West Bank

Circular economy: An opportunity for Israelis, Palestinians - opinion These presentations generated a positive exchange of opinions and experiences among the participants, which led the discussion to some crucial conclusions. By EMANUELA ROSIA, CARMIT LUBANOV, FRANCESCO BRUNI    JULY 7, 2021 20:59         At the beginning of July 2021 the event for media and stakeholders on waste management in Israeli-Palestinian territories was held online, with the participation of important actors in civil society. During the webinar, sustainable projects and innovative actions realized in this complex region were discussed, underlying the positive results generated for the environment and for the local population.   Thanks to the collaboration between the Associazione Internazionale Comunicazione Ambientale (International Association for Environmental Communication, AICA, Italy), the Association of Environmental Justice in Israel (AEJI) and the Jerusalem Center for Women (JCW Israel), the webinar entitled Circular Economy: A challenge for Israel, West Bank and Gaza Strip? offered the chance to recognize positive experiences of international cooperation and sustainable development.   Emanuela Rosio, president of AICA, introduced the meeting while environmental consultant Roberto Cavallo, CEO of E.R.I.C.A. soc. coop. showed the concrete impact of a circular economy as an opportunity for development and job creation. Umberto Gianolio, also of E.R.I.C.A., provided an intervention strategy for the Gaza Strip in order to activate routes for recycling and reuse, starting from separate collection and specifically addressing organic waste, which represents 55% of total waste production.   Fadwah Khawaja, JCW general-director, offered an overview on waste management in the West Bank administered territories, focusing on the role of women in society. Indeed, the circular economy may represent possibilities to build new economic opportunities for the weakest population groups as well. Lastly, AEJI Executive Director Carmit Lubanov described the ongoing situation in the Palestinian Authority areas in the West Bank, the environment issues and why a circular economy is an important undertaking for the Palestinians to set forth positive cooperation and to develop new economic strategies.   These presentations generated a positive exchange of opinions and experiences among the participants, which led the discussion to some crucial conclusions: the current waste storage system in landfills is not sustainable anymore; transitions towards new circular models are urgent. Several positive effects would result from these changes, with lower levels of land and water pollution, fewer landfills, increased job opportunities and, most of all, the creation of functional relations among local authorities, which could foster dialogue and long-term collaboration.   The writers are Emanuela Rosio, president Associazione Internazionale Comunicazione Ambientale, (AICA Italy), Carmit Lubanov, executive director, Association for Environmental Justice in Israel, (AEJI), Francesco Bruni, Associazione Internazionale Comunicazione Ambientale, (AICA).  

In an area like the West Bank where political boundaries are hazy, the issue of profits and tax payment should be examined in the context of environmental and social justice.

The Association of Environmental Justice in Israel (AEJ), NGO, non-profit,  initiated activity already in October 2019 to stop the advancement of plan for the construction of a waste and energy facility in the West Bank nearby of Good Samaritan site. The campaign is underway with legal tools, in Israel and the EU, at high costs and on a short schedule - and we will thank you for joining this support and raising the required funds. Please find below the Rational why to object the plan.  No to turn the Good Samaritan site in the West Bank into ‘Hospitality’ of Jerusalem municipal Garbage.  5 main reasons why to Halt it Now: 1.Environmental Justice – international accord 2.Social Justice – Budget Priorities 3.Environmental Pollution / Health Risks 4.World civilization heritage – The Good Samaritan site 5.Alternatives   Thanks: The preparations initiated by the Association for Environmental Justice in Israel (AEJI) in order to lead and bring to halting of the Waste-energy facility plan that Israel promotes in the West Bank, and to initiate a discussion of sustainable alternatives based on principles of environmental justice, regional sustainability and respect of the international law cannot be accomplished without the help of partners in Israel, in Palestine The international community and we thank everyone for this. Special thanks to Prof. Dan Rabinowitz for assisting in the formulation process of professional activities, to Mossi Raz (former MK) for his valuable advise and support along the long way, to Fadwa for her strong partnership although our region obstacles, and to Dubi Moran for his assistance with editing of site maps, photographing beautiful pictures, support AEJI with all the technological challenges we face!   We will be happy for your Support and Donation to help achieve the goal.

