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Sue Surkes

Sue Surkes

The Times of Israel

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State approves immediate return home of 7 of 13 worst-hit Gaza border communities

State approves immediate return home of 7 of 13 worst-hit Gaza border communities

Defense Ministry withdraws prohibitions after Tekuma Directorate completes many repairs; state will generally stop supporting rental payments for...

previous day 10

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Judge halts major Dimona housing plan over absence of environmental impact study

Judge halts major Dimona housing plan over absence of environmental impact study

Citing ‘significant flaws,’ Beersheba Administrative Court sends plans for expansion of Negev desert city back to planning committee for further work

26.06.2025 30

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Ceasefire brings shelter-less residents back above ground, but some still fear more war

Ceasefire brings shelter-less residents back above ground, but some still fear more war

Volunteers have turned underground parking lots into bomb shelters amid Iranian missile barrages, giving safety and comfort to countless citizens who...

25.06.2025 10

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

After the missiles explode, One Heart’s volunteers help residents pick up the pieces

After the missiles explode, One Heart’s volunteers help residents pick up the pieces

Armed with hard hats, gloves, plastic sheeting and spools of tape, thousands of citizens are cleaning up homes damaged by Iran’s barrages and...

25.06.2025 40

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Nearly two-thirds of Jewish students at Columbia felt unaccepted after Oct. 7 — survey

Nearly two-thirds of Jewish students at Columbia felt unaccepted after Oct. 7 — survey

Third report by university’s antisemitism task force shows over half of Jews, 43% of Muslims have experienced religious discrimination, compared...

21.06.2025 50

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Palestinians and Israelis partner to feed thousands of Gazans as food aid fluctuates

Palestinians and Israelis partner to feed thousands of Gazans as food aid fluctuates

Arava Institute and Damour buy food from Gazan suppliers, with prices set to rise; organizations set sights on providing water and sewage system...

21.06.2025 70

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Soaked in sewage but alive, missile-struck family relies on kindness of strangers

Soaked in sewage but alive, missile-struck family relies on kindness of strangers

In Haifa, the now-homeless Rotstein family of 10 wonders what lies ahead now that they’ve been reduced to the clothes on their backs and two...

19.06.2025 80

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Cities work to survey damaged buildings and support thousands evacuated to hotels

Cities work to survey damaged buildings and support thousands evacuated to hotels

In central Israel, where Iranian missiles caused the largest loss of life and property, community and social workers fan out to help with everything,...

18.06.2025 10

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Missile that hit Haifa oil refinery brings renewed urgency to plant’s closure plan

Missile that hit Haifa oil refinery brings renewed urgency to plant’s closure plan

Environmental activists, who support long-term government plan to close Bazan plant for good and import and store products warn writing is on the wall

17.06.2025 30

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Oct. 7 evacuees from Kibbutz Re’im are fleeing back home amid Iranian missile fire

Oct. 7 evacuees from Kibbutz Re’im are fleeing back home amid Iranian missile fire

Back in their protected rooms, survivors of the onslaught face renewed trauma as successes in the war with Iran cause them to ask where the military...

17.06.2025 70

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

New NIS 130 million center will pioneer energy storage as renewables gain ground

First-of-its-kind institute in Israel, based at Bar-Ilan University and run together with Technion, will link government, academia and industry to...

04.06.2025 40

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Israeli philanthropists, a rare breed, coalesce to fund carbon-slashing projects

The Israeli Climate Action Fund, better known as PAI, has no PR or website, but its deep-pocketed members bring diverse backgrounds and strengths to...

27.05.2025 20

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

In Western Negev, budding female entrepreneurs rebuild their communities, and themselves

Over 300 women join Kumi, started by Australian-born Israeli, to gain confidence, skills, seed funding, and more as they pursue projects aimed at...

17.05.2025 30

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

IDF joins forces with NGO to turn community security teams into lean fighting machines

After Oct. 7 failures led to the killing of 48 civilian first responders, a grassroots org launches Magen 48 to professionally train security...

