February 2001
|
Palestine Territories
Summary
Report (1999 - 2000) |
Due to the unique situation
of the Palestinian Territories
and the national effort in
trying to build the countries
telecommunications and IT
infrastructure, there have
been minor changes and
developments in key people and
organizations in Palestine,
since the start of the ESIS II
project.
1.
Ministries and Governmental
Organizations
The Ministry of Post and
Telecommunications regulates
the telecommunications sector
in Palestine, Mr. Imad Al
Falouji is the Minister. The
Minister of Higher Education
is Mr. Munther Salah, the
Minister of Trade &
Economy is Mr. Maher Al Masri,
the Minister of Industry is
Mr. Said Al Karnaz and the
Minister of Health is Mr.
Riyad Al Zaanoun.
The Ministry of Planning
and International Cooperation
(MOPIC) is entrusted with
planning at the Palestinian
national and regional levels.
The Minister of Planning and
International Cooperation is
Dr. Nabeel Shaath. The Deputy
Minister and Head of the
Planning Sector is Dr. Samih
Abid.
One of the changes to key
persons in governmental
organizations in Palestine,
during the lifetime of the
ESIS II project, was that Dr.
Abdel Al-Malek the Managing
Director of the Palestinian
Industrial State & Free
Zones Authority was replaced
by Mr. Sumaida Abbas.
2.
Telecommunications Operators
The Palestine
Telecommunications Company (PALTEL)
is the public
telecommunications operator in
Palestine. Its Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) Mr. Hatem Al
Halawani resigned as President
in the summer of 2000 and
currently the Acting President
is Mr. Zahi Khouri.
The Ministry of Post and
Telecommunications regulates
PALTEL through a licensing
agreement.
2.1
Internet Providers
There are eight ISPs in
Palestine:
- Alami (www.alami.net)
is a Palestinian ISP based
out of Jerusalem. The
Director is Mr. Hani Alami
- Hally
(www.hally.net)
is one of the newest ISPs in
Palestine, has quiet a large
spread around the West Bank.
- Hebron Network
(www.hebronet.com).
The first ISP in Hebron Area
was established in 1998 and it
offers full Internet access,
web hosting, web design and
help desk services. It has
recently expanded its band
width to 256KB.
- Jerusalem on line
(www.jrol.com)
is an ISP established in 1996
in Jerusalem offering Internet
connections and website
design.
- Palestine.On.Line
(www.p-ol.com)
Palestine On Line offers ISP
services but also various
searchable business and
service directories.
- Palnet
(www.palnet.com)
Palnet is one of the
most dynamic Palestinian ISP
that arrived on the scene as a
commercial service provider
offering e-mail and a Web
connection to individuals and
organisations. Palnet has been
involved in educational
outreach work including stalls
at the Palestine International
Festival 1996, offering
opportunities for visitors to
browse the Web. Palnet offers
a 128K leased line to Birzeit
University and various
Palestinian ministries. Its
main office is located in
Jerusalem with a branch office
in Nazareth and representative
offices in Gaza, Nablus and
Ramallah. Its Director is Mr.
Maan Bseiso.
- Shabaka
(www.shabaka.net)
is a Palestinian ISP based out
of Jerusalem. Its Director is
Mr. Khaled Assali.
- Zaytona
(www.zaytona.com)
is a Palestinian ISP based out
of Nablus. Its. Director is
Mr. Nizar Awartani.
3.
Universities & Research
Institutes
There are nine universities
in Palestine, the most active
in Information Society
development with a number of
IS projects throughout the
lifetime of the ESIS II
project has been the Birzeit
University. The Universities
are the following:
(QOU) (www.alquds.edu)
is a national institution
for higher education located
in Palestine. Founded in the
late ‘70s with four
separated faculties in the
Jerusalem area, was unified
in Al-Quds University in
1984. It enjoys an
independent status in
academic, financial and
administrative affairs. It
provides education through
an Open and Distance
Learning system. Carefully
organized flexible programs
delivered at a distance
utilizing various modern
techniques and technologies
are adopted. QOU established
its first study center in
Jerusalem in 1991. It
currently operates through
nine study centers
distributed in the major
cities of Palestine. The
president of Al-Quds
University is Dr. Sari
Nusseibeh. The
Palestinian Academic Network
PLANET (www.planet.edu)
at Al-Quds University is a
leading educational ISP in
Palestine. PLANET links
universities, colleges,
schools, research centers
and some non-governmental
organizations with the World
Wide Web. PLANET links most
of the Palestinian
ministries using wireless
means of communication such
as VSAT and microwave
devices. Its mission is to
provide the necessary
organizational, technical
and academic infrastructure,
whereby Palestinian
academicians, scholars and
researchers will be able to
have access to international
academic resources and
references, communicate with
peer scholars, connect local
Palestinian universities in
a national communications
network. PLANET headquarter
in Samir Amis-Kalandia is
functioning as academic ISP.
Its president is Dr. Badie
Sartawi.
