FALL

20

13Natural gas rulingAlthough Supreme Court rejectsour petition against export policy,we are disappointed but notdefeated (page 3)

How much isyour health worth?Donate to our fundraisingcampaign (page 4)

Asbestos updateFrom the Western Galillee to Haifahousing projects, we are combatingasbestos hazards threatening yourhealth (page 2)

Israel Union for Environmental Defense48 Yehuda Halevy Street, Tel Aviv 65782 IsraelTel: 972-3-566 9939, Fax: 972-3-566 9940Email: info@adamteva.org.ilhttp://www.adamteva.org.il/English

Adam Teva V’Din-IUED is a registered non-profitorganization (#58-017-786-3).Contributions are eligible for tax deduction underSection 46 of the Israeli Income Tax Code.

Board: Dahlia Be'eri (Chair), Ayal Avrech, Josef Gross,Gershon Grossman, Jubran Jubran, Joshua G. KiernanGalit Leider, Anat Moseinco, Rabbi Ronen Lovitz,Ofra Peleg, Avigdor Vilnitz

Executive Director: Amit Bracha, Adv.

Deputy Director: Keren Halperin-Museri, Adv.

Scientists: Sarit Caspi-Oron, Dr. Boaz Mayzel,Gilad Ostrovsky, Dr. Arye Wanger

Attorneys: Orly Ariav, Eli Ben Ari, Tamar Ganot,Shelly Lev Sherman, Asaf Rosenblum, Daphna Shalev,Dana Tabachnik

Urban Planner: Yael Dori

Online Information Center: Tania Uman

Media & Social Media: Yael Edelist, Rafi Bar

Fundraising: Hayley Lipshitz, Fran Ran,

Membership: Chen Offek, Roni Larom

Finance & Administration: Nesi Ashkenazi, Iris Zar

Interns: Michal Boguslavsky, Ori Ettinger, Matan Hemo,Avi Toeg

Design: Raphael Malinovitz, GraphiX

Friends of Israel’s Environment:Philip Warburg, Boston, MA - PresidentHoward Learner, Chicago, IL - Vice PresidentEvan J. Kaizer, Los Angeles, CA - TreasurerViva Hammer, Silver Spring, MD - SecretaryDaniel Rosenblum, New York, NYGeri Eileen Unger, Cleveland, OHJonathan Zasloff, Los Angeles, CAHonorary Friends: Representative Henry Waxman,Washington DC & Los Angeles, CAHonorable Alan Sieroty, Los Angeles, CA

Friends of Israel’s Environment4182 Beck AvenueStudio City, CA 91604Tel: (818) 693 5255www.israelenvironment.net

Friends of Israel’s Environment is a non-profit501 (c) (3) organization. Federal ID # 58-1959151.Contributions are eligible for tax deduction.

Friends of Israel’s Environment

Adam Teva V’DinIsrael Union for Environmental Defense October 2013

Pesticides in the playgroundHow safe are your children at school?

A recent heartfelt plea from the parents of the Hadar & Einav municipalkindergartens in Binyamina refocused our attention on the vulnerabilityof our children to environmental hazards in the classroom setting.

On a preliminary visit to the preschools before the opening of theschool year, the parents watched in horror as clouds of pesticidewafted from the pomegranate orchard bordering the new kindergartens,over the fence and blanketed the playgrounds and jungle gyms whichawaited the 70 defenseless toddlers. As a result of the pesticide drift,the children would have been exposed to severe health risks.

Over the years, Adam Teva V’Din has confronted over half a dozenauthorities who failed to take into account children’s heightenedvulnerability to environmental pollutants. Current Israeli law lacks aclear-cut definition of a safe and suitable learning environment aswell as a single governmental body charged with overseeing theevaluation and implementation of health & safety conditions ineducational facilities. In 2009, the Supreme Court underscored ourposition regarding educational environmental standards by ruling inour favor to protect the 800 students of an East Jerusalem schoolfrom a polluting metals factory adjacent to the school.

The story of the preschoolers in Binyamina is no different as it illustratesthe urgent need for a secure and satisfactory educational haven forour children.

From the outset, Adam Teva V’Din has been integral in helping thepreschoolers’ parents by issuing pre-trail warning letters to the relevant

local and governmental authorities when insufficient measures weretaken to protect the children. Temporarily, both schools have beenclosed until further notice.

One mother expressed her outrage over the situation, “We are livid!Why hasn’t the Regional Council bothered to implement the minimalrequirements instructed by the Government Ministries? The fact that thechildren are temporarily studying in neighboring schools is not a solution- the teachers are ill-prepared and our children are confused and unsettled”.

Adam Teva V’Din will not stop until the children are free to study ina 100% pesticide-free environment. (Continues on page 2)

Our recommendations fora healthy learning environment Golden rule: The “precautionary principle”

Establish an interdisciplinary Government body tooversee the fundamental rights of children

Initiate annual environmental monitoring plan in alleducational facilities to examine relevant hazards (air, water,radiation, noise, chemicals)

Map and standardize materials and equipment todecrease exposure to hazardous substances (detergents,laboratory and art materials)

Publish monitoring results, together with recommendations,to parent and school bodies

Formulate a series of stringent and mandatory environmentalstandards for educational institutions (air & noise quality,safety distances)

Increase awareness of environmental hazards in schoolsettings

Parents document the farmer spraying pesticides in the orchardadjacent to the kindergartens

Allow meto introducemyself

I am thrilled to introduce myself as the newInternational Donor Coordinator at Adam Teva V’Din.

