Samer Alatout Pp 218 – 245 in Environmental Imaginaries of the Middle East and North Africa. edited by Diana K. Davis, Edmund Burke. Ohio University Press; 2011

Read the rest of this entry »

Alan Mikhail History Compass Volume 9, Issue 12, pages 952–970, December 2011 Through a discussion of the burgeoning literature related to environmental topics in the Middle East, this article explains what both environmental historians and historians of the Middle East stand to gain from a consideration of Middle East environmental history. After an examination of […]

Read the rest of this entry »

Dubai, 18/1/2012 The Arab Green Economy Initiative launched by AFED started to resonate at the highest policy levels in the region. The United Arab Emirates has announced on January 15, 2012, its national green initiative to transform the country’s economy. Dubbed “A green economy for sustainable development”, the initiative seeks to make the UAE “a […]

Read the rest of this entry »

Those who are fighting to save the Yarkon Park in the southern Sharon, Timna, the Samar dunes and what is left of the Dead Sea are the buds of a late bloom – perhaps too late. By Yitzhak Laor Little will remain of the Dead Sea. The ancient landscape will turn into ugly hotels. “Since […]

Read the rest of this entry »

By SHARON UDASIN 01/10/2012 05:01 Environmental Protection Ministry climate change report predicts country will see decrease in rainfall, increases in temperature. Talkbacks (35) An Environmental Protection Ministry climate change report predicts that over the next decade, the country will see an annual decrease in rainfall, and increases in temperature, southern desertification, heat waves, periods of […]

Read the rest of this entry »

Residents are forced to build illegally while the authorities demand an upgraded sewerage system that the Galilee communities cannot afford. By Raz Smolsky Development projects throughout Israel often get off to a slow start due to poor planning or various delays. In some localities, however, they seem to get nowhere at all – like in […]

Read the rest of this entry »

Volume 17, No.166-167, January – February 2012 CONTENTS 6 Imminent water crisis? (editorial by Najib Saab) 10 Eradicating energy poverty by Suleiman Al-Herbish, OFID director General 18 Walls and streets that depollute the air (cover story) 24 Eye on Earth environmental summit in Abu Dhabi 26 Green economy forum in Ajman 30 ILO meeting in […]

Read the rest of this entry »

By SHARON UDASIN 01/13/2012 03:59 Lake Kinneret’s water level is 55 centimeters under the 213 meter red line, and a full 4.75 meters away from full capacity. Talkbacks (19) Although Lake Kinneret’s water level rose by 1.50 centimeters following Wednesday’s rain, measuring in at 213.55 meters below sea level on Thursday morning, there is still […]

Read the rest of this entry »

By SHARON UDASIN 01/13/2012 06:16 By recycling gray water Israel’s private sector could save 150 million cubic meters of water annually. Talkbacks (9) The government should legalize the implementation of gray water systems in homes, the Grey Water Division of the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce announced on Thursday. As the country enters its […]

Read the rest of this entry »

According to plan riverbed will be dried, cleaned and made available for use as land in an area slated for a public park. By Zafrir Rinat The Kishon River Authority and Environmental Protection Ministry are moving ahead with a major initiative to clean up the Haifa area waterway despite the lack of guaranteed funding sources. […]

Read the rest of this entry »

by Hana Namrouqa | Jan 17,2012 | 23:06 AMMAN — Blueprints for the four-million-cubic-metre (mcm) Ibn Hammad Dam in Karak Governorate are ready, with construction expected to start this year, according to a government official. “Studies and blueprints for the Ibn Hammad Dam are completed and construction will commence once funding of the project is […]

Read the rest of this entry »

Better on shore than near our homes, say some local residents. By Zafrir Rinat Ashdod residents may soon find themselves swimming in the shadow of a cellular antenna soaring 40 meters above the Riviera Beach’s small locker room, if Cellcom gets its way. The cellular provider’s request to erect the antenna, which the Ashdod Planning […]

Read the rest of this entry »

By Zafrir Rinat Renewable energy has found itself an unexpected enemy: one of Israel’s largest environmental groups. Though wind turbines may be helping the environment by providing a clean energy source, they also endanger birds and bats, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel said in a report released yesterday on 110 threats […]

Read the rest of this entry »

Construction Minister says regions are in areas of high demand for housing, and that making them suitable for construction could go a long way toward meeting these demands. By Zafrir Rinat Large-scale pollution, much of it caused by government agencies, is delaying the construction of some 40,000 homes in central Israel and could also delay […]

Read the rest of this entry »

School of Sustainability at the IDC Herzliya received major start-up donations from Israel Chemicals, the cause of major environmental hazards in Israel. By Zafrir Rinat Israel Chemicals, which has caused major environmental hazards in the country, is one of the founding funders of the School of Sustainability at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya. The school, […]

Read the rest of this entry »

AMMAN — Minister of Water and Irrigation Mousa Jamani on Thursday said he supports increasing water tariffs and returning to quarterly water bills. During a visit to Irbid Governorate, he explained that the increase in the bill will be proportionate to water consumption and will not impact the low-income bracket whose consumption does not exceed […]

Read the rest of this entry »

By SHARON UDASIN 01/12/2012 03:16 Project would connect the Mediterranean and Dead seas through a canal, could improve environment, tourism and agriculture. Talkbacks (12) In light of the looming energy crisis and dwindling condition of the Dead Sea, Israel Chamber of Commerce President Uriel Lynn recently appealed to relevant ministers that they reexamine the idea […]

Read the rest of this entry »

By SHARON UDASIN 01/10/2012 04:54 For second time, cabinet rejects bill that would provide for the comprehensive rehabilitation of the Dead Sea region. Talkbacks (3) The cabinet rejected a bill for the second time that would provide for the comprehensive rehabilitation of the Dead Sea region, during a meeting on Monday. “The Israeli government continues […]

Read the rest of this entry »

By SHARON UDASIN 01/10/2012 23:10 Erdan appeals to PM to create public committee on natural resources. Talkbacks (3) Environmental and tourism proponents on Tuesday slammed the Dead Sea deal that the Finance Ministry made with Israel Chemicals last week. The criticism came during a Knesset Finance Committee session being held on the issue a week […]

Read the rest of this entry »

Parks authority wants dozens of Jordan Valley outposts, which house one-third of all bat species found in Israel, to be turned into nature reserves. By Zafrir Rinat What do you do with a bunch of abandoned army outposts? Turn them into nature reserves for bats, of course. Or at least, that’s what will happen if […]

Read the rest of this entry »