Residents across central Israel say air quality has sharply deteriorated in recent weeks because of large-scale waste burning in areas under the Palestinian Authority, leaving communities blanketed in smoke and foul odors each evening.
People living in Modi’in, Shoham, Harish, Hashmonaim, Yehud, Rosh HaAyin, Petah Tikva and nearby towns reported that the pollution forces them indoors nightly, sometimes for hours. The nonprofit Citizens for Clean Air described the situation as “catastrophic,” saying residents are suffering from what it called a long-running environmental hazard.
Pollution from Palestinian waste fires
“It’s unbearable,” said Dana Bechar, 32, a Modi’in resident for seven years. “Since October 7 it’s been happening almost daily. We have to stay inside all night until morning. Sometimes it smells chemical, sometimes like burning trash.”
Bechar said her two daughters, ages 9 months and 5 years, both suffer from eczema that has worsened recently. “We report it to the authorities, but nothing changes,” she said. “When you ask the municipality, they say it’s being handled. It’s like chemical terror. We feel invisible.”
Another Modi’in resident, Orly, described “an unbearable stench of garbage that seeps into the house.” She said the conditions have caused headaches, dizziness and skin irritation. “We can’t sleep. All our clothes and laundry reek of trash. It’s one big nightmare,” she said.
A third resident said it feels like living “in a prison.” “Every evening there’s a terrible smell. We rush home, close all the windows and hope the toxins don’t get in,” he said. “It’s unbelievable that the state isn’t doing anything.”
From Harish in the north to Modi’in in the south, residents living near the Green Line say the problem has persisted for years. Dani, who lives in Harish, said the odors worsen in early autumn. “It’s like you’ve dunked your head in an ashtray,” he said. “I love barbecuing, but imagine that smell multiplied by 900. I’ve stopped grilling altogether. We stopped reporting it because it feels hopeless. It’s not only in the Palestinian areas — it happens in Arab towns inside Israel too.”
Another Harish resident said, “We choke here every night. Polluted smoke gets into our homes even with the windows closed.”
Citizens for Clean Air said thousands of complaints have been filed in recent months. “Hundreds of thousands of Israelis are choking on smoke from waste fires while government ministries keep passing responsibility back and forth,” said the group’s director, Yaniv Bleicher. “This isn’t just about quality of life — it’s long-term, irreversible damage to public health.”
Bleicher called on authorities to allocate resources immediately for waste treatment, regulated transport to legal disposal sites, strict enforcement against offenders and rapid extinguishing of waste fires. “Without immediate action, the situation will only get worse,” he said.
The Environmental Protection Ministry said it is “deeply concerned” about the issue but noted that enforcement authority in Judea and Samaria rests with the Civil Administration and other agencies. It said the ministry assists by funding a Civil Administration unit known as David to prevent illegal waste dumping and burning, and by providing budgets for firefighting services through the national Cleanliness Fund.
The ministry added that an inter-ministerial team has developed a strategic plan to address cross-border environmental hazards in the West Bank, including new legislation, stronger enforcement and sustainable waste management. The plan is under discussion with the Defense and Finance ministries, it said.
The Civil Administration has not yet responded to requests for comment.