As an Anglo living in Israel, I know too well thatwhen it comes to environmental questions andconcerns it is not always clear to whom we can turnfor accessible information in a language in whichwe are comfortable.

We are here to help!We invite you to take a look at our brand new Englishwebsite and to stay tuned for the latest news and

alerts. Get to know your environmental rights andconnect to the burning issues we are both sopassionate about! Don’t stop there, be part of thedialogue on Facebook!

You now have an opportunity to actively take partin the environmental arena! The Adam Teva V’DinTeam is here to make your voice heard!

I look forward to working with you to ensure ahealthy and sustainable environment for our children,our families and future generations to come.

Best regards,

Hayley Lipshitz

I'll be happy to answer any questions, so feelfree to contact me by phone +972-3-628-9123or e-mail: hayleyl@adamteva.og.il

The names Shirley Rose & Herschell Benyamin are synonymous with environmentalactivism in Israel. As Anglo immigrants, the couple’s idealistic Zionism and love ofthe land and its people, coupled with their liberal and democratic values, foundexpression in the form of promoting environmental quality in Israel. The Benyamins,respected members of the thriving Anglo community, were one of Adam Teva V’Din’svery first donors and remained longstanding members until their passing in 2010.

The Rose family arrived in Israel from the United States in 1970. Living in aperiod in which nuclear issues frequently made headline news, from the Chernobyldisaster to the local Va'anunu affair, Shirley was incredulous over the Israelipublic’s inaccessibility to nuclear information. As a staunch believer in humanrights, she was determined to remove the shroud of government secrecy obscuringthe truth on nuclear matters. Herschell Benyamin, a British immigrant who cameto Israel to fight in the War of Independence, settled as a farmer in Moshav BeitYitshach and then became the first manager of the Caesaria golf club. He wasthe perfect comrade for Shirley’s campaign and partnered with her to found theIsrael Agency for Nuclear Information.

The organization evolved into Econet, a non-profit which promoted a widespectrum of environmental issues, in particular the connection between healthand environment. The principles which served as their beacon, namely governmentaccountability, public participation and a healthy and safe living environment,are ideals which are the cornerstones of all of Adam Teva V’Din’s endeavors.

As time went on, Herschell, would have been content to settle into retirementsurrounded by his avocado orchard, milk goats and organic vegetable garden on

their small farm in Karkur, and enjoy the small pleasures of life together with hisnew wife. Shirley had other plans in mind. Alon Tal, founder of Adam Teva V’Din,fondly recalls that “although she was past retirement age, Shirley had the energyand drive of a college activist”. For years, the couple worked enthusiastically ondisseminating environmental information to the public. In appreciation for theirunwavering dedication to the improvement of environmental quality and transparencyin Israel, Econet was awarded with the acclaimed Israel Prize in 1994.

Today, Shirley’s sons, Jeremy and Peter Rose, continue their parents legacy andshare in Adam Teva V'Din's vision and values. We would like to express ourheartfelt thanks to both of them for their donation in memory of their parents.

The PRTR Law (2012) is a revolution in how Israeloversees the release of chemicals in large and smallindustries. Reports have already been submitted bybusinesses operating in chemicals, minerals, metals,food & beverage production and livestock growth.This information will be made public via a governmentwebsite in December 2013.

Adam Teva V’Din recently published a series ofchemical information sheets to help you understandthe substances being released and the effects theyhave on your health. The information sheets,

currently available on our Hebrew website, focuson arsenic, benzene, formaldehyde, mercury andtrichloroethylene.

Making pollutants public:PRTR Law (2012)

Chemicals of Concern:Food for thought

Our new project, Chemicals of Concern, acollaborative partnership with the Environment andHealth Fund (EHF) and the Jacob & Hilda BlausteinFoundation, aims to create a legislative frameworkthat will reduce our exposure to chemicals in theeveryday environment. We have chosen to focuson the most susceptible subgroups-young childrenand expectant mothers.

Our proposed reforms and new regulations willdemand manufacturer responsibility, governmentoversight and transparency of information.

We invite you to download our survey on pesticidesin summer fruits from our website.

The blooming legacy ofShirley Rose & Herschell Benyamin

How much is your health worth?

Donate now for a healthy environment!

Your health is not only aboutregular check-ups andbalanced diets. The state ofour environment defines thestate of our health.Our end-of–year fundraisingcampaign highlights how weare working to address theenvironmental factors whichimpact our health.We need your help to fuel ourefforts on these frontiers.

It is only with YOUR help thatwe can continue to ensure ahealthy and safe livingenvironment.Visit our website today tomake your donation or giveus a call, we’ll be happy tohelp you with your gift.Website:http://www.adamteva.org.il/englishPhone: +972-3-628-9123

We are grateful for thegenerosity of the followingphilanthropic foundationswho support our work:

Beracha Foundation,

Jacob & Hilda Blaustein Foundation,

Charles Brown Foundation,

Environment and Health Fund,

Green Environment Fund,

Jacob L. & Lillian Holtzmann Foundation,

The Morningstar Philanthropic Fund,

Plum Foundation,

The Samuel Sebba Charitable Trust (UK)

Thank you to all our individualmembers and donors who help usget the job done!

ggNewsbriefs ggNewsbriefsStampede changesin planningThe Government continues its onslaught toweaken national planning frameworks. Theextended National Housing Committee Law(2011) was authorized on the first day of thewinter Knesset session. The law, which ostensiblyaims to facilitate new affordable housing projects,provides short-term solutions to the housingshortage yet disregards responsible managementof land resources and long-term planningconsiderations.

