Israel Lacks Effective Policy to Save Dead Sea After Two Decades of Delay

More than 20 years after the Israeli government acknowledged the need to address the declining water levels of the Dead Sea, the country still lacks a comprehensive plan to tackle the issue, according to a new State Comptroller report published on Tuesday. The report warns that this ongoing failure threatens one of Israel's most important natural resources. Without intervention, the northern basin of the Dead Sea is expected to continue dropping at a rate of approximately 1.15 meters per year. Although the Ministry of Environmental Protection estimated the cost of stabilizing the water level through water inflow as early as 2022, it only began calculating the economic benefits in 2025, and the government has yet to make a fundamental decision on whether or how to proceed.

The report also highlights failures in advancing tourism development in the region. Of 12 projects aimed at strengthening the northern Dead Sea basin, 11 remain incomplete despite a government budget allocation of about 98 million shekels in 2018. Additionally, risks related to sinkholes have not been fully addressed; attempts to establish an insurance mechanism for sinkhole damage have been ongoing for 25 years but remain unimplemented as of August 2025. Two of four projects designed to reduce damage to Highway 90 from sinkholes and natural phenomena are still unfinished.

State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman emphasized the Dead Sea's national and international significance in tourism, environment, culture, and medicine, warning that continued delays could worsen environmental, economic, and infrastructure damage. Englman urged Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman to present recommendations to the government for decisions on water level intervention, tourism development, transportation continuity on Highway 90, and regional settlement development. He also called on responsible bodies, including the Ministry of Tourism, regional councils, Nature and Parks Authority, Civil Administration, Capital Market Authority, and Ministry of Finance, to complete their assigned development and regulatory tasks.

The report further criticizes Israel's inadequate preparation for the climate crisis despite multiple audits over the past five years. It states that 89% of relevant government ministries and public bodies have not developed actionable climate adaptation plans with budgets, timelines, or performance metrics. The ministerial committee on climate issues, established in April 2023, has yet to hold a meeting. The Ministry of Environmental Protection's climate adaptation unit is severely understaffed, with only two employees managing national strategy and action plans.

Moreover, the government has not conducted a national assessment of the long-term macroeconomic impacts of climate change nor established oversight for approximately 8.8 billion shekels allocated for climate-related efforts. Israel is also falling short of its greenhouse gas reduction targets, with a projected 19% reduction by 2030 compared to a government goal of 27%. Englman stressed that despite ongoing conflict since October 7, 2023, climate preparedness remains critical, highlighting the importance of advancing renewable energy to enhance Israel's energy security and address climate and security challenges simultaneously.

Englman concluded by urging Minister Silman to fulfill her responsibility to institutionalize climate governance, increase government attention, and ensure an adequate response to the systemic and multifaceted risks posed by climate change.