Natural Resources: copper, phosphates, bromide, potash, clay, sand, sulfur, asphlt, manganese, small amounts of natural gas and crude oil
Environmental Issues:
-limited arable land and natural fresh water resources
-desertification
-air polution from industrial and vehicle emissions
-ground water pollution from industrial and domestic wastes, chemical fertilizers, and pesticies
Info from About.com
Israel has a huge variety of plants and animals. This is due to the fact that Israel has four different geographical zones ranging from semi-arid to subtropical. Israel has everything from parched deserts and sand dunes to fertile feilds, snow-covered mountains, and lush woodlands.
There are 47,000 living species of plants and animals identified in Israel and another 4,000 species assumed to exist.
Flora: The types of plants and animals change with the different landscapes within Israel. Along the low coastal plain, bananas, oranges, and other citrus fruits dominate. In the mountains and hilly regions such as upper Galilee or Mt. Carmel, natural woodlands of Calliprinos oaks flurish. In the hot Jordan Valley, dates, avocado, guava, and mango are found. In the dry Negev, huge Atlantic pistachios, date palms, acacia, and sabra cactus grow naturally.
Fauna: Destruction of forrests and hunting have exterminated many of the native species to the land such as fallow deer, Syrian bears, cheetahs, ostriches, and Nile crocodiles. The most common large terrestrial animals still found in Israel are the mountain gazzelles, wild boar, Nubian ibex, foxes, and jungle cats. Many birds pass through Israel as they follow the major migratory route from Europe and Western Asia to Africa. Not many amphibians exist in the country today because most of the wetlands have been drained. Reptiles are abundant with 97 different native species. Many saltwater creatures thrive in Eliat's coral reef including whale sharks, dolphins, sea turtles, shellfish, and sponges.
Info from the AICE Jewish Student Online Research Center
Israel lacks bodies of water that could support diverse wildlife and plant species. About 60% of the country is covered by the Negev desert and much of the rest is dry Mediterranean land. On top of this, about 97% of Israel's wetlands have been drained. Because of the wetland draining and other environmental blunders of the past, Israel is becoming increasingly environmentally conscious. Several policies, ordinances, laws, and regulations have been put in place and are continuing to be implemented.
Info from the National Report of Israel at the Ramsar Convention