environment

Displaced Palestinians near the sea in Deir al-Balah, June 20, 2024. (Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90)

The Gaza war is an environmental catastrophe

Toxic waste, water-borne diseases, vast carbon emissions: Dr. Mariam Abd El Hay describes the myriad harms of Israel’s assault to the region’s ecosystems.

By Nathalie Rozanes September 5, 2024

One Climate members Mor Gilboa (left), Muna Shaheen (center), and Ya'ara Peretz (right). (Oren Ziv)

‘We want to make the climate movement in Israel-Palestine much more political’

For the Palestinian and Israeli activists of One Climate, the only way to fight climate breakdown is to tie it with the struggle against the occupation.

By Judith Sudilovsky July 12, 2021

A goat grazing on the hills outside the village of Tuba in the West Bank, while Israeli soldiers demand a Palestinian shepherd and his herd return home, Jan. 30, 2021. (Natasha Westheimer)

Climate breakdown and occupation are dismantling the lives of Palestinian shepherds

A settlement in the South Hebron Hills illustrates how the Israeli occupation and the climate crisis are destroying Palestinian land and livelihoods.

By Natasha Westheimer April 21, 2021

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Israelis attend a rally calling for action against the climate crisis and the ecological crisis at Habima Square, Tel Aviv, July 26, 2020. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

Israel’s climate justice movement has a colonialism problem

Climate justice movements worldwide consider anti-racism and ending oppression integral to their struggle. So why aren't Israeli environment activists speaking up for Palestinians?

By Mor Gilboa September 11, 2020

A man reads a newspaper while floating in the Dead Sea. (Author unknown, WikiCommons)

Red-Dead pipeline is the wrong answer, politically and environmentally

Pumping Red Sea water into the Dead Sea to save it from drying up ignores environmental consequences, experts warn. Rights groups decry the plan as an ‘attempt to force the Palestinian population to consent to their own dispossession.’ By Keren Simons Israel and Jordan last Thursday signed a historic agreement to cooperate over their shared bodies…

By +972 Magazine March 5, 2015

Untreated sewage flows in the West Bank (Social TV)

Take a (virtual) ecological tour of the occupied West Bank

From the separation barrier’s effects on animal migration and plant-life to insufficient sewage infrastructure to the discriminatory use of nature reserves, the occupation’s impact goes far beyond the personal and political — it’s also an environmental hazard. Social TV takes you on an ecological tour of the occupied West Bank. Related: Israelis, Palestinians must cooperate…

By Social TV December 23, 2014

Firing Range 24 in Rishon Lezion (Israel Social TV)

WATCH: Environmental groups fear firing zone will fall prey to developers

For 60 years, the Israeli army has held onto six sought-after kilometers of some of the country’s most beautiful coastline. As some of the area is returned to the public in the coming years, local authorities will be burdened the heavy cost of cleaning up a wasteland of munitions. Environmental groups are gearing up for…

By Social TV February 16, 2014

Yair Lapid (photo: Yotam Ronen / activestills.org)

Social, environmental shortcomings cast shadow over Lapid’s housing plan

In his attempt to tackle the housing crisis that is largely responsible for his rise to power, Finance Minister Lapid fails to address affordable and public housing, and is setting himself up for a battle with environmental groups. By Jesse Fox Late last month, Finance Minister Yair Lapid made a dramatic announcement: Israel’s government, he…

By +972 Magazine June 4, 2013

President Obama: When in the Middle East, walk on water

If President Obama plans on trying to kickstart the Israeli-Palestinian peace process during his visit this week, he should reframe the process. Tackling the toughest issues first, such as Jerusalem, has proven to only prolong the stalemate. Why not start with water? By Oded Eran and Gidon Bromberg The Israeli-Palestinian political process has been stalled for too…

By +972 Magazine March 17, 2013

Dirty beach (Epsos.de/CC BY 2.0)

Israelis, Palestinians must cooperate now on the environment

Cross-border environmental cooperation cannot wait until a final peace agreement is signed. But it also cannot completely disregard political realities: The recent Cross-Border Environmental Conference held by Israel in the settlement of Ariel meant that no Palestinian could dare attend, leaving Israelis to discuss cooperation among themselves. By David Lehrer and Dr. Clive Lipchin In…

By +972 Magazine August 3, 2012

The Wall, 10 years on: part 9 / Dividing land – water, fauna, flora

UNESCO is set to discuss the dangers facing Jerusalem’s eco-systems, a new UNRWA report elaborates the harm caused to water sources and flora throughout the West Bank, and environmental NGOs warn of the impending extinction of several species – these are the wall’s effects on mother nature. Project photography: Oren Ziv / Activestills An event…

By Haggai Matar June 23, 2012