State of Israel

Ministry of the Environment

ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN March

2004
volume 27

Ministry of the Environment

Cover photo: Environmental With a

Avraham Achievements: Face to
Matiash
2003 6 the Public
32
www.environment.gov.il
 content
Dear Reader:
From our Director General, Dr. Miriam Haran Volume 27 of Israel Environment Bulletin introduces a
In a special end-of-the-year interview, Director General Dr.
Miriam Haran reflects on the ministry's achievements in 2003.
3 new format for the Bulletin. We hope that this new
design, accompanied by our continuing coverage
of developments in Israeli environmental policy, will
Treating Construction and Demolition Waste
A government decision paves the way for new solutions
to the problem of construction and demolition waste,
the largest fraction of solid waste in the country.
6 afford our readers a new measure of interest in the
environment in Israel.

The current volume of the Bulletin focuses on the

International Prize to the Alexander River ministry's goals and achievements for 2003. These
Restoration Project
The interdisciplinary approach adopted in this river
10 overall goals relate to six central components of the
ministry's work: municipal and industrial waste treatment,
restoration effort earns the Alexander River Restoration
water pollution prevention and river restoration, pollution
Project first prize in an international competition.
reduction from transportation and industrial sources,
Cleaning Up Israel's Air: Focusing on Vehicle Pollution treatment of life-threatening hotspots, the environment
The preparation of an action plan on the reduction
of pollution from transportation sources may allow
14 as a catalyst for economic growth and national interests
and improvement of the urban environment and
Israelis to breathe easier. preservation of open spaces. While lack of space
prevents us from surveying all of our achievements,
Toward Remediation of Ramat Hovav
Despite major improvements at Ramat Hovav,
remediation is imperative in order to transform the
site into a modern site for the treatment of hazardous
18 we have chosen to focus on one specific objective
within each overall goal in order to provide our readers
with a glimpse of the challenges and opportunities
waste. facing Israel at this junction.

Government Approves Sustainable Development Plan We are also pleased to inform our readers that our
Steps are now being taken to translate a May 2003
government decision on sustainable development
22 updated English website - www.environment.gov.il/english
- is now online. This interactive
into a reality.
website features an e-bulletin,
devoted to a different subject
Environmental Considerations in Municipal Elections
The results of a survey, undertaken last summer,
underline the importance of environmental issues to
24 each month, along with
updated infor mation on
residents of cities throughout Israel. environmental topics, breaking
news items and much more.
International Cooperation
Mr. Lucien Chabason, outgoing Coordinator of the Mediterranean
Action Plan, shares his thoughts.
26 We do hope that you will
subscribe to this free e-bulletin
online. At the same time, Israel Environment Bulletin,
Environmental Legislation
Israel promulgates new regulations on a variety of subjects.
29 which will now be published twice a year, will continue
to bring you special features on environmental
developments in Israel.
With a Face to the Public
The Ministry of the Environment compounds its efforts to promote
environmental awareness and public participation.
32 Shoshana Gabbay
Editor
Cover photo: Avraham Matiash, First Prize, Fifth Photography Competition Inquiries should be addressed to: Israel Environment Bulletin
on Nature and Environment, founded by the Society for the Protection P.O.B. 34033, Jerusalem 95464, Israel
of Nature in Israel and the magazine "Eretz v' Teva" in cooperation with Telephone: 972-2-6553777, Fax: 972-2-6535934
the Ministries of Environment and Tourism.  http://www.environment.gov.il/english
Small photos: Ministry of the Environment, Eyal Yaffe, Motti Sela
E-mail: shoshana@environment.gov.il
Design: Studio Billet
Prof. Yehudith Naot, Minister of the Environment

2 Dr. Miriam Haran, Director General

 Interview: Dr. Miriam Haran
Director General, Ministry of the Environment
In recent years, the Ministry of the Environment
has set specific goals for achievement. How are
these goals determined?
Our country is small in size, dense in population,
and plagued by water and land scarcity. Under
these conditions, we had to formulate goals,
objectives and milestones for implementation
that would allow Israel to continue to develop
in a sustainable manner, to provide a good quality
of life and the environment to its population, to
preserve and improve its scarce natural resources,
and to safeguard the health of its residents.
It is an integral part of our policy to reevaluate
and update each year’s goals on the basis of
developments in Israel and worldwide. This year
we took special note of the Johannesburg World
Summit on Sustainable Development and, therefore,
in setting our goals for 2004, we oriented ourselves
to sustainable development principles.
My previous experience in the Ministry of the
Environment, both as Chief Scientist and as Deputy
Director General for Industries, has given me a
broad vision of policy issues. As Director General,
I am committed to fostering continuous dialogue
and cooperation among all departments of the
ministry in order to promote integration, monitor
achievements and shortfallings, and guide our
efforts toward the fulfillment of our goals.
Yet our responsibility also extends to the public
at large, to the private sector and to other
government bodies. We are doing our utmost to
bring this future-oriented vision of sustainability
to all of these sectors through dialogue, cooperation
and guidance.
Photos: Motti Sela, Eyal Yaffe
Can you point to examples, from our
action plan, which incorporate social
and economic components in addition
to environmental aspects?
www.environment.gov.il
There are numerous examples. Such
objectives as improving the quality
of the environment in urban centers,
preserving open spaces, assuring
open access to the coastline while
preventing private development
along the shoreline, promoting public
transportation ≠ all illustrate our growing
concern for social issues. Similarly,
our opposition to the establishment
of another coal-fired power plant
and our proposed landfill and hazardous waste Preserving
fees take account of economic considerations.
We have managed to show that the external costs
open
space is a
of air pollution and landfilling, for example, are very
costly to the economy. In these and other cases, critical issue
we then forwarded alternatives that promise to be
more beneficial for the economy, the environment
and the society.
Were the goals and objectives for 2003 achieved?
For the most part, we were able to fulfill many of
our goals to some degree — sometimes more,
sometimes less. Many of our setbacks or
disappointments were due to dependence on
other bodies or legislative processes.
For example, in the area of waste treatment, we
succeeded in closing the last of Israel’s large
unregulated landfills, in Retamim in northern Ashdod.
At the same time, we prepared action plans for
other components of our waste stream, namely,
construction and demolition waste and waste tires.
3
 From Dr. Miriam Haran
Agricultural fields. Photo: Motti Sela
As for water pollution prevention and river restoration,
we succeeded in helping to stop some of the
sewage which was previously discharged to our
rivers. While the Treasury recognizes the importance
of upgrading Israel’s wastewater treatment plants
to provide higher treatment levels, budgetary
constraints have delayed progress. Therefore, we
are now prioritizing the list of Israel’s wastewater
treatment plants in the hope that at least those
We are doing
plants which are situated in hydrologically sensitive
our utmost to areas will be eligible for upgrading in the near
bring this future.
future-oriented A major achievement relates to treating Israel’s
vision of life-threatening pollution hotspots - Ramat Hovav
in the south of the country and Haifa Bay and
sustainability to the Kishon River in the north. Each plant in the
all sectors Ramat Hovav industrial area will now be required
to treat its own wastewater in order to reduce
through
the biological load and conform to stricter effluent
dialogue, standards. Similarly in Haifa Bay and the Kishon
cooperation River, industrial plants are implementing the
conditions of waste discharge permits under our
and guidance strict supervision.
There are other successes as well: the government
unanimously approved our proposal to prepare
a strategic plan for sustainable development,
diesel fuel with a sulfur content exceeding 50
4
ppm sulfur is no longer available in our gas
stations, the government approved plans for
a wind farm in the north of Israel, our Protection
of the Coastal Environment Bill has been
advanced, our program for minimizing hazardous
waste through financial assistance has yielded
positive results, we have signed a contract for
the development of an air resources
management system, and much more.
Along with other government ministries, the
Ministry of the Environment is facing major
budgetary cutbacks in 2004. Can anything be
done to improve the quality of the environment
while contributing to the economy?
I am a fir m believer in the potential of
environmental technologies. The global market
in this area is growing fast and already exceeds
$500 billion, excluding the energy market. Israel
has much to contribute — in such diverse fields
as utilization and management of water sources,
wastewater reuse, combating desertification
and solar energy.
What is required is a two-pronged approach.
First, we must continue to enact and strictly
enforce environmental laws in Israel while
making stakeholders understand the role of
environmental technologies in environmental
compliance. Second, we must convince the
relevant authorities that the environmental
technologies market holds tremendous economic
potential. To my mind, there is a direct correlation
between sustainable development and
environmental technologies. We have much to
gain, environmentally, economically and socially,
by developing this market.
What is your vision for the long-term?
I would like to see our goals implemented in the
spirit of sustainable development. We now realize,
for example, that the preservation of open space
is a critical issue in a densely populated country
such as Israel which lacks a continuity of open
space.
There are still those in this country who equate
economic growth with accelerated building and
development ≠ anywhere and everywhere. Our
challenge is to convince all relevant bodies,
public as well as private, that the loss of open
space to building and development is an irreversible
process. For this purpose, we are advocating a
policy which calls for strengthening our existing
cities and preserving the continuity of open space
throughout the country.
Another central problem relates to the quantity
and quality of our water resources. We must
increase our water inventory both for our own
population and for the sake of the entire region,
where populations continue to grow and water
sources may dwindle due to climate change.
For this purpose, we have assessed the economic
costs of increasing our water supply - treating
some 500 cubic meters of wastewater to a level
enabling unrestricted irrigation, desalinating
seawater and saline water, and treating water
wells which were contaminated by industry.
Photos: Motti Sela, Eyal Yaffe
My dream is to increase our water supply without
pumping water from Lake Kinneret so that its
waters may once again flow into the Jordan
River and the Dead Sea. This may help us avert
the impending crisis in the Dead Sea whose
steadily declining water level is already threatening The
the ecosystem, infrastructure and tourism potential environmental
of this globally unique area. And of course, we
will continue to address problems such as waste
technologies
and air pollution, which impact not only on our market holds
www.environment.gov.il
quality of life but on life itself. tremendous
About two-thirds of the staffers at the Ministry of economic
the Environment are women. Prof. Yehudith Naot
is the third woman to hold the position of Minister
potential
of the Environment and you are the second
woman to be appointed director general. Would
you like to relate to this phenomenon?
It is an honor and an achievement that we have
so many highly educated women holding high
positions in the ministry, not only the minister and
director general, but also deputy director generals
and directors of different departments.
Perhaps women are drawn to environmental
issues because they are eager to make a
contribution, to work toward a most just society
which offers all residents a better quality of life
≠ not only today but tomorrow as well. Yet it is
important for me to say that all of our staffers,
men and women alike, are motivated by
dedication and professionalism. They are our
greatest assets.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank
our Environment Minister, Prof. Yehudith Naot, for
choosing me for this position — hopefully not only
because I am a woman, but also based on my
education and professional experience. I hope
these will stand me well in helping to fulfill
the diverse goals of the Ministry of the
Environment.
5
 Treating municipal and industrial waste

