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ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN September 2005 Volume 29

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ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN September 2005 Volume 29 State of Israel Ministry of the Environment ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN September 2005 volume 29 Ministry of the Environment Cover: Open The Asbestos "Clean Coast" Space Problem Project Poster 9 24 www.environment.gov.il From the Minister of the Environment: Mr. Shalom Simhon Environment Minister Simhon speaks about his plans for a more Dear Reader: environmental future. 3 The September 2005 Israel Environment Bulletin, Volume Onwards Toward Cleaner Coasts 29, focuses on what may Israel launches a "Clean Coast" project to keep its well be one of Israel’s beaches litter free. 6 most important - and most Open Space in Israel? threatened – resource: open Government agencies and green bodies set out to space. Since the loss of open preserve quality open spaces in the face of growing space to development is pressures for development. 9 an irreversible process, decisions on which areas can be transformed into built-up areas and which areas should Toward Metropolitan Parks: The Case of the be preserved as open space are of critical importance. Ayalon Park Environmental and green organizations are hard at work, Government approval of the Ayalon Park should see along with planning agencies, to find ways to preserve the transformation of the Hiriya garbage mountain quality open spaces on the national, regional and local into a unique metropolitan park in the center of levels. The current issue of the Bulletin looks at some of the country. 14 these initiatives. Open Spaces in Urban Places Yet another major focus is the cleanliness campaign Local authorities, NGOs and citizen groups are launched by the Ministry of the Environment in the Summer promoting plans for a hierarchy of parks and gardens of 2005. It is only apt that first priority should be given to in urban centers. 17 the country’s coastlines. The "Clean Coast" project The Water Connection seeks to increase public awareness of the importance Water links two projects initiated by Friends of the of cleanliness along the country’s beaches so as to bring Earth Middle East: "Crossing the Jordan" and "Good an end to littering once and for all. Water Neighbors." 22 Major attention is also focused on Israel’s asbestos problem and the measures currently being taken to confront the Confronting the Asbestos Problem problem, including training of contractors and inspectors, An in-depth look at the asbestos problem in Israel and guidelines on safe removal and disposal and information the efforts currently underway to find a solution. 24 to the public on asbestos exposure. Dairy Farms Go Green As always, the information in this Bulletin is supplemented Major environmental improvements are achieved as by our English website -www.environment.gov.il/english, which a result of a reform in the dairy sector. 31 is constantly being updated to provide new information on major environmental topics and breaking news items. International Cooperation An interview with Mr. Paul Mifsud, Coordinator of the At the dawn of the Jewish New Year, Israel Environment Mediterranean Action Plan. 32 Bulletin wishes all of its readers a clean and prosperous new year. With a Face to the Public Shoshana Gabbay Cellular Antennas: Toward Greater Transparency. 34 Editor Cover photo: "Going for a Clean Coast" campaign poster Back Cover photo: Ilan Malester Photos: Ministry of the Environment, Carol Avraham, Amir Balaban, Avner Barzilai, Gidi Bettelheim, Yossi Harel (Nature and Parks Authority), Michal Ben-Shushan, Judy Elispor, Friends of the Earth Middle East, Gerar Gal-Or, Itamar Grinberg, Alex Kaplan, Ilan Malester, Eyal Mitrani, Shai Pe’er, Motti Sela, Chagai Shyowitz, Danny Sternberg, Sasson Tiram, Eyal Yaffe Design: Studio Billet Production: Publications Unit 2 Ministry of the Environment From The Minister Of The Environment Mr. Shalom Simhon Environment Minister Shalom Simhon spoke to the time has now come for its implementation. Israel Environment Bulletin in July 2005 about Substantial investments are needed to ensure his priorities and related, among other things, rehabilitation and wise treatment of industrial Eto preparations for disengagement from the wastes and air pollution in this area in order to Gaza Strip. improve environmental quality and expedite development plans for the Negev, including the Your time in office coincides with Israel’s preparations establishment of an IDF "training and instruction for disengagement from the Gaza Strip. What are the city" in the region. environmental impacts of this decision? I have been actively involved in the subject of In Haifa Bay and the Kishon River, an overall solution disengagement from Gaza, which is a major is needed for such major issues as river restoration political issue with environmental ramifications, and treatment of air, sewage, sludge, and more. since I entered office. There are two major I am working on a government decision on this environmental issues which relate to the pollution "hotspot' that will make the treatment