Natural Resources

Israel has many natural resources: extractive resources like offshore gas and minerals, but also unique natural sites of national and economic importance like the Dead Sea, the Mediterranean, the Kinnereth (Sea of Galilee), the Gulf of Eilat, and many more.

Adam Teva V’Din endorses the principle – reflected in the language of Israel’s water laws – that natural resources belong to the public. We believe the State of Israel has a responsibility to monitor, maintain and safeguard all natural resources, in a manner that also conserves them for the benefit of current and future generations.

Protecting our natural resources

At Adam Teva V’Din we have advocated for years in favor of appropriate management and regulation of all natural resources.

The State of Israel traditionally views natural resources as economic assets that provide revenue and employment. That’s OK. But the State must also function as public trustee of Israel’s natural resources. It’s the State’s job to protect them from over utilization, and to safeguard against environmental damage and depletion.

Since Israel began using offshore gas reserves, the government has focused on the financial and short-term gains, and has yet to fulfill its promise that Israeli citizens will benefit from the sovereign wealth fund.

Advocacy for sustainable management of our natural resources keeps our legal team busy in the courts and at the negotiating table. We think it’s an effort that is well worthwhile.