Jerusalem, 17 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — In light of repeated fires at pirated waste sites in Judea and Samaria, Israel’s Ministry of Environmental Protection reiterates its warning that this is an environmental and health hazard that directly affects Israeli residents and calls for immediate approval of the budget required to implement the National Strategic Plan for Eradicating Waste Hazards and Cross-Border Fires.
After abnormal pollution levels were measured in Shoham and in the settlements along the seam line, the Minister of Environmental Protection today (12/16) made an urgent appeal to Defense Minister Israel Katz and Minister of Finance and Minister of Defense Bezalel Smotrich, demanding that they activate all of their powers to immediately treat the burning sites and prevent re-ignition. The appeal presented current monitoring data indicating severe air pollution and significant exposure of residents to hazards originating from waste fires in the Judea and Samaria territories.
The ministry continues to implement in the field the full range of immediate actions that were approved, amounting to approximately 38.5 million Shekels ($11.8 million), including: strengthening enforcement in the field, increasing air quality monitoring measures, site restoration, and rapid response in cooperation with enforcement agencies and fire departments. Although these actions help reduce the immediate damage, they are not a substitute for the full implementation of the long-term plan.