في أسواق التجزئة في شمال الضفة الغربية ومدى تقبل المستهلكين لها

This study aimed to identify the degree of unethical marketing practices in the retail markets in the northern West Bank and consumers’ acceptance, and their relation to some variables. The researcher adopted the descriptive approach, and developed a questionnaire to measure The degree of unethical marketing practices, and distributed it on an appropriate sample of consumers, the sample size consisted of (226) consumers. The study found that there is a high degree of perception by consumers about unethical marketing practices in the retailing markets of the northern West Bank. Also, there was a low degree of consciousness to accept the deception, and a moderate availability of control against such deception, the study showed that there were no significant differences in the degree of unethical marketing practice due to the variables of gender and educational level. Moreover, the study results showed that there are significant differences in the degree of unethical marketing practices for high income and older consumers. On the light of the study findings, the researcher recommended of the activation of consumer protection associations in the national markets, moreover, the researcher recommended that government need to be supported in monitoring the local market, and protect the citizens from marketing ploys and falling victim to the manipulation of various kinds. هدفت هذه الدراسة إلى تعرّف درجة الممارسات التسويقية اللاأخلاقية في أسواق التجزئة في شمال الضفة الغربية ومدى تقبل المستهلكين لها، وعلاقتها ببعض المتغّيرات، واتبع الباحث المنهج الوصفي الاستدلالي، وطوّر استبانة لقياس الممارسات التسويقية اللاأخلاقية، ووزعها على عّينة ملائمة من مجتمع المستهلكين، وحجمها (226) مستهلكاً في أسواق التجزئة في شمال الضفة الغربية، وقد توصلت الدراسة إلى أن هناك درجة إدراك مرتفعة للمستهلكين نحو الممارسات التسويقية اللاأخلاقية في أسواق شمال الضفة الغربية والى وجود درجة منخفضة للوعي بقبول الخداع، ودرجة توفر متوسطة للوسائل الرقابية ضد الخداع، وأظهرت الدراسة عدم وجود فروق في درجة الممارسات التسويقية اللاأخلاقية تُعزى لمتغيرات الجنس والمستوى التعليمي، وفي المقابل أظهرت وجود فروق في درجة الممارسات التسويقية اللاأخلاقية لصالح أصحاب الدخل الأعلى، ولصالح الأكبر عمراً، وقد أوصى الباحث بتوصيات أهمها تفعيل جمعيات حماية المستهلك في مراقبة السوق الوطني، فالجهات الحكومية تحتاج إلى من يساندها في مراقبة السوق المحلي، وحماية المواطن من الخدع التسويقية، ومن الوقوع ضحية للتلاعب بشتى أنواعه.

Occurrence of Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus on Volunteer Tomato, Jimsonweed, and Tobacco in North West Bank: Distribution of Virus Natural Reservoirs in Summer Season

Volunteer tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), jimsonweed (Datura stramonium) and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants were found to be natural reservoirs for Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (TYLCV) in the northern West Bank regions using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The virus can be maintained in these plants during the summer period in the studied regions. Volunteer tomato plants proved to be the most significant reservoirs for the virus because they are so abundant in all of the studied regions, and they demonstrated a high rate of infection, ranging from 52-95%. The maximum infection of volunteer tomato plants was recorded in the Jericho district and Al-Far'a region to be 95% and 93%, respectively. Under field conditions, TYLCV was found to infect tobacco in one of two ways; either as crops planted near the tomato fields or as volunteer plants scattered in tomato growing sites in the Jenin districts. The maximum infection rate of volunteer tobacco plants and tobacco crops was recorded in Qabatyya to be 11% and 6%, respectively. The research showed that tobacco seedlings in nurseries can be infected with TYLCV by 3.5% in the Jenin district. Jimsonweed was discovered to be a natural host of TYLCV, however with low proportion and only in the Jericho district (one out of every two samples collected).

Traditional knowledge of wild edible plants used in Palestine (Northern West Bank): A comparative study

