Join our Community
Support ToI and remove all ads
Learn more
×

water pollution

General view of a water desalination facility in southern Israel, September 2, 2026. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)
October 13, 2026, 11:39 am
State pays over NIS 50 million to supply private desalination plants with equipment
With desalination system not yet fully operational due to microalgae contamination that started last month, Water Authority says filtering membranes it purchased are for emergency use only
By Sue Surkes
Sewage flows in Wadi al-Eish near Tulkarm, in the northern West Bank, in early 2026. (Green Now)
September 14, 2026, 8:11 pm
Settler activist calls for Israeli wastewater control to protect key water source
In new report, Green Now’s Barak Verker says Palestinian Authority ‘too weak, inefficient, corrupt’ to stop sewage contaminating mountain aquifer, critical for drinking water
By Sue Surkes
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)
September 6, 2026, 4:03 pm
Israeli scientists develop huge sponge to mop up and ‘eat’ oil spills
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
By Sue Surkes
Energy, Water and Infrastructure Minister Eli Cohen visits a water desalination facility near Rishon Lezion, September 2, 2026. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)
September 4, 2026, 3:07 pm
Officials seek to calm public after algicides dumped at sea in bid to reopen desalination plants
Fishing temporarily banned ‘as a precaution’ but water supplies back to normal, says Energy Ministry, after initially unannounced push to get rid of rogue algae crippling stations
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
Load More

Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community

Sign in or Register

Paying ToI Community members are invited to comment on articles
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By joining you agree to the terms and conditions
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community
Sign in or Register
Only ToI Community members can comment below articles
Forgot your password? / Send me a login link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.
Back to top
Never miss breaking news on Israel
Get notifications to stay updated
You're subscribed
image
Register for free
and continue reading
Registering allows you to manage your newsletters and alerts and helps us improve your experience. It takes just a few seconds.
Already registered? Enter your email to sign in.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By registering you agree to the terms and conditions. Once registered, you’ll receive our Daily Edition email for free.
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Register
I forgot my password / Send me a sign in link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.