During the first days of the Arab Spring many hoped that the series of protests and revolutions could bring a wave of democracy and stability to the Middle East. Such an outcome would have been greatly welcomed by the Israelis, who have been surrounded by enemies for years. Yet, more than two and a half years after the Arab Spring began, its effects for the Jewish state are far from satisfying, to say the least. The turmoil in Egypt, Israel’s western neighbor, resulted in Hosni Mubarak’s fall from power. While the former president might not have been one of Tel Aviv’s favorites, he was undoubtedly a fairly reliable partner. The subsequent rise of the Muslim Brotherhood was regarded as a threat to Israel`s security. Even after the July 2013 coup d’etat, which ended the organization`s rule over Egypt, the future of Israeli-Egyptian relations remains uncertain. Also problematic is the situation behind Israel`s northern border. While the Jewish state is not directly involved in the Syrian civil war, it still poses a potential danger for the Israelis as more and more Islamists and radicals are partaking in the struggle against Bashar al-Assad. If the Syrian president falls, these groups may try to seize power or engage in hostile activities against Israel. Moreover, it is possible that the unrest could spill-over to Lebanon, which would also affect Israel’s national security. Overall, Israel feels threatened by the Islamist rise in the Middle East caused by the Arab Spring. It must also be noted that the Arab Spring pressured the Palestinian leaders to become more active on the issue of Palestine’s independence. As a result, the UN recognized Palestine as a non-member observer state in late 2012. The mounting international pressure on Israel is very inconvenient for the Netanyahu government as it is not ready to make any serious concessions.
The 2005 Israeli disengagement from the Gaza Strip dramatically changed the political situation of said territory. Due to the poor economic situation of its inhabitants, itself caused by years of Israeli policy of isolation, and general perception of being mistreated by the Israeli government, the power vacuum created in the wake of the withdrawal was filled by Hamas. The fundamentalists took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, which caused the decision-makers in Tel Aviv to take radical measures to deal with the organization. A tight blockade of the Gaza Strip was introduced and while it may have curbed some of Hamas activities, it also worsened the living conditions of the inhabitants, creating a humanitarian crisis. Israeli policy has been criticized by many members of the international community. Moreover, Tel Aviv carried out several military operations, two of which (“Cast Lead” in 2008/2009 and “Protective Edge” in 2014) were characterized by significantly high numbers of civilian deaths. All of these actions, aimed at eliminating terrorists and improving Israeli citizens' security, seem to be rather short-sighted. Israeli policy only popularizes Hamas propaganda among Palestinians, therefore strengthening the organization and creating a vicious circle of misery and violence.
To compare the scale of self-treatment in a population of students of the Medical University of Bialystok in 2012 and 2017. Material and methods. The study included 217 students in 2012 and 220 students in 2017, and used a proprietary questionnaire. Results. A total of 78.8% of students in 2012 and 86.4% in 2017 were familiar with the meaning of the abbreviation OT C. When using an OT C drug for the first time, most students consulted a nurse (66.4%) in 2012, while in 2017, students usually consulted a family member (68.8%). Headache was the main reason for using OT C drugs (89.4% in 2012, and 92.7% in 2017). The use of analgesics (87.1%) and the use of OT C medicines in accordance with the leaflet (47%) predominated in 2012, while vitamin therapy (83.2%) took first place in 2017. When purchasing OT C medications, students usually based their decision on their own experience (63.1% in 2012 and 84.1% in 2017). A total of 35.5% of the students in 2012 and 39.1% in 2017 always read the leaflet. Conclusions. Self-medication was practiced by most students in both years, with lack of time for a medical appointment being the main reason. Over the last 6 months, the students most often used prescription and non-prescription drugs simultaneously
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