Authorities had asked public to not light customary fires due to health concerns; worst area was Jerusalem neighborhood with 7.1 times higher pollution than usual, ministry says

Health and environmental protection ministries join call to not celebrate with traditional fires, of which tens of thousands are expected to be lit across the country

Report, which says state has no strategic action plan for dealing with decline, coincides with battle between green organizations, environment minister over biodiversity bill

Draft law, met with lukewarm response from green groups, is a compromise between Environment Ministry, which wanted tougher targets, and Finance Ministry, which wanted none

8 lawmakers accuse Finance Ministry director of ignoring High Court ruling that Environmental Protection Ministry has right to prevent further risk in coral-rich Gulf of Eilat

With unique saline lake level falling by around 1.10 meters per year, call to government will be made in coming weeks, looking at alternative water sources to sustain it

Roadmap calls for more ambitious solar energy targets, more focus away from fossil fuels. Energy Ministry reviewing whether targets can be increased for UN COP27 confab in Egypt

Environmental Protection Ministry, which brought criminal case, and environmental organizations, welcome judgment and imposition of personal responsibility on senior staff

Proposals include expanding right of businesses to appeal; advocacy group urges, 'Don't let bureaucratic simplification water down environmental demands'

Of 1,176 complaints involving 7,792 bottles in December-January, the highest number came from Jerusalem, followed by Tel Aviv, Bnei Brak and Beit Shemesh