Ministry of Environmental Protection (Israel)

The Environmental Protection Ministry (Hebrew: המשרד להגנת הסביבה‎, HaMisrad LeHaganat HaSviva; Arabic: وزارة حماية البيئة‎) is a government ministry in Israel. It is responsible for protecting the cleanliness of all public areas, preventing contamination of water resources and animal rights issues. It was formerly known as the Ministry of the Environment (Hebrew: המשרד לאיכות הסביבה‎, HaMisrad LeEikhut HaSviva).

A basic volunteer for the ministry is called a "Ne'eman Nikayon", translated literally as a "clean trustee" but more accurately described as a volunteer cleanliness protection officer. They are certified under the "Cleanliness protection law of 1984". A volunteer must pass a one-day course where they learn the basic laws involved in their ability to report violations of Israeli littering laws. Once certified, a volunteer can write out tickets against violators and submit them directly to the ministry for processing. In almost all cases a simple fine is issued (ranging from 250–8000 Israeli new sheqels), but under some circumstances the case may be sent automatically to a judge (especially in the case of a repeat offender) to determine special punishment.

The environmental protection ministry has paid inspectors (Pakachim) who serve in a similar capacity as a basic volunteer, as well as holding additional powers according to Israeli law.

List of ministers

The Environmental Protection Minister of Israel (Hebrew: שר להגנת הסביבה‎, Sar LeHaganat HaSviva) is the political head of the ministry. The post was created on 22 December 1988,^[1] and until May 2006 was known as the Minister of the Environment (Hebrew: שר לאיכות הסביבה‎, Sar LeEikhut HaSviva). There has been a Deputy Minister on one occasion.

#	Minister	Party	Government	Term start	Term end	Notes
Minister of the Environment
1	Roni Milo	Likud	23	22 December 1988	7 March 1990
2	Rafael Edri	Alignment	23	7 March 1990	15 March 1990
3	Yitzhak Shamir	Likud	24	11 June 1990	13 July 1992	Serving Prime Minister
4	Ora Namir	Labor Party	25	13 July 1992	31 December 1992
5	Yossi Sarid	Meretz	25, 26	31 December 1992	18 June 1996
6	Rafael Eitan	Tzomet	27	28 June 1996	6 July 1999
7	Dalia Itzik	One Israel	28	6 July 1999	7 March 2001
8	Tzachi Hanegbi	Likud	29	7 March 2001	28 February 2003
9	Yehudit Naot	Shinui	30	28 February 2003	17 October 2004
10	Ilan Shalgi	Shinui	30	29 November 2004	4 December 2004	Acting Minister
11	Shalom Simhon	Labor Party	30	10 January 2005	23 November 2005
12	Gideon Ezra	Kadima	30	18 January 2006	4 May 2006
Minister of Environmental Protection
–	Gideon Ezra	Kadima	31	4 May 2006	31 March 2009
13	Gilad Erdan	Likud	32	31 March 2009	18 March 2013
14	Amir Peretz	Hatnuah	33	18 March 2013	9 November 2014
15	Avi Gabai	Not an MK	34	14 May 2015		Member of Kulanu

Deputy ministers

#	Minister	Party	Government	Term start	Term end
1	Yigal Bibi	National Religious Party	24	20 November 1990	13 July 1992

References

1. All Ministers in the Ministry of the Environment Knesset website

External links

• Ministry of Environmental Protection
• All Ministers in the Ministry of the Environment Knesset website