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Sue Surkes
Sue Surkes
Sue Surkes is The Times of Israel's environment reporter.
Illustration of an electric bus traveling along a stretch of Electreon smart road, recharging as it travels. (ElectReon screenshot)
September 22, 2020, 6:09 am
Tel Aviv-Jaffa aims to be world’s first city with network of recharging roads
City launches pilot project of futuristic Israeli technology that does away with need for charging stations, supplying a bus with power from under the asphalt as it travels along
By Sue Surkes
An aerial view of the Israeli 'Tamar' gas processing rig 24 kilometers off the Israeli southern coast of Ashkelon. Noble Energy and Delek are the main partners in the oil field, October 11, 2013. (Moshe Shai/FLASH90)
September 14, 2020, 6:04 pm
Energy Ministry’s Petroleum Council backs Noble Energy-Chevron merger
Despite environmental campaign against Chevron’s entry to Israel, energy minister says US conglomerate’s bid to buy in is a ‘huge expression of confidence in our energy economy’
By Sue Surkes
Putting used cans and bottles into an automated compression machine that delivers a voucher to return deposits paid in advance. (Screenshot Tomra Group)
September 14, 2020, 5:37 pm
Environment minister demonstrates future of bottle recycling
Telling Knesset committee she wants a solution that satisfies all, Gila Gamliel shows clip of machine that compresses bottles and cans, and issues refund voucher
By Sue Surkes
A woman throws a bottle into a recycling bin in Jerusalem. (Nati Shohat/Flash90)
September 14, 2020, 6:34 am
Activists push minister to apply deposit law to large bottles as deadline nears
Environmentalists and 15 mayors say longstanding exemption for bottles over 1.5 liters hampers recycling efforts and costs millions of shekels each year
By Sue Surkes
An Ethiopian Israeli woman holds pictures of relatives as she protests in front of the Knesset in Jerusalem, Monday, March 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)
September 10, 2020, 9:17 pm
As Israel okays some Ethiopian immigrants, thousands more ‘face disaster’
Funds to feed families waiting years in Addis, Gondar are drying up because of COVID-19, with malnutrition rampant; Aliya Minister Tamano-Shata urges to honor 2015 airlift decision
By Sue Surkes
Israelis who immigrated from Ethiopia hold up family photos of loved ones who remain in Ethiopia, during a protest to bring the rest of the Falashmura to Israel, in Jerusalem, on March 20, 2016. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
September 10, 2020, 12:40 am
Government to back airlift of 2,000 Ethiopians to Israel by year’s end
Victory for MK Pnina Tamano-Shata amidst warnings that Ethiopians waiting to make aliyah face humanitarian disaster, with funds for food drying up because of COVID-19
By Sue Surkes
FILE - In this July 30, 2006 file photo, Mariana Jimenez walks on her farm where burst oil pipes contaminated her land earlier in the month near Lago Agrio, in Ecuador's Amazon region. Late Tuesday, July 10, 2018, Ecuador's highest court upheld a $9.5 billion judgment against oil giant Chevron for decades of rainforest damage that harmed indigenous people. (AP Photo/Lou Dematteis, File)
September 9, 2020, 1:20 pm
International environmental groups unite to warn Israel against Chevron
US expert researching company’s global record finds dozens of cases of litigation; Energy Ministry: ‘We don’t act on ‘gossip,’ we rely on US Energy Ministry support for Chevron
By Sue Surkes
American hunter Aaron Raby shoots an elephant for sport. (Screenshot, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)
September 8, 2020, 7:42 pm
El Al to ban shipments of hunting trophies, after US elephant killer’s interest
People for Ethical Treatment of Animals gets airline’s commitment as US hunter reportedly suggests using El Al to ship dead elephant home
By Sue Surkes
A pump operates during a drill to practice for a marine oil spill near to the Leviathan natural gas platform off Israel's northern Mediterranean coast, September 6, 2020. (Fred Arzuan, Ministry of the Environment)
September 7, 2020, 7:53 pm
Multiple Israeli groups drill for massive oil spill
Led by Environmental Protection Ministry’s national marine protection unit, exercise involves local authorities, Noble Energy and others in simulated response to pipe disaster
By Sue Surkes
Artist's impression of cable cars crossing Jerusalem's Hinnom Valley, from a promotional video posted to YouTube.
September 7, 2020, 5:59 pm
Jerusalem cable car backers miss court deadline to prove plan will boost tourism
High Court extends final date for government, other bodies to provide ‘factual basis’ for their claims, as Jerusalem Development Authority issues tender for project
By Sue Surkes
Workers at an industrial chicken farm secretly filmed violently handling birds that have been caged under a Ministry of Agriculture-approved pilot project. (Courtesy, Animals Now)
September 7, 2020, 11:53 am
Secret footage shows workers abusing chickens at ministry-backed plant
After Agriculture Ministry allows pilot program at farm to cage chickens intended for meat industry, video appears to disprove claims it will reduce suffering
By Sue Surkes
A medical worker holds the hand of a coronavirus patient at Shamir Medical Center (Assaf Harofeh) in Beer Yaakov, southeast of Tel Aviv, August 20, 2020 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
September 7, 2020, 9:25 am
An unfathomable calamity: 1,000 deaths, each a world lost
In the interminable official count, they were just numbers. But each of Israel’s virus victims was a life, and in death leaves a universe shattered. Here are some of their stories
By Joshua Davidovich and Sue Surkes
A European turtle dover shot dead by a 'sport' hunter in the Hula Valley in northern Israel, September 2, 2020. (KKL-JNF Chief Birdwatcher, Yaron Cherka)
September 2, 2020, 1:24 pm
Hunters shoot endangered turtledoves despite calls to spare them
Nature activists trying to get hunting for sport banned, but body in charge of issuing licenses claims it’s powerless unless 1955 Animal Welfare Law amended
By Sue Surkes
Illustrative image of a mosquito bite (nechaev-kon; iStock by Getty Images)
September 2, 2020, 10:42 am
Mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus found in Tel Aviv metropolitan area
Municipalities in coastal Gush Dan region ordered to increase monitoring, take pest control steps
By Sue Surkes
A Chevron gas station offered gas for 30 cents a gallon during the Amazon Studios "Maisel Day" in Santa Monica, Calif., Aug. 15, 2019. (Morgan Lieberman/Getty Images via JTA)
September 1, 2020, 10:29 pm
Noble Energy investor sues over ‘misleading’ info on Chevron merger deal
New York federal court asked to postpone vote until shareholders given access to documents. Plaintiff: Unfair terms will see Noble directors getting rich, investors poorly paid
By Sue Surkes
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