10.05.2025 50

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Fire authority needs ‘double the budget’ to cope during mega-fires era — official

Head of National Fire and Rescue Authority’s Fire Research Branch: ‘What would happen in case of simultaneous fire events countrywide?’

04.05.2025 10

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Government accused of failing to take fire threat seriously despite years of warnings

Leaders cut budget for already undermanned fire service, National Security Council ignored calls for session on wildfire preparation until after blaze...

01.05.2025 30

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

State proposes extending secrecy for state-owned oil infrastructure firms

Draft notice posted to government website without publicity, giving public until May 5 to respond to proposal for the Europe Asia Pipeline Company

29.04.2025 20

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Hebrew Israelites celebrate green light for temporary residence, but fight continues

State tells 27 members of southern Israeli community they can apply for 2-year visas, amid legal battle to secure permanent residence for them and...

29.04.2025 30

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Beachgoers continue to provoke sharks near Hadera power station despite fatal attack

Days after diver was mauled to death, visitors continue seeking contact with the predators, with little enforcement to be found

28.04.2025 30

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Israeli study finds burst of fires 8,000 years ago forced humans to become farmers

Hebrew University researcher says lightning-ignited blazes transformed Levant’s landscape, ending hunter-gatherer lifestyle but creating perfect...

25.04.2025 40

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

July temperatures over past eight years up to 2.8°C higher than 1950-1979

In run-up to Earth Day, Taub Center reports 1.8 degree jump in year-round average temperatures for period of 2014 to 2024, compared to 1950 to 1979

22.04.2025 60

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Israel cancels entry visas for 27 left-wing French lawmakers days before trip

21.04.2025 40

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

A scarred Ofakim neighborhood grows into a community after October 7

21.04.2025 20

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Seasonal fish mortality draws sharks to central beach, alarming bathers

While fish die-offs are common in April as waters warm, and are known to attract sharks, the animals appear to have discovered Beit Yanai for the...

21.04.2025 40

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

On Palm Sunday, Israeli volunteers escort Christian processions to report racist incidents

Volunteers from the Religious Freedom Data Center accompany Armenian, Latin, clerics to and from Church of Holy Sepulchre during their annual holy...

15.04.2025 30

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Telling victims’ stories, artist turns Nova’s killing fields into a healing memorial

Teaming up with victims’ families and KKL-JNF, Amir Chodorov is working around the clock to commemorate the lives of each of the hundreds of people...

13.04.2025 10

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Pensions and savings schemes are key pathway to fighting climate crisis, confab told

First climate finance conference in Israel hears call for more government steps and action by individuals, warnings to business not to be left behind

12.04.2025 20

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Government ‘treading water’ on climate crisis, state comptroller warns

Englman tells President’s Climate Forum his office places ‘special’ emphasis on monitoring sustainability, climate and environment, will issue...

07.04.2025 30

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Over 23,000 children and youth physically or mentally damaged by war – report

Israel Council for the Child unveils extent of loss, against backdrop of increased family violence, sexual abuse, suicide attempts by children aged 9...

07.04.2025 40

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Government amends Water Law to cut price for farmers

Agriculture Ministry, kibbutz and moshav movements, farmers’ federation, welcome move, which emphasizes speeding up the transition to using treated...

03.04.2025 40

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Kibbutz Nir Oz and state agree on $95 million budget to rebuild devastated community

Plan, expected to be approved by members’ assembly in coming days, will include building of new neighborhood for first returnees to the community...

02.04.2025 10

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Randy Fine wins Florida race, bringing tally of Jewish Republicans in Congress to 4

Fine prevails over Democrat Josh Weil in close vote, despite receiving only fraction of opponent’s campaign donations; number of Jewish GOP...

02.04.2025 40

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

OECD urges higher carbon tax, especially on natural gas, to boost move to renewables

Noting that power generation in Israel uses highest share of fossil fuels in OECD, report says emissions from this sector are ‘strongly underpriced...