disengagement plan: disposal of construction and of environmental hazards in Haifa Bay a national demolition waste and treatment and disposal of project and will enable the population to co-exist hazardous substances including asbestos. in harmony with industry. With the right plans, we will I originally petitioned the Prime Minister to leave What are your priorities for the near future? the homes of the Gaza evacuees standing in order With the help of the additional funds that I be able to pass to prevent environmental impacts associated have been able to secure for the Ministry of government with infrastructure destruction, demolition waste the Environment, I will give priority to several decisions which and asbestos. However, since the decision to projects. demolish the buildings was taken, I have called will shape our for the safe disposal of hazardous substances, Firstly, I believe that environmental education environment for especially asbestos. Contractors will be required should start as early as possible in the school system to dismantle asbestos structures in accordance in order to lay the necessary social infrastructure to generations to with strict environmental guidelines and to remove prevent environmental pollution. I have therefore come this asbestos waste for landfilling in Israel. called for the establishment of a National Council for Environmental Education, in cooperation with What are the major projects you will seek to advance as government, academic, industrial and green Minister of the Environment? bodies, which will enable us to invest in education I am focusing on two major – and expensive – and not only in enforcement. projects, which deal with the pollution "hotspots" of Israel: Haifa and Ramat Hovav. In Ramat Another major priority is the long-term cleanliness Hovav, we already have a government decision campaign which was launched this summer, with on an action plan for pollution abatement, and first priority going to the "Clean Coast" project. From left to right: Ilan Malester, Motti Sela, Amir Balaban, Ilan Malester 3 How would you like to leave your stamp on the Environment Ministry and on the environment in Israel? I have tried to promote several projects since I Lilies along the coast. first entered into office: Photo: Yossi Harel, Nature and Parks Authority • A government decision on the establishment of the Ayalon Park which will afford the residents of The implementation of this comprehensive the Tel Aviv metropolitan area a much-needed campaign to clean up our environment "green lung" instead of more real estate. is one of my major aims as Minister of the • A master plan for the country’s rivers which will Environment. I am sure that the joint efforts integrate different components – environment, of local authorities, government ministries landscape, tourism and return to nature. and the public will bring about a significant • The expansion of our Deposit Law on Beverage improvement in the cleanliness level of our Containers to larger bottles. beaches. • Cleanup of our open spaces, especially of construction and demolition waste. The additional On the local front, I have doubled the budget • Preparation of a national plan for the funds allocated of local environmental units and have called for rehabilitation of shut-down landfills in additional units, with special emphasis on the rural cooperation with other ministries and the to the Ministry of and Arab sectors. subsequent utilization of their economic and the Environment social potential. will help advance I can also report on progress in the area of • Rehabilitation of contaminated soil and radiation, which is a major concern in Israel. groundwater as a result of leaks from fuel pipes essential programs After a struggle of more than four years, our and storage tanks in gas stations in cooperation including clean-ups proposal for a Non-Ionizing Radiation Law, with other ministries. and river restoration which will give us the necessary professional and administrative tools to effectively address the If we are wise enough to develop the right plans, subject, is being advanced. In addition, in order environmentally, socially and economically, we to make information about cell sites accessible will be able to help pass government resolutions to all members of the public, our website features whose implementation may well take years but information about the location of existing as well which will shape the character of our environment as planned base stations (antennas) throughout for generations to come. the country. 4 ISRAEL ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN vol 29 Environment Minister Shalom Simhon launches the cleanliness campaign. Photo: Sasson Tiran "Going for Cleanliness – It’s Our Country" On July 25, 2005, Environment Minister Shalom Simhon launched a comprehensive information campaign to promote cleanliness in public areas. Simhon has repeatedly stressed that increasing the public’s awareness of cleanliness is one of his main goals as Minister of the Environment. In the first stage, the campaign will focus on beach cleanliness, later to be followed by cleanups of parks, nature reserves, forests and open spaces.
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