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water pollution

This satellite image released by the European Space Agency shows oil leaking from a grounded UK-sanctioned tanker near Qibliyah Island off the coast of Oman, July 28, 2026. (European Space Agency via AP)
Israeli scientists develop huge sponge to mop up and ‘eat’ oil spills
By Sue Surkes
Ben-Gurion University scientists say plant material, enriched with nutrients to attract oil-guzzling bacteria, can absorb 100 times its own mass in crude oil or fuel in just seconds
Energy, Water and Infrastructure Minister Eli Cohen visits a water desalination facility near Rishon Lezion, September 2, 2026. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)
Officials seek to calm public after algicides dumped at sea in bid to reopen desalination plants
By Sue Surkes
Aerial view of the Orot Rabin power station in Hadera, on January 29, 2026. (Yossi Zamir/FLASH90)
September 1, 2026, 6:00 am
Israel’s global warming emissions down in 2025 but still cost economy $11 billion, ministry finds
Environmental Protection Ministry’s pollution data shows positive trends in many areas thanks to continuing demise of coal, drop in wildfires after end of rocket fire from Lebanon
By Sue Surkes
Contaminated water flows in the Hebron Stream below Palestinian village of ad-Dahariya, between banks coated in stone dust, July 14, 2026. (Sue Surkes/Times of Israel)
August 2, 2026, 5:02 am
As toxic sewage and factory sludge choke Hebron stream, locals refuse to go with the flow
Inadequate infrastructure and coordination result in dumping by Palestinian residents and industry, causing soil and groundwater pollution. Israel’s response has been frustratingly partisan
By Sue Surkes
Illustrative photo of laboratory testing. (vadimguzhva; iStock by Getty Images.
November 27, 2025, 11:39 am
National laboratory stops testing drinking water due to funding shortfall
Environmental advocacy organization Adam Teva V’Din threatens legal action, demands immediate response from Health Ministry and Water Authority
By Sue Surkes
Hazy weather over Tel Aviv amid high levels of air pollution, April 18, 2024 (Avshalom Sassoni/FLASH90)
August 28, 2025, 7:41 am
Israel’s greenhouse gas emissions have barely shifted since 2015 — report
Environment Ministry’s annual pollution index shows that share of fossil fuels in electricity generation highest among OECD countries in 2023. Pollution cost state NIS 37 billion
By Sue Surkes
A section of the polluted Saadia Stream that flows through the northern city of Haifa. (Haifa Municipality Spokesperson's Department)
July 16, 2025, 11:54 pm
Environment Ministry moves to regulate ‘forever chemicals’ after High Court order
Ministry publishes draft regulations to restrict production, trade and use of persistent organic pollutants found in pesticides, flame retardants and more
By Sue Surkes
The Ashdod oil refinery in 2014. (Ilan Malster)
March 27, 2025, 6:41 pm
Oil refineries, phosphate mines, perform worst on environmental impact index
12th annual index scores environment risk posed by 125 large industrial plants belonging to 46 public and government companies
By Sue Surkes
A lionfish hides behind a rock as researchers monitor the Mediterranean Sea. (Courtesy/Guy Ra'anan and Mikey Bar-Adon)
January 28, 2025, 10:28 am
The Eastern Mediterranean is heating twice as fast as the global average – report
Research finds sea level rising almost 40% faster than global average, water is saltier, and invasive species comprise more than half the prey caught in sampling nets
By Sue Surkes
Displaced Palestinians sit by tents across from a garbage dump in Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip on July 22, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas terror group. (Eyad Baba/AFP)
August 13, 2024, 12:11 pm
Disease without borders: Massive piles of garbage in Gaza also threaten Israel
Experts say even drinking water in Ashdod could be contaminated by toxic buildup from hundreds of untreated trash heaps, after Gaza’s waste removal system paralyzed by war
By Uri Blau in partnership with Shomrim
Carmel Olefins in the Haifa Bay, northern Israel, in an undated photo. (Ilan Melster)
May 20, 2024, 1:35 pm
Bazan oil refinery group and subsidiaries fined almost $1 million for pollution
Haifa Magistrate’s Court decision to fine Carmel Olefins $275,000 comes less than two weeks after Environmental Protection Ministry gave it a $5 million fine
By Sue Surkes
Polluted water coming from the ICL Rotem (formerly Rotem Amfert Negev Ltd) phosphate mining complex, December 21, 2023. (Eastern Negev Unit for Environmental Quality)
December 22, 2023, 12:44 pm
Toxic liquids flow yet again from phosphate mining company in Negev
Initial inquiries into pea-green water indicate rainwater mixed with heaps of phosphogypsum, a radioactive byproduct of the fertilizer-producing concern, ICL Rotem
By Sue Surkes
Heavy smoke rises from a large tank belonging to the Europe Asia Pipeline Company, after being hit by a rocket on May 12, 2021, near Ashkelon. (Gili Yaari/Flash90)
December 12, 2023, 9:06 pm
Think tank: Give state environmental bodies more power and funds during war
Taub Center for Social Policy Studies warns decision makers of need to better prepare for potential disasters such as oil spills, damage to fuel tanks, emission of toxic materials
By Sue Surkes
A child in Malawi enjoys clean water thanks to the work of Innovation Africa. (Innovation Africa)
May 24, 2023, 1:15 pm
Three clean water startups win contest to pilot their technology in Africa
EZMEMS, NanoClear Water Solutions, and SoLED will work with Innovation Africa, whose solar panels pump water from underground aquifers and clean it for villagers
By Sue Surkes
Illustrative photo of fruit and vegetables in the Mahane Yehuda market, October 13, 2017. (Stuart Winer/Times of Israel)
May 2, 2023, 4:00 pm
Number of Israelis harmed by pollution more than doubled in past decade — ombudsman
Annual state comptroller report slams agriculture and health ministries for failing to control pesticides, pillories Environment Ministry for not tackling environmental damage
By Sue Surkes
Small bridges connect a bank of the Jordan River to an island as part of an upgrade being carried out by the Kinneret Drainage and Streams Authority between the Alumot Dam and Menahhemia in northern Israel. (Courtesy, Kinneret Drainage and Streams Authority)
March 11, 2023, 2:08 am
Quietly, a stretch of the Jordan River is being cleaned up and transformed
Earthworks and landscaping are aimed at attracting visitors, tourists, with plans to make water safe for swimming; the cleanup will still leave Jordan, Palestinians high and dry
By Sue Surkes
In this Friday, Dec. 8, 2017 photo, an aerial view shows the Jordan River estuary of the Sea of Galilee near the community settlement of Karkom, northern Israel. .(AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
July 26, 2022, 8:27 am
Government inks plan to clean part of Jordan River, make it fit for swimming again
Greenlit by Water Authority last year, program will end pollution, channel more freshwater into stretch of iconic river south of Sea of Galilee
By Sue Surkes
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