Treating
municipal
and
industrial
Treating
Construction
waste

Preventing
water
pollution
and
restoring
rivers

Reducing air
pollution
Demolition
Waste
&
from
transportation he Ministry of the Environment is determined
and industrial to rid the country of unsightly heaps of
sources
construction and demolition waste and to
transform this waste from nuisance to resource

Treating life- Accelerated construction, development and road

threatening
hotspots building in Israel leave significant quantities of
construction and demolition waste in their wake.
This waste all too frequently finds its way to open
spaces and roadsides throughout the country. In
Catalyzing addition to landscape blight, improper disposal
economic of construction waste is responsible for a host of
growth and
national environmental and health nuisances including
interests groundwater contamination, air pollution in case
of fires, and lowered property values.
Construction and demolition waste constitutes
Improving the the largest fraction in the total waste generated
urban
environment by the country. Some 7.5 million tons of construction
and waste are generated in Israel each year - some
preserving
open spaces 140% more than the total quantity of household
waste which is produced in this country. Yet only
11 authorized sites for dry waste exist in Israel, and
only one million tons reach these designated sites
(about 14%). Such a small number of sites, most
of them situated far away from the source of the
waste, cannot possibly absorb the huge quantities
of waste which are generated each year.

Moving from Pessimism to Optimism

Until recently, the situation appeared hopeless.
Only a handful of recycling and landfill sites for
construction waste existed in Israel, there was no
municipal collection and transport system capable
of handling this waste, there were no uniform Dry waste dumped in Hadera
standards in local authorities for the treatment of Photo: Solid Waste Division
dry waste, there was no mechanism for determining

6
ISRAEL ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN. vol 27
 Government Resolution on
Construction and Demolition Waste:
Highlights

• Establishment and operation of transfer

stations for bulky waste in local authorities.
• Establishment of authorized landfill sites
for dry waste.
• Establishment of shredding and recycling
infrastructures for construction and
demolition waste.
• Development of reuse technologies for
construction waste and recycled waste.

www.environment.gov.il
• Cleanup and rehabilitation of polluted
open areas.
• Operation of a national enforcement
and inspection system.
• Advancement of municipal bylaws on
construction and demolition waste.
• Financial aid to local authorities for the
establishment of recycling infrastructures
and transfer stations and to private
entrepreneurs for recycling projects.
• Allocation of NIS 54 million for a three-
year period to finance these activities.

Some 7.5
waste quantities for the purpose of granting million tons of
building permits, there was no budget to clean
up and rehabilitate open areas, and the Ministry
construction
of the Environment did not have adequate waste are
resources to undertake enforcement, on the one generated in
hand, and to aid local authorities in solving the
problem, on the other hand.
Israel each
year
Today, there is reason for optimism. The influx of
funds for the sole purpose of solving the problem,
catalyzed by a government decision, may prove
a landmark in Israel’s treatment of its construction
and demolition waste. The goal: to regulate the
disposal and treatment of this waste, prevent the
pollution of open spaces, and rehabilitate disturbed
areas - all within a three-year period.

Government Resolution on Construction

and Demolition Waste
To help address the problem, the Israel government
resolved, in a February 2003 decision, to undertake
a variety of measures, on both the local and
national fronts. Specifically, it called "on the Minister
of the Environment to regulate the treatment of
construction and demolition waste throughout
Israel within three years, and no later than the
end of 2005, in order to clean up areas polluted
by construction waste."

7
 Treating municipal and industrial waste

Treating
From Plan to Action
Illegal construction waste dump in Or Akiva, which
municipal To help solve the problem and to implement the was subsequently cleaned up by order of the Ministry
and government decision, the Ministry of the of the Environment
industrial Photo: Yossi Bar
waste Environment has formulated a two-phase plan
for the disposal and treatment of construction
and demolition waste: stopping the illegal disposal
Preventing of this waste and assuring that it reaches authorized
water
pollution sites, in the first phase, and advancing alternatives
and to landfilling, including recycling and reuse, in
restoring the second phase.
rivers
To translate plan into action, numerous steps
have already been initiated. Tenders for the
Reducing air establishment of disposal sites for construction
pollution
from and demolition waste are being prepared,
transportation cleanup and rehabilitation of some sites has
and industrial been initiated, cleanup of open spaces in which
sources
construction and demolition waste has been
dumped has begun, several companies are
providing shredding and crushing services for
this waste, and numerous local authorities have
Treating life-
threatening begun to incorporate conditions in their tenders
hotspots

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT - 1993-2003

•All of Israel’s major dump sites (77 out of 77) were closed.
Catalyzing •Seven medium to large landfills are being built or upgraded.
economic
growth and •Recycling has gone up from 3% to 20%.
national •More than 75% of the waste is disposed in controlled sites.
interests •107 local authorities (50% of the population) have received a subsidy of over $80 million
for closing large dumps and transporting their wastes to state-of-the-art landfills.

Improving the Reduction of Illegal Waste Sites - 1993-2003

urban
environment 90
and
preserving 80
open spaces 77 76
74
70

60

50

41
40

30 27

20
number of sites

10 9
6
3 2 2 1
0
1992 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

8
ISRAEL ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN. vol 27

which mandate crushing following large-scale
demolition projects.
And last but not least, the Ministry of the Environment
has called on local authorities to submit proposals
for the establishment of solid waste infrastructures,
including sites for the disposal or treatment of
construction and demolition waste. Based on
strict criteria, financial support (50% of the total
cost) will be provided to the highest scoring
projects.
Hopefully the combination of government decision,
action plan, funding, stakeholder cooperation
and market forces will help rid the country of
unsightly heaps of waste while providing
environment-friendly disposal and recycling
solutions to the complex problem of construction
and demolition waste in Israel.
GIL YANIV ON CONSTRUCTION AND
DEMOLITION WASTE
Deputy Director General for Infrastructure
Over the past ten years we managed to
solve our municipal waste problem. The
time has now come to deal with an even
greater problem - construction and demolition
waste. This is a problem of huge proportions
www.environment.gov.il
involving quantities one and a half times
greater than municipal waste.
Unlike municipal waste, which may be
transported over wide distances to peripheral
areas, long-range transport is not an option
for bulk wastes. The biggest problem lies
in the central region of the country where disposal sites for building
debris simply do not exist although a large portion of the country’s
construction waste is generated there. A survey, which we recently
conducted, showed that even if all abandoned quarries in the Tel Aviv
and central districts were made available for this waste, they would
be filled up within two years. We, along with the Israel Lands Administration,
are therefore examining the option of disposal in operating quarries in
the region.
In parallel, I am glad to say that a tender has been issued for the recycling
and crushing of construction and demolition waste at the Hiriya recycling
site. Future months should see the sorting of this waste at the site - with
recyclable components going for recycling and the rest being used
to help moderate the slope of the 80-meter high former landfill, which
was closed down in 1998, and is now destined for rehabilitation as part
of a larger project for the Ayalon metropolitan park.
We are encouraging recycling and crushing in order to prevent
environmental degradation and to transform dry waste from nuisance
to resource - whether as a substrate for roads or for reuse in the construction
sector with associated components going to recycling. We are working
with every possible stakeholder - the Israel Lands Administration, local
authorities, planning committees - to ensure strict control and enforcement
at every stage. On our part, we expect to reinforce our inspection and
enforcement capabilities with the addition of much needed manpower,
including dedicated inspectors of the Green Police who will launch
regional enforcement campaigns, undertake surveillance and conduct
investigations.
I would like to believe that this new initiative will match our success in
closing down all of the country’s major dumps and replacing them with
state-of-the-art landfills. 2004 should see a real breakthrough.
9
 Preventing water pollution and restoring rivers

