Rain seems to elude the Kingdom, although traditionally the wet season will have started quite some time ago. Unless the weather changes, the country could be facing a worrisome development: acute lack of water, not only for agricultural but also for domestic use, a fear that never really leaves countries poor in this precious commodity. […]

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By Hana Namrouqa AMMAN – Challenges facing water utilities across the region will come under the spotlight today in the opening of the first Arab Water Week. Organised by the Arab Countries Water Utilities Association (ACWUA) in cooperation with the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, the event will gather 400 water experts and decision makers […]

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By EHUD ZION WALDOKS 12/02/2010 03:05 Commission meets in Cancun to negotiate parameters for cutting emissions; Israel is making an effort to cut emissions by 20% by 2020. If only big or rich countries are compelled to cut their emissions, these reductions still won’t be enough to retard climate change, Shuli Nezer, the Environmental Protection […]

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By Hana Namrouqa AMMAN – The Ministry of Water and Irrigation is currently drafting an emergency water plan in light of an “unprecedented absence of rain”, a government official said on Wednesday. Minister of Water and Irrigation Mohammad Najjar has instructed the Water Authority of Jordan and the Jordan Valley Authority to draft an emergency […]

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Unusually dry autumn and poor infrastructure leading to water ‘crisis’ experts say By Tamara Qiblawi Friday, December 03, 2010 Steep water shortage takes toll on economy BEIRUT: While Lebanon’s beach-goers bask in the sun of a clear skied autumn season, many potable water tanks in neighborhoods throughout the country are hollowing out and families are […]

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Mohamad Ali Harissi Agence France Presse BEIRUT: As Europe shivers under freezing temperatures, unusually balmy weather and a lack of rain or snow have spelled disaster for Lebanon’s farmers and ski resorts. “The delayed rainfall is threatening some of our major springs, in which water is becoming increasingly scarce,” said Fouad Hashwa, the dean of […]

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By Raed Omari AMMAN – Despite the lack of rain and a serious water shortage, it is still too early to declare a water-related state of emergency, a senior official from the Jordanian Farmers Union (JFU) said. JFU President Ahmad Faour told The Jordan Times over the phone yesterday that it is still uncertain whether […]

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By AMIRAM BARKAT / GLOBES 02/12/2010 link to original article The Finance Ministry is prepared to buy water from private desalination companies at much higher prices than it is prepared to pay Mekorot. The Finance Ministry is prepared to buy water from private desalination companies at much higher prices than it is prepared to pay […]

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By EHUD ZION WALDOKS 12/05/2010 03:02 The 50,000 dunams that have been consumed by flames represent just under half of the 115,000 dunam Carmel forest reserve. Officials said Saturday that it could take dozens of years for all of the area destroyed by the fire to be rehabilitated. The 50,000 dunams that have been consumed […]

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By JUDY SIEGEL AND EHUD ZION WALDOKS 12/06/2010 04:36 The horrendous fire will stimulate a rebirth in the lost forests and result in an impressive return of animal biodiversity, experts say. Although the grief of the families who lost their love ones to the fire will remain forever and the trauma of property loss will […]

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by Raed Omari AMMAN – The Middle East is one of the most vulnerable regions in the world to climate change, threatening Jordan’s development, a senior development economist has warned. Delivering a public lecture on Sunday, Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Earth Institute of Columbia University, highlighted recent indicators of ecosystem change and its consequences […]

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AMMAN – His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday issued instructions to send the necessary equipment to assist in extinguishing fires that broke out in various forest areas in Lebanon, a Royal Court statement said. The King issued the instructions after receiving a telephone call from Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, asking for help to put […]

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AMMAN/ISFIYA, Israel (Agencies) –– Jordan’s civil defence teams have joined firefighters from several countries that rushed to help Israel fight a huge forest fire. The Jordan News Agency, Petra, quoted an official source as saying Saturday that the government received an official request from the Israeli government a day earlier to take part in efforts […]

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Ismail Haniyeh says Allah is punishing Israelis for ‘what they did,’ during emergency prayers in Gaza City to ask for rain. The de-facto Palestinian prime minister in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh said Sunday that the massive forest fires in northern Israel served as a “strike from Allah [God].” Commenting on the fires in Israel, which killed […]

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By YAAKOV KATZ 12/05/2010 03:04 Israel can expect devastation, not only in its cities, but in its forests as well, in a future war with Hamas and Hizbullah. Imagine a future war with Hizbullah and Hamas. If we believe the recent predictions of outgoing head of Military Intelligence Maj.- Gen. Amos Yadlin, Israel will face […]

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The next disaster: a massive toxic spill. By Zafrir Rinat The Environmental Protection Ministry is ill-prepared to deal with an accident at an industrial plant holding hazardous materials, Minister Gilad Erdan acknowledged yesterday. It is his ministry that is responsible for directives dealing with the storage of hazardous materials, but as ministry professionals have long […]

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There is a disturbing phenomenon of homegrown terrorism that has contaminated a small but violent minority. One of the few positive developments to emerge in the wake of Israel’s worst-ever inferno has been the tremendous outpouring of international aid, including from the Muslim world. Both Egypt and Jordan have reached out, sending firefighters and equipment. […]

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Speaking at the funeral of a teenage fire-fighting volunteer, President says that while Israel missed firefighting equipment, it made up for that lack with courage and a volunteering spirit. The worst wildfire in Israel’s history teaches Israelis that Jews and Arabs share the same fate, President Shimon Peres said on Sunday while attending the funeral […]

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Expected light rain comes after what many consider as Israel’s driest autumn in recorded history. By Asaf Shtull-Trauring A slight sign of optimism and hope in the fight against the wildfire that has been ravaging Israel’s north since Thursday is expected later Sunday, as forecasts say rain is expected to fall on large parts of […]

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