IHG formed in 2017 as a grassroots struggle against the Leviathan gas rig planned for only six miles off Israel’s northern coast. The struggle was galvanized by a 2016 report that the offshore Tamar rig, located 14 miles from the southern city of Ashdod, had emitted more than 30 times the pollutants predicted. In fact, the rig had released more carcinogens than all of Israel’s power plants and factories combined.
Unfortunately, the nearshore Leviathan rig began operations in 2020. However, we refused to relinquish Israel’s citizens’ rights to a safe environment for today and future generations. Instead, we expanded our vision nationwide — to transition Israel to renewable energies, remove petrochemical facilities from population centers, and optimize pollution enforcement.
Today, IHG operates regional groups nationwide, enjoys broad support and is funded by the public alone. We became a non-profit association in August 2018.