Treating
municipal
and
International Prize To The
industrial
waste
Alexander River
Preventing
water
pollution
and
Restoration Project
restoring
rivers prestigious international prize reinforces of the Alexander River within the context of its
Israel's commitment to river restoration 550 km2 river basin, the Administration has opted
for a comprehensive and multidisciplinary
Reducing air The restoration project for the Alexander River,
pollution approach. Public participation is paramount in
which flows some 32 kilometers from the Palestinian
from this approach. Both children and adults are deeply
transportation city of Nablus in the Samarian Hills to the
and industrial involved in all levels of activity, and all activities
Mediterranean Sea north of Netanya, was initiated
sources are conducted under the slogan "Returning the
in 1995 with the establishment of the Alexander
River to the People."
River Restoration Administration. In 2003, the
Alexander River Restoration Project was awarded From Dream to Reality
one of the world's most prestigious international The project addresses a wide variety of restoration
Treating life- prizes for excellence in river management - the issues, including water supply, removal of pollutants,
threatening Thiess International Riverprize.
hotspots development of river parks, ecological rehabilitation,
How to stop the pollution which has plagued the public involvement, education, drainage and
river for over 50 years and transform it into a river flood defense. To date, about $12.5 million have
of life? For the past eight years, the Alexander been invested in the project, most of it by the
Catalyzing River Restoration Administration, a twenty-member Ministry of the Environment and the Jewish National
economic voluntary body headed by the Ministry of the Fund. Following are some of the achievements:
growth and
national Environment, the Jewish National Fund, the Emek • Completion of a masterplan which has
interests Hefer Regional Council, the Sharon Drainage generated many related projects.
Authority and the Israel Government Tourism • Removal of the main sources of pollution -
Company, has grappled with just this question. including the sewage of Netanya and Kfar
Improving the As the body charged with planning, Yona and, to a lesser degree, the Nablus River
urban implementation, management and maintenance sewage.
environment
and
preserving tons/year Annual Pollution Loads in Major Israel Streams
open spaces
25,000
22,852

20,000

15,000

11,559
10,318
10,000
9,039
6,607 6,530
5,000
4,775
2,683
2,284

0
T.Organic Carbon Total Nitrogen Total Phosphorus

±ππ¥ ≤∞∞∞ ≤∞∞±

ISRAEL ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN. vol 27

10
 www.environment.gov.il
The Alexander
River Restoration
Project was
awarded one of
the world's most
prestigious
international
prizes for
excellence in river
management

Alexander River Photo: Eyal Yaffe

11
 Preventing water pollution and restoring rivers

Treating tons/year
municipal Total Organic Carbon in Major Israeli Streams
and 9,000

7806
industrial
waste 8,000

7,000

5827
Preventing 6,000
water
pollution 5,000
and
4,000
restoring 3101
rivers
2404

3,000

2290
2040

1985

1930
1856
2,000
1490
1490

1350
1080

983

850

741
846

730
Reducing air

626

732
1,000

552

544
531

419

482
336

350

320
331

191
pollution

192

100
69
75

45
35
from 0
transportation Soreq Kishon Harod Hadera Besor Alexander Yarkon Taninim Na’aman Ayalon Poleg Lachish
and industrial ±ππ¥ ≤∞∞∞ ≤∞∞±
sources

• A demonstration project involving the scenic, Ecology Knows No Borders

visual, ecological and drainage restoration of An important element in the decision to grant
a 750 m section. the prestigious prize to this particular restoration
Treating life-
threatening • Development of seven river parks and river project was the cooperation between Israelis
hotspots paths (pedestrian as well as bicycle) along and Palestinians in cleaning up the river. While
different parts of the river. the ultimate objective is to establish a joint
• Planting of more than 10,000 trees along river wastewater treatment plant for the Emek Hefer
stretches. Regional Council (Israeli) and the Tul Karem
Catalyzing • Flood defense and drainage works using District (Palestinian), an "Emergency Project" for
economic
growth and environmentally friendly methods. the treatment of the Nablus River sewage was
national • Specific projects to protect the rare Nile soft- constructed as an interim solution. It is no wonder,
interests shell turtles, which may reach up to 120 cm in therefore, that at the award ceremony, the
length and weigh up to 70 kg. project was hailed as a "unique bridge between
• Rehabilitation of the natural ecosystem to the Israeli and Palestinian people, enabling
Improving the encourage the return of aquatic species by cooperation on an ecological issue that knows
urban
environment the building of riffles and fish ladders, for example. no political borders, even during difficult times."
and
preserving
open spaces Total Phosphorus in Major Israeli Streams
tons/year
4,669

5,000
4,500
4,000
3,500
3,000
2,500
2,000
1,500
935

1,000
545
491
388
338

275
309

290

500
205
212
226
206

228
228
205
200

194
147
161

148

114
103
103

103

89

78
79
58
37
46

31
20

18
11
7

0
Soreq Kishon Harod Hadera Besor Alexander Yarkon Taninim Na’aman Ayalon Poleg Lachish

±ππ¥ ≤∞∞∞ ≤∞∞±

ISRAEL ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN. vol 27

12
And More on River Restoration
Kishon River: The final seven kilometers of this 70-kilometer long river,
which empties into the sea near Haifa, have long been plagued by
heavy pollution from industrial effluents and municipal wastewater.
Recent years have seen the transformation of this "dead" river into a
river in which life exists at a limited scale. This transformation was largely

www.environment.gov.il
due to the investment of major resources by the industrial plants and
Haifa's municipal wastewater treatment plant.

Yarkon River: This 28-kilometer long river flows through Tel Aviv. To improve Twelve
the state of the river, a Yarkon River Authority was set up in 1988, a
coastal rivers
government decision called for the conservation of the river and its
vicinity as the "green lung" of the Tel Aviv metropolitan area in 1996 and
and two rivers
government approval of a restoration and development plan for the in the eastern
river followed in 2003, calling for the allocation of one million cubic basin are
meters a year of water to the Yarkon River, in the first stage. currently
undergoing
Harod River: The 35-kilometer long Harod River, whose watershed basin
encompasses 190 km2, flows in the Jezreel and Beit She'an Valleys into
restoration
the Jordan River. Domestic and industrial sewage discharge, agricultural
drainage and discharge of fishpond waters have long hampered the
inherent potential of the river for tourism development. The establishment
of a regional river administration has resulted in the preparation of a
comprehensive masterplan and in the establishment of riverside parks.

Taninim River ("Crocodile River"): This coastal stream is the last relatively
unpolluted coastal stream in Israel. A river administration for the 25-
kilometer long Taninim River was established in 1998. The masterplan
for the river aims at preserving the river's ecosystem, on the one hand,
and restoring and preserving the ancient water supply and transport
system constructed by the Romans in the Caesarea area, on the other
hand.

Besor River: The Besor River is the longest of Israel's rivers flowing into the
Mediterranean, with a watershed basin encompassing 3,700 square
kilometers. Planning for restoration of the river was especially challenging
due to the large physical area of the river basin, the absence of an
available database, the presence of quarries and polluting industries,
and the river's location in the arid southern part of Israel. The recently
completed masterplan for this desert river is expected to serve as a
model for the restoration of other southern rivers.

Photos Top to Bottom: Eyal Yaffe, Motti Sela, Yeshayahu Bar-Or, Eyal Yaffe,

13
Moshe Milner (Government Press Office)
 Reducing air pollution from transportation
and industrial sources

Treating
municipal
and
industrial
waste

Preventing
water
pollution
and
restoring
rivers

Reducing air
pollution
from
transportation
and industrial
sources

Treating life-
threatening
hotspots

Catalyzing
Cleaning Up Israel's Air:
economic
growth and
national
interests
Focusing On Vehicle
Improving the
Pollution
urban
environment srael is intent on providing its population morbidity (tens of thousands of cases of respiratory,
and with a basic right: clean air cardio-vascular and circulatory disease). It is no
preserving wonder, then, that the Ministry of the Environment
open spaces
Vehicular pollution is a severe problem in Israel. has put reduction of air pollution high on its list
The dramatic increase in the number of cars on of priorities.
Israel's congested roads - reaching about 2 million
in 2003 (double the number just a decade ago) Working to Reduce Vehicular Pollution
- has exacerbated the problem as has the Recent years have seen a flurry of activity to
composition of the vehicle fleet which includes improve fuel quality, increase roadside inspection,
diesel-powered buses and trucks. Monitoring enforce emission standards, and promote new
results have shown that diesel-powered vehicles technologies. Of special importance is a
are responsible for most of the nitrogen oxides government decision, taken in December 2002,
and particulates emissions (some 80% of the total which calls for the preparation of an action plan
vehicular emissions). on the reduction of pollution from the transportation
sector.
Epidemiological surveys in Israel and worldwide
have revealed that long-term exposure to even Today, the interministerial team, which was
low levels of air pollution is associated with increased specifically set up to implement the government
mortality (more than 1000 deaths per year) and decision, is consolidating its final recommendations

ISRAEL ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN. vol 27

14
 Motor Vehicles in Israel

1,960
1,915
2,000

1,831
1,730
1,800

1,675
1,617
1,543
1,600

1,459
1,373
1,400
Diesel-powered
1,261
1,176

1,200
1,075

vehicles are
1,015

1,000
800 responsible for
600 most of the
400 nitrogen oxides
thousands

www.environment.gov.il
200
and particulates
0
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 emissions

Contribution of Different Sectors to Air Pollution Emissions

100% 1%
59% 99% 70% 39% 38%
90%

80%

70%

60% 5% 31%
55%
50%

40% 14%

30% 30%
25%
22%
20%

10%
5% 4%
0% 1% 1% 1%
CO2 CO SO2 NOX SPM
electricity production industry motor vehicles space heating

Source: Central Bureau of Statistics

for government approval. Proposals include a
wide variety of measures based on economic,
legislative and technological steps to reduce
vehicular emissions. Following are some examples:
• Improving fuel quality for transportation;
• Encouraging the scrapping of old vehicles;
• Introducing updated and more stringent
requirements in annual vehicle registration tests;
• Restricting the movement of polluting vehicles
in densely-populated polluted areas;
• Introducing natural gas and liquefied petroleum
gas for transportation use;
• Promoting clean public transportation.
While final recommendations for an action plan
will only be finalized in the near future, several
measures are already being implemented. These,
along with the measures planned for the near
future, are sure to make a real difference - allowing
Israel's residents to breathe easier.

