Litani River Panel Demands Closure of Sand Mines, Halt of Sewage Flow إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية A ministerial panel tasked with addressing the pollution of the Litani River demanded Thursday the closure of all licensed and unlicensed sand extraction mines near the river and the halt of sewage flow into the river. The panel’s meeting […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 08/02/2016 Environmentalists fear that Hotels Law will “harm the public.” A highly disputed plan to construct some 27,000 hotel rooms over the next decade received Knesset plenary approval on Monday night, despite the objections of environmentalists. Promoted by Tourism Minister Yariv Levin, the “Hotels Law” is an amendment to the country’s Planning […]

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Every five years, an area bigger than that of Tel Aviv-Jaffa is exploited for building purposes. Zafrir Rinat Aug 02, 2016 Israel’s flora and fauna are quite diverse in relation to the country’s size, but they are rapidly dwindling, according to a report by the Environmental Protection Ministry. The report, prepared for the United Nations, […]

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Despite their support for wind energy, green NGOs oppose plan due to its effect on landscape. Zafrir Rinat Aug 01, 2016 The National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Ministry is acting to enable the installation of wind turbines for producing energy, even in areas designated for nature and landscape preservation. The ministry’s proposal to enable the […]

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By MICHELLE MALKA GROSSMAN 07/31/2016 In statements welcoming Elkin’s selection, environmental groups emphasized the importance of the role and the power that he will have. After two months without an environmental protection minister, green groups seemed to be happy with the announcement that Ze’ev Elkin will be taking on the role. The position has been […]

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By Hana Namrouqa – Aug 01,2016 AMMAN — The authorities have dismantled a large-scale water theft operation, which was diverting and reselling 6,000 cubic metres of fresh water per day, an official said on Monday. An “investment company” had been diverting water from a main source which supplies hotels at the Dead Sea for over […]

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AMMAN — The Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission (EMRC) on Tuesday said it dealt with 736 cases of electricity theft in July. Chief Commissioner Farouq Hiyari said 452 cases were recorded in the central region, which includes Amman, Zarqa, Balqa and Madaba and is supplied by the Jordanian Electric Power Company (JEPCO). Hiyari said 172 […]

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By Gidon Bromberg and Hilik Bar Israelis and Palestinians often play the blame game on the crucial issue of water. Palestinians scream “water apartheid” and Israelis respond with accusations of a “sewage intifada.” But recently there has been some important progress in the form of an Israeli-Turkish agreement to normalize diplomatic relations signed last month. […]

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Water, air, energy and land are shared environmental resources in the Middle East. As the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis persists and relationships continue to deteriorate at all levels, not only will cross-border environmental problems continue to plague the region, but they will also significantly increase tension among all sides. Water scarcity in the West […]

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Egypt is pursuing closer relations with African states as it seeks to resolve ongoing concerns about the Renaissance Dam, writes Doaa El-Bey “Achieving the interests of all parties and causing no harm should be the governing rule of relations between Nile Basin countries,” Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri said in a statement in Kigali following a […]

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AMMAN — Jordan is working to secure 144 million euros in European financing to improve sanitation and access to water in Irbid, Planning and International Cooperation Minister Imad Fakhoury announced on Monday. The plan is in line with the outcomes of the London donor conference in February, Fakhoury said half of the funds for the […]

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By MICHELLE MALKA GROSSMAN 07/27/2016 NGO’s attempt to stop beach side construction. The cabinet is now considering legislation that could change the Israeli coastline as we know it, yet legal means may put a brake on some of it. Environmental NGO Adam Teva V’Din – the Israel Union for Environmental Defense – submitted a petition […]

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Treasury plan would cancel quotas on imported fish, saying that move will lower fish prices. Zafrir Rinat Jul 25, 2016 Fish breeders and conservationists are fighting a treasury plan to cancel quotas on imported fish. While the treasury argues that the step will lower the price of fish, opponents say it will deal a death […]

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Illegal use of poisons is proliferating against predators in the south that are increasingly killing Bedouin’s sheep and goats. Zafrir Rinat Jul 25, 2016 The Israel Nature and Parks Authority has taken on an unpleasant but necessary task over the past few months: looking for animal carcasses in garbage dumps in the hills around the […]

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Residents of the Mount Lebanon town of Ain Dara gathered on Wednesday in the area of Dahr al-Baydar at the request of the town’s municipal chief to protest against the establishment of a cement plant in the town, the National News Agency reported. The people banned cement mixer vehicles from entering the village, NNA added. […]

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By Mohammed Kloub – Jul 28,2016 AMMAN — Like many large cities and capitals, Amman has a heavy traffic problem and the gridlock on the city’s streets is getting worse, according to transportation experts, who offered some ideas to ease the congestions. Amman’s traffic troubles can be attributed to two key factors, according to Ayman […]

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One problem facing the ministry in making its decision is a lack of data on the recycling of such bottles today. Zafrir Rinat Jul 27, 2016 The Environmental Protection Ministry will decide in the next few months whether to encourage the recycling of large beverage bottles (1.5 liters and larger) by requiring a deposit when […]

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AMMAN — Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Imad Fakhoury on Wednesday inaugurated a $9.2 million project to increase the resilience of poor and vulnerable communities to climate change. The project is driven by the mounting pressure on clean water resources, which climate change will aggravate, Fakhoury said, noting that water shortages directly affect food […]

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Beirut, 19 July 2016 The Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) and the American University of Beirut (AUB) have announced that AFED’s 9th annual conference will convene on November 10-11, 2016 at AUB. The conference, which is part of AUB’s 150th Anniversary program of events, will explore challenges and prospects of achieving the 2030 […]

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AMMAN – Energy Minister Ibrahim Saif on Tuesday said that seven international companies had been selected to implement the Green Corridor project, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. The project aims to increase the national grid’s capacity to absorb the load generated by new renewable energy projects, Saif told Petra. Three committees have studied the […]

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