Al-Azhar University (www.alazhar-gaza.edu)
Founded
in 1991, this is one of the
largest universities in
Palestine. It has around
12,000 students distributed
between eight faculties:
pharmacy, medical professions,
science, agriculture,
education, arts, economics
& administrative sciences
and law. Its president is
Prof. Dr. Ryiad Al-Khoudary.
An-Najah University (www.najah.edu)
An-Najah
University is located near the
city of Nablus. It has around
10,000 students and 300
professors. The University has
recently (5 June 1999) signed
an agreement of cooperation
with University of Lille for
Science and Technology,
France.Its president is Prof.
Rami Hamdallah.
Arab American University
(www.aauj.edu)
It is a private institution
founded in 1995, implementing
in Palestine the American
education system in
affiliation with California
State University. It is a new
university beginning to
operate during the second
semester of 1999. Actually,
the university is inviting
nominations and applications
for the position of its
president.
Bethlehem University (www.bethlehem.edu)
Bethlehem University was
founded in 1973 with the
administrative cooperation of
the De La Salle Brothers (FSC).
It is a private institution of
higher education, incorporated
under the law and guided by a
board of trustees. It is a
member of the Association of
Arab Universities since May
1981. Its president is Br.
Vincent Malham.
Birzeit University (www.birzeit.edu)
Birzeit University occupies a
central position in
Palestinian society. It has
become a key Palestinian IT
policy center. Its president
is Dr. Hanna Nasir, the Dean
of the Faculty of Science was
Dr. Sami Sayrafi and was
replaced by Mr. Sumaida Abbas
in spring of 2000. The Dean of
the Faculty of Engineering is
Dr. Wael Hashlamoun. The
Information Technology Unit
(IT Unit) at Birzeit
University is a department of
the computer center.The
objective of this unit is to
develop human resources that
will contribute to the
development of IT in
Palestine, through
professional training designed
specifically to suit the needs
of the newly emerging
Palestinian state. The Unit
carries out professional and
consulting services, as well
as research and development
with emphasis on programs that
will contribute to the
development of the
infrastructure of Palestine.
Hebron University (www.planet.edu/hebronun/)
Hebron
University is an independent
non-profit university in West
Bank. It was founded in 1971
by the late mayor of Hebron as
a center for Islamic Studies
serving a total of 44
students. Today Hebron
University provides education
for over 1,700 students in
five colleges: Arts, Science,
Agriculture, Finance and
Management. It is also an
active member of the
Palestinian Council of Higher
Education. Its president is
Dr. Ali Amro.
Islamic University of Gaza
(IUG) (www.iugaza.edu)
The Palestine Polytechnic
Institute (www.ppi.edu)
PPI is an independent
Palestinian institution, based
in Hebron. It was founded in
1978. PPI offers Bachelor
degrees in different
engineering areas, applied
arts and also has a continuing
education department. Its
president is Dr. Daoud Zatari.
4.
Professional Associations
Information Technology
Special Interest Group (ITSIG)
aims to develop an atmosphere
of coordination and
cooperation between the
various bodies and individuals
involved in the development of
IT in Palestine, to create an
advisory body for IT projects,
to influence policy makers in
IT related issues and
developments, to formulate a
view on policy and strategy,
to coordinate efforts and
activities between
international and donor
agencies in IT and to raise
the awareness of the
Palestinian community in
relation to IT. Possible areas
of ITSIG contribution include,
development of
telecommunications and
infrastructure, IT services,
e.g. banking, marketing,
telemedicine, industry, public
services, etc.; technical IT
policies, legal and regulatory
frameworks and standards, IT
regulations and policies to
protect citizen and consumer
rights, privacy and
accessibility and human
resource development and
education.
The Palestinian
Information Technology
Association (PITA) was
founded in Ramallah, Palestine
in February 1998, as a
membership-based organization
for locally registered
companies in the IT sector.
The association represents
approximately 45 companies
from various sub-sectors
including hardware
distributors, software
development firms, office
automation vendors, Internet
service providers,
telecommunications, IT
consulting, IT training and
related business. Within PITA
(Palestinian Information
Technology Association), a few
changes were made during the
lifetime of the ESIS II
project. Vice President
Ibrahim Barham replaced
President Hamzeh Najjar. Mr
Najjar still remains as member
of the board. Mr Hassan Kassem
and Mr Yahya Salqan no longer
are board members; whereas Mr
Ahmad Abu-Marzouq has been
made a member of the board.
Mr Hussam Najah Husseini of
the Government Computer Centre
is now EUMEDIS Focal Point
Coordinator for the
Palestinian Authority.
Previously, Mr Ghassan Z.
Qadah and Mr Omar Al-Sahili
were the EUMEDIS
representatives.
5.
IT
Companies
The Palestinian Company ATS
will be the value added
distributor for Oracle
products in the Palestinian
market. The deal was made in
which a contract was signed
between ATS and Oracle. ATS is
the largest Palestinian
software company and has 35
computer specialists, the
Director of ATS is Mr. Hassan
Abdulla.