15
 Reducing air pollution from transportation
and industrial sources

Treating
municipal NOx Annual Averages in Transportation Stations in Jerusalem 1999-2002
and
industrial 300
waste 261
250 227

Preventing 200 179

water 151
pollution
and 150
restoring
annual average (ppb)

101 94
rivers 100
50
Reducing air
pollution 0 Klal Bar-Ilan
from
transportation 1999 2000 2001 2002
and industrial
sources

NOx Half-Hour Exceedances in Transportation Stations in Jerusalem 2000-2002

Treating life-
threatening 900 834
hotspots 800
700
600
Catalyzing
500
economic 400
growth and 284
no. of exceedances

national
300
190
interests 200 132
71
100
0 Klal Bar-Ilan
Improving the
urban 2000 2001 2002
environment
and
preserving
open spaces
Half-Hour Exceedances of NOx in Tel Aviv Area Transportation Stations 1998-2002
569

600
500
400
303

333

331

292

300
246
238
224
228

215
212

200
no. of exceedances

148
136

115

110
105

90
89

100
74
78

48
53

66

48

38

0
Amiel-Tel Aviv Ironi D-Tel Aviv Ironi TZ-Tel Aviv Tipat Halav- Remez-Bnei
Tel Aviv Brak
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

ISRAEL ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN. vol 27

16
 And
WhatMore on River
is being done today toRestoration
reduce emissions tomorrow?
• As of January 2004, gas stations no longer carry diesel fuel with a sulfur content above 50
ppm.
• As of January 2004, leaded gasoline is no longer available in Israel. A new standard for
gasoline substitutes a potassium-based additive for lead in 96-octane gasoline.
• As of January 2004, the sulfur content of gas has been reduced from 1500 ppm to 150 ppm
and a 42% limit has been set on aromatic substances in 96-octane gasoline where no Israel is

www.environment.gov.il
limitations existed previously. introducing
• The Standards Institution of Israel is in the final stages of setting a gasoline standard with a
50-ppm sulfur content according to a European specification. cleaner fuels
• The Ministry of the Environment has initiated four research studies on the most suitable for a cleaner
measures for reducing vehicular pollution under Israeli conditions which focus on the environment
performance of buses using diesel oxidation catalytic converters, particulate traps in
combination with oxidation catalysts, continuous regenerating traps, and diesel particulate
filters.
• An economic assessment of the feasibility of scrapping old vehicles showed that scrapping
is beneficial both to the environment and to the economy.

NOx Annual Averages in Transportation Stations in Tel Aviv 1998-2002

120
112
106

104
100
101

107
104

99
98
99

98

100
93
91

89
87
93
88

86

82
81

82
76

80
64

64
63

60
annual average (ppb)

40
20
0
Amiel-Tel Aviv Ironi D-Tel Aviv Ironi TZ-Tel Aviv Tipat Halav- Remez-Bnei Brak
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Tel Aviv

17
 Treating life-threatening hotspots

Treating
municipal
and Toward Remediation Of
Ramat Hovav
industrial
waste

Preventing
water
pollution hings may be falling into place in Israel's • The Ministry of the Environment issued new
and
restoring central site for hazardous waste treatment environmental conditions to the business
rivers license of the Ramat Hovav hazardous
waste treatment plant.
• The Ministry of the Environment issued an
Reducing air
pollution international tender for the preparation of
from a historical survey, field survey and
transportation masterplan for the remediation of the
and industrial
sources hazardous waste treatment site at Ramat
Hovav which could be extended for the
design and close supervision of the remediation.

Implementing the Business Licensing

Treating life-
threatening
hotspots Microfiltration at the Ramat Hovav plant.
Photo: Environmental Services Company
Safety and environmental standards at the
Ramat Hovav hazardous waste site, located
Catalyzing about 12 km south of Beersheba in the
economic
growth and northern Negev, were questionable at best
national only a few years ago. Today, the site is
interests
gradually being transformed into a modern
site for the treatment of hazardous waste. The
catalyst may well have been a fire that broke
Improving the out at the site in August 1998. It underlined the
urban
environment fact that something had to be done to stop
and the ticking time bomb.
preserving
open spaces And things were indeed done — some
immediately, others over a longer period of
time. In 1999 and early 2000, the following
activities were initiated:
• The government allocated funds for the
initial treatment of life-threatening risks
including old and leaking acidic tar ponds
and storage barrels.
• The Environmental Services Company,
which operates the site, stopped
accepting wastes for which feasible
treatment technologies did not exist,
developed new treatment solutions for
some of the wastes and improved storage
conditions and handling procedures.
Conditions
The conditions set in the business license of the
Environmental Services Company in 2000 are
now being implemented. They relate to
sampling, laboratory analysis and
identification of all incoming hazardous waste,
unloading and storage of the waste,
determination of the preferred treatment
technology, treatment of liquid inorganic
waste, incineration of organic waste, site
rehabilitation, mapping and documentation,
and safety, inspection, emergency and
reporting procedures. They prohibit the
discharge of all wastes to evaporation ponds
and call for stabilizing the hazardous waste
destined for landfilling.
Preparing for Remediation
Perhaps one of the most important — and most
pressing — items on the Ramat Hovav agenda
is remediation. The multi-million dollar
remediation project for the site, initiated in
August 1999, includes five phases: historical
survey (concluded in 11/2000); field study
(concluded in 12/2001); remediation
masterplan (concluded in 2003); detailed
planning; and remediation.
The analysis of the field study results and their
comparison with internationally accepted
environmental standards revealed a gloomy

ISRAEL ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN. vol 27

18
picture: high contamination of the • Upgrading of existing waste treatment
underground of the site, mainly affecting the technologies and implementation of new
brackish groundwater at the upper part of the technologies.
aquifer and the top soil, with organic as well
According to the plan, the waste in the
as inorganic compounds as well as
northern part of the site will be removed and
contamination of the soil gas, soil and rock
treated by the Environmental Services
material in the underground by carcinogenic
Company while the underground (soil, water,
or suspected carcinogenic compounds. It was
soil gas) and the entire southern part (water
also found that volatile contaminants were
evaporating from the groundwater and
and underground) will be treated under the One of the

threatening to reach the surface by migrating
through fractures.
Recommendations for Action
The results left no doubt that contamination
poses serious risks to public health, the
environment and groundwater. It left no doubt
that remediation was imperative. It was left for
the masterplan, published in 2003, to point the
way toward remediation. Remediation targets
are based on:
• Removal, treatment and safe re-deposition
of the old waste.
• Excavation, treatment and safe deposition
of contaminated soil under and around
these deposition areas.
• Securing of areas by capping.
• Extraction and treatment of contaminated
groundwater and soil gas until reaching the
recommended Rehabilitation Threshold
Levels (RTL).
www.environment.gov.il
responsibility of the Ministry of the Environment.
most
Priorities for Action important
The proposed remediation sequence is based
on the principle that the most hazardous areas
and most
pressing items
will be treated first, that emissions to
groundwater and air will be stopped within a on the Ramat
short period of time and that the site will
remain operational. Since the most
Hovav
contaminated areas were found to be two agenda is
acidic tar ponds, known as BH-1/3 and BH-2, remediation
the remediation sequence called for the
stabilization of the waste and contaminated
subsoil in the area of these acidic ponds as a first step.
Technical specifications have already been
prepared for the design and remediation of
these tar ponds. According to the masterplan,
their remediation will mark a major milestone —
the first phase of the Ramat Hovav Hazardous
Waste Treatment Site Remediation Project.

