Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Sunday, February 22, 2026
From the Liveblog of
Sunday, February 22, 2026
Government approves national flood plan amid climate concerns
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSue Surkes is The Times of Israel's environment reporter
Cars are seen stranded in floodwaters following heavy rains outside Yinon, southern Israel, January 13, 2026 (Flash90)
After three years of work by the Agriculture Ministry and the Planning Administration, the government approves a national outline plan for flooding.
This represents a first step toward a comprehensive strategy for dealing with a problem that is increasing with climate change.
The plan, which enters into force right away, will oblige all planning bodies in the country to take hydrological requirements into account. It seeks to protect streams, preserve areas of floodplain — where the soils near rivers can absorb excess rainfall naturally — and create sites for the management of runoff.
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