BackgroundA comparative food ethnobotanical study was carried out in fifteen local communities distributed in five districts in the Palestinian Authority, PA (northern West Bank), six of which were located in Nablus, two in Jenin, two in Salfit, three in Qalqilia, and two in Tulkarm. These are among the areas in the PA whose rural inhabitants primarily subsisted on agriculture and therefore still preserve the traditional knowledge on wild edible plants.MethodsData on the use of wild edible plants were collected for one-year period, through informed consent semi-structured interviews with 190 local informants. A semi-quantitative approach was used to document use diversity, and relative importance of each species.Results and discussionThe study recorded 100 wild edible plant species, seventy six of which were mentioned by three informants and above and were distributed across 70 genera and 26 families. The most significant species include Majorana syriaca, Foeniculum vulgare, Malvasylvestris, Salvia fruticosa, Cyclamen persicum, Micromeria fruticosa, Arum palaestinum, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Gundelia tournefortii, and Matricaria aurea. All the ten species with the highest mean cultural importance values (mCI), were cited in all five areas. Moreover, most were important in every region. A common cultural background may explain these similarities. One taxon (Majoranasyriaca) in particular was found to be among the most quoted species in almost all areas surveyed. CI values, as a measure of traditional botanical knowledge, for edible species in relatively remote and isolated areas (Qalqilia, and Salfit) were generally higher than for the same species in other areas. This can be attributed to the fact that local knowledge of wild edible plants and plant gathering are more spread in remote or isolated areas.ConclusionGathering, processing and consuming wild edible plants are still practiced in all the studied Palestinian areas. About 26 % (26/100) of the recorded wild botanicals including the most quoted and with highest mCI values, are currently gathered and utilized in all the areas, demonstrating that there are ethnobotanical contact points among the various Palestinian regions. The habit of using wild edible plants is still alive in the PA, but is disappearing. Therefore, the recording, preserving, and infusing of this knowledge to future generations is pressing and fundamental.

The Embedded Military: Why did the IDF Perform Effectively in Executing the Disengagement Plan?

In the summer of 2005, the Israeli military evacuated thousands of Jewish settlers from the Gaza Strip and the northern West Bank in the framework of the Disengagement Plan. Not only was the evacuation swift, but the army also maintained the unity of its ranks and avoided massive refusal of the national religious conscripts who identified with the settlers. It is argued that the effective functioning of the Israel Defense Forces can be attributed to the degree to which it has become embedded primarily within the social networks of the national religious groups that serve within it. The army implemented the evacuation by leveraging the interest of those groups to reinforce the army's status as an apolitical and universal “people's army” by which the groups could preserve their mobility within its ranks. Thus, what prevented the groups from initiating massive clashes with the evacuating troops was their assessment that a confrontation could have undermined the army's status and, by extension, that of the resisting groups—both within the IDF and in civilian society.

West Bank Barrier Decreases Access to Schools and Health Services

In 2001, the Israeli government announced the construction of the West Bank barrier. The stated purpose of construction to prevent attacks by Palestinians on Israeli citizens. In a subsequent advisory opinion, the International Court of Justice decided the wall would block access to health care and education, and was "contrary to international law". The Barrier, with its limited number of gates, has been criticized by humanitarian agencies for limiting access of Palestinians to employment, health care, and education, but was defended by the Israeli government as an important security measure. A survey of key informants was conducted in May 2004 at 78 health facilities and 121 schools in the northern West Bank districts ofJenin, Qalqilya, and Tulkarem, in order to assess the impact of the Barrier on access and use of health and educational services. The Barrier negatively affected access to education and health care, in terms of statistically significant increases in distance and travel time to schools and health facilities. In several areas, service utilization, assessed by weekly visits to health facilities and student enrollment, was affected by barrier construction, although these findings were not statistically significant. A significant decrease in staff attendance was observed at health facilities and schools. The Barrier may have long-term effects on access and utilization of health and educational services among Palestinians in the northern West Bank.

Trends and problems of solid waste management in developing countries: A case study in seven Palestinian districts

There is a great interest in solving problems related to municipal solid waste (MSW) management in the Palestinian territory. However, few studies have been done to assess the extent of these problems and suggest the best alternative solutions. This study aims at assessing MSW conditions in the seven major districts in northern West Bank, Palestinian territory. The study focuses on comparing several MSW management elements (such as collection, budget, and disposal) in municipalities, village councils, and refugee camps in the studied districts and the problems faced by these institutions in handling the waste. It also provides information on MSW collection service availability and waste disposal practices in the districts studied. It was found that, although MSW collection service was available for 98% of the residents in the areas surveyed, no proper treatment or landfill procedure was followed for the collected waste in most of these areas. Instead, waste burning in open dumpsites was the most common practice. Moreover, due to inefficient collection of waste disposal fees from the residents, municipalities were forced to sometimes cut the collection service and reduce its labor force, especially in villages. The budget for MSW management was between 2% and 8% of the total budget of the municipalities studied, indicating a low priority for this issue.

Mara’abe v. Prime Minister of Israel

Mara'Abe v. Prime Minister of Israel. Case No. HCJ 7957/04. At &lt;http://elyonl.court.gov.il/eng/home/index.html&gt; (English translation).Supreme Court of Israel, sitting as the High Court of Justice, September 15, 2005.In Mara ‘abe v. Prime Minister of Israel, the Israeli Supreme Court held that the routing of a portion of Israel's “security fence” in the northern West Bank violated international humanitarian law. The Supreme Court, sitting as the High Court of Justice, ordered the Israeli government to consider alternative paths for the barrier. The Mara'abe decision expanded on the Court's earlier ruling in Beit Sourik Village Council v. Israel, in which the Court ordered the rerouting of another segment of the obstacle. Mara ’abe also revealed some of the Israeli Court's views on Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in Occupied Palestinian Territory— the 2004 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) holding that construction of the barrier anywhere in occupied territory violates international law.