Are you baffled by these whirlwind changes?Visit our website for handy guides to help youunderstand how these changes affect you.

Court ruleson farm buildingThe Supreme Court recently overturned the 2006ruling of the Tel Aviv District Court which allowedthe building of an illegal cowshed in the moshavof Bazra (centre of Israel). The Court upheld theprinciple that any construction on agricultural siteswill be subject to detailed building plans.

Eli Ben Ari, senior attorney specializing in landuse: “This is a long awaited precedent which willprevent the unbridled commercial exploitation ofrural agricultural lands. The demand for detailedbuilding plans will put a stop to the misuse andmanipulation of arable land for commercialpurposes”.

NO again to CarmelBeach Towers!The Haifa District Planning & Building Committeerecently rejected a proposal to reclaim land fromthe sea in order to expand the notorious CarmelBeach Towers.

We succeeded in blocking the beachfront projectin the 1990s and will continue to challenge anyattempt to build on and mar the Haifa shoreline.We are monitoring future developments.

Galilee residents can breathe easyHigh Court rules on asbestos case:

Polluter must pay

Continued from page 1

How safe areyour children at school?“It is imperative to formulate comprehensive regulations for the environmentalconditions for schools”, explains Adv. Orly Ariav, Head of our Environment &Community Initiative. “How the preschools were approved to be opened nextto an agricultural field is beyond us. This is a matter of national importance. Weare not only talking about Binyamina, all of our students are vulnerable andunder-protected. The authorities responsible to ensure their health and well-being lack the tools and guidelines to adequately protect them. It is our job toprovide them with this toolkit”.

Are your children exposed to pesticide drift near their school? Let us knowat: moked@adamteva.org.il

Marine Management:Tides of changeWhen it comes to managing the Mediterranean,Israel is not keeping up to pace with theenvironmental standards of EU nations who areworking to improve the marine environment.

Adam Teva V’din’s Marine Management Initiativeworks to develop and promote innovativelegislative, policy and planning frameworks basedon ecosystem-based management. We arefortunate to have as our mentors during the firstphase experts from the Environmental LawInstitute of Washington DC who recentlyconducted a workshop for our team in Israel.

Be’er Sheva:Relentless racketCan you imagine living with an incessant ringingalarm, every hour, for 15 minutes straight, at alltimes of the day and night?! Since June, this hasbeen the soundtrack of the lives of the residentsof a low socio-economic neighborhood in Be’erSheva. The residents pleaded with the municipalityto put an end to the relentless racket coming froman unmarked storage room in the industrial areabordering their homes.

However, the authorities blatantly ignored thepoor population, claiming that they have no meansto locate the anonymous owner of the property.In desperation, the residents turned to us. Sinceour immediate intervention, the authorities havefinally put a stop to the noise.

ProtectingUm Al Fahm green spaceThe Arab town of Um Al Fahm in the lower Galileesorely lacks public open spaces. A rare patch ofgreen, an established wooded area, is now in gravejeopardy following a permit issued to fell dozensof trees in a step towards a construction project.

The management of the permit process has beenquestionable and there are legal implications thatneed to be clarified. When the developer tried tochop down the trees, residents protested andwork was suspended. In the meantime, the citycouncil's attorney has consulted with us as tohow best to proceed. We are examining the bestlegal route to take.

Twenty miles west of Jerusalem, the once quiet development town of BeitShemesh has grown rapidly over the last decade due to an influx of Ultra-Orthodox families as well as secular immigrants who commute by rail to hi-techjobs on the coastal plain. The local development plan for a population of 125,000is obsolete as new neighborhoods now being planned or built will house 250,000.There is no updated master plan to guide developers and, according to localactivists, planning authorities are under pressure to approve new building projectsad hoc, even in areas of sensitive open landscapes and ecological corridors.

"Planning for Ultra-Orthodox communities presents unique design challengesfor architects and urban planners," notes Yael Dori, head of planning at AdamTeva V'Din. Religious neighborhoods are characterized by low rise buildings (toavoid elevator use on Shabbat) and by a high proportion of institutional buildings(separate schools for girls and boys, ritual baths, synagogues, etc.) relative tonon-religious communities.

"With long-term planning and adherence to modern planning standards, BeitShemesh can accommodate both religious and secular families in quality environmentthat provides for everyone's needs. Right now, poor management of the town'sgrowth is ruining quality of life and destroying the environment unnecessarily."

In response to local residents’ pleas , Adam Teva V'Din has submitted a seriesof planning objections to three new development schemes. "One proposedneighborhood will destroy open rural landscapes in the northern Ella Valley." Inall three plans there is insufficient attention to the special infrastructure,transportation and institutional needs of the religious communities. Yael Dori:"Without due care and attention, Beit Shemesh will become a slum town whereno one will want to live."

