Skip to main content

Israeli nature lovers clean beaches, rivers

Israeli activists are rolling up their sleeves to clean nature, launching initiatives at nature reserves, parks, beaches and rivers.
Black kites sit on a tree with plastic bags clinged to it after a storm near the Dudaim dump in Israels Negev desert near the Bedouin city Rahat on January 20, 2019. - Israelis use approximately 2.7 billion plastic bags a year, which constitute 25 percent of the countrys trash volume. Since 2017 supermarkets charge a small price for the bags, following legislation aimed at diminishing their excessive use. (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP)        (Photo credit should read MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images)

Israelis spent this Sukkoth holiday confined at home. No partying on beaches, no picnics in parks, no swimming in rivers. While many regretted deeply not being able to go out, some Israelis were happy, as it meant nature was spared all the trash during this holiday week. Still, they fear that once the lockdown ends, and if the weather stays as warm and dry as it is now, Israelis will flock again outdoors, and bring along their rubbish.

Evidently, this phenomenon of trashing nature is not new to Israel. But it seems that the coronavirus pandemic has considerably amplified it. After the first lockdown in March, thousands of Israelis went out to visit every possible nature reserve, stream or trail. With the pandemic still raging, they could not fly abroad, so they opted for vacation at home, in Israel.

"This summer, family, friends and I visited the Jilabun River in the Golan Heights. We were so sad to see all the litter left on the river banks — crisp bags, plastic bottles, etc. Then I came up with something. Let’s imagine that for every person leaving one trash item behind, another person picks up two. Picking up just two pieces of trash should totally clean the place," Ben Adoram told Al-Monitor.

Adoram took his idea one step further, starting the Facebook group Cleaning Nature. On his page, he proposes to all nature lovers to go out to one of their favorite spots, equipped with a bag and rubber gloves, and pick up two pieces of trash and throw them in a garbage bin. "The idea is to generate a grassroots change — silent but profound — by the many people who love nature and who care about a nature free of litter. Some people are trashing — we will be the cleaners," Adoram said.

Another interesting initiative is that of the Israeli Travel association in cooperation with Sabres Israeli Field Center shop. Yaniv Levy of Sabres explains that the shop — opened in Jerusalem some 10 years ago — aims not only at selling fine travel equipment, but also at engaging with the community and working for the preservation of the environment.

The joint initiative calls on Israelis to clean up places they visited and film their actions. Transforming this chore into a ludic and fun project, participants are asked to film three short stories: the first video showing the place before the clean-up, the second one showing what the place looks like after the clean-up and a third video showing the trash bags being thrown into community garbage bins. The three videos should then be posted on an Instagram page called Don't Be Jerks, which is jointly managed by Israeli Travel and Sabresr. Anyone accomplishing the three-video challenge receives a generous gift card for travel gear, offered by Sabres.

Joining these personal initiatives are also the Nature and Parks Authority and the Environmental Protection Ministry, each with its own field of responsibility and expertise.

Environmental Protection Ministry spokeswoman Lihi Shtoyer-Gilead told Al-Monitor that the ministry is deeply implicated in cleaning Israeli beaches. "Already in 2005, we launched the 'Clean Coast Program,' designed to minimize marine litter and clean up Israel’s beaches and seas according to international commitments. We operate on several levels with the main focus to generate a change of mind on the importance of beaches and the sea and the importance of setting an example and take action," she said. Shtoyer-Gilead explained that as part of this program, they have set up the 'Clean Coast Index,' measuring objectively the cleanliness of the Israeli Mediterranean and Red Sea coastline, including public beaches.

The Park and Nature Authority told Al-Monitor that they are indeed worried about large quantities of trash in many nature reserves. "Israel is a beautiful country, rich with nature and heritage sites. But it is drowning in garbage, and this cannot go on. We must react. On the other hand, many people are now looking for jobs. The coronavirus and economic crisis pushed them into unemployment. These are good, talented, very motivated people, pushed into unemployment by no fault of their own. So the Nature and Park Authority decided to connect the two by now employing 500 people to rid the country of garbage and invading specimens," Nature and Parks Authority CEO Shaul Goldstein told Al-Monitor.

Goldstein took the opportunity also to call on all Israelis to do their part. "These 500 people will surely do a fantastic job, but Israelis need to help them out. Don’t toss trash in nature, don’t use disposable plastic plates for picnics and don’t throw away plastic bags. Let’s make sure to leave behind a clean environment," Goldstein pleaded. He considers a clean environment a national mission in order to preserve Israel’s nature, rivers and beaches for generations to come, well beyond the coronavirus pandemic.

Join hundreds of Middle East professionals with Al-Monitor PRO.

Business and policy professionals use PRO to monitor the regional economy and improve their reports, memos and presentations. Try it for free and cancel anytime.

Already a Member? Sign in

Free

The Middle East's Best Newsletters

Join over 50,000 readers who access our journalists dedicated newsletters, covering the top political, security, business and tech issues across the region each week.
Delivered straight to your inbox.

Free

What's included:
Our Expertise

Free newsletters available:

  • The Takeaway & Week in Review
  • Middle East Minute (AM)
  • Daily Briefing (PM)
  • Business & Tech Briefing
  • Security Briefing
  • Gulf Briefing
  • Israel Briefing
  • Palestine Briefing
  • Turkey Briefing
  • Iraq Briefing
Expert

Premium Membership

Join the Middle East's most notable experts for premium memos, trend reports, live video Q&A, and intimate in-person events, each detailing exclusive insights on business and geopolitical trends shaping the region.

$25.00 / month
billed annually

Become Member Start with 1-week free trial
What's included:
Our Expertise AI-driven

Memos - premium analytical writing: actionable insights on markets and geopolitics.

Live Video Q&A - Hear from our top journalists and regional experts.

Special Events - Intimate in-person events with business & political VIPs.

Trend Reports - Deep dive analysis on market updates.

All premium Industry Newsletters - Monitor the Middle East's most important industries. Prioritize your target industries for weekly review:

  • Capital Markets & Private Equity
  • Venture Capital & Startups
  • Green Energy
  • Supply Chain
  • Sustainable Development
  • Leading Edge Technology
  • Oil & Gas
  • Real Estate & Construction
  • Banking

We also offer team plans. Please send an email to pro.support@al-monitor.com and we'll onboard your team.

Already a Member? Sign in

Israel Briefing Israel Briefing

Israel Briefing

Top Israel stories in your inbox each week

Trend Reports

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (4th R) attends a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (3rd L) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on February 22, 2019. (Photo by HOW HWEE YOUNG / POOL / AFP) (Photo credit should read HOW HWEE YOUNG/AFP via Getty Images)
Premium

From roads to routers: The future of China-Middle East connectivity

A general view shows the solar plant in Uyayna, north of Riyadh, on March 29, 2018. - On March 27, Saudi announced a deal with Japan's SoftBank to build the world's biggest solar plant. (Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP) (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images)
Premium

Regulations on Middle East renewable energy industry starting to take shape

Start your PRO membership today.

Join the Middle East's top business and policy professionals to access exclusive PRO insights today.

Join Al-Monitor PRO Start with 1-week free trial