Israel

Following decades of tumultuous political and cartographic struggle, Israel was created as a Jewish state after World War II, setting the stage for decades of bitter divisions between Jews and Muslims in the Middle East. An Israeli victory in a number of separate conflicts and Israel's close ties to the West have exacerbated the ongoing religious and territorial tensions with her Muslim neighbors and with indigenous Palestinians. Bordering on the Mediterranean and Dead Seas, Israel has a coastline of 169 miles (273 kilometers). The terrain is diverse, ranging from the Negev Desert in the south to low coastal plains and central mountains to the Jordan Rift Valley. Israel has a temperate climate, and the southern and eastern desert areas are hot and dry. The country experiences periodic droughts and sandstorms in the spring and summer.

With a per capita income of $22,200, Israel is the 44th richest country in the world. However, 21 percent of the population live below the poverty line. There is a good deal of economic inequity, with the richest 10 percent controlling 28 percent of the country's wealth. Natural resources include timber, potash, copper ore, natural gas, phosphate rock, magnesium bromide, clays, and sand. Even though less than 3 percent of the workforce is engaged in agriculture, forestry, and fishing, the only regular food imports are grains. Israel exports fruits and vegetables to surrounding areas, and diamonds and high-technology equipment are exported around the world. Tourism is also essential to the Israeli economy. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Human Development Reports rank Israel 23rd in the world in overall quality-of-life issues.

The Israeli government's commitment to environmentalism began with the creation of the Environmental Protection Service in 1973. In 1988, the Ministry of the Environment was established to implement laws and monitor compliance. The lack of fresh water resources severely taxes Israel's environment. Consequently, the government has developed wastewater treatment facilities that allow 65 percent of generated water to be reused for agricultural purposes. Less than 10 percent of the population live in rural areas, and heavy industrialization and urbanization have led to substantial levels of air pollution. There are 230 cars for every 1,000 people in Israel. Between 1980 and 2002, carbon dioxide emissions per capita metric tons rose from 5.6 to 11.0. Israel produces 0.3 percent of the world's CO2 emissions.

Israel is home to 2,600 plant species, seven amphibian species, almost 100 reptile species, over 500 bird species, and around 100 mammal species. Of 116 endemic mammal species, 14 are endangered. Likewise, 12 of 116 bird species are threatened. Approximately 6.1 percent of the land area of Israel is forested, and 15.8 percent of the area is protected. These areas include 142 nature reserves and 44 national parks. However, Israeli environmentalists insist that the government has not taken all necessary steps to protect the land, citing the practice of encouraging farmers to sell agricultural land for development by paying them 30 percent of profits.

Other environmental issues involve desertification, groundwater pollution from domestic and industrial waste, and the irresponsible use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. A study by scientists at Yale University in 2006 ranked Israel 45th of 132 countries on environmental performance, well above the relevant geographic group but well below the relevant income group. The lowest rankings were [Page 960]received in the categories of air and water quality, biodiversity, and natural resource protection. The environment perhaps has suffered most greatly in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories where instability and continued transitions of authority and violence have left forests, grazing lands, and water in relatively poor condition.

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