Urban planning tensionsBeit Shemesh

Blame gamesin Sasgon Valley case

Exposed asbestos in Haifa housing project

High court rules 5-2 on natural gas policyPetitioners are disappointed

but not defeated

Dana Tabachnik and Amit Bracha

“We are obviously disappointed with the ruling,however we are not giving up” says Adv. DanaTabachnik in response to the Supreme Court’s rejectionof our petition against the exclusion of the Knessetin determining gas export policies. “We will makesure that these resources are used responsibly andstrategically through alternative legislative channels”.

Dana, Head of our Economy & Environmentdepartment, has ardently appealed the closed-doorGovernment decision since it was passed in June2013. As she argued her case before the esteemedseven-judge panel of Supreme Court Justices, herunwavering conviction in her claims was tangible.

In a case in which many of the players are woozyfrom the anticipated fortunes from the gas royalties,Dana’s appreciation of the value of the nation’slimited, and overburdened, natural resources to theIsraeli public is a sobering perspective.

The Court’s majority vote to uphold the Cabinet’sexport policy reinforces our role in safeguardingIsraeli’s energy and economic future to the

long-term benefit of the Israeli public and industry.

Although the outcome of the petition was not ideal,we still see ourselves as victors in the struggle topreserve Israel’s natural gas for the local market. Ourinterventions throughout the last year have compelledthe Prime Minister to lower the export quota from53% to 40%, guaranteeing that the majority of thereserves will be earmarked for domestic use.

“The rightful owners of these natural assets, thecitizens of Israel, are left out in the cold. Corporatemoguls are reaping the benefits at their expense.What’s worse is that the Government entitles themto do so, disregarding open public debate andgovernment accountability -fundamental democraticprocesses which define our State”.

Adam Teva V’Din is determined to continue to setthe principles for the responsible management ofour energy economy.

“The State has a poor track record in managing thecountry’s natural resources, the State Comptroller

attested to this in his latest report”, says Amit Bracha,Executive Director. “A striking example is thelongstanding government decision to produce 5%of Israel’s electricity from renewable sources by 2016.To date, renewable energy production has yet toreach even 1%”.

Dana and our team believe that we can restore theoptimism for a sustainable energy economy byclearly allocating a high percentage of the gasroyalties towards clean energy investments.

Experience has taught us that without clearly definedpurposes, there is a real danger that the royaltieswill be used to cover budget deficits or to bankrollthe government whim-of-the-day.

“It is in the best interest of the Israeli public, presentand future” says Tabachnik, “to invest the substantialproceeds in the development of renewable and cost-efficient energy sources, such as solar and wind power.What is taken from the environment should berightfully returned to the environment”.

In 2008, a Los Vegas style luxury resort threatened to endanger the untouchedbeauty of the Sasgon Valley, the last remaining stretch of undeveloped desertin the Negev. The members of the Arava community, as well as others who careabout preserving this precious region, were thrilled when the Be’er Sheva DistrictCourt moderated the hotel’s building plans.

Seven years on, the developer is suing the State to recover 15 million NIS($4 million) worth of losses he claims to have suffered due to the fact that thebuilding permission was issued in error.

In an aim to shirk itself of the responsibility to compensate the entrepreneur, theState is trying to shift the blame to Adam Teva V’Din, as well as the communityactivists who joined us in objection to the desert construction. In our opinion, theattempt to point an accusing finger at us, a public interest representative, rather thanaccepting responsibility is highly inappropriate as well as disturbingly reminiscentof a SLAPP suit (strategic lawsuit against public participation). We have already voicedour outrage to the Attorney General and responded in the strongest terms. We willnot be intimidated by these tactics, not now and not in future environmental disputes.

For over a decade, we have invested our energiesinto advancing legislation and a governmentsanctioned asbestos removal program in the toxinriddled Western Galilee.

In February, we marked a legal triumph when the HighCourt of Justice upheld the Asbestos Law (2011) andplaced the burden of clean-up on the shoulders of theasbestos manufacturing plant, Eitanit Construction Co.

Despite the factory’s efforts to annul the law, theCourt rejected their claims. In accordance with the“polluter pays” principle, Eitanit will therefore foot50% of the costs of the Environment Ministry'sasbestos removal program in the Galilee (up to 150million NIS or $42 million).

We are delighted about the victory because withoutEitanit's share of funding the costly clean-up programwould have been disbanded and the forsaken residentsof the region would have remained exposed to severehealth risks. “This is a breakthrough in our way ofthinking about manufacturer responsibility” saysKeren Halperin-Museri, Deputy Director of Adam TevaV’Din. “Our message to polluters is clear: takeresponsibility for your hazardous activities! Pay forthe injustices you inflict on your vulnerable victims”.

This is a precedent-setting ruling and confirms thatmanufacturers must be held responsible for everystage of production processes, from raw materialto refuse.

Ticking time bomb in Haifapublic housing projects

A single rogue asbestos fiber in the respiratorysystem is enough to cause fatal lung cancer. Justone fiber! This frightening fact is currently loomingover 400 low-income families residing in 21 publichousing buildings formerly owned by the City ofHaifa. The residents and by-passers are exposedto the deadly mineral fibers through the corrodingfacade of the apartment block. We are checkingto see if the City violated the public housing lawby selling them the property in this condition andare weighing future legal steps.

ggNewsbriefs ggNewsbriefsStampede changesin planningThe Government continues its onslaught toweaken national planning frameworks. Theextended National Housing Committee Law(2011) was authorized on the first day of thewinter Knesset session. The law, which ostensiblyaims to facilitate new affordable housing projects,provides short-term solutions to the housingshortage yet disregards responsible managementof land resources and long-term planningconsiderations.

