Nights in Shoham and the surrounding area have turned into an environmental nightmare. Thick, toxic smoke from waste fires in Palestinian Authority–controlled areas of the West Bank has blanketed nearby Israeli communities, leaving residents coughing, gasping, and furious.
“It feels like chemical terror,” said residents, as heavy smoke filled the air for several nights. The Environmental Protection Ministry recently presented a plan to address cross-border pollution and illegal waste burning in the West Bank—but has yet to release it publicly.
In response, Shoham residents have organized a grassroots group demanding government action. “We met with ministers and dozens of Knesset members, but nothing is moving,” said Shani Gazit, one of the activists. “The environment ministry can’t even monitor the pollution properly, gives no health guidelines, and leaves us helpless every night.”
Waste fires
(Video: Shoham residents)
Michelle Harel, 34, who has lived in Shoham for 25 years, described the toll on her family: “I feel constant choking, we cough all night, and sometimes I vomit. My baby and four-year-old suffer from chronic coughs. All our windows are sealed, but it doesn’t help. You can’t tell someone who’s suffocating to wait patiently.”
Doron Rofman, 37, a father of three, said he feels guilty for exposing his children to toxic air. “When they go outside, they say, ‘I smell smoke—let’s take the car.’ It’s absurd that we’re the ones trying to find solutions while the authorities look away. This is poison we breathe almost daily.”
He added that many underestimate the danger. “It’s not just an unpleasant smell—it’s carcinogenic smoke. Everyone hears about government dysfunction; this is a living example. It could be fixed tomorrow, but no one acts.”
Amit Dar, who moved to Shoham from Ramat Gan two years ago, said he feels trapped. “When one war ended, another began—an environmental one. Everyone passes the blame: it’s in Area C, not Area B, not our jurisdiction. There’s no one who takes responsibility.”
The fires stem from illegal dumping sites in Palestinian territory, where waste piles are routinely burned to clear space. The Environmental Protection Ministry said a plan is being developed following a 2023 government decision to expand enforcement, establish a 24/7 reporting hotline, and coordinate with the IDF, police, and Civil Administration.
Until then, residents say, they remain locked indoors, choking on toxic smoke. “We’re abandoned every night,” Gazit said. “And we just keep waiting for someone to care.”