The time has come to say it’s not enough: to maximize the country’s profits, to leverage the gas and ensure that it lasts, the government needs to make the new Sheshinski law a basis for action, not a fig leaf. By Avi Bar-Eli 1. It’s rare we have a chance to praise our elected officials […]

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I – Introduction A. The sorry state of the power sector in Lebanon has become a major impediment to economic development, putting undue burden on the efficiency and cost structure of Lebanese producers. No less dramatically, it still denies Lebanon’s citizens uninterrupted and affordable power supply. B. Following numerous studies over the years, technical problems […]

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The state has presented the High Court of Justice a reply to a petition against the construction of a water purification plant for the settlement of Ofra on land that is privately owned by Palestinians. By Zafrir Rinat I would like to introduce you to the principle of relative cancellation – a legal rule that […]

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Economic Benefits of Access to a Healthy Lower Jordan River for Palestinian Economy FoEME has undertaken this report with the aim to highlight the importance of a healthy Jordan River for the economic benefits of the West Bank, and to foster Palestinian political and public support for the rehabilitation of this historical river. Six development […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 03/24/2011 06:08 Life and Environment NGO to present this year’s seven “Green Globe” winners – and “a black one.” Amiad Lapidot spent November 2004 knocking on his neighbors’ doors in Moshav Kerem Maharal on the Carmel, distributing buckets to collect organic waste he then turned into compost for his farm. Nearly seven […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 03/23/2011 07:15 Scientists, business leaders, policymakers gather to discuss consumption, innovation, global preparedness in face of looming energy crisis. By the year 2050, an estimated global population of 10 billion will demand approximately two-and-ahalf times the amount of energy consumed today, a challenge that one European nonprofit organization says can be solved […]

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Unipack insists it is abiding by regulations, blames municipality for sewage on beach By Simona Sikimic Daily Star staff Friday, March 25, 2011 Listen to the Article – Powered by Environmental activists block pipe they say is pumping toxic waste into sea HALAT: Environmental activists Thursday blocked an industrial pipe allegedly spewing toxic waste into […]

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BEIRUT: A major cleanup effort from the Civil Defense Force Thursday recovered more than 20,000 liters of kerosene following warnings by environmental officials that a spill offshore from a major oil depot could become a major environmental disaster. The spill, which occurred Wednesday as a fuel tanker was sending kerosene along an underwater pipeline to […]

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A change in energy strategy would significantly reduce the cost of fuel for electricity generation as well as Israel’s dependence on imports; National Economic Council head says state is major shareholder, so tax breaks make sense. By Avi Bar-Eli s the government prepares to welcome a new royalty regime for the extraction of natural resources, […]

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By REBECCA ANNA STOIL AND NADAV SHEMER 03/23/2011 23:49 Knesset Finance C’tee passes bill on taxation of natural gas, oil resources; intensive lobbying by PM, Steinitz garners enough support. The so-called Sheshinski bill on the taxation of Israel’s natural gas and oil resources passed its second and third plenum readings in the Knesset Finance Committee […]

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By Hana Namrouqa AMMAN – Water sector experts and decision makers on Thursday called for stricter enforcement of water-related laws and regulations for better protection of Jordan’s scant water resources. They said laws and regulations protecting the country’s water resources exist, but criticised their weak enforcement, which allows for violations and thus depletion of the […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 03/28/2011 23:46 Water conference covers broad spectrum of both local and global topics, including preparation for climatic change. Israel provides a key example of how countries should manage their water infrastructure in coming years, as national populations increase at unprecedented speeds and governments grapple with the need to combat water scarcity, according […]

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Environment minister issues hefty fines, will close four guilty firms. By Ora Coren Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan is going after polluters with heavy fines and other actions. He is also pushing new laws to make Israeli industry, transportation and energy production greener. Erdan also thinks it is necessary to expand the authority of his […]

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The conservative Republican from Oklahoma wants even larger tax breaks to the partners in the offshore natural gas fields. By Zvi Zrahiya * * Published 01:10 22.03.11 * Latest update 01:10 22.03.11 U.S. senator lobbying to torpedo Sheshinski The conservative Republican from Oklahoma wants even larger tax breaks to the partners in the offshore natural […]

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Cabinet, Finance Ministry and Knesset revise proposed law on tax and fiscal policy concerning Israel’s natural resources. By Avi Bar-Eli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is looking for ways to give the oil and gas exploration companies hundreds of millions of shekels in tax breaks and other benefits. This, even as the Knesset Finance Committee is […]

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Israel created a plan for a nuclear energy plant to be located in the Negev several years ago but it has yet come into fruition. By Barak Ravid and Zafrir Rinat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview with CNN that Israel is reconsidering its plans for a nuclear energy facility in light of […]

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Source: International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Date: 21 Mar 2011 21-03-2011 News Release 11/64 Geneva/Jerusalem (ICRC) – Large numbers of people living in the Gaza Strip remain at risk of contracting water-borne disease because of insufficient and poorly maintained wastewater treatment systems. See also TV news footage: Gazans struggle for access to clean […]

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From the Desk of LTC Avi Shalev, Head of the International Organizations Branch The Civil Administration is keen to support and help the development o the wastewater sector in the West Bank. Treatment of wastewater is of key importance to the region and to the communities. Untreated wastewater can cause serious environmental, water and health […]

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By Hana Namrouqa AMMAN – Over 500 water experts and lawmakers will gather at the rapidly shrinking Dead Sea next week to discuss ways to manage scarce water resources. International water utility representatives, experts and academicians will convene at the sixth International Water Association Specialist (IWA) Conference on Efficient Use and Management of Water (Efficient […]

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By Anna Paolini Water is life. Yet Jordanians have one of the lowest amounts of water per person in the world. To make matters worse, annual rainfall in Jordan is declining while demand continues to rise. Even more action needs to be taken to mitigate the increasing water scarcity and if this challenge is to […]

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