The West Bank as Israel’s waste destination October 10, 2019, will be remembered as the date on which the Israeli government made a decision that threatens to turn the West Bank into “the garbage bin of Israel.”   By CARMIT LUBANOV, MOSSI RAZ   FEBRUARY 10, 2020 22:04     IS THIS where the garbage ends up? (photo credit: REUTERS) October 10, 2019, will be remembered as the date on which the Israeli government made a decision that threatens to turn the West Bank into “the garbage bin of Israel.”   Although operating as an interim government while the political system is on hold in anticipation of a third election within a few short months, the Environmental Protection and the Finance ministries took advantage of the High Holidays lull to publish the preliminary phase of an international tender for the planning, financing, construction and operation of Israel’s first waste-to-energy plant. What may at first glance seem like a positive development is actually a matter of great concern – as the facility is going to be built in the West Bank. Although this is not a case of settlement expansion per se and the plan does not involve additional land expropriation, the plan appears to be based on the Circular Economy model with a cynical twist: exporting the municipal waste of Jerusalem to an area that is considered occupied territory under international law for treatment and separation of waste, including incineration, and then transferring the residual materials back to Israel for burial in accordance with the Cradle-to-Grave model, thereby giving a nod to international law, which prohibits Israel from burying the residuals in the West Bank territory.   The facility is going to be built near the Good Samaritan site in the jurisdiction of Ma’aleh Adumim. The plan for the construction of the waste treatment and incineration facility is part of Israel’s Waste Management Strategic Plan for 2030, which was approved in 2018. In this regard, it is noteworthy that the formulation of Israel’s waste treatment strategy for 2030 was funded by the EU and supported via twinning projects with several European countries, including Germany, Austria and the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland). Despite the Israeli government’s announcement that the Environmental Protection Ministry will finance the construction of the waste facility to the tune of NIS 2.8 billion, one cannot ignore the linkage between the EU funding of the strategy formulation and the implementation of the plan, as the latter is a direct outcome of the former. It is also worthy to note that European companies will not be able to compete in the international tender because of the facility’s location in the occupied West Bank.   Behind the new ambitious targets of Israel’s waste strategy lie the failures of the Environmental Protection Ministry. Israel is ranked at the bottom of national municipal waste recycling rates internationally compared to developed countries. Most of the municipal waste in Israel is currently transferred to landfills (80%).   Therefore, in addition to the effort required to reduce consumption and increase waste separation at the point of origin, we support the solution of converting organic waste into energy through environmentally monitored processes. We take issue, however, with the declared site, which is an area that is weak in terms of environmental governance and civil society ability to act and is protected by the Basel Convention which was formulated 30 years ago exactly for this purpose: to control the trans-boundary transfer of waste. The advancement of the current plan, which disregards the Basel Convention, constitutes the realization of a policy of environmental injustice.   We, the authors of this article, are well aware of the geopolitical situation in our region. Against that background, we propose that the next Israeli government embrace a policy of economic cooperation and examine the possibility of establishing a waste-to-energy facility as a joint Israeli-Palestinian enterprise in cooperation with the EU or any other international party.     Everyone knows that the “environment does not recognize political boundaries,” such as when air pollution is carried by the wind or untreated sewage streams along riverbeds. Our region has occasionally been victim to such phenomena, resulting in demands from mainstream environmental organizations for environmental surveys and public hearings. In the case of Israel-Palestine, however, any such measures must take into account the political context of the conflict and the legal status of the occupied territories. The approach must be based on the principles of environmental justice which require that solutions be examined in a way that challenges the political situation and metes justice in both the legal-governmental and universal-moral respects.   Approximately 120 years ago, at the 6th Zionist Congress in Basel (1903), Dr. Theodor Herzl declared: “In Basel, I founded the Jewish State.” We would like to see history repeat itself in the sense that Israel will conform with the Basel Waste Convention and apply it to converge within the limits of environmentally protectable borders while viewing possible solutions through in the lens of the two-state solution.   Carmit Lubanov (carmit@aeji.org.il) is the executive director of the Association of Environmental Justice in Israel. Mossi Raz (mossi.raz.knesset@gmail.com) is a former MK of the Meretz Party and a member of the board of the AEJI. Tags Settlements West Bank maale adumim

Adding an update  - March 2020: Since the publication of the preliminary tender in 10th October 2019, AEJI has promoted a series of actions on the plan for the energy waste facility to EU representatives in Israel and Brussels as follows:   A legal document discussing the connection between the financing of the strategic plan for Israel's waste policy for 2030 and the EU grant (Twinning) under which the strategy was funded. The legal document was prepared by a Bourdon  & Associés, a leading Law office win France deals with issues of EU legislation and civil rights - sent to the Legal Adviser of the European Commission in Brussels. Since submission of the legal letter on behalf of AEJI, there have been a number of discussions on the subject, as well as holding series of meetings with representatives of European embassies, including the United Kingdom, Austria, France, Germany and more. A Field tour of the international cpmmunity to the designated site for construction of the W-t-E facility scheduled for later on March but currently been postponed dueto COVID situation and the current lockdown imposed in Israel.  The dialogue on the subject continues all the time and will be updated later. On February, an Op-Ed article was published by us in Jerualem post presenting the situation and provide outline for regional sustainable solution.  end of updating (15 March, 2020) =========================================================================== Introduction This position paper is part of the preparation of the Association for Environmental Justice in Israel (AEJI) in collaboration with civil society organizations (CSO), in Israel and in Palestine, following the Government of Israel publishing a Pre-Qualification Procedure for international tender for planning, financing, construction and operation of Israel's first facility to convert 'waste to energy' in the occupied territories. Although the far reaching implications for this plan in internal and international arena, the publishing on 10th October 2019 was in time of "High Holiday period" in Israel and while a provisional government is acting – therefore we see the necessary to act as early as possible - in key levels of awareness, environmental policy advocacy and legal procedures in Israel and in Europe.   B.    The Plan   B.1.                The facility will be built across the Green Line, near the Good Samaritan site, in the jurisdiction of Ma'aleh Adumim. It is planned to absorb the municipal waste of the city of Jerusalem and generate electricity through incineration. B.2.                The plan for the construction of the waste treatment and incineration facility is part of Israel's Waste Management Strategic Plan for 2030, which includes 3 energy facilities (North, South, Center). B.3.                The formulation process of Israel's waste treatment strategy for 2030 was funded by the EU and with contracted of 3 European countries via Twining projects: Germany, Austria, the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland). B.4.                It has also been announced that the main source for funding the building of the waste facility will be government finance (NIS 2.8 billion), which will come from the Cleanliness Fund in the management of the Ministry of the Environment in Israel.