Israel’s government on Sunday gave the green light to building the first rail link between its Mediterranean and Red Sea coasts, offering a new Asia-Europe trade route to compete with the Suez Canal. “This is a strategic decision,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told ministers at the cabinet’s weekly meeting. “In the coming decade, new (economic) […]

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Keeping Kikar Hamedina a ‘green lung’ runs contrary to both contemporary urban planning concepts and social justice. By Esther Zandberg Like an inborn reflex, once again the suggestion is being raised to cancel the building plans for Kikar Hamedina in Tel Aviv and transfer the building rights elsewhere, leaving this enormous area as a “green […]

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The Environmental Protection Ministry has started imposing stiff fines on companies that contaminate. By Zafrir Rinat Last week the Environmental Protection Ministry set a record for issuing environment-related fines: It notified Tnuva that the company would be fined NIS 15 million for violations of the Prevention of Sea Pollution law. An administrative procedure was used […]

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Since we don’t know, and may never know, which species are keystones for our survival, and which are ecologically superfluous, we should protect them all. By Daniel Orenstein “With little regret but out of respect to protocol, the State of Israel announces the loss of Cerbalus aravensis, a newly discovered species of spider, which made […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 01/31/2012 04:45 Known scientifically as Nemacheilus dori, the fish are found only in Israel and exclusively in waters of a tiny wetland reserve. Nemacheilus dori fish By Israel Nature and Parks Authority In a tiny mud-drenched nature reserve just off Road 90, on the way to Beit Shean, black pin-sized baby fish […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 02/05/2012 06:06 INPA celebrates frogs, salamanders for World Wetlands Day. Salamander By Thinkstock/Imagebank This weekend, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority (INPA) celebrated the lives of some slimy, speckled swamp species, devoting events on Saturday to animals such as the salamander and the Hula painted frog in honor of World Wetlands Day. […]

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BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Jordan and Israel are planning to build on a large solar thermal power plant on their border, Israeli press said Monday. The power plant is designed to start producing 50-150 mega watt in 2016, and cost an estimated $300 – 600 million, the Hebrew daily Maariv reported. Israel’s Ministry of Regional Cooperation […]

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February 02, 2012 02:16 AM The Daily Star BEIRUT: A visiting delegation of Danish experts believe that wind-generated electricity in the northern region of Akkar, expected to produce some 140 Megawatts of power, could be available in as little as 13 months. Beirut MP Mohammad Qabbani, who chairs Parliament’s Public Works, Energy and Water Committee […]

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Yale University Environmental Performance Index ranks countries on 22 aspects of environmental performance comparing countries’ achievements in applying environmental policy goals. By Zafrir Rinat * * Published 02:14 01.02.12 * Latest update 02:14 01.02.12 Israel receives middling ranking in green survey Yale University Environmental Performance Index ranks countries on 22 aspects of environmental performance comparing […]

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SPNI and JNF battle over the nature of Israel’s north, as Tu Bishvat, Jewish Arbor Day nears. By Zafrir Rinat On the eve of Tu Bishvat, two of the country’s leading ecological groups are feuding over the character of open spaces in northern Israel. The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI ) […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 02/02/2012 06:08 Available pollution info is lacking, green group says. Pollution By REUTERS The brunt of lower and western Galilee factories does not comply with the standards of the Clean Air Law, a local green group found. Only two of three surveyed wastewater-treatment facilities in the region comply with the country’s sewage […]

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Overflow from Ga’aton River, which runs through Nahariya, causes extensive property damage each year. By Zafrir Rinat Townships in the Western Galilee have for the first time prepared a plan to prevent recurrent floods that damage property and waste precious water every winter. The Ga’aton River, which runs through Nahariya, serves as drainage for much […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 02/03/2012 04:37 All but one of 22 Palestinian villages refuse connection to sewage line, Environmental Protection Ministry says. Gilad Erdan tours Samarian communities By Courtesy Environmental Protection Ministry Swirling in the strikingly green valley below the southern Samaria community of Nofim is a rambling stream amid grass and trees – filled with […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 02/02/2012 06:02 200% increase in diesel fuel consumption, 108% rise in jet fuel oil use seen in 2011. Power station in southern city of Ashdod By Amir Cohen/Reuters Due to the lack of production reserves in the electricity sector, Energy and Water Minister Uzi Landau said he expects there to be temporary […]

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Samaria in a sewage stalemate By SHARON UDASIN 02/03/2012 04:37 All but one of 22 Palestinian villages refuse connection to sewage line, Environmental Protection Ministry says. Gilad Erdan tours Samarian communities By Courtesy Environmental Protection Ministry Swirling in the strikingly green valley below the southern Samaria community of Nofim is a rambling stream amid grass […]

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An organization that demands universal compliance with the law and ecological norms has become part of a complex that perpetually abuses principles of law and justice. By Zafrir Rinat The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel recently released its annual report, outlining a list of threats posed to open spaces around the country. […]

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JIIS’ Environmental Policy Center together with its partner the Ministry of Environmental Protection launched a new web site this month presenting the latest developments of their joint project “Sustainability Outlook 2030 for Israel.” The goal of the project is to present a vision of sustainability for the year 2030 towards which Israel should aspire, thereby […]

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January 26, 2012 02:15 AM The Daily Star There has been a national outcry, from the south to the north, over the latest electricity problems. People are fed up with the promises and excuses of their leaders regarding an issue that is so vital to their livelihoods. People are now paying twice for the electricity, […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 01/30/2012 05:14 Energy and Water minister instructs Israel Electric Corporation to begin implementing plan to link Israel’s electricity grid to that of Cyprus. Uzi Landau By Ariel Jerozolimski Energy and Water Minister Uzi Landau instructed the Israel Electric Corporation on Sunday to begin implementing a plan to lay undersea cables to link […]

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Proposed national investment fund to tap anticipated natural gas bonanza to fuel both export-geared economy, provide nest egg of $10 billion in under a decade for future generations Associated Press Israel is putting together a plan for a national investment fund that would tap an anticipated natural gas bonanza to fuel both an export-geared economy […]

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