Are you baffled by these whirlwind changes?Visit our website for handy guides to help youunderstand how these changes affect you.

Court ruleson farm buildingThe Supreme Court recently overturned the 2006ruling of the Tel Aviv District Court which allowedthe building of an illegal cowshed in the moshavof Bazra (centre of Israel). The Court upheld theprinciple that any construction on agricultural siteswill be subject to detailed building plans.

Eli Ben Ari, senior attorney specializing in landuse: “This is a long awaited precedent which willprevent the unbridled commercial exploitation ofrural agricultural lands. The demand for detailedbuilding plans will put a stop to the misuse andmanipulation of arable land for commercialpurposes”.

NO again to CarmelBeach Towers!The Haifa District Planning & Building Committeerecently rejected a proposal to reclaim land fromthe sea in order to expand the notorious CarmelBeach Towers.

We succeeded in blocking the beachfront projectin the 1990s and will continue to challenge anyattempt to build on and mar the Haifa shoreline.We are monitoring future developments.

Galilee residents can breathe easyHigh Court rules on asbestos case:

Polluter must pay

Continued from page 1

How safe areyour children at school?“It is imperative to formulate comprehensive regulations for the environmentalconditions for schools”, explains Adv. Orly Ariav, Head of our Environment &Community Initiative. “How the preschools were approved to be opened nextto an agricultural field is beyond us. This is a matter of national importance. Weare not only talking about Binyamina, all of our students are vulnerable andunder-protected. The authorities responsible to ensure their health and well-being lack the tools and guidelines to adequately protect them. It is our job toprovide them with this toolkit”.

Are your children exposed to pesticide drift near their school? Let us knowat: moked@adamteva.org.il

Marine Management:Tides of changeWhen it comes to managing the Mediterranean,Israel is not keeping up to pace with theenvironmental standards of EU nations who areworking to improve the marine environment.

Adam Teva V’din’s Marine Management Initiativeworks to develop and promote innovativelegislative, policy and planning frameworks basedon ecosystem-based management. We arefortunate to have as our mentors during the firstphase experts from the Environmental LawInstitute of Washington DC who recentlyconducted a workshop for our team in Israel.

Be’er Sheva:Relentless racketCan you imagine living with an incessant ringingalarm, every hour, for 15 minutes straight, at alltimes of the day and night?! Since June, this hasbeen the soundtrack of the lives of the residentsof a low socio-economic neighborhood in Be’erSheva. The residents pleaded with the municipalityto put an end to the relentless racket coming froman unmarked storage room in the industrial areabordering their homes.

However, the authorities blatantly ignored thepoor population, claiming that they have no meansto locate the anonymous owner of the property.In desperation, the residents turned to us. Sinceour immediate intervention, the authorities havefinally put a stop to the noise.

ProtectingUm Al Fahm green spaceThe Arab town of Um Al Fahm in the lower Galileesorely lacks public open spaces. A rare patch ofgreen, an established wooded area, is now in gravejeopardy following a permit issued to fell dozensof trees in a step towards a construction project.

The management of the permit process has beenquestionable and there are legal implications thatneed to be clarified. When the developer tried tochop down the trees, residents protested andwork was suspended. In the meantime, the citycouncil's attorney has consulted with us as tohow best to proceed. We are examining the bestlegal route to take.

Twenty miles west of Jerusalem, the once quiet development town of BeitShemesh has grown rapidly over the last decade due to an influx of Ultra-Orthodox families as well as secular immigrants who commute by rail to hi-techjobs on the coastal plain. The local development plan for a population of 125,000is obsolete as new neighborhoods now being planned or built will house 250,000.There is no updated master plan to guide developers and, according to localactivists, planning authorities are under pressure to approve new building projectsad hoc, even in areas of sensitive open landscapes and ecological corridors.

"Planning for Ultra-Orthodox communities presents unique design challengesfor architects and urban planners," notes Yael Dori, head of planning at AdamTeva V'Din. Religious neighborhoods are characterized by low rise buildings (toavoid elevator use on Shabbat) and by a high proportion of institutional buildings(separate schools for girls and boys, ritual baths, synagogues, etc.) relative tonon-religious communities.

"With long-term planning and adherence to modern planning standards, BeitShemesh can accommodate both religious and secular families in quality environmentthat provides for everyone's needs. Right now, poor management of the town'sgrowth is ruining quality of life and destroying the environment unnecessarily."

In response to local residents’ pleas , Adam Teva V'Din has submitted a seriesof planning objections to three new development schemes. "One proposedneighborhood will destroy open rural landscapes in the northern Ella Valley." Inall three plans there is insufficient attention to the special infrastructure,transportation and institutional needs of the religious communities. Yael Dori:"Without due care and attention, Beit Shemesh will become a slum town whereno one will want to live."