02.04.2025 30

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Open day at religious-secular kibbutz on Gaza border draws 20 families wanting to join

Kibbutz Kerem Shalom, where members fought terrorists in deadly battles on October 7, is a ‘microcosm of Israeli society’ where decisions are...

01.04.2025 10

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Annual food waste amounts to thousands of shekels per household – report

Leket Israel survey finds nearly half of food lost in 2023 was edible, could have fully met country’s nutritional needs

31.03.2025 50

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Oil refineries, phosphate mines, perform worst on environmental impact index

12th annual index scores environment risk posed by 125 large industrial plants belonging to 46 public and government companies

27.03.2025 9

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

As Haifa goes green, oil refinery closure delayed but crude oil tanks set for removal

Plans for the bay’s polluting heavy industry to be replaced with green spaces, housing and commercial areas are behind schedule, but project heads...

25.03.2025 30

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Tel Aviv-Jaffa declares war on urban jackals

Host of measures seeks to send animals back to the wild, deter city animal-lovers from feeding them

25.03.2025 40

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Nova rave site has become KKL-JNF’s most visited in Israel

With an average 7,000 visitors daily, memorial near Kibbutz Re’im has become the most accessible for Israelis and overseas visitors seeking...

25.03.2025 20

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Deal on funds for Ofakim, Netivot paves way for approval of post-Oct. 7 law

NIS 5 billion out of NIS 19 billion in state funds to rehabilitate, develop, communities within 7 kilometers of Gaza was frozen, as towns farther...

24.03.2025 30

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Kfar Aza Oct. 7 memorial forms unforeseen stop on trail envisioned by murdered Ofir Libstein

The Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council head had opened the tourist route 10 days before he was killed by terrorists; station includes carved...

23.03.2025 40

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Sanctuary receiving, treating smuggled monkeys says surging trade ‘breaks our hearts’

Primatologist Tamar Fredman, whose sanctuary has taken in 16 monkeys seized by police, warns that wild animals don’t make good pets, suffer...

20.03.2025 30

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

New tool ranks state savings plans for children on environmental, social impact

ENVA platform helps parent select funds for state’s Savings Plan for Every Child by ranking returns alongside investment in fossil fuels, polluting...

15.03.2025 40

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Birthright Israel volunteers bring greenery to displaced Kibbutz Be’eri’s temporary digs

Some 2,500 people from around the world are helping landscape the compound at Kibbutz Hatzerim, southern Israel, where Be’eri residents are living...

12.03.2025 30

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Kibbutz Be’eri dental clinic, where 5 people were murdered on Oct. 7, is demolished

Bereaved relatives hold ceremony at site to honor them; wife of security team member calls on government to establish commission of inquiry into...

11.03.2025 30

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Jewish and Israeli aid groups are hit by Trump’s suspension of USAID, refugee program

After the US president orders America’s largest aid body gutted, repercussions are felt around the world as programs benefiting people from Africa...

11.03.2025 30

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

State has failed for years to properly manage Dead Sea Works — Comptroller report

Report maps failure by multiple ministries and government agencies to regulate, supervise, and charge for the mining of minerals that belong to the...

11.03.2025 30

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Progressive Cincinnati rabbi disinvited from anti-Nazi rally over support for Israel

Reform Rabbi Ari Jun, a self-described liberal Zionist, has called for empathy for Palestinians in Gaza; protest organizers say his values don’t...

08.03.2025 70

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Experts unite to protect what could be the last wild olive trees in Israel – or the world

The largest known population of the ancient plants grows on fossilized sand ridges in the north and could prove helpful for the olive industry during...

08.03.2025 20

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Less than 40% of average seasonal rainfall fell December to February

With whole country defined from dry to extremely dry on drought index, Israel Meteorological Service says Golan Heights most parched since...

04.03.2025 10

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes