Today (Monday) a service exchange ceremony was held in Jerusalem at the Ministry of Environmental Protection, in the presence of incoming Minister Idit Silman, outgoing Minister Tamar Zandberg; Director General of the Ministry of Environmental Protection Galit Cohen, senior officials and employees of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the relevant bodies.
Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman said at the ceremony: "I stand before you today as Israel's Minister of Environmental Protection, one of the most important and influential government ministries on society and the lives of all of us - and I tell you that together we will bring the ministry to be one of the most central and significant anchors in the State of Israel.
""Significant challenges lie ahead: the climate crisis is the result of years of disdain on the part of us, humans, for the Earth we live and breathe on, and for the incredible natural resources entrusted to our care. The question of what kind of world we will leave for the generations that come after us is no longer philosophical - it is a wake-up call for all of us - and therefore we must all join this mission. In this sense, we are all green.".
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Minister Silman added: "One of the issues in which I will invest heavily is making the environment accessible to all segments of the population in Israel. The issue of the environment must not be the preserve of a small public, or, God forbid, of a particular political camp or party. We must create the discourse and dialogue around environmental protection, from a young age, in all strata of the Israeli public. Commitment to environmental protection and awareness of the climate crisis must be on the agenda of our youth. The material footprints of man, of industry, of progress, are not erased. We leave a mark wherever we walk, dig, drill and build. We must ask ourselves as a society and as humanity, how we maintain a correct and precise balance.
""It must be honestly admitted that we have violated the balance. Therefore, it is our duty, and only ours, to correct it. Our goal is to do better for the State of Israel and the world – since in everything that concerns environmental protection and sustainability – we are all under the same stretcher. The issues that this ministry deals with entail tremendous responsibility, and we will be careful to fulfill this mission of ours with modesty, sensitivity, and professionalism.".
Outgoing Minister of Environmental Protection, Tamar Zandberg: "Through ups and downs, through obstacles and difficulties, the environment and climate have remained my number one priority. Every goal I set for myself upon taking office has been significantly advanced. I have every hope that Minister Silman will continue the hard work we did in the last term, will work to preserve the environmental achievements of the past year and push them forward. Because the climate crisis does not wait and it threatens us all, regardless of religion, race, gender, or religious belief.".
""I thank my partners and companions in the journey at the Ministry of Environmental Protection and civil society organizations. I have had the immense privilege of serving the State of Israel in this important role, and I promise to remain a soldier of the environment.".
