CFE is a non-profit evironmental organization founded in 1990, by Jews and Arabs residing in the Western Galilee – a beautiful region considered to be one of Israel’s last remaining green areas. In the last twenty years, there has been an unprecedented rise in the population in this region. Due to insufficient enforcement of environmental laws, lack of proper planning and environmental education and limited citizens’ awareness, the Galilee has been affected by major environmental problems.

Environmental Thoughts

CFE’s activities cover mainly the protection of air and water quality, and the preservation of the natural landscape in this region. CFE monitors the status of environmental pollution and its influence on the health and well-being of the local population. CFE also conducts educational programs for raising the awareness of children and adults about environmental risks and sustainable development.

CFE’s past achievements include:

• A petition to the Supreme Court to close 19 illegal garbage dumps in the Galilee
• The successful campaign to close the “Factory of Death" [Electrochemical Industries Ltd], which for over 50 years had been polluting the air, the soil and the Mediterranean Sea at the Akko valley region.
• Closure of the asbestos site at Sheikh Danun.
• Organization of clean-up campaigns with Jewish and Arab residents of the Galilee
• Recipient of the Ministry of Environment’s Shield of Honor in 1997.
• Operation of a GIS environmental survey mapping system for the non-profit sector.
• Completion of the first stage of the Ga’aton Basin Water study.
• Exposure of information about serious pollution of dangerous substances within the boundaries of the Tefen Industrial Council.
• Initiated 2 new environmental laws which are now going through the Knesset: The “Environmental Information”and the “Polluter shall Pay” laws.

CFE has formulated a 5 year project plan - Conservation of Water Resources in the Galilee – to protect the Western Galilee’s unique water resources and maintain high water quality for the benefit of the local population and the environment. The project will identify the sources of water contamination in the Western Galilee; bring the facts about the hazards to public awareness; create a network of environmental organizations that will work alongside scientists and local and governmental authorities to reduce ground water pollution; and extend the dialogue and work with polluting entities on preventive mechanisms:

1.      Water monitoring and analysis of results:

We will continue to build the GIS (Geographical Information Systems) system for the monitoring and analysis of environmental data. Our project conducts field surveys to monitor environmental hazards. We collect data on focal problems from organizations and local government authorities, and all data is entered and analyzed using the GIS System.We will conduct water sampling and analysis of polluted soil and of sewerage outflows.

THE DESTRUCTION OF WATER RESOURCES IN ISRAEL - A Report Describing Sewage Treatment in the Galilee, Northern Israel / March 2005

2.      Closure of illegal garbage dumps:

This is a continuation of the Supreme Court case.  Our activity includes field research, obtaining expert opinions, and meeting with representatives of the authorities, in order to develop cooperation in solving existing problems and preventing repetition of past mistakes. We are also eliciting community participation in dealing with local hazards, and, if necessary, we will continue further proceedings in the local courts. We take an active part in the environmental lobby, together with national organizations (IUED, Tel Aviv University Environmental Justice Program and Life and Environment), in lobbying the Knesset for a change in legislation and budget priorities.

We hope that our efforts will be fruitful and result in the elimination of the hazards, a change in the attitude of the authorities to illegal dumping in public areas, improvement of law enforcement and prevention of damage to existing water sources. This activity serves as a model for other localities.

3.      Pressure to improve the disposal of effluents:

Despite regional plans, a large proportion of sewage and effluents still pollute rivers, wadis and ground water. We will continue public pressure, together with other organizations, on local and regional government authorities (Acre, Ma’ale Yosef), to take swift action regarding the discharge of effluents. We will continue our campaign to solve the problem of the water treatment plant in the Tefen industrial zone.

The disastrous state of the the Na’aman river, which has been polluted for years by the industrial discharge of effluents and the ensuing damage to the water sources, is currently being handled by the Ministry of the Environment Administration for Restoration of Na’aman River, which is composed of representatives of the local government authorities and organizations associated with the river. We will continue to exert pressure. In response to the request to appoint a representative to the Administration, CFE named Yiron Sadeh of Kfar Masaryk, a founder of CFE and a member of the Executive Board.

4.      Industry:

We will continue the existing cooperation with the authorities involved in dealing with polluting industry (Ministry of Environment and the Union of Cities for the Environment) and the involvement of other government ministries, such as the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labor and Welfare. Activities will include:

• Continued follow-up of activities in Goren Industrial Park, which serves two authorities – Ma’ale Yosef and Shlomi.
• In the Tefen Industrial Area: Campaigns, and follow-up to enforce the treatment of industrial pollution.
• Information disclosure about environmental hazards in other industrial areas in the Galilee, to the public and to the authorities.

5.      Public participation:

Planning and construction: A staff member of CFE was chosen to represent the public, together with a representative of the ISPN, on the Northern Region Planning and Building Committee. This will ensure transparency and access to information on planning, as well as independent representation of the public on environmental matters. We intend to participate actively in the committee, in order to influence the other decision makers.

Active participation in coalitions: We will continue active membership in the Coalition for Public Participation in Planning, the Coalition for Public Health and the Life and Environment organization.

Increase public awareness: Press releases, publication of bulletins and distribution to mailing lists will continue and expand.

Freedom of information: CFE will continue to lobby authorities for maximum transparency regarding information on polluting industry and business. In most authorities, this information is currently considered confidential, in total contradiction of the principle of freedom of information, which determines that no information on water, earth or air pollution shall be confidential. Such information is essential to public activity, in order to pressure the polluting entities and work with them to find optimal solutions such as BAT – (Best Available Technology).

Community activity: We will initiate and extend programs for community activities that include Jews and Arabs, by assisting those threatened by hazards, due to such problems as proximity to polluting factories, and by helping local organizations and communities prepare letters of objection, when necessary, based on GIS technology.

We will continue our education projects for diverse populations (cooperation of different ethnic groups and religions on environmental issues), and organization of clean-up campaigns, collecting signatures on petitions, and the like.

6.      Lobbying in the Knesset:

We are actively promoting the “Environmental Information”and the “Polluter shall Pay” laws, with which we initiated.

more about CFE in "haaretz" news

Contact: Liora Aharon