Urban planning tensionsBeit Shemesh

Blame gamesin Sasgon Valley case

Exposed asbestos in Haifa housing project

High court rules 5-2 on natural gas policyPetitioners are disappointed

but not defeated

Dana Tabachnik and Amit Bracha

“We are obviously disappointed with the ruling,however we are not giving up” says Adv. DanaTabachnik in response to the Supreme Court’s rejectionof our petition against the exclusion of the Knessetin determining gas export policies. “We will makesure that these resources are used responsibly andstrategically through alternative legislative channels”.

Dana, Head of our Economy & Environmentdepartment, has ardently appealed the closed-doorGovernment decision since it was passed in June2013. As she argued her case before the esteemedseven-judge panel of Supreme Court Justices, herunwavering conviction in her claims was tangible.

In a case in which many of the players are woozyfrom the anticipated fortunes from the gas royalties,Dana’s appreciation of the value of the nation’slimited, and overburdened, natural resources to theIsraeli public is a sobering perspective.

The Court’s majority vote to uphold the Cabinet’sexport policy reinforces our role in safeguardingIsraeli’s energy and economic future to the

long-term benefit of the Israeli public and industry.

Although the outcome of the petition was not ideal,we still see ourselves as victors in the struggle topreserve Israel’s natural gas for the local market. Ourinterventions throughout the last year have compelledthe Prime Minister to lower the export quota from53% to 40%, guaranteeing that the majority of thereserves will be earmarked for domestic use.

“The rightful owners of these natural assets, thecitizens of Israel, are left out in the cold. Corporatemoguls are reaping the benefits at their expense.What’s worse is that the Government entitles themto do so, disregarding open public debate andgovernment accountability -fundamental democraticprocesses which define our State”.

Adam Teva V’Din is determined to continue to setthe principles for the responsible management ofour energy economy.

“The State has a poor track record in managing thecountry’s natural resources, the State Comptroller

attested to this in his latest report”, says Amit Bracha,Executive Director. “A striking example is thelongstanding government decision to produce 5%of Israel’s electricity from renewable sources by 2016.To date, renewable energy production has yet toreach even 1%”.

Dana and our team believe that we can restore theoptimism for a sustainable energy economy byclearly allocating a high percentage of the gasroyalties towards clean energy investments.

Experience has taught us that without clearly definedpurposes, there is a real danger that the royaltieswill be used to cover budget deficits or to bankrollthe government whim-of-the-day.

“It is in the best interest of the Israeli public, presentand future” says Tabachnik, “to invest the substantialproceeds in the development of renewable and cost-efficient energy sources, such as solar and wind power.What is taken from the environment should berightfully returned to the environment”.

In 2008, a Los Vegas style luxury resort threatened to endanger the untouchedbeauty of the Sasgon Valley, the last remaining stretch of undeveloped desertin the Negev. The members of the Arava community, as well as others who careabout preserving this precious region, were thrilled when the Be’er Sheva DistrictCourt moderated the hotel’s building plans.

Seven years on, the developer is suing the State to recover 15 million NIS($4 million) worth of losses he claims to have suffered due to the fact that thebuilding permission was issued in error.

In an aim to shirk itself of the responsibility to compensate the entrepreneur, theState is trying to shift the blame to Adam Teva V’Din, as well as the communityactivists who joined us in objection to the desert construction. In our opinion, theattempt to point an accusing finger at us, a public interest representative, rather thanaccepting responsibility is highly inappropriate as well as disturbingly reminiscentof a SLAPP suit (strategic lawsuit against public participation). We have already voicedour outrage to the Attorney General and responded in the strongest terms. We willnot be intimidated by these tactics, not now and not in future environmental disputes.

For over a decade, we have invested our energiesinto advancing legislation and a governmentsanctioned asbestos removal program in the toxinriddled Western Galilee.

In February, we marked a legal triumph when the HighCourt of Justice upheld the Asbestos Law (2011) andplaced the burden of clean-up on the shoulders of theasbestos manufacturing plant, Eitanit Construction Co.

Despite the factory’s efforts to annul the law, theCourt rejected their claims. In accordance with the“polluter pays” principle, Eitanit will therefore foot50% of the costs of the Environment Ministry'sasbestos removal program in the Galilee (up to 150million NIS or $42 million).

We are delighted about the victory because withoutEitanit's share of funding the costly clean-up programwould have been disbanded and the forsaken residentsof the region would have remained exposed to severehealth risks. “This is a breakthrough in our way ofthinking about manufacturer responsibility” saysKeren Halperin-Museri, Deputy Director of Adam TevaV’Din. “Our message to polluters is clear: takeresponsibility for your hazardous activities! Pay forthe injustices you inflict on your vulnerable victims”.

This is a precedent-setting ruling and confirms thatmanufacturers must be held responsible for everystage of production processes, from raw materialto refuse.

Ticking time bomb in Haifapublic housing projects

A single rogue asbestos fiber in the respiratorysystem is enough to cause fatal lung cancer. Justone fiber! This frightening fact is currently loomingover 400 low-income families residing in 21 publichousing buildings formerly owned by the City ofHaifa. The residents and by-passers are exposedto the deadly mineral fibers through the corrodingfacade of the apartment block. We are checkingto see if the City violated the public housing lawby selling them the property in this condition andare weighing future legal steps.

