Comments on: Israel’s environmental crisis 2013 – political antecedents and solutions

By: Shlomo Toren

Shlomo Toren — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 10:09:19 +0000

I have no question about your commitment to the environment in Israel, rather I wonder about Livni's. Afterall , not only doesn't she have a history of legislative intiatives in any matter, she has even less in environmental legislation.

BTW, to be fair (and not just to score political points), the special Emergency Planning Commision was established already in the 90's after the massive influx of olim for FSU countries. Then Sharon was infrastructure minister. Things haven't changed much, perhaps a little for the better. Road 16 was originally planned with only one tunnel starting at Nahal Revida, but because of pressure from the environmentalists changes were made to reduce the impact. Same for Road 9, where a tunnel was planned to reduce the impact on Nahal Arazim. Still the need for develpoment has cost our environment heavily. I believe it is being done better all the time, but it is still a difficult process.

Pirkei Avot says that we should be careful not to make our Torah a "tool to dig with". So too environmentalism.

By: Devora Mason

Devora Mason — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 12:13:32 +0000

If population is what is causing Israel's environmental crisis, then me and my family are huge offenders!!

By: David Goldberg

David Goldberg — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 11:54:57 +0000

Prof Tal, it's rather interesting how you blame the current administration for the so called "environmental crisis". yet, in 2011, you proposed a national policy to reduce population growth in Israel as being the root cause for environmental issues. In fact, you referred to the growing Jewish population as "Pollution in the Promised Land". your environmental survey of Israel concluded the following:

“The most critical single factor in understanding the downside of Israel’s environmental history is population pressure: with an average increase of one million people a decade, Israel’s population density is now roughly 270 people per square kilometer. Eventually economics, water resources, noise and the general dysfunction caused by the unbearable density will push Israel into a confrontation with advocates of large families and mass immigration. Environmentalists should not be afraid to speak on behalf of the many natural treasures that will otherwise be decimated by the crowds; flora and fauna are the first to pay for human encroachment on shrinking habitat. Future generations will certainly have reason to resent the deafening silence.”.

So is it safe to say that Livni suports your position of controlling the Jewish population and implementing measures to cut down on immigration? perhaps you are in favor of fining families with more than 2.5 children? perhaps the Livni coalition will be in favor of shutting down the Jewish Agency as we will no longer be accepting new Olim?

Perhaps you and your green fauna protectors should petition for a third state solution where you and your furry companions can live without the threat of too many Jews ruining the landscape. you can call it Aryan Nation.