Comments on: A New Israeli Leader: but Can She Address Environmental Issues

By: Amiel Blajchman

Amiel Blajchman — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 07:30:21 +0000

I think that Mr. Luft has an excellent point (or multiple ones). Peace, oil and the environment are tied together in many ways, both in the middle east, and elsewhere.

I do think though, that while Israel is justifiably concerned about security over the environment, that there are more fundamental problems (such as water consumption, increasing desertification) that may in the future become just as tangled into the conflict as religion and land are today. Ignoring problems that are just over the horizon does not mean that they will not eventually become immediate concerns.

By: Yaron

Yaron — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 07:15:43 +0000

Of course Israel is concerned with security over environment. If I held a gun to your head and said I want to kill you for being a particular religion, would you care about whether your paper and plastic was separated?

That said, as Gal Luft of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security (IAGS.org) points out, environmentalism, oil and world peace are infinitely entangled. So, we all need to look for the Green Dove with an Olive Branch.

By: Noam Sugarman

Noam Sugarman — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 22:58:54 +0000

Very interesting entry. It is quite true that in Israel, it is hard to discuss anything outside of the context of security or the military. That being said, there appears to be a swelling environmental movement in Israel. Perhaps one day there will even be a Green Party in the Knesset rubbing elbows with the ultra-orthodox.