FALL

20

13Natural gas rulingAlthough Supreme Court rejectsour petition against export policy,we are disappointed but notdefeated (page 3)

How much isyour health worth?Donate to our fundraisingcampaign (page 4)

Asbestos updateFrom the Western Galillee to Haifahousing projects, we are combatingasbestos hazards threatening yourhealth (page 2)

Israel Union for Environmental Defense48 Yehuda Halevy Street, Tel Aviv 65782 IsraelTel: 972-3-566 9939, Fax: 972-3-566 9940Email: info@adamteva.org.ilhttp://www.adamteva.org.il/English

Adam Teva V’Din-IUED is a registered non-profitorganization (#58-017-786-3).Contributions are eligible for tax deduction underSection 46 of the Israeli Income Tax Code.

Board: Dahlia Be'eri (Chair), Ayal Avrech, Josef Gross,Gershon Grossman, Jubran Jubran, Joshua G. KiernanGalit Leider, Anat Moseinco, Rabbi Ronen Lovitz,Ofra Peleg, Avigdor Vilnitz

Executive Director: Amit Bracha, Adv.

Deputy Director: Keren Halperin-Museri, Adv.

Scientists: Sarit Caspi-Oron, Dr. Boaz Mayzel,Gilad Ostrovsky, Dr. Arye Wanger

Attorneys: Orly Ariav, Eli Ben Ari, Tamar Ganot,Shelly Lev Sherman, Asaf Rosenblum, Daphna Shalev,Dana Tabachnik

Urban Planner: Yael Dori

Online Information Center: Tania Uman

Media & Social Media: Yael Edelist, Rafi Bar

Fundraising: Hayley Lipshitz, Fran Ran,

Membership: Chen Offek, Roni Larom

Finance & Administration: Nesi Ashkenazi, Iris Zar

Interns: Michal Boguslavsky, Ori Ettinger, Matan Hemo,Avi Toeg

Design: Raphael Malinovitz, GraphiX

Friends of Israel’s Environment:Philip Warburg, Boston, MA - PresidentHoward Learner, Chicago, IL - Vice PresidentEvan J. Kaizer, Los Angeles, CA - TreasurerViva Hammer, Silver Spring, MD - SecretaryDaniel Rosenblum, New York, NYGeri Eileen Unger, Cleveland, OHJonathan Zasloff, Los Angeles, CAHonorary Friends: Representative Henry Waxman,Washington DC & Los Angeles, CAHonorable Alan Sieroty, Los Angeles, CA

Friends of Israel’s Environment4182 Beck AvenueStudio City, CA 91604Tel: (818) 693 5255www.israelenvironment.net

Friends of Israel’s Environment is a non-profit501 (c) (3) organization. Federal ID # 58-1959151.Contributions are eligible for tax deduction.

Friends of Israel’s Environment

Adam Teva V’DinIsrael Union for Environmental Defense October 2013

Pesticides in the playgroundHow safe are your children at school?

A recent heartfelt plea from the parents of the Hadar & Einav municipalkindergartens in Binyamina refocused our attention on the vulnerabilityof our children to environmental hazards in the classroom setting.

On a preliminary visit to the preschools before the opening of theschool year, the parents watched in horror as clouds of pesticidewafted from the pomegranate orchard bordering the new kindergartens,over the fence and blanketed the playgrounds and jungle gyms whichawaited the 70 defenseless toddlers. As a result of the pesticide drift,the children would have been exposed to severe health risks.

Over the years, Adam Teva V’Din has confronted over half a dozenauthorities who failed to take into account children’s heightenedvulnerability to environmental pollutants. Current Israeli law lacks aclear-cut definition of a safe and suitable learning environment aswell as a single governmental body charged with overseeing theevaluation and implementation of health & safety conditions ineducational facilities. In 2009, the Supreme Court underscored ourposition regarding educational environmental standards by ruling inour favor to protect the 800 students of an East Jerusalem schoolfrom a polluting metals factory adjacent to the school.

The story of the preschoolers in Binyamina is no different as it illustratesthe urgent need for a secure and satisfactory educational haven forour children.

From the outset, Adam Teva V’Din has been integral in helping thepreschoolers’ parents by issuing pre-trail warning letters to the relevant

local and governmental authorities when insufficient measures weretaken to protect the children. Temporarily, both schools have beenclosed until further notice.

One mother expressed her outrage over the situation, “We are livid!Why hasn’t the Regional Council bothered to implement the minimalrequirements instructed by the Government Ministries? The fact that thechildren are temporarily studying in neighboring schools is not a solution- the teachers are ill-prepared and our children are confused and unsettled”.

Adam Teva V’Din will not stop until the children are free to study ina 100% pesticide-free environment. (Continues on page 2)

Our recommendations fora healthy learning environment Golden rule: The “precautionary principle”

Establish an interdisciplinary Government body tooversee the fundamental rights of children

Initiate annual environmental monitoring plan in alleducational facilities to examine relevant hazards (air, water,radiation, noise, chemicals)

Map and standardize materials and equipment todecrease exposure to hazardous substances (detergents,laboratory and art materials)

Publish monitoring results, together with recommendations,to parent and school bodies

Formulate a series of stringent and mandatory environmentalstandards for educational institutions (air & noise quality,safety distances)

Increase awareness of environmental hazards in schoolsettings

Parents document the farmer spraying pesticides in the orchardadjacent to the kindergartens

Allow meto introducemyself

I am thrilled to introduce myself as the newInternational Donor Coordinator at Adam Teva V’Din.