Defenders of a Lost Cause: Terror Management and Violent Resistance to the Disengagement Plan

Two studies, conducted 3 months before the Israeli pullout from the Gaza Strip and the Northern West Bank, examined whether reminders of death would lead right-wing Israelis to endorse violent resistance against the disengagement plan. More specifically, we hypothesized that this reaction would be particularly strong among participants high in denial--those who were unable to come to terms with the Israeli withdrawal. In Study 1 (N = 63), right-wing Israeli undergraduates were primed with death and asked to indicate whether they view violent resistance as legitimate and whether they would be willing to partake in such violence. In Study 2 (N = 42), Israeli settlers in the Gaza Strip completed a similar procedure as in Study 1. In both studies, primes of death led to greater support of violent resistance, but only among participants high in denial. The discussion examines the applicability of terror management theory to understanding real-life political crises.

نمذجة الحوض الجوفي الايوسيني في شمال الضفة الغربية

The Eocene aquifer is one of the major groundwater aquifers in Palestine. It is located in the northeastern part of the West Bank covering areas of both Jenin and Nablus districts. The development of the groundwater within the Eocene aquifer is very essential for the Palestinian water supply. This paper simulates for groundwater flow in the Eocene aquifer using MODFLOW as a strong available groundwater model. The groundwater budget, flow computation, and flow path-lines were estimated and calibrated. Groundwater balance has been evaluated. The Modeling results show that a minimum initial level of 340 m above sea level should be applied to model the hydraulics of the aquifer correctly. The recharge and hydraulic conductivity are the most sensitive model parameters. The hydraulic conductivity in some areas has proved to be double than assumed by other literatures. More reasonable recharge coefficients in comparison to other literatures have been obtained. Groundwater balance indicated that the water budget of the Eocene aquifer totals about 72 MCM/yr. The modeling has indicated reasonable matching between the observed and modeled groundwater levels and spring flows. The flow direction within the aquifer is from the south to north and northeast. The Faria spring system located to the southeast is the major sink within the aquifer. It attracts most of the particle tracking lines due to its high discharge rates. It is recommended to monitor the existing wells and springs permanently. It is also recommended to assess the effect of the faults and fractures on the hydraulic conductivity. يعد الخزان الجوفي الأيوسيني من أهم الخزانات الجوفية في الحوض الشمالي الشرقي في الضفة الغربية من فلسطين، وهو من أهم مصادر المياه الجوفية العذبة في منطقتي نابلس وجنين. وقد أجريت عدة دراسات دعت إلى تطوير مصادر المياه الجوفية ضمن هذا الحوض، ومن هنا فان هذه الورقة تمثل ضرورة عمل نموذج رياضي لدراسة الخزان الجوفي الأيوسيني. تم استخدام برنامج MODFLOW وذلك لتوفره وسهولة التعامل معه، إذ تم تقييم كمية المياه التي يعطيها الخزان سنوياً والميزانية المائية له وكذلك تحديد اتجاهات حركة المياه الجوفية في داخل الخزان الجوفي. أشارت النتائج إلى أن النموذج لا يعمل إلا على مستوى هيدروليكي ابتدائي للمياه الجوفية لا يقل عن 340م فوق سطح البحر. وتم حساب حساسية النموذج لعاملي التغذية والنفاذية إذ تبين أنهما أكثر تأثيراً على النموذج للخزان الجوفي الأيوسيني، كما تم معايرة النموذج لكل من مستوى المياه الجوفية وتدفق الينابيع. القيم الابتدائية للنفاذية ارتفعت في بعض المناطق إلى ضعفي تلك الواردة في دراسات أخرى وذلك بسبب إهمال تأثير الفوالق (faults) والإنكسارات (fractures) والكرسته (karstification) في الصخور الموجودة في منطقة الدراسة، كما أن الدراسة أعطت قيماً مقبولة لمعاملات التغذية. بالنسبة للموازنة المائية المتجددة للخزان الجوفي الايوسيني فقد تبين أنها 72 مليون متر مكعب سنوياً. أظهر النموذج تطابق بين مستويات المياه وتدفق الينابيع المقروءة والمحسوبة وتبين كذلك أن خطوط التدفق والمياه الجوفية تتجمع باتجاه الشمال والشمال الشرقي للحوض، وأن خطوط التدفق تتكاثف باتجاه منطقة نبع الفارعة الواقع في المنطقة الجنوبية الشرقية من الحوض ما يشكل حفرة بالوعية (hole sink) هناك. بالاعتماد على النتائج السابقة يوصى بتصميم آبار الحوض وينابيعه بدقة واستمرارية وكذلك الحال فيما يتعلق بتشغيلها وعملها، ويوصى كذلك بتقييم تأثير الفوالق والانكسارات على قيم النفاذية.