Aerial view of the Ramat Hovav Hazardous Waste Treatment Plant. Acidic ponds for remediation are
at the southeastern part. Photo: Courtesy of Environmental Services Company

19
 Treating life-threatening hotspots

MICHAL BAR-TOV ON RAMAT HOVAV

Treating
municipal Director, Hazardous Substances Division
and
industrial
waste Today, nearly two and a half decades after the Ramat Hovav site
was first opened, sound management of hazardous waste is
becoming a reality. If the first decade was characterized by
Preventing
water mishaps and mismanagement and the second by the
pollution establishment of treatment and neutralization facilities at the site,
and the third decade will hopefully see the introduction of additional
restoring
rivers improvements, both in ter ms of site remediation and safer
hazardous waste treatment. The price tag for remediation is not
cheap — especially under today's budgetary constraints. Full
Reducing implementation of the program outlined in the masterplan is
air pollution
from estimated at $75 million. Yet despite the price tag, there is no other
transportati option. The ticking time bomb must be stopped.
on and
industrial
sources

Distribution of Hazardous Waste Treatment (2002)

Treating life- use as fuel 3% export 6%
threatening
hotspots

Catalyzing recovery 53%

economic disposal 38%
growth and
national
interests

Improving the
urban
environment
and
preserving
open spaces Disposal of Hazardous Waste to Ramat Hovav
tons

90,000

80,000 16,778
5,768
70,000 3,068
4,500
3,076 5,508 3,928 65,846
60,000 16,694
60,686
59,875 57,592
50,000 1,761
45,457 47,778 47,652
40,000

30,000

20,000

10,000

0
96 97 98 99 2000 2001 2002
waste from industry ash from Ecosol extraordinary one-time shipments

ISRAEL ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN. vol 27

20
 ARIK BAR-SADE ON THE RAMAT HOVAV
INDUSTRIAL AREA
Director of the Southern District,
Ministry of the Environment
Why has the industrial park of Ramat Hovav, which
is adjacent to the hazardous waste treatment site,
generated environmental problems?
The situation in the Ramat Hovav industrial area,
which is located some 10 kilometers south of
Beersheba, is problematic and complex due to the
character of the industrial plants (mostly chemical
plants), the unsuitable infrastructure on which the
industrial area was established and the lack of an
appropriate environmental solution to industrial effluents.
What are the major nuisances associated with the
industrial park?
Over the past two years, severe odor events, which
were largely dispersed from a sur face area of
some 150 hectares of evaporation ponds, plagued
the residents of the area. This problem reached
severe proportions last year and affected the daily
life of the surrounding population. In addition, air
pollution is a problem in the area.
What has the Ministry of the Environment done to
solve the problems?
Firstly, in the mid 1990s, we initiated and funded a
soil survey which revealed a difficult problem of
pollutant infiltration to groundwater. In response to
Hazardous Waste Minimization Project
Industrial plants in Israel are learning that waste
minimization makes sense - both financially and
environmentally. To drive the message home, the
Ministry of the Environment has been providing
financial aid to industries that minimize their wastes
since 1999. The incentive program is in line with the
ministry’s policy on hazardous waste treatment, which is
based, in order of priority, on the following:
• Prevention or reduction at source.
• Recycling/reuse.
• Reuse as an energy source.
• Disposal.
Based on a series of criteria, including reduction
method, toxicity, reduction quantity, environmental
requirements by the Environment Ministry, the
Ramat Hovav Industrial Council, which is
responsible for the area, prepared an action plan
for stopping the pollution and rehabilitating the
area. This plan was approved and, to a large
www.environment.gov.il
extent, was implemented as well.
Secondly, in response to last year ’ s severe odor
events and lack of an environmental solution for
the wastewater of Ramat Hovav, the Environment
Ministry called on the plants to treat their wastes
in-house rather than discharging them for joint
treatment by the Industrial Council. These
obligations were incorporated in the business
licensing conditions of the Industrial Council.
Thirdly, we initiated a system of spot checks,
based on stack sampling without prior notice, in
the area. There is no question that this led to a
significant improvement in industrial compliance
with emission requirements. Today, the major
remaining problem is pollutant evaporation into
the air from the evaporation ponds. Once the
evaporation ponds will be removed, the last
major pollution problem in the industrial area will
be solved.
contribution and technological feasibility, the
Environment Ministry finances up to 40% of the
investment value incurred by the industrial plants, up to
a sum of NIS 200,000 (about $45,000).
The cumulative and annual results for the period 1999-
2003 speak for themselves:
• Completion of 28 projects between 1999-2003.
• Total investment in waste minimization projects: NIS
16.5 million.
• To t a l f i n a n c i a l g r a n t s b y t h e M i n i s t r y o f t h e
Environment: NIS 3.5 million.
• Annual reduction of hazardous waste: 14,500 tons/year.
• Annual financial savings to the industrial plants: NIS
13.6 million/year.
21
 Catalyzing economic growth and
national interests

Treating
municipal
and
Government Approves
Sustainable
industrial
waste

Preventing
water
pollution
and
Development Plan
restoring
rivers
n accordance with a government resolution, ministries are already busy preparing sustainable
development strategies
Reducing air
pollution
from In May 2003, the Israel government unanimously the needs of present and future generations, in
transportation approved the proposal of Environment Minister continuation to the government decision of
and industrial Prof. Yehudith Naot to prepare a sustainable August 4, 2002, and in the spirit of the decisions
sources
development plan for Israel. taken in the World Summit on Sustainable
Development which took place in Johannesburg,
The government resolved that the policy of the South Africa. In the spirit of the Plan of
Government of Israel will be based on principles Implementation, each government ministry will
Treating life- of sustainable development which integrate: a prepare a sustainable development strategy
threatening
hotspots dynamic economy, wise use of natural resources, plan until the year 2020 which will include a
protection of ecosystems and provision of equal ministerial action plan and means of
opportunities to all. This - in order to respond to implementation.

Catalyzing
economic
growth and
national
interests

Improving the
urban
environment
and
preserving
open spaces

ISRAEL ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN. vol 27

22
VALERIE BRACHYA ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Deputy Director General for Policy and Planning
What were the forces that brought
about the government decision
on preparation of a sustainable
development strategy for Israel?
Of course the major catalyst was
the Johannesburg World Summit
on Sustainable Development, which created
the awareness and willingness to put sustainable
development on the agenda of every
government ministry.
Yet the Ministry of the Environment carefully
laid the groundwork for this decision in previous
years. I believe that sustainable development
presents a positive approach to the environment
as opposed to the traditional form of top-down
regulatory action which may be perceived as
a constraint by government ministries.
What is being done to implement the government
decision?
An interministerial committee was established
to promote the process of drafting sustainable
development strategies within the different
ministries. In addition, the Ministry of the
Environment has placed an external consultant
at the disposal of four ministries in order to move
the agenda forward and has organized seminars
with the top management of several ministries.
Each ministry is currently mapping and identifying
its sustainable development practices according
to a standard format and according to 16
principles of sustainable development which
were consolidated by the Ministry of the
Environment. The idea is to identify those existing
activities that promote sustainable development,
those that contradict it and missing
The policy of
www.environment.gov.il
or neglected areas. In addition,
each ministry is promoting the
the
specific tasks outlined in the Government of
Israel will be
government decision for
implementation by the different ministries. based on
principles of
When and how do you expect the government sustainable
decision to make a difference? development
I don't expect a sudden change but rather
which
envision that the process will develop through
integrate:
an incremental series of small steps within each
ministry. The result will only be evident over a
a dynamic
period of time. The idea is to create an ongoing economy, wise
process of reorientation toward sustainable use of natural
development within government agencies. resources,
protection of
While I don't expect to see dramatic changes ecosystems
in the short term, hopeful signs are already
and provision
evident. For example, just last week (February
of equal
2004) the Knesset Committee on Internal Affairs
and the Environment devoted a special session
opportunities
to the sustainable development strategy in
to all
which several government ministries, including
Agriculture, Education and Social Affairs,
presented some findings.
The committee intends to follow up on these
reports and to present the proposed plan of
each ministry to the relevant Knesset Committees
(for example the plan of the Education Ministry
to the Knesset Committee on Education) for
further discussion and development.
23
 Improving the urban environment and
preserving open spaces

Treating
municipal
and
Environmental
industrial
waste
Considerations In
Preventing
water
pollution
and
Municipal Elections
restoring
rivers
urvey underlines the importance • On the basis of unaided awareness, respondents
of environmental issues on the perceived the environment as the second most
Reducing air municipal agenda important issue that a mayor must address.
pollution Welfare and social issues took first place while
from
transportation development showed up in third place,
and industrial construction in fourth place and sound
sources How critical are environmental issues to election
administration in fifth place.
results? Do voters expect mayoral candidates to
• On the basis of aided awareness of important
relate to environmental issues? Which issues are
issues in which to invest efforts, education took
of most importance to the electorate in different
first place among the general population and
Treating life- cities in Israel?
the environment placed second.
threatening
hotspots To help respond to these and other questions, • Among the wide variety of subjects that make
the Ministry of the Environment commissioned a up the environment, respondents were most
survey on environmental considerations in local concerned about urban cleanliness and
authorities. The survey, conducted in August 2003, development of green spaces, public parks
Catalyzing revealed public perceptions on the environment and gardens, and to a lesser degree, about
economic just in time for the October municipal elections. roads, air pollution, garbage collection, recycling
growth and and city appearance.
national The findings clearly confirm that residents of cities
interests • The environment was shown to be of major
throughout the country attribute high importance
importance to the Israeli public (80%), both in
to environmental issues. Following are some major
the national sample and in each of the cities
findings:
Improving the assessed.
urban
environment
and
preserving Environmental Subjects Requiring Improvements
open spaces
100
90
80
80
70
60
50
percent of the group