As an Anglo living in Israel, I know too well thatwhen it comes to environmental questions andconcerns it is not always clear to whom we can turnfor accessible information in a language in whichwe are comfortable.

We are here to help!We invite you to take a look at our brand new Englishwebsite and to stay tuned for the latest news and

alerts. Get to know your environmental rights andconnect to the burning issues we are both sopassionate about! Don’t stop there, be part of thedialogue on Facebook!

You now have an opportunity to actively take partin the environmental arena! The Adam Teva V’DinTeam is here to make your voice heard!

I look forward to working with you to ensure ahealthy and sustainable environment for our children,our families and future generations to come.

Best regards,

Hayley Lipshitz

I'll be happy to answer any questions, so feelfree to contact me by phone +972-3-628-9123or e-mail: hayleyl@adamteva.og.il

The names Shirley Rose & Herschell Benyamin are synonymous with environmentalactivism in Israel. As Anglo immigrants, the couple’s idealistic Zionism and love ofthe land and its people, coupled with their liberal and democratic values, foundexpression in the form of promoting environmental quality in Israel. The Benyamins,respected members of the thriving Anglo community, were one of Adam Teva V’Din’svery first donors and remained longstanding members until their passing in 2010.

The Rose family arrived in Israel from the United States in 1970. Living in aperiod in which nuclear issues frequently made headline news, from the Chernobyldisaster to the local Va'anunu affair, Shirley was incredulous over the Israelipublic’s inaccessibility to nuclear information. As a staunch believer in humanrights, she was determined to remove the shroud of government secrecy obscuringthe truth on nuclear matters. Herschell Benyamin, a British immigrant who cameto Israel to fight in the War of Independence, settled as a farmer in Moshav BeitYitshach and then became the first manager of the Caesaria golf club. He wasthe perfect comrade for Shirley’s campaign and partnered with her to found theIsrael Agency for Nuclear Information.

The organization evolved into Econet, a non-profit which promoted a widespectrum of environmental issues, in particular the connection between healthand environment. The principles which served as their beacon, namely governmentaccountability, public participation and a healthy and safe living environment,are ideals which are the cornerstones of all of Adam Teva V’Din’s endeavors.

As time went on, Herschell, would have been content to settle into retirementsurrounded by his avocado orchard, milk goats and organic vegetable garden on

their small farm in Karkur, and enjoy the small pleasures of life together with hisnew wife. Shirley had other plans in mind. Alon Tal, founder of Adam Teva V’Din,fondly recalls that “although she was past retirement age, Shirley had the energyand drive of a college activist”. For years, the couple worked enthusiastically ondisseminating environmental information to the public. In appreciation for theirunwavering dedication to the improvement of environmental quality and transparencyin Israel, Econet was awarded with the acclaimed Israel Prize in 1994.

Today, Shirley’s sons, Jeremy and Peter Rose, continue their parents legacy andshare in Adam Teva V'Din's vision and values. We would like to express ourheartfelt thanks to both of them for their donation in memory of their parents.

The PRTR Law (2012) is a revolution in how Israeloversees the release of chemicals in large and smallindustries. Reports have already been submitted bybusinesses operating in chemicals, minerals, metals,food & beverage production and livestock growth.This information will be made public via a governmentwebsite in December 2013.

Adam Teva V’Din recently published a series ofchemical information sheets to help you understandthe substances being released and the effects theyhave on your health. The information sheets,

currently available on our Hebrew website, focuson arsenic, benzene, formaldehyde, mercury andtrichloroethylene.

Making pollutants public:PRTR Law (2012)

Chemicals of Concern:Food for thought

Our new project, Chemicals of Concern, acollaborative partnership with the Environment andHealth Fund (EHF) and the Jacob & Hilda BlausteinFoundation, aims to create a legislative frameworkthat will reduce our exposure to chemicals in theeveryday environment. We have chosen to focuson the most susceptible subgroups-young childrenand expectant mothers.

Our proposed reforms and new regulations willdemand manufacturer responsibility, governmentoversight and transparency of information.

We invite you to download our survey on pesticidesin summer fruits from our website.

The blooming legacy ofShirley Rose & Herschell Benyamin

How much is your health worth?

Donate now for a healthy environment!

Your health is not only aboutregular check-ups andbalanced diets. The state ofour environment defines thestate of our health.Our end-of–year fundraisingcampaign highlights how weare working to address theenvironmental factors whichimpact our health.We need your help to fuel ourefforts on these frontiers.

It is only with YOUR help thatwe can continue to ensure ahealthy and safe livingenvironment.Visit our website today tomake your donation or giveus a call, we’ll be happy tohelp you with your gift.Website:http://www.adamteva.org.il/englishPhone: +972-3-628-9123

We are grateful for thegenerosity of the followingphilanthropic foundationswho support our work:

Beracha Foundation,

Jacob & Hilda Blaustein Foundation,

Charles Brown Foundation,

Environment and Health Fund,

Green Environment Fund,

Jacob L. & Lillian Holtzmann Foundation,

The Morningstar Philanthropic Fund,

Plum Foundation,

The Samuel Sebba Charitable Trust (UK)

Thank you to all our individualmembers and donors who help usget the job done!