CITIES TO GAIN ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AUTHORITIES
By Hillel Fendel - A newly-proposed bill stipulates that cities in Israel will be obligated to enforce environmental laws and levy fines upon violators, as of next year. The Knesset Interior and Environmental Committee passed the bill paving the way for its final Knesset reading in the coming weeks.
The name of the bill: "Environmental Enforcement and Inspectors' Authority."
Cities with a population of 20,000 or more - of which there are about 70 in Israel - will be obligated to operate a system of environmental inspectors and fines. Smaller cities will be permitted, but not obligated, to have such networks. The fines will be paid to the cities themselves, thus providing the incentive to operate the new system.