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Sue Surkes

Sue Surkes

The Times of Israel

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Former students at Israeli institute raise some $60,000 for Gazan ex-colleagues

Group has helped 2 alumni of Arava institute for Environmental Studies leave enclave for universities overseas, supports a third still in the Strip,...

latest 10

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Jewish National Fund to give $220 million to rehabilitate war-hit communities

Transitioning from immediate emergency help to longterm rehabilitation, the organization will spend 10% of the sum on Kibbutz Nir Oz near the Gaza...

latest 10

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Women set up camp in south to launch mothers’ movement to end Gaza war, free hostages

Women set up camp in south to launch mothers’ movement to end Gaza war, free hostages

Some 500 people take part, hoping to echo Four Mothers movement of late 1990s that helped push Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon

yesterday 40

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Weather experts predict shattering of records as extreme heatwave hits Israel

Weather experts predict shattering of records as extreme heatwave hits Israel

Offical at Meteorological Service says while heatwaves are normal in summer, intensity and length of current sizzler suggests climate change at work

yesterday 40

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Kibbutz Nir Oz suspends cornerstone-laying event to protest cabinet meeting on Gaza plan

Kibbutz Nir Oz suspends cornerstone-laying event to protest cabinet meeting on Gaza plan

Kibbutz chairman urges government to return hostages as part of agreement, even if price is high, says Nir Oz understands dangers of Hamas better than...

08.08.2025 30

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Israelis with disabilities help the environment and themselves at unique recycling hub

Israelis with disabilities help the environment and themselves at unique recycling hub

Northern Israel’s Ecology for a Protected Community sorts and repurposes electronic waste while mostly employing workers with special needs,...

27.07.2025 50

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Gaza border architectural firm’s designs aim to protect body and elevate spirit

Gaza border architectural firm’s designs aim to protect body and elevate spirit

Launched a year after Hamas seized power in the Strip, Zarta Studio has a reputation for building beautiful structures that are actually fortresses

22.07.2025 30

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Knesset passes bill allowing Israelis to expand reinforced rooms, add bathrooms

In wake of Oct 7 and multifront war, the Home Front Command will be introducing doors that can be locked to home shelters, as well as stronger windows

18.07.2025 40

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Environment Ministry moves to regulate ‘forever chemicals’ after High Court order

Ministry publishes draft regulations to restrict production, trade and use of persistent organic pollutants found in pesticides, flame retardants and...

17.07.2025 20

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

EU foreign ministers set to weigh sanctions against Israel over Gaza war

Top Israeli diplomat Gideon Sa’ar, also in Brussels for meeting, says he’s ‘sure’ measures won’t be adopted, welcomes presence of Syrian...

15.07.2025 60

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Groundbreaking Israeli study first ever to show insects listening in on plants ‘talking’

Tel Aviv University researchers find moths deciding where to lay eggs based on high frequency clicks emitted by plants, avoiding those that let out...

15.07.2025 30

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

After Netanyahu nominated Trump for Nobel Peace Prize, a secretive process begins

PM’s proposal would make US president a candidate for 2026 award, as submissions must be made before Feb. 1 each year; selection is carried out...

09.07.2025 40

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Microbes pave the way for a living, green alternative to cement in buildings

Technion project, which sees microorganisms bind sand while absorbing carbon dioxide, is one of 16 on show at Triennale Milano

09.07.2025 10

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Interior Ministry seeks to exempt oil refinery hit by missiles from building permit

Haifa Municipality petitions High Court, says move lacks transparency and is being made over the heads of residents and elected authorities

08.07.2025 30

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Environmental groups appeal against ‘outdated’ breakwater project on Haifa beach

Lamenting absence of policy to deal with Mediterranean beach erosion, Zalul and Adam Teva V’Din say newest plan will obstruct views, endanger...

08.07.2025 20

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

‘We are an emergency response empire’: 40,000 volunteers mobilized for Israel-Iran war

A Hebrew University expert says Israel leads the world in organized and prolonged grassroots efforts during times of crisis, but asks: Why has the...

07.07.2025 50

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Green NGOs appeal to attorney general against environment minister’s refusal to release funds

Group warns that Idit Silman’s decision not to call for grant proposals for NIS 11 million approved by special fund could ‘bring smaller...

03.07.2025 9

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Short-lived tax on disposable plastic sparked lasting Haredi hostility to green policy

Study shows that while feelings of victimhood initially fueled protest against tax, opposition to environmental policies remained after tax repealed

03.07.2025 20

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

Refinery hit by Iran missiles emitting ‘100 times higher than usual’ levels of benzene

Carcinogenic emissions seen at monitoring stations on compound fence, at a high school. Bazan company says its own monitors show routine emissions...

01.07.2025 10

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

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...

29.06.2025 20

The Times of Israel

Sue Surkes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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