Flood Prevention Plan Lacks Budget, Environmental Group Calls It 'A Joke'
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Environmental advocate Orly Babitzki of Adam Teva V'Din criticized Israel's flood prevention efforts, stating a new national plan lacks a budget despite a projected need for billions. She revealed that only 1.5 billion shekels were invested in drainage infrastructure over the past decade, far short of the planned 7 billion. Babitzki emphasized the need for better preparation for increasingly intense rainfall and criticized the plan's reliance on future funding sources without immediate Treasury allocation.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- A new flood risk management plan for Israel has been launched without a dedicated budget, according to Orly Babitzki.
- Only 1.5 billion shekels were invested in drainage infrastructure over the last decade, out of a planned 7 billion.
- Environmental groups call the plan a 'joke' due to the lack of allocated funds from the Treasury.
- Israel faces increasingly intense rainfall patterns, exacerbating flood risks.
- The plan suggests designating areas for controlled flooding and improving existing infrastructure.
A new national plan for flood risk management, finalized in October 2026 after more than six years of work, has been criticized for lacking a dedicated budget. Orly Babitzki, representing the environmental organization Adam Teva V'Din, revealed on 103FM that despite a planned investment of 7 billion shekels in drainage infrastructure, only 1.5 billion shekels were actually invested over the previous decade. She described the situation as a "serious mess" with unclear responsibilities at both national and local levels.
Babitzki highlighted that Israel's rainfall patterns are becoming more intense, with greater volumes of water falling in shorter periods, leading to increased flooding. While local authorities cannot alter weather patterns, she argued they can prepare for them, a point also raised by the State Comptroller. She suggested that solutions include designating areas for controlled flooding during extreme weather events, ensuring these do not harm property or people, and allowing water to replenish aquifers afterward.
The existing drainage infrastructure was designed for past climate conditions and is insufficient for current challenges. Babitzki noted that the flood risk management plan, while comprehensive, specifies that dedicated funding sources will be developed, but without an initial budget allocation from the Treasury, she called it a "joke."
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