Legislation10/20/2026

Israel Approves National Flood-Management Strategy for the First Time

The Directors General Committee of the government ministries has approved, for the first time, a strategic plan for flood-risk management. It includes uniform regulation of surface runoff, updated legislation, and a national framework for action in emergencies, but some of the measures depend on funding.

Key facts

•Government resolution establishing the committee: 2021
•Original publication updated: October 20, 2026
•Drainage and Flood Protection Law: 1957
•Central coordinating body: Prime Minister’s Office
•Additional funding has not yet been secured

Who Developed the Plan and for What Purpose

The committee, led by the Prime Minister’s Office, was established pursuant to a 2021 government resolution adopted during Naftali Bennett’s tenure as prime minister. Its work involved representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Planning Administration, the Ministry of National Security, and additional government and local bodies. The plan aims to reduce risks to human life and property and improve the authorities’ ability to respond to flooding.

Uniform Management of Surface Runoff

The plan includes establishing a central regulator to manage surface runoff throughout the country—possibly within the Ministry of Agriculture. It is to consolidate powers currently dispersed among various bodies, coordinate their work, define the division of responsibilities, and set policy at the regional and national levels.

Updating the Drainage Law

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security was instructed to advance an update to the Drainage and Flood Protection Law, 5718–1957. The changes are intended to adapt the legal framework to current conditions, update planning procedures, and remove barriers. It is proposed that local authorities be required to prepare drainage master plans.

Emergencies and Funding

The Ministry of National Security was authorized to formulate a national action plan for flood incidents. It is to define operating procedures, areas of responsibility, and the chain of command, as well as improve warning systems. Government ministries may begin implementing the strategy, but the committee’s decision does not in itself guarantee a budget: measures requiring additional resources may be delayed until those resources are allocated.

What this means for you

For Israeli residents, the strategy could lead to more coordinated action by the authorities, clearer warnings, and a clearer division of responsibilities during floods. Local authorities may be required to prepare drainage master plans. Practical changes will depend on updating the law, allocating powers, and providing budgets.

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