Israel Environment Bulletin Summer 1992-5752, Vol. 15, No. 3
CHANGING OF THE GUARD AT THE ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY
On Tuesday, July 14th, the Ministry of the Environment welcomed its
first full-fledged, full-term minister whose energies will be
devoted entirely to serving the cause of the environment. On two
separate occasions, in July and in August, the entire staff
gathered to welcome Ms. Ora Namir, Israel's new Minister of the
Environment, and to bid farewell to outgoing deputy-minister Mr.
Yigal Bibi and outgoing director-general Dr. Uri Marinov.
Dr. Marinov opened the proceedings by noting that environmental
work is a way of life, not just a job, and that whoever joins in
this work becomes a member of a family, not a member of an office
staff. He thus welcomed MK Namir to the family of the Ministry of
the Environment.
Outgoing deputy-minister Bibi thanked the staff for their
professional, efficient and friendly service, commending them for
their dedicated work. Mr. Bibi added that the ministry could not
be placed in better, more hard-working and caring hands than those
of Minister Namir.
Minister Namir expressed her delight at her appointment as Minister
of the Environment after serving in the Knesset for five full
terms, as head of the Knesset Education and Culture Committee and
as chairperson of the Labor and Welfare Committee. Ms. Namir
expressed her determination to work hard, along with the entire
staff, to improve environmental quality in Israel.
Minister Namir acknowledged Dr. Marinov's unique contribution to
the environment over the past two decades and paid tribute both to
Dr. Marinov and to the staff which was so carefully assembled by
him. Minister Namir expressed the hope that Dr. Marinov will
continue to contribute of his special skills and talents to the
ministry.
Dr. Marinov, on his part, thanked the staff for its ongoing
commitment to the cause of the environment, even under very
difficult circumstances. He cited a few of the ministry's
achievements, including the establishment of 23 local environmental
units throughout the country, manned by some 150 staff members,
the reduction of lead content in fuel in recent years, and the
dramatic improvements in marine quality, education and legislation
and enforcement. Dr. Marinov expressed his intention to continue to
serve the environment in every way possible.
Finally, Dr. Israel Peleg, the ministry's incoming director-
general, expressed his deep appreciation for Dr. Marinov's
contribution to the environment, in the past, and for his thorough
transfer of responsibilities to Dr. Peleg in the present. Dr. Peleg
joined Minister Namir in the hope that
Dr. Marinov will continue to
serve the cause of the environment well into the future.