Activity report : Isreal National Commission for UNESCO 2010-2011

Abstract

 Ms. Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO, visited Israel and met with the President of Israel and the ministers of Education, Science and Culture. She was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Haifa. She also participated in the Golda Meir Mount Carmel International Training Center’s 50th Jubilee Conference in Haifa (May 2011).  There has been an improvement in the allocation of membership dues to UNESCO, and no debt has accrued to the organization. The Commission received an additional sum for its ongoing activity in promoting world heritage.  Two new professional committees have been established.  Memory of the World Committee – headed by Prof. Elhanan Adler, from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.  Ethics of Science and Technology Committee – headed by Prof. Hagit Messer-Yaron, President of the Open University.  Ms. Hedva Amar, Senior Coordinator (Budgeting), received the Ministry of Education’s excellent employee award Changes in the Commission membership  Ms. Lea Rosenberg replaced Mr. Gad Abecassis as the International Relations and UNESCO representative.  Ms. Michal Cohen replaced Ms. Lea Rosenberg as representative of the Pedagogic Administration.  Dr. Gavriel Avital, Chief Scientist, left his position, and Prof. Zecharia Madar was appointed in his place.  Adv. Gideon Koren, President of ICOMOS Israel, who represented an international organization on the board, was replaced by Mr. Alan Schneider, Director of the B’nai Brith World Center in Israel.  Dr. Zvi Zameret, Chairperson of the Education Committee, left his position, and no one has yet been appointed in his place.  Mr. Daniel Bar-Elli retired from his position as Secretary General to the Israel National Commission for UNESCO

Changes in the members of UNESCO Committees

 Prof. David Mendelovitch, Chief Scientist in the Ministry of Science and Technology and Chairperson of the Science Committee, left his position, and Prof. Daniel Weihs from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, was appointed in his place.  Mr. Zach Granit, Director of the Culture Administration at the Ministry of Culture and Sport, and Chairperson of the Culture Committee, retired from his position as Chairperson of the Culture Committee, and Mr. Shimon Alkabetz was appointed in his place.  Prof. Mike Turner, from the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design and Chairperson of Israel World Heritage Committee, was replaced by architect Arieh Rahamimov.  Prof. Niv Ahituv, from Tel Aviv University, Chairperson of the Information for All Committee, was replaced by Prof. Roni Aviram from Ben-Gurion University.  Prof. Avraham (Rami) Friedman, from the Center for Academic Studies and Chairperson of the Social and Human Sciences (MOST) Committee, was not replaced yet

Changes in the holders of UNESCO Chairs  Prof. Avigad Vonshak, holder of the UNESCO Chair on Combating Desertification at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, has ended his tenure and Prof. Pedro Berliner has been appointed in his place.  Dr. Yael Harel, holder of the Chair on Education for Peace in a Multicultural Society at Beit Berl College, has retired, and Dr. Ruwaida Aburass was appointed in her place.  The members of the Israel Delegation to UNESCO’s 36th General Conference (25 October 2011 – 10 November 2011)  Mr. Gideon Sa’ar, Minister of Education and President of the Israel National Commission for UNESCO.  Mr. Nimrod Barkan, Israeli Ambassador to UNESCO.  Mr. Rafael Gamzu ; Director, Division for Cultural and Scientific Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 Mr. Ron Adam, Director of International Organizations Department 1, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  Prof. Aharon Aviram, Chairperson of the Information for All Committee.  Ms. Nili Cohen, Deputy Director of Culture Administration, Ministry of Culture and Sport.  Ms. Lital Apter, Spokesperson for Minister of Education.  Ms. Maya Katz, Advisor to the Minister of Education.  Ms. Michal Pelosof, Israel Ambassde to UNESCO.  Mr. Daniel Bar-Elli, Secretary General, Israel Commission for UNESCO.  Delegate to the General Assembly of the Convention of World Heritage (7 November 2011 – 9 November 2011)  Architect Arieh Rahamimov, Chairperson of Israel World Heritage Committee.  Delegate to the Youth Conference (17 November 2011 – 20 November 2011).  Mr. Alon Meidan, National Union of Israeli Students