Israel - ICM Country Profile

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Contacts
Basic Data
CSD Data
Ocean and Coastal Zone

Valerie Brachya
Environmental Planning, Ministry of Environment
5 Kanfei Nesharim St., Givat Shaul
Jerusalem, Israel
(Information provide by Sorensen 2000 Database of ICM Efforts)

SUMMARY OF OCEAN
AND COASTAL PROGRAMS

Many thanks are due to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, the source of the information below. The information was taken from Israel's submission to the 7th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (last update: January 1999). For further information on social and economic factors, natural resources, and institutional structures in Israel see the United Nations System-Wide Web Site on National Implementation of the Rio Commitments National Information for Israel at

OCEAN AND COASTAL AREAS

Israel ratified the 1976 Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution and its related protocols and the Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 and the 1978 Protocol (MARPOL 73/78) with Annexes 1 and 2. Efforts are currently underway to ratify Annexes 3,4 and 5 of MARPOL 73/78 as well as the 1993 Oil Pollution Responsibility and Cooperation Convention (OPRC) and international agreements for compensation in case of large scale accidents - Civil Liability Convention and IOPCF (Fund) Convention.

The Marine and Coastal Environment Division of the Ministry of the Environment is the national authority responsible for all aspects of marine and coastal pollution. Other groups involved include the Ministry of Transport, Shipping and Ports Administration, non-governmental organizations (Israel Union Environmental Defense, Greenpeace-Israel) and local authorities.

The Marine and Coastal Environment Division has adopted a multi-faceted working plan consisting of detection of environmental problems along Israel's marine coastlines and territorial waters; prevention and abatement of all types of marine pollution; enforcement of national laws related to protection of the marine environment; updating of relevant legislation in accordance with international conventions and modern environmental criteria.

The Ministry of the Environment is developing a comprehensive national oil spill contingency plan. According to this contingency plan, an ad hoc emergency headquarters will be set up in case of an oil spill. The headquarters will be commanded by the Shipping and Ports Authority, and will include representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Ports Authority, Israel Defense Forces, Coast Guard and local authorities.

In 1983, Israel approved a National Outline Scheme for the Mediterranean Coast with full consideration of environmental issues. The Scheme protects open space along large sections of the coastline, including nature reserves, national parks and coastal reserves. It also includes a highly effective clause prohibiting development within 100 meters of the coastline. Through a progressive GIS, the Ministry of the Environment is developing a Mediterranean Coast database, as well as a database for microbial and heavy metal monitoring stations along the Mediterranean Coast.

In November 1996, an Agreement relative to the Coastal Areas Management Programme for Israel was signed between the UNEP Mediterranean Action Plan and Israel, for an intensive program of coastal zone management. The main objective of this Programme is the development of a sustainable development strategy for Israel, by initiating dialogue with all sectors of Israel's economy (energy, industry, transportation, tourism, etc.). The inauguration of the Programme initiated a public debate, beginning with a seminar on a sustainable development strategy for Israel.

Israel deals with all aspects of marine pollution: accidental and emergency oil and chemical spills from ships or terminals; polluting discharges from industrial or municipal land-based sources; dumping of waste at sea; airborne pollution into the marine environment; and litter in the sea or on the beaches. Israel's two coastlines - the Mediterranean and the Red Sea (Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba) - are among the country's most valuable natural assets.

In recent years, Israel has made significant progress in pollution prevention and protection of the marine environment. Funds for combating marine and coastal pollution for clean-up operations are generated by the Marine Pollution Fund, totaling $700,00 annually. Income is derived from fees imposed on all oil terminals and ships calling at Israeli ports and from fines collected from violators of marine pollution prevention laws and regulations.

Research efforts at various academic institutions, in conjunction with industry experts, have been made regarding marine clean-up and pollution treatment by means of oil-eating bacteria. Bioremediation has also been successfully developed and used in a number of cases in recent years.

Israel's capacity in the Gulf of Eilat was dramatically improved in 1991 with the inauguration of a newly expanded pollution control and response center. The Gulf of Eilat's pollution control capabilities have been further expanded as a result of progress within the framework of the multilateral peace talks on the environment and the Bilateral Agreement with Jordan on Special Arrangements for Aqaba and Eilat concluded in January 1996.

Israel is an active participant in the UNEP Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) which provides an important forum for regional environmental activities and cooperation to protect the Mediterranean Sea. Committed to the objectives of the Barcelona Convention, Israel signed a tri-lateral Subregional Contingency Plan for combating major marine pollution incidents affecting the territorial sea, coasts and other related interests of Cyprus, Egypt and Israel in June 1995.

Within the framework of the multilateral peace talks, much progress has been made in the protection of the Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba. In view of the sensitivity and importance of this area, Israel, Jordan and Egypt agreed to cooperate in combating pollution in the Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba. A contingency plan has been developed whereby pollution control equipment is based in Aqaba, Nuweiba and Eilat to enable quick response and cooperation in protecting the environment. The plan saw success in September 1995 when Jordan and Israel cooperated in combating an oil spill in the Gulf. Subsequent to the Peace Treaty signed between Israel and Jordan on October 26, 1994, an Agreement on Special Arrangements for Aqaba and Eliat was concluded between the two countries in January 1996 with specific sections dealing with coordinated efforts for environmental protection in the Eliat/Aqaba area.

SUMMARY OF OCEAN AND COASTAL PROGRAMS

OCEAN AND COASTAL AREAS

SUMMARY OF OCEAN
AND COASTAL PROGRAMS