Israel’s environment is in deplorable condition, according to a year-long study released yesterday by the Israel Economic Forum for the Environment. The nation’s aquifer systems suffer from serious salination problems, construction is encroaching on open space, and air quality has deteriorated to the point that one in 10 Israeli children has asthma, according to the study. It recommends, among other remedies, stricter vehicle emissions standards and better public transportation systems. New Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak last week appointed Dalia Itzik, a teacher, as environment minister.