40
30
24 20
20
10 9 8
10 6 6 5
3 2 2 1 1
0
recycling
total noting need for
improvement

cleanliness

parks

roads

air pollution

playgrounds for children

garbage collection

pavements

city appearance

pest control

lighting

bad odors

sewage infrastructure

ISRAEL ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN. vol 27

24
Alexander River
Photo: Eyal Yaffe
SHARON ACHDUT ON ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS
Spokesperson, Ministry of the Environment
In the summer of 2003, you commissioned a
comprehensive survey on environmental
considerations in municipal elections. Why did
you do so?
In recent years, environmental awareness has
risen significantly for different reasons: higher
exposure of environmental subjects in the media,
increased environmental education in the school
system and growing industrial awareness of the
need for environmental investments. We
commissioned the survey to identify the
considerations of the Israeli voter on the local
level and to make candidates aware of these
considerations. The results showed that social
welfare and education are of foremost
importance on the local level, but that
environmental considerations are second in
importance. I believe that if the same survey
were taken ten or fifteen years ago, environmental
subjects would have come in far behind - in
fifth or sixth place.
To what do you attribute these changes?
I think there is a clear correlation between the
growing number of environmental stories in the
local media - weekend supplements and
community radio and television - and voting
patterns on the local level. With the increase
in local media coverage of environmental issues
and the continued growth in the strength and
influence of non-governmental organizations,
www.environment.gov.il
Residents of
cities
throughout the
country
attribute high
mayors can no longer afford to ignore importance to
environmental issues. We saw this in our most environmental
recent local elections. The proposed marina
project, which threatens to impact public
issues
access to the coastline, was a major issue in
Haifa, air pollution was high on the priority list
in Tel Aviv, while environmental nuisances in
Ramat Hovav were of prime importance in
Beersheba.
Do you expect this trend to influence the national
agenda as well?
The Israeli citizen is more aware of his rights
than ever before. In our recent municipal
elections nearly every party related to the
environment in its platform and some parties
ran on an environmental ticket. The results are
clear. The number of "green" council members
in local authorities has grown significantly since
the last elections - from five to 40.
I think this trend will impact on national elections
as well. In today's Knesset, representatives of
just about every political party are identified
with environmental initiatives. The Knesset
Internal Affairs and Environment Committee
is more involved in environmental subjects than
ever before and the Knesset environmental
lobby, which includes some 40 Knesset members,
is the largest lobby in our parliament.
25
 International Cooperation

From Lucien Chabason

Coordinator, Mediterranean Action Plan
Mr. Lucien Chabason served as Coordinator
of the Mediterranean Action Plan from 1994
to 2003. He kindly provided the following
interview to Israel Environment Bulletin during
his visit to Israel in late October 2003:
Environmental What was the purpose of your current visit to
policy used to Israel and what are your initial impressions of
deal with the country?
I was invited to Israel by the new Minister of
production, but the Environment, Prof. Yehudith Naot and by
sustainability the new Director General, Dr. Miriam Haran,
deals more with in order to review the Israeli involvement in
MAP, to prepare for the upcoming meeting
consumption of the Contracting Parties in Catania, to push
for the ratification of the new Barcelona
Convention and to hear about some of Israel's
achievements in the prevention of marine
and river pollution. I took the opportunity to
Can it implement sustainable energy policy and
visit several sites in Israel including the Kishon
sustainable transport policy? Can it extend the
River and the Alexander River Project.
railway? Control the growth in private cars? I
Israel is a country with high density, high level would say that Israel has to move from an
of income, and high infrastructure development. environmental policy to a sustainable development
On the one hand, this provides it with the policy while at the same time not forgetting the
financial potential to resolve some problems, need for a strict environmental policy.
such as industrial pollution or river pollution.
I know that the government is now working on
On the other hand, the remaining natural
a national strategy for sustainable development.
space, especially in central Israel, is under a
Sustainable development can either be a very
great deal of pressure from sprawling
serious policy with concrete targets or just a matter
urbanization, roads, marinas and other
of cosmetic discourse, words alone. I have no
development initiatives.
doubt that Israel's sustainable development
How can Israel address these threats to its strategy will be a serious matter because the
natural environment? Ministry of the Environment, which is the leading
The question now is one of sustainability. The body in this context, and its staff are very professional
issues that Israel faces are: What kind of and committed. The biggest challenge will be
development should it implement? Can it save to convince the population, not just other ministries
the natural coastline? Can it cope with the - to speak to the general public about its style of
need for controlling energy consumption? life, consumption patterns, use of water, energy,

ISRAEL ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN. vol 27

26

transportation, readiness to use public
transportation. What is needed is the education
of the population as a whole.
Environmental policy used to deal with
production, but sustainability deals more with
consumption. For example, the pollution of the
Kishon River can be solved by several large
companies or municipalities, but in order to
promote sustainable consumption, sustainable
transport, you have to speak to the entire public.
There are new players, new approaches.
Sustainable development requires a complete
revolution.
As coordinator of MAP since 1994 can you
describe the main priorities of MAP over the
years?
I have always considered MAP to be first and
foremost a marine convention and we should
stick to that. Within this concept, I always gave
priority to marine pollution. We have to reduce
marine pollution, our cities have to be equipped
with efficient wastewater treatment plants, our
rivers have to be cleaner.
After the Erika and Prestige oil spills, I suggested
to the parties that we give more priority to the
prevention of maritime accidents and oil spills
in the Mediterranean, that we have a new
protocol, strengthen our REMPEC center in
Malta, and adopt a strategy for reducing oil
spills and maritime accidents.
Thirdly, marine and coastal biodiversity remains
a high-level question. We are not in a position
to address this issue as well as we should, partly
due to the separation in competencies between
organizations dealing with protected areas
and biodiversity and those dealing with fisheries.
We should not separate fish from other protected
animal species. We need a more holistic
approach. Finally, we have to give high priority
to the protection of the littoral everywhere.
The pressure of tourism is so high and the push
for building and development for political and
www.environment.gov.il
International News
Government Ratifies Kyoto Protocol
The Israeli government ratified the Kyoto Protocol
to the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change in February 2004. Although Israel
is classified as a developing country under the
Climate Change Convention, the government
has resolved to undertake activities to reduce
emissions of greenhouses gases on the basis of
Toward a
the conclusions of an interministerial committee cleaner
on climate change which was set up for this
environment
purpose. Ratification of the Kyoto Protocol will
allow Israel to benefit from the provisions of the in air and
Clean Development Mechanism and to advance sea
projects which support the principles of sustainable
development.
Israel-Jordan Cooperation in the
Gulf of Aqaba
Israel and Jordan have signed an agreement on
a monitoring and data management program
in the Gulf of Aqaba. The agreement, based on
the experience gained during the recently
completed Red Sea Marine Peace Park
Cooperative Research, Monitoring and
Management Program, specifically recognizes
the importance of transboundary coordination
and cooperation between the national monitoring
programs of the two countries to promote the
long term sustainable use and conservation of
their shared marine resources.
Pollution prevention at the Gulf of Eilat
Photo: Marine Pollution and Coastal Environment Division
27
 International Cooperation

...From Lucien Chabason

economic interest is so high that governments
hesitate about being stricter about coastal
protection. Therefore, I am happy to see that
Israel is now on track to adopt a law on the
coast. I hope it will be a good law, efficient
and strict, in order to allow the country to
preserve some of its natural coastal sections
and to design the future development of the
International coast in a more environmentally-friendly way.
environmental
What was the impact of MAP on Israel and on
law is a Mediterranean countries as a whole?
powerful During my meeting with the Director General,
Dr. Miriam Haran, she told me that MAP was
instrument and
very useful in pushing countries, including Israel,
framework to strengthen their national marine pollution
to push prevention legislation, especially on land-based
sources. I believe that without the regional
a country to protocols, a lot of countries wouldn't have had
improve its
the political strength on a national level to
environmental adopt strict rules on sustainable development
and management of the coast.
policy
Israel was right to give first priority to prevention
of pollution, because the situation with regard
to marine pollution was grave 15 years ago.
The Ministry of the Environment brought about
major improvements in this area and I think that
MAP was helpful in this regard.
I am convinced that international environmental
law is a powerful instrument and framework to
push a country to improve its environmental
policy. It provides the necessary legal basis to
push a government forward toward enforcement.
This brings me to the need for Israel to ratify the
amended convention and the protocols on
land-based sources and dumping. We need
the ratification of 17 parties in order for the
amended convention and protocols to enter
into force. As of today, we only have 15. Therefore,
I would say that the credibility of the convention
is partially in the hands of Israel.
What role did Israel play in the different components
of MAP?
I am positively impressed with Israel's role within
MAP. Israel has been very active in regional
cooperation in case of maritime accidents and
in emergency plans as well as in the MED POL
program. It is now involved in the Strategic Action
Plan to reduce land-based pollution and within
this context it has successfully calculated its
baseline budget, amount of pollutants going to
sea, and categories of pollution. I hope the country
will adopt a national action plan to further reduce
land-based pollution. More recently, Israel has
become involved in the MEDA project of the
Euro-Mediterranean Partnership under the
coordination of the Regional Activity Center for
Specially Protected Areas in Tunisia. The project
is bringing together managers of protected areas
for the purpose of building and raising the
management capacity of marine nature reserves.
Do you have a vision for what you would like to
see in Israel and in the Mediterranean?
Firstly I would like to see peace and cooperation
in the Middle East. Secondly, with the enlargement
of the European Union to include more countries,
I would want MAP to serve as a bridge in the field
of environmental protection and sustainable
development between the north and the east
and south. Thirdly, we have to invest much additional
effort to reduce pollution from urban industrial
areas, even in European countries. Finally, there
is the issue of coastal zone management. If we
continue the present direction, everything will be
built, nothing will remain. Dunes, wetlands, our
natural heritage, the natural landscapes of the
Mediterranean Sea will disappear. Is this what we
want? I don't think so. We should establish legal
rules, institutions and functional mechanisms aimed
at protecting the natural landscapes of the
Mediterranean littoral. This is a major priority.
Everywhere.

