Adding an update - March 2020:
- A legal document discussing the connection between the financing of the strategic plan for Israel's waste policy for 2030 and the EU grant (Twinning) under which the strategy was funded. The legal document was prepared by a Bourdon & Associés, a leading Law office win France deals with issues of EU legislation and civil rights - sent to the Legal Adviser of the European Commission in Brussels.
- Since submission of the legal letter on behalf of AEJI, there have been a number of discussions on the subject, as well as holding series of meetings with representatives of European embassies, including the United Kingdom, Austria, France, Germany and more.
- A Field tour of the international cpmmunity to the designated site for construction of the W-t-E facility scheduled for later on March but currently been postponed dueto COVID situation and the current lockdown imposed in Israel.
- The dialogue on the subject continues all the time and will be updated later.
- On February, an Op-Ed article was published by us in Jerualem post presenting the situation and provide outline for regional sustainable solution.
end of updating (15 March, 2020)
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Introduction
This position paper is part of the preparation of the Association for Environmental Justice in Israel (AEJI) in collaboration with civil society organizations (CSO), in Israel and in Palestine, following the Government of Israel publishing a Pre-Qualification Procedure for international tender for planning, financing, construction and operation of Israel's first facility to convert 'waste to energy' in the occupied territories.
Although the far reaching implications for this plan in internal and international arena, the publishing on 10th October 2019 was in time of "High Holiday period" in Israel and while a provisional government is acting – therefore we see the necessary to act as early as possible - in key levels of awareness, environmental policy advocacy and legal procedures in Israel and in Europe.
B. The Plan
B.1. The facility will be built across the Green Line, near the Good Samaritan site, in the jurisdiction of Ma'aleh Adumim. It is planned to absorb the municipal waste of the city of Jerusalem and generate electricity through incineration.
B.2. The plan for the construction of the waste treatment and incineration facility is part of Israel's Waste Management Strategic Plan for 2030, which includes 3 energy facilities (North, South, Center).
B.3. The formulation process of Israel's waste treatment strategy for 2030 was funded by the EU and with contracted of 3 European countries via Twining projects: Germany, Austria, the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland).
B.4. It has also been announced that the main source for funding the building of the waste facility will be government finance (NIS 2.8 billion), which will come from the Cleanliness Fund in the management of the Ministry of the Environment in Israel.
