Lack of funds to fight waste fires is a ‘death sentence’ for hundreds, group warns |
A group that campaigns against air pollution accused the Finance Ministry of issuing a “death sentence” to hundreds of Israelis after Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich failed to include any additional funds to fight illegal waste burning in the state budget approved by the cabinet on Thursday.
The budget was approved despite a call by the Environmental Protection Ministry for an additional NIS 134.6 million ($41.6 million) to hire more inspectors, investigators, and prosecutors in the West Bank, and boost inspections within the Green Line, where illegal waste burning is also taking place.
An Israel Fire and Rescue Services spokeswoman said that 736 waste fires had been reported in the West Bank so far this year.
Citizens for Clean Air said Thursday after the budget’s approval that “without even a single shekel budgeted to eradicate waste fires, hundreds of thousands of Israelis will continue to suffocate from smoke and toxic substances while the government neglects their health.”
Israelis along the Green Line, and as far as Tel Aviv and Kiryat Ono, have been increasingly complaining about bad........