ISRAEL ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN. vol 27

28
 Environmental Legislation
Hazardous Substances Regulations (Criteria
for Determining Validity Periods for
Poisons Permits), 2003
Regulations on hazardous substances, which set
criteria for determining the validity period of
Poisons Permits, came into force in July 2003.
They are intended to promote efficiency and
strengthen enforcement of the permit system set
up under the Hazardous Substances Law of 1993.
The regulations classify permit holders into three
risk categories (A, B and C), which determine
the length of time in which a permit will be valid.
Criteria for granting Poisons Permits for different
periods of time - ranging from one to three years
-are based on the type and quantity of the
hazardous substance, taking into consideration
the type of industry or activity and the potential
environmental risk level of the hazardous substance.
Permit holders, which are classified at the highest
risk level (level A), are issued permits once a year
and are subject to more frequent inspections
and higher fees.
Planning and Building Regulations
(Environmental Impact Assessments), 2003
New regulations on environmental impact
assessment (EIA), which replace the previous
1982 regulations, came into force in September
2003. They are aimed at upgrading the EIA system
in Israel, helping to introduce environmental
www.environment.gov.il
considerations in earlier stages of the planning
and decision making processes, and incorporating
sustainable development principles in EIAs. The
regulations, which were drafted by the Ministry
of the Environment in cooperation with the Ministry
of the Interior, are based on the experience New
gained in Israel and worldwide.
regulations on
The regulations broaden the possibilities of requiring
EIAs for proposed development in environmentally
environmental
impact
sensitive areas, such as coasts and riverbanks.
They include, inter alia, provisions regarding the assessment are
need to review, in some cases, the sensitivity of
the environment in which the plan is proposed
helping to
including its exposure to pollution and its level of introduce
degradation and risk, and not only the impact environmental
of the proposed plan on the environment. A
possibility to prepare the EIA in stages is also considerations
included to enable the review of alternatives, in earlier stages
such as siting, operational process and technology
of the planning
in the first stage, and the assessment of
environmental impacts of the preferred alternative and decision
in the second stage. making
The new regulations establish strict timetables for processes
the preparation of guidelines for an EIA and for
EIA review and a three-year limit on the validity
of the guidelines.
Business Licensing Regulations (Salt
Concentrations in Industrial Sewage), 2003
These regulations, which set threshold values for
salt concentrations in industrial sewage, will come
into effect in September 2004. They aim at reducing
the salinity of sewage in Israel, which constitutes
a major problem due to the country's need to
29
 Environmental Legislation

use reclaimed effluents for irrigation purposes. processes, if the reduction demands will interfere
High levels of chloride, sodium and boron in Israel's with or harm production, and in other specific
sewage threaten to pollute the soil and cases which are enumerated in the regulations.
groundwater and reduce crop yields.
Water Regulations (Prevention of Water
The regulations prohibit dilution as a solution and Pollution) (pH Values of Industrial Sewage),
set strict threshold standards for chlorides, sodium, 2003
fluorides and boron before being discharged to The purpose of these regulations, scheduled to
a wastewater treatment plant as follows: chlorides come into effect in May 2004, is to protect the
- 430 milligrams/liter; sodium - 230 milligrams/liter; environment and prevent the pollution of water
fluorides - 6 milligrams/liter and boron - 1.5 sources from the impacts of corrosion generated
milligrams/liter. by industrial sewage. The regulations prohibit an
The regulations allow for imposing more or less industrial plant from discharging sewage whose
stringent standards based on salt concentrations pH is less than 6.0 or higher than 10.0 to the
in the water supply to the industrial plant. More sewage system or whose pH is lower than 6.0 or
stringent thresholds may be imposed if there is higher than 9.0 to a reservoir, with some exceptions
for specific cases. These include, among others,
cases in which the pipe at
the connection point of the
plant to the sewage system
or reservoir is made of
New materials resistant to a pH
regulations between 5.0 and 6.0, cases
where the mix of sewage
promise to
discharged from the plant
improve and flowing in the municipal
hazardous sewage pipeline is not lower
than 6.0 or not higher than
substances 10.0 at the exit point from the
management plant, and cases where the
and prevent quantity of sewage
discharged to the municipal
water sewage system is less than
pollution 10 cubic meters per day.

reason to believe that the salinity of the effluents

discharged poses a real danger to the environment.
On the other hand, easements of the standards
are possible if the plant demonstrates that it uses
best available technology to reduce pollutant
concentrations in production and waste treatment

ISRAEL ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN. vol 27

30

Hazardous Substances
Regulations (Implementation of Provisions
of the Montreal Protocol), 2004
These regulations, promulgated in January 2004,
are aimed at implementing the provisions of the
Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete
the Ozone Layer within the Israeli legal system.
The regulations set restrictions on the production,
consumption, import and export of substances
that deplete or are likely to deplete the ozone
layer and establish means of inspection and
control mechanisms.
Water Regulations (Prevention of Water
Pollution) (Usage of Sludge), 2004
These regulations, prepared by the Ministry of
the Environment in collaboration with the Ministries
of Health and the Water Council, aim at preventing
pollution of water sources and environmental
degradation as a result of improper disposal of
sludge originating in municipal sewage treatment
plants. The regulations, which will come into force
in the beginning of 2005, require wastewater
treatment plants to stabilize and treat the sludge
they generate to enable agricultural use or soil
conditioning. The regulations establish maximum
standards for heavy metals, pathogens and odor
for sludge designated for agricultural use. They
also set recording and laboratory testing
requirements, define specific uses for different
classes of sludge (A and B), set limitations on
areas of sludge use, and prescribe requirements
for warning signs, transport and storage.
Requirements for class A sludge, which is virtually
pasteurized and highly stabilized, will come into
effect three years after the regulations come
into force.
RUTH ROTENBERG ON COURT
RULINGS
Legal Advisor - Head of the Legal
Department
The Ministry of the Environment conducted
www.environment.gov.il
during 2003 more than 600 court cases against
environmental offenders - whether industrial
plants, including gas companies, small businesses
and waste contractors and their managers, or
local authorities and their mayors and senior
officials. The cases that were filed by the attorneys
of the Ministry of the Environment empowered
by the Attorney General, relate to matters such
as water resource pollution, marine pollution,
waste treatment, hazardous substance treatment Last year
and cleanliness. They are largely conducted
in the Magistrate Courts throughout the country 113 out
and, in some special cases, by way of appeal, of 116 cases
in District Courts and even in the Supreme Court. ended in
Over the last decade, the number of cases convictions
handled by the ministry increased from tens to
hundreds and in recent years they have risen
of all or part
significantly - from about 400 cases in 2001, to of the
more than 500 in 2002, and to nearly 650 in 2003. defendants
The Ministry of the Environment and its
enforcement and legal sections consider these
results to be satisfactory and encouraging
especially due to the fact that last year 113 out
of 116 cases ended in convictions of all or part
of the defendants. This conviction rate, which
is close to 100%, has been consistently noted
over the last three years.
Furthermore, a look at fine levels in recent years
demonstrates that penalties are increasing and
getting more severe so that in 2001 total fines
summed up to about 2 million shekels, in 2002
they rose to more than 4 million, and in 2003
they amounted to about 6 million shekels. Nearly
all of the fines are paid to environmental funds
targeted to advancing environmental goals
and promoting environmental enforcement
and educational activities.
These results demonstrate, no doubt, not only
the increased capacity-building and ongoing
efforts of the legal and enforcement work of
the ministry, in collaboration with other
enforcement agencies, but, to a large extent,
also the rise of environmental awareness of the
courts and judges.
31
 WithA Face
To The
Public
A public, THE PUBLIC
which is AT THE FOREFRONT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
knowledgeable Efforts to foster access to information, transparency, Promoting Public Access
about its right to education and public relations are empowering Students, professionals and members of the
quality of life the public to take an active part in protecting the general public are welcome to request information
environment or submit complaints concerning environmental
and the deterioration to the Ministry of the Environment
A public, which is knowledgeable about its right
environment, to quality of life and the environment, will be an by mail, e-mail or online Internet forms. Nearly
will be an enlightened public, ready to participate and act 10,000 public queries and complaints reach the
ministry each year, with the largest percentage
enlightened on behalf of the environment. Based on the motto
relating to issues such as radiation, air and waste.
that knowledge is power, the Ministry of the
public, ready Environment is investing major efforts in improving Recognition of the public's right to know led to
to participate public access and transparency through a variety the enactment of the Freedom of Information
and act on of means: producing information leaflets and Law in 1998. The law specifically relates to means
professional publications, responding to public of accessing the information, to the appointment
behalf queries, developing a comprehensive Internet of a commissioner responsible for providing the
of the site, implementing the Freedom of Information information to the public in each public authority,
Law and, of course, promoting environmental
environment and to fee schedules based on the efforts involved
education, awareness and participation among in the collection and preparation of the
every age group, in every segment of the population. information. Certain provisions for refusing release
of the information, such as national security or
commercial secrets, are also included in the
law.
Publications
60 58 The Ministry of the Environment was a staunch
supporter of the law and lost no time in appointing
50 an official responsible for its implementation. In
2001 and 2002, the ministry dealt with some 100
40
petitions for information under this law annually.
30
In 2003, a 30% jump in these requests was noted
- 130 petitions in all.
20
16 15 The Public Relations Unit strives for maximum
6
transparency and service in the provision of
10
information to all applicants - whether students,
0 lawyers, industrial plants, members of the general
Publications to General Public Professional Publications public or green organizations.
2002 2003

ISRAEL ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN. vol 27

32
 Public Interest Advocacy In The New Era Of
Open Environmental Information
Dr. Alon Tal, Chairman, Life and be made available to legitimate public interest groups.
Environment - Israel NGO Umbrella However, in many areas, for example the Ministry of
Group for 80 Green Organizations Health's files on drinking water, the situation was
and Director of Research, the Arava entirely different. Also, government officials frequently

www.environment.gov.il
Institute for Environmental Studies lacked important data sets or an infrastructure for
organizing and sharing data.During the discussions
To appreciate the significance of Israel's Freedom of in the Knesset about the Freedom of Information Law
Information Law for public interest organizations, one it was often emphasized that government agencies
needs to remember the situation that existed prior to needed to stop perceiving statistics about the
the legislation's enactment. Garnering credible environment as their private possessions. Rather, these
information for litigation or environmental campaigns figures belong to the public; the government only
is extremely expensive and of course generating holds them in trust. It was due to the demands of
historical data impossible. Environmental organizations environmental organizations that the Law now
often had to resort to subterfuge to gain access to specifically clarifies that emissions into the environment
basic information that government agencies held are not protected by claims of industry trade secrets.
about exposures to contamination to radiation, soil, The same public that suffers the consequences from
air and water. Activists would pose as ingenuous their release is entitled to know what they are.While
university students, files would be surreptitiously copied the new law improved the situation dramatically, it
and leaked by friendly government workers and is not a panacea. Frequently, requests for information
measurements were sometimes conducted under get lost, and evidence that was sometimes provided
illegal or dangerous conditions.In all fairness, Israel's informally, must now be processed through a formal
Ministry of Environment was always something of an government procedure, which is neither fast nor free.
anomaly in the government bureaucracy as it However, the law has changed the default assumption
maintained a relatively consistent, open policy. The about environmental record keeping. This is reflected
Ministry's Legal Department always held that in the superb website run by Israel's Ministry of
environmental data, permits, etc. could (and should) Environment, whose Hebrew side contains inordinate
amounts of useful data for citizens.
This level of institutional transparency
Requests for Information under the Freedom of Information Law is exceptional worldwide.Israel's
environmental movement continues
to mature and to play the role of
watchdog for a government that
often does not prioritize environmental
objectives and comply with its
100
130 statutory responsibilities. Without
reliable information, neither the courts
nor the press can be used to leverage
more conscientious and expeditious
government intervention.

100
2001 2002 2003

33
Photos: Motti Sela, Eyal Yaffe
 With a Face to the Public
DR. DALIA DORON ON ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY
Director, Education and Information Division
What is the Ministry of the Environment’s role in promoting
sustainable development?
Our goal is to assimilate the subject within the community as
a whole. Our first priority is the educational network, which has an impact not
only on the students themselves but also on their parents, the school administration
and even the community. However, at the same time, we have already made
inroads to other sectors as well - including day-care administrators and caregivers,
institutes of higher learning, even supermarket chains.
What is the Environment Ministry’s role vis à vis the Education Ministry?
We are investing major resources in providing the necessary professional input
and support to the Ministry of Education and jointly promoting a wide variety
of environmental projects.
A major achievement is the recent directive of the Director General of the
Ministry of Education on implementation of education for sustainable development
in the educational system. The publication, prepared in cooperation with the
Education Division in the Ministry of the Environment, was distributed to all of
the country’s schools in January 2004. It presents benchmarks for sustainability
in educational institutes, relates to education for environmental literacy at every
level of education, and provides examples of community and school sustainability
projects.
How else are the two ministries promoting the subject?
We decided to organize an annual Environmental Week in the Educational
System which will take place on the week before the Passover vacation. This
year’s events, scheduled for March 21-26, will focus on sustainable development
activities in schools and on a sustainable development competition targeted
at all of the country’s educational institutes. Finalists, whether in the form of
posters or research projects, will be featured - and awarded - within the context
of the International Exhibition on Environmental Technologies in June of this
year. In preparation for the week, environmental posters and a booklet with
suggestions on environmental projects have already been distributed to more
than 4,000 schools throughout the country.
Trends in Environmental Education
2,500
2,140
2,000
1,500 1,300
1,000
725
500
350
151
101
0
environment-active environment-active community & training
schools kindergartens
ISRAEL ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN.
34
Green Schools: Education
Toward Sustainability
Israeli schools incorporate sustainable
development processes
By June 2004, some 100 schools throughout the country
may be accredited as "Green Schools." The project, a
brainchild of the Ministry of Education and Ministry of
the Environment in cooperation with the Society for the
Protection of Nature in Israel, the Nature and Parks
Authority, the Green Network and the Technion - Israel
Institute of Technology, was initiated in preparation for
the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable
Development. Today, plans and visions are being
transformed into reality.
The Ministry of the Environment is convinced that the
transition to sustainability may best be effected by
personal example — through the school itself. The idea
is to encourage schools, with the cooperation of
administration, students, parents and community, not
just to teach environmental subjects but to act sustainably,
conserve resources, and advance eco-efficiency.
Initiating the Green School Process
In order to help schools along the road toward sustainability,
the Ministry of the Environment and its partners have
drafted guidelines and indicators for Green Schools.
The three-step process calls for commitment on the
part of the school, mapping of the current state of
environmental education, and for mulation of
environmental indicators for achievement. The action
plan itself, which is backed up by sustainability indicators,
relates to three main areas: curriculum integration,
rational use of resources and contribution to the
community.
Only those schools which formulate and implement their
goals in each of the three categories are eligible for Green
School accreditation. Studies have shown that innovative
environmental literacy programs are an impetus for
advancing general academic excellence, promoting
better understanding among people, providing essential
≤∞∞≤
skills, fostering curiosity and wonder, and leading to responsible
citizenship and community involvement. Hopefully, the
≤∞∞≥
environment based educational approach, which underlies
the Green School project, will continue to guide students,
parents and community members through a lifetime of
environmentally responsible behavior.
vol 27
www.environment.gov.il

websites for everyone

@
www.environment.gov.il is Israel's most comprehensive Hebrew
environmental information channel with associated websites in English
and Arabic and a special children's site
As part of its policy of transparency and public participation, the Ministry
of the Environment has developed websites for everyone - young and
old, Hebrew, English and Arabic speakers, in Israel and worldwide.
Following is a brief overview:
Hebrew Website (www.environment.gov.il): This comprehensive website
drew some 330,000 surfers in 2003 alone. In addition to information on
some 30 environmental subjects, it features interactive maps with
geographic information on subjects as wide-ranging as location of cellular
antennas and noise exposure forecasts from airports. But that's not all.
Additional highlights include online air quality information, listings of non-
governmental organizations, environmental tips, FAQs, calendars of
events, information on tenders, forms for downloading, forums, photographic
albums and a wide range of information on the ministry's environmental
activities.
Sababa-Children's Website (sababa.sviva.gov.il): This children-friendly
site drew over 26,000 young surfers in January 2004 alone. Targeted at
elementary school children- although older surfers are sure to find items
of interest- it features information on a wide variety of topics along with
games, quizzes, a green dictionary and more.
English Website (www.environment.gov.il/english): This site, targeted at
English speakers in Israel and worldwide, includes information on numerous
environmental topics - including air, water and marine quality, hazardous
substances and wastewater - all replete with links, graphs and pictures.
Additional features include breaking news items, a look at the Ministry
of the Environment, summaries of environmental laws and regulations,
updates on international cooperation, a glimpse into cutting-edge
environmental technologies and information on non-governmental
environmental organizations in Israel. A special feature is a free environmental
e-bulletin, dedicated to a different subject each month. Recent issues
have focused on such subjects as marine pollution control, waste
management, urban sustainability and air quality. To stay updated about
environmental developments in Israel, surfers worldwide are invited to
subscribe online.
Arabic Website (www.environment.gov.il/arabic): This is the newest
website of the Ministry of the Environment, targeted at the Arabic-speaking
population. The site, still under construction, includes basic information
on main subjects, with special emphasis on subjects that are of interest
to Israel's Arabic speaking sector. It also provides information on the
Ministry of the Environment and features environmental news items.

35
 For further information: The 3rd International Exhibition for Environmental Technologies
www.environment-israel.com E-mail:orit@fairs.co.il Tel:+972-3-6404440 Fax:+972-3-6404447

New And Updated English Website Now Online -

www.environment.gov.il/english
Our new and updated English website is now online. The site includes:
•Information on key environmental topics •Environmental indicators
•News updates •Free, monthly environmental e-bulletin, featuring
•lnformation on NGOs in Israel a new environmental topic each month
•Summaries of environmental legislation •Nine e-bulletins are already online
Keeping updated about environmental developments in Israel has never been easier. Visit us at
www.environment.gov.il/english, give a look and subscribe to the e-bulletin online.